Presenting our top performers and all-tournment team from the NEPSAC boys hockey tournament after Salisbury defeated Belmont Hill to claim the Elite 8 title on Sunday.
Elite 8 tournament MVP
Dylan Hryckowian
Salisbury, 5/19/04, RW, right shot, 5-9/154
NCAA commit: Northeastern
As he was for most of the prep school hockey season, Hryckowian was the best player on the ice in the two Salisbury games I was in attendance for. He scored a pretty goal against both Dexter Southfield and Belmont Hill. His speed, skill, and vision made him a dangerous threat throughout the tournament. Critics and naysayers can point to his size, but he did a lot more to earn the attention of NHL scouts than many players on NHL Central Scouting. At a certain point, production and track record has to be valued over untapped potential.
Elite 8 All-Tournament Team
As with the MVP award, these are my personal views and I took the literary license to name four forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender, instead of the usual three, two and one.
James Fisher
Belmont Hill, 4/28/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/170
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Fisher had a goal in each of the first two playoff games against St. Sebastian’s and Avon Old Farms. While he was held off the board in the final, he had a few glimpses of positive contributions in the first period. He almost scored on an identical shot and deceptive release that he did against AOF on Saturday. Fisher brought a physical presence, as well. The one thing I’d like to see Fisher do more of is lower his shoulder and drive the net instead of settling for the perimeter shot. If he does that, his potential will climb even further.
Dylan Hryckowian
Salisbury, 5/19/04, RW, right shot, 5-9/154
NCAA commit: Northeastern
We've already talked about the tournament MVP. He earned his place on this squad.Â
Matthew DiMarsico
Avon Old Farms, 1/7/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/175
NCAA commit: Penn State
DiMarsico had a goal in both of Avon’s games in the tournament plus he added two assists in the quarterfinal win over Cushing. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native gets the nod here for leading his team offensively through two games. I’ve always liked DiMarsico’s shot and willingness to snap it off from anywhere. Dating back to his days with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, DiMarsico has been a goal scorer. In his one and only prep season, he lit the lamp 16 times, which led the Winged Beavers in that category. Also, in my viewing Saturday, I noted that his skating has notably improved. He’s likely off to the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL for the 2022-23 season.
Ben Poitras
Salisbury, 7/18/05, RW, right shot, 5-9/155
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Poitras came into the postseason averaging a little under a point per game. The Toronto, Ontario, native elevated his play in the three playoff games. He tallied a goal in each contest, including the overtime winner at KUA on Saturday. Not only did Poitras find the back of the net, I liked his hockey sense away from the puck. He played a sound game in his own end and paid attention to some of the finer details, including being the third man high in the offensive zone.
Will Killoran
Belmont Hill, 1/30/03, D, right shot, 6-3/195
Killoran is one of three captains for the Sextants and led by example on the ice. With his team in need of a spark in the third period of Sunday’s game, he delivered three huge, clean hits on one shift. From Charlestown, Killoran won’t wow anyone with his skating or stick skills, but he’s a physical, shutdown defender that is hard to play against.
Dane Westen
Salisbury, 8/11/03, D, right shot, 6-3/210
This might seem like a sentimental pick to some, given that Westen was seriously injured late in the final and had to be stretchered off the ice. However, I’d argue that he was the leader of a blue line that played stifling defense in three postseason games. Using his size, he did a good job of taking away time and space from opposing forwards. Paired with a smaller, more offensive-minded defenseman in Zakrzewski, he did a good job of staying at home and being responsible. This spot could have gone to the aforementioned Zakrzewski, Liam Chapman or Sam Hall, as well.
Austin McNicholas
Salisbury, 5/24/04, G, catches left, 6-1/175
In three postseason games, McNicholas gave up just three goals. In large part due to the players in front of him, the Clarence, N.Y., native allowed just one goal in each game. There were times this season, including with the Regals, where I thought McNicholas could be prone to letting in a soft goal. There was no such luck for the opposition in this tournament as McNicholas held down the fort and made game-winning saves in each of the three playoff wins.
Unsung Heroes
Jack Houser
Belmont Hill, 1/25/03, RW, right shot, 6-1/200
Houser entered the playoffs with just 10 points but recorded two goals and an assist over the course of the first two games. He was a plus on Belmont Hill’s only tally on Sunday. He was around the puck a lot and earned the trust of his coaching staff as he was used in a lot of high-pressure situations. He scored the empty-net goal Saturday and got the scoring started Wednesday. The Arlington, Mass., native should be getting some calls from top Division 3 schools or USPHL NCDC organizations for the 2022-23 season.
Trey Deere
Salisbury, 2/19/04, C, left shot, 6-0/160
NCAA commit: Syracuse (lacrosse)
I detailed how much I liked Deere’s game after Salisbury’s win over Dexter Southfield on Wednesday. As I mentioned above, Deere had an assist on the first goal of the game. He once again played in all situations. The Kahnawake, Ontario, native played with an edge and got under the skin of opposing Belmont Hill players, which drew the ire of the partisan crowd. Obviously, a good athlete, Deere is heavy on pucks and gives it his all each and every shift. I noticed him at the Berkshire Jamboree way back in the preseason as a player of interest. While he intrigued me back then, his progression from then to now is truly remarkable.
