The race to the playoffs is on in boys prep hockey, as is evident in the tight results and terrific action around the region.
It's an off-the-board kind of year in terms of teams vying for the Elite 8. There are some usual suspects, but there are also a plethora of teams fulfilling even more than their expected potential.
At the center of the action are the top performers. There are some new names leading the charge this week.
So, let's dive in.
Holt
Top skater: Ethan Jasmin, Worcester Academy
While Worcester Academy has struggled at times this season, Jasmin was a big bright spot over the last week. His two goals and three assists, along with teammate Connor Dozois' hat trick, powered head coach Bob Lavin's team to a 6-5 win over Pomfret. Even in the 2-1 loss to North Yarmouth Academy, Jasmin was the lone goal scorer. The senior '04 ranks third on his team in points with 14.
Honorable mentions: Connor Dozois, Worcester Academy (3-2—5); Daxton St. Hilaire, North Yarmouth Academy (3-2—5)
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Top goalie: Nick Hubbard, Pingree
Pingree escaped with two ties and Hubbard was a huge reason why. Against Portsmouth Abbey, Hubbard turned aside 52 of 54 shots. He followed that up with a 39-save performance in a 3-3 draw with North Yarmouth Academy. This week was indicative as to how Hubbard's season has gone — the Lynnfield, Mass., native has a terrific 2.08 goals against average and .936 save percentage.
Honorable mentions: Aidan Farion, North Yarmouth Academy (68 saves on 71 shots over two games); Braden Clifford, Worcester Academy (42 saves on 44 shots in one game)
Housatonic
Top skater: Tom Molson, Deerfield
Molson posted quite the week, ending up with five goals and eight points over Deerfield's three games. He kicked things off with one goal and two assists in a 4-3 loss to Kimball Union. He followed that up with a hat trick in his team's 4-4 tie with Millbrook and then notched two assists the next day in a 5-3 loss to Choate. Molson leads Deerfield in both goals (11) and points (24). An eight-point week sure isn't bad.
Honorable mentions: Nicolas Petrut, Salisbury (1-5—6); Joe Odyniec, Avon Old Farms (2-3—5); Chase Arnett, Westminster (2-3—5); Evan Partridge, Choate (1-4—5); Jake Kavanagh, Choate (3-1—4)
Top goalie: Stephen Peck, Avon Old Farms
Peck has been one of the top goalies in prep hockey. Over the last week, Peck backstopped Avon Old Farms to three wins. That included a 22-save shutout against Northfield Mount Hermon, stopping 20 of 21 shots to beat Berkshire and taking down Westminster, 7-1, with 30 saves. Peck has raised eyebrows this year, leading the region in GAA (1.22) and being tied for fourth in save percentage (.945). He's a huge reason why his team is one of the top in prep hockey.
Honorable mentions: Aidan Hopewell, Kent (36 saves on 36 shots in one game); Rudy Guimond, Taft (81 saves on 87 shots over two games)
ISL Eberhart
Top skater: Richard Gallant, St. Mark's
While St. Mark's lost a big game against Belmont Hill last Wednesday, 4-1, Gallant had the lone goal off a sweet dish from Jimmy Lyver. Head coach Carl Corazzini's team followed it up with a big, 5-2 win over St. George's on Saturday with Gallant tallying the first and third goals. Despite missing some time early in the season due to injury, Gallant still leads St. Mark's in points with 20 in 11 games.
Honorable mentions: Ben Buckley, St. George's (2-2—4); Vincent Jaeger, Roxbury Latin (1-3—4); Will Rice, BB&N (1-2—3)
Top goalie: Ethan Ramonetti, Groton
Groton has had trouble landing in the win column this season, but a strong, 42-save performance from Ramonetti helped earn Groton a 1-1 tie against Governor's Academy. That improved his numbers on the season to a 2.43 GAA and a .934 save percentage.
Honorable mention: Jeevan Anand, St. Mark's (54 saves on 60 shots over two games)
ISL Keller
Top skater: Nolan Flynn, St. Sebastian's
Recently, head coach Sean McCann moved Flynn up to the first line to ride on the left flank of center Matt Cataldo and right wing Teddy Mutryn. Over the past week, Flynn registered two goals in a 3-3 tie with Andover. In an 8-1 victory over Middlesex, the Natick, Mass., native posted two goals and two assists. Even in his squad's 4-2 defeat against Governor's Academy, Flynn lit the lamp once. While Isaac Mitchell, Cataldo and Mutryn are the primary producers, it's helpful for the Arrows that Flynn is solidifying himself as a prime secondary scorer.
Honorable mentions: Ben Merrill, St. Sebastian's (4-2—6); Matt Cataldo, St. Sebastian's (0-5—5); Henry Cohen, Milton Academy (3-1—4); Mikka Kelechian, Milton Academy (0-4—4); Cam Russo, Governor's Academy (2-1—3)
Top goalie: Beau Lane, Thayer
Thayer shocked the prep hockey world last Wednesday, taking down then-undefeated Cushing, 4-2. Lane was a massive part of that, stopping 38 shots. He followed that up by stopping 35 shots to tie Dexter Southfield, 1-1. Lane, an '04, has raised his stock quite a bit this year. His 1.87 GAA is impressive and his .944 save percentage is tied for sixth in the region.
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Honorable mentions: JJ Thibodeau, Belmont Hill (44 saves on 46 shots over two games); Gus Ackerman, Tabor (48 saves on 49 shots in one game)
Lakes
Top skater: Cam Caron, New Hampton
New Hampton secured two wins over the last week, taking down Vermont Academy, 4-2, and Stanstead College, 6-4. Caron played a large role in both, notching two assists against Vermont Academy and following that up with two goals and two assists against Stanstead College. Caron, a freshman '07, leads his team in goals (10) and ranks second in points (20).
Honorable mentions: Matthew Babineau, New Hampton (3-2—5); Mike Sullo, Kimball Union (2-3—5); Finn Connor, Proctor (2-3—5); Corwith Simmers, Kimball Union (3-1—4)
Top goalie: Colby Boyce, Kimball Union
While Vermont commit Dan Heroux has gotten the majority of time in the Kimball Union net, Boyce has quietly been posting a nice season. That was on display this past week, as Boyce, an '04, posted two wins. The first came against Deerfield when he turned aside 30 of 33 shots. After Heroux got the assignment against Stanstead College (and won), Boyce faced Proctor and stopped 28 shots to win, 4-1. Boyce carries a 1.33 GAA and .948 save percentage.
Independents
Top skater: Mick Frechette, Dexter Southfield
This might seem like a bit of an off-the-board pick, but anyone who's watched Frechette this season knows how effective he's been on the back end. Last week, the gritty senior defenseman posted three assists in an 8-0 win over Austin Prep. Then, in a 2-2 tie with Brooks, the Weston, Mass., native lit the lamp twice. It hasn't been the greatest season for Dexter, which currently sits at 7-5-7. But a bright spot has been Frechette, who ranks second on the team in both goals (7) and points (15).
Honorable mentions: Sean Gibbons, Brunswick (3-2—5); Marko Goich, Frederick Gunn (1-3—4); Dale Campbell, Millbrook (2-2—4); Jed Brazo, Canterbury (2-2—4); Aidan D'Urso, Pomfret (1-3—4); Louie Marcellino, Pomfret (1-3—4); Emmanuel Damianakis, Williston Northampton (2-2—4); Alexandre Pellerin, Williston Northampton (2-2—4)
Top goalie: Michael Salvatore, Exeter
Salvatore was a prime reason why Exeter took down Hotchkiss, 4-1, on Saturday. The '03 from Newburyport, Mass., stopped 43 shots in the victory to improve his season numbers to a 2.50 GAA and .926 save percentage. Salvatore has faced a whole lot of rubber this year, as he's played in every game for his squad and leads the region in saves with 502. He's had to make at least 30 saves in 11 games.
Honorable mention: Tommy Adams, Northfield Mount Hermon (60 saves on 65 shots over two games)
