Before the calendar flips over into a new hockey season, it's time to celebrate the standout achievers from last season.
Here are our New England Hockey Journal Awards for the 2021-22 season.
We'll start with awards for junior hockey.
And we'll unveil high school/prep school and college awards in the coming days.
Zack Jones, QMJHL Player of the Year
Halifax Mooseheads, C
In his third and final season of junior hockey, the Bridgewater, Mass., native had his most productive campaign. In 66 regular-season games, Jones scored 18 goals and 20 assists for 38 points. Due to signing and playing in major junior, the former UNH commit has limited options.
He can try to latch on with a team in the ECHL or head to a Canadian college, where he can play at that level. The Boston Bandits product was one of just five local players to play in the QMJHL during the 2021-22 season. With all the great destinations on this side of the border, major junior has become an even more unappealing option for New England players.
Joe Solimine, NCDC Player of the Year
Junior Bruins, LW
It’s been quite an 18 months for Solimine, a Middleton, Mass., resident. The Northfield Mount Hermon alum saw his stock rise last summer to the point where he was able to accept a scholarship offer to play Division 1 college hockey at Holy Cross.
The former Austin Prep standout kept it going in the right direction in his first full season of junior hockey. In 56 games with the Junior Bruins, he scored 21 goals and had 47 assists. An offensive catalyst, Solimine plays a gritty style and lets his skill and agility go to work in high-traffic areas.
Toby Harris, NCDC Coach of the Year
Jersey Hitmen
Harris has kept his team at the forefront of the NCDC for years now. The Boston College alum led his team to a 35-11-2 record en route to going back to back as Dineen Cup champions.
Harris is a master recruiter when it comes to finding talent for his Wayne, N.J.-based team. While the Hitmen certainly had plenty of talent, Harris does a good job of building a roster that is capable of winning and staying together on a consistent basis.
Jack Williams, USHL Player of the Year
Muskegon Lumberjacks, RW
Williams capped off his three-plus-year run with Muskegon on a high note. The Biddeford, Maine, native led his team into the USHL Clark Cup East Conference finals. He scored 22 goals and had 48 assists in 67 games. His production increased in each of his three full seasons in the USHL.
What also should stand out is his character. Williams wore a letter for Muskegon and honored his commitment to Northeastern, even when he could have wavered, due to being asked to play another year of junior hockey. Williams will bring plenty of experience and a north-south, power forward mentality to Northeastern when he joins the Huskies in the fall.
Cy Leclerc, NAHL Co-Player of the Year
Janesville Jets, LW
Leclerc, from Brentwood, N.H., had a monster year in the NAHL, his first season spent outside of New England. In 60 games for Janesville, the New Hampshire commit posted 31 goals and 46 assists for 77 points. Leclerc proved that his shot, hockey sense and heaviness on pucks could overcome his skating at the junior level.
The future Wildcat had spent the two previous seasons playing for the Islanders Hockey Club in the NCDC. Prior to that, he had skated for Seacoast Performance Academy and New Hampshire Junior Monarchs at the Midget level.
Jake Black, NAHL Co-Player of the Year
Johnstown Tomahawks, RW
Black’s first and only season in the NAHL proved to be a wild success. The Pomfret, Conn., native used his speed to score goals early and often. He finished with 41 goals and 38 assists in 60 games for Johnstown.
As a result of his strong play, he earned a commitment to the University of Connecticut. Black came to the NAHL after strong seasons with Winchendon and the Islanders Hockey Club.
