The CATS Academy Boston Varsity hockey team provides students in Grades 9-12 and the Postgraduate Program with the opportunity to compete at a high level, enjoying a challenging schedule against historic programs that make every game competitive for our team.
Players get high-level coaching and real in-season competition against storied prep programs, while still living the full boarding school experience: study halls, dorm life, campus traditions, and a team that eats, studies, and lives together. For students who want a competitive hockey experience that complements their academic goals, joining our Varsity hockey team offers a proven pathway to college hockey through structure, balance, and genuine team community.
CATS Boston Varsity Hockey was established in 2024 and plays its home games at Mark Bavis Arena in Rockland, Massachusetts. Since becoming Head Coach in 2026, Jacob Saunders has been dedicated to growing the program, fostering a culture of excellence, and building a competitive presence in NEPSAC through a strong commitment to both academics and athletics.
CATS Boston Varsity Hockey Team is a proud member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) competing as an independent member.
NEPSAC is one of the most respected and longest-standing high school hockey circuits in the country, the same league that has produced generations of NCAA and NHL talent from schools across New England.
The NEPSAC route differs meaningfully from AAA club hockey and specialized hockey academies in both structure and philosophy. NEPSAC prep hockey is fully integrated into the school itself: practices, games, and team culture exist within the rhythm of the academic day and campus life, not alongside it.
Jacob Saunders brings a lifelong commitment to hockey and player development to his role as Head Hockey Coach at CATS Academy Boston. A former competitive and minor professional hockey player himself, Jacob understands firsthand what it takes to compete and grow at the highest levels of the game, an experience that now shapes his approach to coaching the next generation of student-athletes.
Jacob’s coaching career spans every level of the sport. Most recently, he served as Hockey Coach and Off-Ice Coordinator for the Northern Cyclones Hockey Club in Hudson, NH, where he managed daily team operations, oversaw a residential dorm program of 100+ student-athletes, and designed player development plans built around discipline, communication, and winning team culture. Prior to that, he coached Varsity Assistant/JV Head Coach at Brewer High School, and spent several years as a Skills Coach with Premier Hockey, running individual and group sessions for athletes of all levels. He also served as Head Coach for the Northern Sting Hockey Club, guiding tournament teams across New England.
Jacob is USA Hockey certified (Levels 1–4), SafeSport certified, and CPR certified. At CATS Boston, Jacob is focused on building a hockey program rooted in development, structure, and genuine team culture, helping student-athletes grow as players and as people, both on the ice and in the classroom.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to Coach Saunders at [email protected]. Go Griffins!
