The time has come.
It's the final installment, as this is the top performers of all top performers, as we look back at the best players from the entire season.
This one will be formatted a little differently. There will still be honorable mentions, but instead of picking one player or goalie per conference, I went with the three-star format.
It was an amazing season doing these every week, and I very much look forward to continuing these next year. This doesn't mark the end of our prep season coverage — there's a lot more coming in the next few weeks.
For the final time, let's dive in.
Holt
PlayersÂ
No. 1 star:Â Connor Dozois, Worcester Academy
No. 2 star:Â Eli Chilicki, Berwick
No. 3 star:Â Mark Evangelous, Worcester Academy
Head coach Bob Lavin sees his best two forwards make their way into the mix here. Dozois put up the most goals in the region with 30, averaging over a goal per game all season. He also led the Holt conference in points with 49. Evangelous finished the season with 30 helpers and 43 points. Chilicki was dominant from start to finish, posting 20 goals and 28 points for 48 points over 28 games, turning into a weapon for head coach Lem Randall.
NTDP FUTURE: Four New Englanders invited to USA Hockey NTDP Evaluation Camp
Honorable mentions: Daxton St. Hilaire, North Yarmouth Academy (13-26—39); Ryan Kavanagh, Pingree (17-22—39); Justin Massa, Berwick (16-23—39); Zach Stabb, North Yarmouth Academy (16-15—31); Logan McManus, Portsmouth Abbey (10-19—29)
GoaliesÂ
No. 1 star:Â Nick Hubbard, Pingree
No. 2 star: Ryan Rosenau, Kents Hill
No. 3 star:Â Aidan Farion, North Yarmouth Academy
Hubbard earns the No. 1 spot after being the go-to guy at Pingree with his 2.41 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. Kents Hill didn't have a great season, but that didn't stop Rosenau from posting a great season with a 2.68 GAA and .927 save percentage. Farion split time with senior Euan Martin, but Farion played almost double the minutes. Farion finished with a 2.32 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Honorable mention:Â Patrick McDevitt, Portsmouth Abbey (2.75 GAA, .915 save percentage)
BEST OF THE BEST: Top performers from the NEPSAC playoffs
Housatonic
PlayersÂ
No. 1 star:Â Joe Connor, Avon Old Farms
No. 2 star:Â Jackson Holl, Taft
No. 3 star:Â Ryan Shaw, Westminster
Connor was the heartbeat of the Elite 8-winning offense, posting a team-high 21 goals and 43 points. The Northeastern commit's all-around offensive game reigned supreme in the Housatonic. Holl finished the season tied for fourth in New England with 50 points, as the Large School champion boasted 18 goals and 32 assists. Shaw was one of the main reasons Westminster found itself in the Elite 8 with his 18 goals, 27 assists and 45 points.
Honorable mentions: Charlie Gollob, Avon Old Farms (13-26—39); Tom Molson, Deerfield (15-24—39); J.J. Lemieux, Taft (17-20—37); Derek Tremblay, Taft (12-23—35); Justin Tavares, Deerfield (14-19—33); Blake Burke, Westminster (14-16—30); Gio DiGiulian, Kent (17-12—29); Joe Odyniec, Avon Old Farms (18-20—28)
GoaliesÂ
No. 1 star:Â Rudy Guimond, Taft
No. 2 star:Â Stephen Peck, Avon Old Farms
No. 3 star:Â Andrew Heinze, Loomis Chaffee
In any other conference, Peck would snag the No. 1 spot. But Guimond was just too good this season. Guimond, who carried Taft to a Large School championship, posted a 2.34 GAA and .943 save percentage. Most impressive was that he made 40 or more saves in 11 games. Four of those featured him making 50 or more saves. Just a wild year for the Yale commit. Peck was a huge reason Avon Old Farms won the Elite 8, as he held the region's best GAA (1.26) and finished tied for the best save percentage (.948). Not to be forgotten is Heinze with his 2.27 GAA and .924, helping Loomis Chaffee to the No. 7 seed in the Large School Tournament.
Honorable mentions:Â Matt Alberti, Salisbury (2.01 GAA, .918 save percentage); Connor Towle, Hotchkiss (2.58 GAA, .923 save percentage)
CHAMPS: Avon wins Elite 8 | Taft wins Large School | Lawrence Academy wins Small School
ISL Eberhart
PlayersÂ
No. 1 star:Â Sebbie Johnson, St. Mark's
No. 2 star:Â Richard Gallant, St. Mark's
No. 3 star:Â Will Rassier, Brooks
It would've been really cool to watch a full season of Gallant, but unfortunately, injuries at the beginning and the end cut it short. Still, the NTDP camp invite almost averaged two points per game, posting 12 goals, 21 assists and 33 points in 17 contests. Johnson stepped up in a massive way in his absence, notching a team-high 24 goals and 50 points. Rassier was the catalyst for Brooks, posting 20 goals and 41 points in 25 games.
Honorable mentions: Jim Lyver, St. Mark's (17-21—38); Andrew Gibbons, St. Mark's (12-26—38); Jonathan Balzarini, St. Mark's (11-22—33); Calvin Beard, St. Mark's (7-26—33); Jeremy Emch, Brooks (15-15—30); Matt Egan, Middlesex (17-12—29); Ben Buckley, St. George's (11-17—28); Colin Walsh, St. George's (13-15—28)
GoaliesÂ
No. 1 star:Â Ethan Ramonetti, Groton
No. 2 star:Â Ethan Simpson, Brooks
No. 3 star:Â Charles Watson, St. Mark's
Despite Groton only earning six wins, Ramonetti still posted a great season with a 2.41 GAA and a .935 save percentage. Simpson helped earn Brooks a spot in the Small School Tournament with his 2.46 GAA and .928 save percentage. Watson split the St. Mark's net with Jeevan Anand. Watson posted a terrific 1.56 GAA and .939 save percentage when he was between the pipes.
Honorable mentions:Â Matthew DellaRusso, St. George's (2.21 GAA, .933 save percentage); Jeevan Anand, St. Mark's (2.07 GAA, .919 save percentage); Brendan Nee, Rivers (2.63 GAA, .904 save percentage)
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
ISL Keller
PlayersÂ
No. 1 star:Â Ronan O'Donnell, Belmont Hill
No. 2 star:Â Jacob Pohl, Milton Academy
No. 3 star:Â Matt Cataldo, St. Sebastian's
These were all really hard decisions because of how much talent was in the ISL Keller this season. O'Donnell was massive for Belmont Hill, posting 24 goals, 21 assists and 45 points, helping get the Sextants to the Elite 8 semifinals. Pohl was impactful all season but stepped up a lot when Mikka Kelechian went down late in the season. Pohl finished with 18 goals, 21 assists and 39 points. The third spot could've gone to a few different players, but Cataldo was outstanding with his 19 goals, 20 assists and 39 points.
Honorable mentions: Brock Cummings, Belmont Hill (8-32—40); Daniel Markham, Belmont Hill (14-25—39); Jack DesRuisseaux, Tabor (18-16—34); Teddy Mutryn, St. Sebastian's (8-26—34); Mason Chen, Milton Academy (8-23—31); Dennis Davidson, Nobles (16-15—31); Isaac Mitchell, St. Sebastian's (12-18—30); Owen Leahy, Lawrence Academy (16-14—30); Mikka Kelechian, Milton Academy (8-18—26 in 18 games); Jack Farrell, Governor's Academy (7-22—29); Ted MacAusland, Nobles (6-23—29); Cam Russo, Governor's Academy (13-15—28)
PHOTO GALLERIES: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
GoaliesÂ
No. 1 star:Â Sam Caulfield, Milton Academy
No. 2 star:Â Beau Lane, Thayer
No. 3 star:Â Thatcher Bernstein, Nobles
There shouldn't be any debate about the No. 1 spot. Caulfield was the biggest reason why Milton Academy earned the No. 3 seed in the Elite 8 Tournament. He finished the season tied for the region lead in save percentage at .948. His 1.94 GAA isn't too bad either. Lane was the bright spot for Thayer, posting a 2.09 GAA and a .936 save percentage. Bernstein comes in at No. 3 with a 2.24 GAA and .915 save percentage.
Honorable mentions:Â Pelle Russo, St. Sebastian's (2.48 GAA, .926 save percentage); Vincent Lamberti, Lawrence Academy (1.57 GAA, .944 save percentage); Gus Ackerman, Tabor (2.72 GAA, .916 save percentage)
Lakes
PlayersÂ
No. 1 star:Â Jackson Kyrkostas, Kimball Union
No. 2 star:Â Christian Day, New Hampton
No. 3 star:Â Jack Sadowski, Kimball Union
It was really tough to leave freshman sensation Cam Caron outside of the three stars, but I feel these three are very deserving. Kyrkostas finished the season with the most points in the region with 58. He was consistent all season. Day was impactful for New Hampton, tied for fourth in New England with 50 points. Sadowski played a huge role for head coach Tim Whitehead's team, potting 24 goals and 42 points.
Honorable mentions: Cam Caron, New Hampton (18-29—47); Dalton Kane, Brewster Academy (17-23—40); Sam LeDrew, Kimball Union (17-22—39); Keegan Knight, Tilton (15-16—31); Caden Wells, Holderness (12-17—29); Doyle Coughlin, Brewster Academy (16-13—29); Avan Pyle, Proctor (11-18—29); Maxime Charbonneau, Holderness (12-13—25)
UNFORGETTABLE: 5 moments we won't soon forget from NEPSAC championships
GoaliesÂ
No. 1 star:Â Evan Plunkett, Holderness
No. 2 star:Â Dan Heroux, Kimball Union
No. 3 star:Â Colby Boyce, Kimball Union
Plunkett was a huge reason why Holderness ended up with the No. 2 seed in the Small School Tournament, backstopping his team with a 1.92 GAA and .931 save percentage. The next two spots were given to Kimball Union's tandem. Heroux played a lot more, posting a 2.26 GAA and .928 save percentage. But Boyce was great when called upon by Whitehead, earning a 1.52 GAA and .944 save percentage.
Honorable mention:Â Owen Willgos, Vermont Academy (3.14 GAA, .928 save percentage)
Independents
PlayersÂ
No. 1 star:Â Landan Resendes, Cushing
No. 2 star:Â Jed Brazo, Canterbury
No. 3 star:Â Ethan Gardula, Cushing
This wasn't a fun section to pick. There are simply way too many deserving players to narrow down three stars, which is why there are quite a few honorable mentions. These three, however, are all in the right place. Resendes posted 27 goals, 27 assists and 54 points for Cushing, helping the Penguins get to the Elite 8 championship game. Brazo had an outstanding year, scoring 27 goals and adding 29 assists for 56 points. I could've gone with a different player from a different team in the third spot, but Gardula deserves it. The UConn commit posted 17 goals and 33 assists for 50 points. He was just as important to Cushing's success as Resendes was.
Honorable mentions: Drew DellaSalla, Brunswick (13-31—44); Sam Ciappa, Canterbury (23-20—43); Sean Gibbons, Brunswick (21-21—42); Alex LoGuercio, Frederick Gunn (28-14—42); Eli Friedman, Brunswick (16-25—41); Zach Walsh, Millbrook (13-22—35); Jacob Rothman, Frederick Gunn (13-22—35); Jaden Davis, Berkshire (13-21—34); Jake Stevens, Canterbury (7-25—32); Aidan D'Urso, Pomfret (15-17—32); Felix-Antoine Bouchard, Williston Northampton (15-16—31); Dale Campbell, Millbrook (17-14—31)
GoaliesÂ
No. 1 star:Â Cooper Rautenstrauch, Cushing
No. 2 star:Â Tommy Adams, Northfield Mount Hermon
No. 3 star:Â Michael Salvatore, Exeter
Rautenstrauch was terrific for Cushing, posting a 1.71 GAA and a .927 save percentage, getting the Penguins all the way to the Elite 8 championship game. Adams had a really nice season for Northfield Mount Hermon, notching a 2.04 GAA and a .922 save percentage. He was a big reason why NMH was the No. 6 seed in the Large School Tournament. While Exeter's record was sub-.500, Salvatore had a good season with a 2.56 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Honorable mentions:Â Max Gatti, Dexter Southfield (1.46 GAA, .939 save percentage); Michael Salvatore, Exeter (2.56 GAA, .927 save percentage); Ryan Crowshaw, Frederick Gunn (2.56 GAA, .910 save percentage); Brendan Holahan, Brunswick (2.61 GAA and .913 save percentage)
