That's a wrap. What a season it was.
The 2024-25 New England boys prep hockey season was one we'll remember fondly. For starters, new teams that aren't usually at the top of the rankings entered the postseason as top seeds (I'm looking at you, Deerfield, St. Mark's and kinda sorta Dexter Southfield).
Younger players had the most impact they've had in a long time. Prep transfers like Rian Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) and Indiana Grossbard (Wilton, Conn.) greatly impacted their new teams. While there wasn't a definitive best defenseman or goalie, several players made compelling cases.
Every week during the season, we gather here to discuss the top performers from the previous week. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Let's dive in — for one, final time.
Holt
Top skater:Â Adrian Mendoza, North Yarmouth Academy
There's no debate here. Mendoza had a big junior season, finishing as an honorable mention in this same story last year. He got even better during his senior year. He finished with 29 goals and 39 points in 30 games, bringing him to 68 points — good for third in New England. He averaged 2.27 points per game, which ranked him second in the region. The '05 made the most of a phenomenal season.
Honorable mentions: Noah Jimbo, Portsmouth Abbey (23-22—45); Felix-Antoine Parenteau, Kents Hill (22-22—44); Joe Gaffney, Pingree (16-23—39); Hunter McCarthy, Portsmouth Abbey (16-23—39); Zachary Tsatas, Kents Hill (11-26—37); Connor Nolan, Portsmouth Abbey (18-17—35); Conner Boulay, Kents Hill (14-21—35); Kellan Kissane, Worcester Academy (19-14—33); Jack Copponi, Worcester Academy (7-25—32); Raphael Landry, Kents Hill (13-18—31); Chris Hughes, Worcester Academy (12-15—27); Max Kirianov, Pingree (6-18—24)
NTDP EVALUATION CAMP: 5 locals, several others who play here invited
Top goalie:Â Von Larson and Max Levine-Stein, Pingree
Pingree had a strong goalie tandem. Larson, a junior '08, finished with a 2.35 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage. Levine-Stein, a freshman '09, posted a sparkling 1.82 GAA and a .921 save percentage. Both helped Pingree finish a solid 15-11-2.
Honorable mentions:Â Ethan Addazio, Berwick (2.85 GAA, .917 save percentage); Vincent Ouellet, NYA (3.44, .897); Easton Theberge, Portsmouth Abbey (3.55, .885)
Housatonic
Top skater:Â Liam Lefebvre, Trinity-Pawling
The Vermont commit exploded for 21 goals and 57 points in 26 games. Averaging over two points per game, Lefebvre led the Pride to a seven-win increase from last winter and a spot in the Large School Tournament field. His work with Andrew Migliore and Nick Peragine helped Trinity-Pawling become one of the better teams in the region.
Honorable mentions: Andrew Migliore, Trinity-Pawling (23-28—51); Ryan Hedley, Salisbury (21-27—48); Justin Tavares, Deerfield (17-28—45); Indiana Grossbard, Avon Old Farms (26-16—42); Blake Burke, Westminster (22-20—42); Nick Peragine, Trinity-Pawling (15-27—42); Ludovik Gauvin, Trinity-Pawling (7-32—39); Drew Keiver, Deerfield (14-23—37); Derek Rhodes, Westminster (13-18—31); JT Rothstein, Taft (13-17—30); Luke Dow, Kent (7-22—29); Matt Lemay, Taft (15-13—28); Cooper Snee, Avon Old Farms (12-14—26); Stefano Pietrantonio, Kent (17-9—26)
Top goalie:Â Elliot Lennon, Deerfield
Lennon led Deerfield to the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8 Tournament. The 6-foot-3 netminder raised his profile all season with a 2.03 GAA and a .926 save percentage. Both of those numbers have him fourth among all goalies who played at least 1,000 minutes. Before losing to Cushing in the semifinals, Deerfield had a 14-game winning streak. Lennon had a lot to do with that.
Honorable mentions:Â Anthony Palmer, Avon Old Farms (2.20 GAA, .926 save percentage); Brady Morris, Taft (2.49, .925); Jack Fichthorn, Westminster (2.53, .928); Steven Luciano, Salisbury (2.32, .916); Luke Quinn, Loomis Chaffee (2.94, .913); Liam Joyce, Loomis Chaffee (2.98, .906); Connor Towle, Hotchkiss (3.21, .920)
ISL Eberhart
Top skater:Â Carter Meyer, Rivers
There's no real debate here. First in the region in goals with 41. First in the region in points per game at 2.50. Second in the region in points with 70. As an '09, Meyer solidified himself as someone who should be a sure bet to make the U.S. National Team Development Program. The '09 guided his team to the No. 7 seed in the Elite 8 and a spot in the semifinals. He lived up to the hype — and then some.
NEPSAC PLAYOFFS: 10 uncommitted players who boosted their stock in the postseason
Honorable mentions: Justin Graf, Rivers (13-43—56); Finn Sears, Rivers (22-31—53); Evan Nee, St. Mark's (23-28—51); Danny Buckley, St. George's (23-23—46); Will Hatten, Rivers (20-23—43); Caiden Pellegrino, St. Mark's (11-30—41); Max Donatelli, St. George's (13-27—40); Zach Baker, Groton (21-19—40); Will Manchuso, St. Mark's (12-25—37); Cam MacPherson, St. Mark's (15-22—37); Drew Carr, St. Mark's (15-22—37); Sam Pandolfo, Rivers (10-26—36); Marco Senerchia, St. George's (5-31—36); Nate Moons, Groton (15-20—35); Matt Egan, Middlesex (19-14—33); Nathan Walsh, St. George's (5-28—33); Nick Sumner, Brooks (14-14—28)
Top goalie:Â Justin BriseBois, St. Mark's
What a season for BriseBois. The senior led the region in save percentage (.935) and goals-against (1.83) among goalies who registered over 1,000 minutes. St. Mark's has long been a team in Elite 8 contention, but typically was a top seed in the Small School Tournament. But this year, with elite goaltending, the Lions finished as the No. 2 seed in the Elite 8. That's on BriseBois.
Honorable mentions:Â Derrick Huang, Rivers (2.76 GAA, .897 save percentage); Caio Bernardini, Middlesex (3.17, .922); Wes DiModica, Groton (3.18, .897)
ISL Keller
Top skater:Â Billy MacAusland & Kyle O'Leary, Nobles
Why pick one when both were so intertwined with each other's success? MacAusland finished fourth in the region with points at 61 and O'Leary was fifth with 59. Playing on the same line, they consistently dominated and led Nobles to the No. 8 seed in the Elite 8. O'Leary is committed to Yale, while MacAusland is still somehow uncommitted.
Honorable mentions: David Bosco, Belmont Hill (18-29—47); Evan Jones, Belmont Hill (12-30—42); Ethan Travis, Tabor (19-20—39); Robbie Daley, Governor's Academy (12-25—37); Ethan Cox, Nobles (17-20—37); Tommy Anderson, Thayer (12-22—34); Grayson Cohen, Belmont Hill (7-26—33); Jake Tavares, Belmont Hill (19-14—33); Ty Wood, Lawrence Academy (19-12—31); Laz Giardina, Lawrence Academy (11-17—28)
Top goalie:Â Vinnie D'Urso, Tabor
The sophomore '08 was a star for Tabor this winter, boasting a 2.63 GAA and a .929 save percentage, helping the Seawolves get some big wins. This season was likely an appetizer for what should be the main course next season — D'Urso will be a year older and head coach Gerry Dineen's team isn't losing a lot.
Honorable mentions:Â Zach Ericson, Governor's (2.73 GAA, .915 save percentage); Justin Lee, Nobles (2.55, .912); Keagin Wilson, Belmont Hill (1.97, .916); JJ Thibodeau, Belmont Hill (1.68, .914); Tommy Saulnier, St. Sebastian's (2.94, .910); Kolin Beliveau, Lawrence Academy (2.99, .900)
Lakes
Top skater:Â CJ Watroba, Kimball Union
In a year when Kimball Union had less firepower and more depth, Watroba still led the charge. The Merrimack commit led his team in goals (24) and points (47). Corwith Simmers, his center, was lost for much of the season, and he still led the Wildcats to the No. 1 seed in the Small School Tournament and a Small School title.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Honorable mentions: Cam Fahey, Tilton (20-23—43); Matt Vohra, St. Paul's (17-24—41); Jeremy Poirier, Holderness (10-30—40); Iain Olsen, KUA (12-28—40); Lucas Siomos, KUA (5-32—37); Jacob Duval, Holderness (21-16—37); Eli Chilicki, Holderness (18-19—37); Jeremy D'Souza, Tilton (12-23—35); Beckett Homlish, Proctor (19-15—34); Connor Pierson, New Hampton (15-19—34); Luke Gerardi, New Hampton (21-12—33); Colby Jewell, Proctor (10-22—32); Brayden Wade, Holderness (14-18—32); Connor Dozois, Holderness (14-18—32); Tanner Petalas, Holderness (12-20—32)
Top goalie:Â Blake McMeniman, Kimball Union
It was another stellar season for McMeniman. The senior '07 provided the Wildcats with a steady, consistent presence in net. For goalies who played over 1,000 minutes, he ranked third in GAA (1.93) and boasted a .918 save percentage. One year after guiding KUA to an Elite 8 title, he helped head coach Tim Whitehead's team win the Small School Tournament.
Honorable mentions:Â Mark Bierwirth, Holderness (2.20 GAA, .918 save percentage); Matt Wood, Tilton (2.41, .927); Blake Truchon, St. Paul's (3.45, .911)
Independents
Top skater:Â Joe Salandra, Brunswick
There is no debate here. Salandra, an '08, finished the season as the region leader in points. In his first prep season, he tallied 38 goals and 72 points, leading Brunswick to the No. 6 seed in the Elite 8. He dominated games with his wicked shot, high IQ and great skating. He made Harvard look very smart (as if they needed to look even smarter) since he's committed there.
Honorable mentions: Max Dineen, Cushing (26-32—58); Mason St. Louis, Brunswick (20-33—53); Rian Chudzinski, Dexter Southfield (26-26—52); Duncan Thompson, Berkshire (17-34—51); Ryan Lucarelli, Canterbury (13-33—46); Oliver Czaja, Brunswick (18-24—42); Matt Lacombe, Berkshire (20-22—42); Sean Leetch, Dexter Southfield (14-28—42); Evan Regan, Berkshire (20-21—41); Blake Baksay, Northfield Mount Hermon (22-18—40); Luke Corrigan, Pomfret (22-18—40); Noah Survilas, Dexter Southfield (18-22—40); Grayden Robertson-Palmer, Phillips Andover (16-23—39); Cam Minella, Brunswick (7-30—37); Rui Han, Phillips Andover (20-17—37); Myles Brosnan, Dexter Southfield (9-27—36); Will Cavanagh, Phillips Exeter (18-18—36); Jake Pomichter, Canterbury (23-12—35); Gavin Fitzpatrick, Phillips Exeter (14-21—35); Filip Svodoba, NMH (12-22—34); Matthew Itzkovitz, Pomfret (11-23—34); Joe Covelluzi, Cushing (18-13—31); Alex Theodore, Phillips Andover (12-19—31)
Top goalie:Â Chase Anderson, Phillips Andover
This came down to Anderson vs. Kyle Bolduc. But Anderson was so great in the playoffs, that it was impossible not to give this to him. Anderson led his team to a Flood Marr title and then a Large School championship. He posted a 2.33 GAA and a .924 save percentage on the season. He went 3-0 to win the Large School title, making 108 saves on 109 shots. The 6-foot-3 goalie did a lot to boost his profile.
BOYS CHAMPS: Cushing wins the Elite 8 | Phillips Andover wins the Large School | Kimball Union wins the Small SchoolÂ
Honorable mentions:Â Kyle Bolduc, Berkshire (1.93 GAA, .912 save percentage); Maksim Corovic, Cushing (2.44, .911); Colin Davis, Dexter Southfield (2.40, .920); Brendan Petraco, Phillips Exeter (2.60, .931); Brady Knode, Winchendon (2.73, .908); Dylan Lee-Stack, Brunswick (2.66, .904); Joey Mitchell, Pomfret (2.81, .917)
