It's been just over three months since the prep season ended.
Kimball Union took home the boys Elite 8 title, while Nobles won the Elite 8 on the girls side. Kent and Canterbury won the boys Large and Small School titles, respectively. BB&N and New Hampton snagged the girls Large and Small School titles, respectively.
Both boys and girls prep were also packed with high-end players. That made handing out awards so difficult.
Here are our 2023-24 awards for boys and girls prep hockey.
Boys prep Player of the Year: Jack Sadowski, Kimball Union
There is no debate here. Sadowski was the most dominant player in prep by far. The UNH commit led the league in goals (41) and points (87). Those were the most points in a season since Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.) notched 80 at Thayer in 2017-18. Sadowski also had a knack for showing up in the big moments, as was evident when he scored two goals and added an assist in Kimball Union’s 4-1 win over Cushing in the Elite 8 championship.
Boys prep Defenseman of the Year: Caeden Herrington, Holderness
Herrington was a rock for Holderness. The Vermont commit led the charge in back and helped lead his team to the No. 5 seed in the Elite 8. He scored seven goals and totaled 49 points. His offensive game flourished and he improved his defensive side quite a bit. It was no surprise that he went to the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL when the season ended and fit right in.
Boys prep Goalie of the Year: Marko Bilic, Cushing
Bilic may have been with Cushing, the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8. But he was also the best netminder in prep. He was tied for the region lead in save percentage (.939) and boasted a sparkling 1.45 goals-against average. He was the most all-around talented goalie in prep hockey with strong fundamentals and a knack for being square to pucks. He’s committed to Arizona State.
Boys prep Rookie of the Year: Carter Meyer, Rivers
It’s rare to see an eighth-grader make any real impact in prep. Meyer, an ‘09, didn’t just make an impact — he was one of the best players in the region. Meyer led his team in points with 39. He worked his way up to being the No. 1 center, elevating when his team needed him most. His efforts were a big reason why Rivers landed the No. 1 seed in the Small School Tournament. Meyer is on track to be one of the best U.S. NTDP and NHL Draft prospects out of prep in the last 10 years.
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Boys prep Coach of the Year: Allie Skelley, St. George’s
Skelley carries an inspiring story — a comeback based around an injury that ended his hockey career in December 2002. He worked his way up the coaching ladder to where he is now at St. George’s. He led the Dragons to a 23-4-1 finish, improving the team by eight wins. St. George’s landed the No. 7 seed in the Elite 8 Tournament and almost upset No. 2 Kimball Union in the quarterfinals. The long-term impact of Skelley will be turning St. George’s into a prep hockey destination. He’s well on his way to doing that.
Girls prep Player of the Year: Monique Lyons, Williston Northampton
Lyons (Bedford, Mass.) was essential to Williston making a run to a third straight Elite 8 title game. She averaged over two points per game, leading the NEPSAC with 59 points in 26 games. She ranked second in both goals (30) and assists (29), finishing her prep career with 77 goals and 151 points in 79 games. Lyons, who is committed to Brown, was a threat every time she was on the ice, driving play and creating chances for herself and her teammates.
Girls prep Defenseman of the Year: Olivia Maffeo, Nobles
Maffeo (Canton, Mass.) was a complete game-breaker on the blue line for Nobles. She set a career-high in points with 50 in 31 games, good enough for fourth in the NEPSAC and the most among all defenders. She also recorded a career-best 31 assists, the most in the NEPSAC, and matched her previous high of 19 goals, the most among defenders. The Boston College commit was dynamic in transition and could take over games at a moment’s notice. She was essential to Nobles’ championship run, scoring a hat trick in the quarterfinals and scoring again in the championship.
Girls prep Goalie of the Year: Alexsa Caron, BB&N
Caron (Dracut, Mass.) was a major factor in BB&N’s second-half surge to a Large School championship. She finished the regular season with a .950 save percentage and was just as strong in the playoffs, posting a career-high .949 save percentage for the season overall. She was an integral part for the Knights, who scored just 58 goals in 30 games, averaging 1.93 goals per game. Caron faced the second-most shots of any goalie in the Large School field, and she was at her best down the stretch. The Stonehill commit made 33 saves in a 1-0 shutout in the Large School title game en route to earning tournament MVP.
Girls prep Rookie of the Year: Maggie Averill, Phillips Andover
Averill (Wayland, Mass.) was a highly-touted prospect entering the season, and she delivered on the hype. The freshman defender posted 10 goals and 18 points, good enough for third in goals and fourth in points among Andover skaters. At 5-11, she used her size and reach to help her in the defensive zone in transition and in battles. Averill’s booming shot made her a threat from the point in the offensive zone, especially on the Big Blue’s power play.
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Girls prep Coach of the Year: Ed Bourget, BB&N
Bourget and BB&N were dealt a rough hand before the start of the season, losing Yale commit Hannah Weyerhaeuser (Cambridge, Mass.) to a broken collarbone, which held her out until the end of the regular season. The Knights started the season 3-0-0 before falling to 4-6-2 by the second week of January. From there, however, BB&N caught fire, going on a 12-4-2 run to the Large School title, knocking off top-seeded Choate in overtime of the semifinals, 2-1, before a 1-0 defensive masterclass, thanks in part to Alexsa Caron, against Dexter Southfield in the championship. Averaging less than two goals per game, nobody was better at finding ways to win than the Knights.
