We've looked at the breakout candidates at forward and on defense. That means only one position is left.
Goalies.
Prep goalies are an interesting bunch. It's only a three-month season. Hot streaks can be deceiving, but cold streaks can cost a goalie the starting job. It's a regular occurrence for goalies to excel in the fall and then struggle to start the prep season, making it challenging to project breakout goalies.
Still, here I am. Ready to project.
I was a little all over the place in my breakout goalies story from last year. On one hand, I had Maks Corovic, Jack Fichthorn (Darien, Conn.), Steven Luciano (New Canaan, Conn.), Dylan Lee-Stack, Elliot Lennon and Tommy Saulnier (Medfield, Mass.). All were, at least, very good starters in prep. On the other hand, three names from last season are in this story.
This year's list is interesting. While some of these players are backups who are becoming starters, others are newcomers who will have to battle for the net.
One rule: No college commits.
Let's dive in.
Aaron Alves-Thomas, St. Mark's
Alves-Thomas had a strong finish to the fall, guiding the Providence Capitals to a regional title at the 16U level. He was one of three new goalies brought in, along with Craig Haas and Julian Herrera. Alves-Thomas is an '09 with good size, consistency and mobility.
Luca Campo, Kimball Union
Campo did his time as a sophomore backup last winter, posting a 1.84 GAA and a .909 save percentage. The '08's time looks to have come. The 6-foot-1 netminder got the start in Kimball Union's first game against Bishop's College School on Wednesday, earning the win and making 16 saves on 17 shots.
Aiden Emerick, Lawrence Academy
Emerick was in last year's story, but senior Kolin Beliveau got the majority of reps in net. Beliveau graduated, leaving the net to Emerick, who is a '06. Emerick led Winchester High (MIAA) all the way to the MIAA Division 1 title game in 2023-24, and notched a 2.66 GAA and a .891 save percentage for Lawrence Academy last winter.
PREP PREVIEWS: Cushing | Belmont Hill |  Milton | Tilton | Berkshire | Deerfield | St. George’s | Brunswick | Winchendon | Salisbury | Choate | Nobles | Kent | Holderness | Dexter Southfield
Zai Ferraro, Brunswick
Last season, Ferraro had a 2.35 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage for Mount St. Charles' 16U squad. The 6-foot-2 and 196-pound goalie led Mid Fairfield's 18U team to a regional championship this month. He will battle with fellow Mid Fairfield goalie Evan Akerman for the net.
Kamden Jackson, Williston Northampton
Williston Northampton enters the season as my No. 16-ranked team, and Jackson has a lot to do with that. The Manchester, N.H., native arrives via Seacoast Performance Academy, where he had a 2.36 GAA and a .929 save percentage at the 16U level last winter. He was at Select 16 Camp this past summer as well. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he should be a standout for Williston.
Neilan Johnson, Hotchkiss
Johnson, an '08, is new to prep this season after coming over from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U team, where he posted a 2.26 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 34 games. He was stout at Select 17 Camp this summer with a 2.00 GAA, and he made NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Watch List with a 'W' rating, indicating a sixth- or seventh-round candidate. He's 6-foot-2 and 172 pounds.
READ MORE: Our preseason boys top 10Â
Drew Karlovits, Dexter Southfield
Karlovits was outstanding last season for BC High, notching an insane .959 save percentage and GAA of 1.22 in 21 starts. While he's 5-foot-10, Karlovits is extremely athletic and tracks pucks so well. He's used to a high number of shots. He will play behind the preseason No. 1 team in prep and battle with returner Kyle Ready (Pembroke, Mass.) for the net. Karlovits made 17 stops on 19 shots in a 4-2 win against Phillips Andover on Wednesday.
Alex Kim, Berkshire
UMass commit Parker Stockseth (Blandford, Mass.) was supposed to be the guy for Berkshire, but left before the season started. It's Kim's net now, and he arrives at Berkshire from the Connecticut Junior Rangers 16U team, where he posted a 2.35 GAA and a .905 save percentage last season. Berkshire is old, deep and experienced on defense, which will play in Kim's favor.
Edouard Lord, Phillips Andover
Despite Andover losing its first game of the season on Wednesday to Dexter Southfield, 4-2, Lord still made 42 saves. He's filling big shoes after senior Chase Anderson graduated, but the 6-foot-2, 190-pound goalie did well in limited time last season (2.37 GAA, .918 save percentage) and looks poised to keep Andover in contention all winter.
 READ MORE: Ranking the next 15 teams
Jordan Rittenberg, Salisbury
Rittenberg played quite a bit for Salisbury last winter as a junior backup with a strong 2.19 GAA and a .904 save percentage. At 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, he has great size for a goalie. His experience last year, along with Salisbury's defense and outstanding structure, should enable Rittenberg to backstop Salisbury into the Elite 8.
Jacob Saldanha, Choate
In his first season as the starter last year, Saldanha posted pretty good numbers with a 3.53 GAA and a .904 save percentage. Choate has a better roster of skaters this season, so Saldanha should have a better team in front of him. The '08 is now a senior, so he should be one of the better goalies in prep this winter.
Alex Wang, St. George's
It was a wild year for Wang last season, going from Groton to Boston Hockey Academy's 16U team. He's back in prep with St. George's, and it's an ideal situation. A lot of the Dragons' success will depend on him, but he still has a stout defensive core in front of him. The '09 has great size at 6-foot-3.
READ MORE: 32 breakout forward candidates | 24 breakout defensemen candidates
Eli Zucker, Milton Academy
Zucker was in this story last season and posted. 3.50 GAA and a .895 save percentage as a sophomore last season. With his first year out of the way, the 6-foot-3, 181-pound netminder should be a huge asset to what should be a much better Milton team. Zucker was at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp this summer and was a sixth-round pick by the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL Phase 2 Draft earlier this year.
