We made it — the regular season is over.
It's been quite a journey together. Coming to you every week with a look around the prep hockey world has been a blast and I'm already excited to do it all again next season.
There is still a week left of action with the postseason and then we have tons of end-of-season stories, including top performers from the playoffs and from the entire season.
For the final time in the regular season, let's dive into the top prep performers from Feb. 22-25.
Holt
Top skater: Parker Murch, Berwick
It was a big week for Berwick, as it won the Holt Conference championship game. Murch was a big part of two of the three games. The freshman registered a hat trick and two assists in a 5-2, opening round win over Hebron. Then, in a double-OT thriller, Berwick took down North Yarmouth Academy in the semifinals. Murch netted the winner along with two assists.
Honorable mentions: Justin Massa, Berwick (2-5—7); Logan McManus, Berwick (2-0—2); Anthony Lombardo, Hebron (2-0—2)
Top goalie: Matthew Pimentel, Berwick
Pimentel backstopped Berwick to the conference championship. After stopping 15 of 17 shots to beat Hebron, he turned aside 48 shots in the 4-3, 2OT win over North Yarmouth Academy in the semifinal. He posted a perfect day in the championship game, stopping all 35 shots he faced to beat Portsmouth Abbey, 1-0.
QUARTERFINAL PREDICTIONS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Honorable mention: Patrick McDevitt (58 saves on 60 shots over two games)
Housatonic
Top skater: Ryan Shaw, Westminster
Shaw's outstanding season continued last week. Over the course of three games, the East Longmeadow, Mass., native posted four goals and eight points. After falling to Frederick Gunn on Wednesday, Westminster needed two wins in its final two games to stay in the Elite 8 hunt. Shaw notched two goals and an assist in a win over Deerfield and then against Belmont Hill on Saturday, he had one goal and two assists in a massive win to propel the Martlets into the Elite 8.
Honorable mentions: Tom Molson, Deerfield (1-5—6); Blake Burke, Westminster (3-2—5); Owen Clifford, Deerfield (3-2—5); Jackson Holl, Taft (2-3—5); Derek Tremblay, Taft (0-5—5); Jacob Ingstrup, Kent (0-4—4)
Top goalie: Andrew Heinze, Loomis Chaffee
Heinze halted a three-game losing streak for his team by stopping 28 shots in a 5-2 win over Choate. In the regular season finale, Heinze brought his best, turning away 35 of 36 pucks to tie Avon Old Farms, 1-1. The senior ended the regular season with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
Honorable mentions: Rudy Guimond, Taft (74 saves on 78 shots over two games); Stephen Peck, Avon Old Farms (53 saves on 56 shots over two games)
ISL Eberhart
Top skater: Andrew Gibbons, St. Mark's
St. Mark's pummeled the competition — St. George's, BB&N and Groton — over the past week, beating them by a combined score of 24-5. Gibbons was big, scoring three goals and 10 points throughout those games. Gibbons is one of many forwards head coach Carl Corazzini's team will need to continue their strong play into the Small School Tournament.
Honorable mentions: Sebbie Johnson, St. Mark's (5-5—10); Jim Lyver, St. Mark's (4-4—8); Jonathan Balzarini, St. Mark's (1-4—5); Zach Baker, Groton (3-1—4); Danny Talacci, BB&N (2-2—4); Vincent Jaeger, BB&N (1-3—4)
Top goalie: David Mallio, BB&N
Mallio gets this for his performance in the regular season finale when he stopped 50 shots to beat Brooks, 4-1.
ISL Keller
Top skater: Josh Halliday, Thayer
I'm going a bit off the board with this one, but Halliday was massive for Thayer last week. In a 4-3 loss to Milton Academy, Halliday posted one goal and one assist. His big performance came in a 6-1 win over St. Sebastian's to end the season. The junior had two goals and three assists — a nice way to end head coach David Hymovitz's first season.
Honorable mentions: Ronan O'Donnell, Belmont Hill (3-4—7); Jacob Pohl, Milton Academy (1-5—6); Daniel Markham, Belmont Hill (2-4—6); Brendan Maher, Milton Academy (3-2—5)
FULL SCHEDULES AND BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Top goalie: Max LaCroix, Governor's Academy
LaCroix finished the regular season strong with a 43-save performance against Nobles to tie the No. 4 seed in the Elite 8, 1-1. Then, he made 34 stops to take down Cushing, the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8, 4-1. Quite the finish to the season for Governor's Academy and a lot of momentum for the Small School Tournament. Governor's drew Lawrence Academy in the quarterfinals.
Honorable mentions: Vincent Lamberti, Lawrence Academy (64 saves on 67 shots over two games); Sam Caulfield, Milton Academy (70 saves on 74 shots over two games)
Lakes
Top skater: Jackson Kyrkostas, Kimball Union
The best players step up in big games and that's exactly what Kyrkostas did this past week. After posting two assists in a Lakes Region playoff win over Tilton, Kyrkostas saved his best for when the Wildcats needed him most. He posted a hat trick and an assist in the championship, giving KUA the 5-1 win over Holderness and catapulting his squad into the Elite 8 Tournament.
Honorable mentions: Sam LeDrew, Kimball Union (2-3—5); Gavin Brandon, New Hampton (2-2—4); Jack Sadowski, Kimball Union (1-3—4); Caden Wells, Holderness (2-1—3)
POTENTIAL MVP: 16 candidates to win Elite 8 MVP
Top goalie: Dan Heroux, Kimball Union
It's the Kimball Union show this week. Heroux was terrific in both games, stopping 28 of 29 shots to take down Tilton and then 32 of 33 to secure the championship. KUA needed Heroux to be at his best and he was.
Honorable mentions: Evan Plunkett, Holderness (93 saves on 101 shots over three games); Sawyer Russell, Tilton (60 saves on 62 shots over two games); Treva Murphy, St. Paul's (42 saves on 44 shots in one game)
Independents
Top skater: Aidan D'Urso, Pomfret
It hasn't been the greatest of seasons for Pomfret, but it finished strong with an 8-0 takedown of Austin Prep and a 5-4 win over Williston Northampton. D'Urso went off for four goals and two assists against Austin Prep and then one goal and one helper against Williston Northampton. D'Urso finished the season with 32 points in 27 games — the most on Pomfret.
FULL PREVIEWS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Honorable mentions: Louie Marcellino, Pomfret (3-3—6); Cameron Geary, Pomfret (1-5—6); Jayson Alegria, Williston Northampton (5-0—5); Alexandre Pellerin, Williston Northampton (2-3—5); Ethan Gardula, Cushing (3-1—4); Sam Ciappa, Canterbury (2-2—4); Jake Stevens, Canterbury (2-2—4)
Top goalie: Ben Skowronek, Andover
While Skowronek stopped 19 of 21 shots in a 3-1 loss to Northfield Mount Hermon on Wednesday, Skowronek ended his season strong with a 38-save shutout over rival Exeter. The '05 finished his season with a 2.98 GAA and .917 save percentage.
