The playoffs are inching closer, as prep hockey hits mid-February.
This week, we'll here are some of the usual names who were top performers again. Still, there were lots of new names who made their way into this version of the weekly highlights.
It's always fun checking out which players pop off for a bunch of points or a boatload of saves each week. If you ever want to send in submissions or videos, feel free to send an email to evan.marinofsky@seamansmedia.com.
Let's jump in.
Holt
Top skater:Â Connor Dozois, Worcester Academy
It hasn't been the greatest season for Worcester Academy, but head coach Bob Lavin's team won two of three last week and Dozois was a big reason why. He notched a five-goal game in a 6-2 win over Portsmouth Abbey and posted four assists across the three games. Dozois finds himself tied for second in the region in total goals this season with 22.
Honorable mentions: Parker Murch, Berwick (5-2—7); Eli Chilicki, Berwick (3-4—7); Ryan Kavanagh, Pingree (4-3—7); Josh Bonrough, Portsmouth Abbey (3-3—6)
Top goalie:Â None
Housatonic
Top skater:Â Ryan Shaw, Westminster
Westminster got back on track after a 6-2 loss to Avon Old Farms on Feb. 1 by winning all four of its games last week. Shaw posted eight points over the four wins, including posting two goals and two assists in a 5-2 win over Pomfret. The other three victories came against Hotchkiss, Choate and Deerfield. Shaw has been terrific this season with 34 points in 20 games. He's a huge reason why his team has an argument for the Elite 8.
Honorable mentions: Tyler Fogu, Trinity-Pawling (2-3—5); Ben Polomsky, Choate (2-2—4); Tanner Duncan, Trinity-Pawling (3-1—4); Jackson Holl, Taft (0-4—4)
THE FUTURE: Top performers in the 14U division at the Northeast Pack playoffs
Top goalie:Â Andrew Heinze, Loomis Chaffee
While Heinze was great in a 2-1 win over Deerfield with 29 saves, his best performance came against Salisbury when he turned aside 43 of 44 shots to tie the reigning Elite 8 champions, 1-1. Heinze, an '04 senior, has been a massive help for Loomis Chaffee with his 2.06 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.
Honorable mentions:Â Stephen Peck, Avon Old Farms (46 saves on 49 shots over two games); Primo Baldassarre, Choate (84 saves on 91 shots over three games); Rudy Guimond, Taft (89 saves on 95 shots over two games); Matteo De Luca, Westminster (104 saves on 114 shots over four games)
ISL Eberhart
Top skater:Â Jake Novak, Roxbury Latin
Going a bit off the board with this one. Roxbury Latin got two of its three wins all season last week, as well as a tie. Novak played a big role in all three games. He posted two goals and two helpers in a 6-2 win over Middlesex, two goals and an assist in a 4-1 victory over Brewster Academy and two assists in a 3-3 tie with Rivers. Novak, an '06 junior, leads Roxbury Latin in goals (11) and points (18).
Honorable mentions: Vincent Jaeger, Roxbury Latin (2-5—7); Matt Egan, Middlesex (5-0—5); Sebbie Johnson, St. Mark's (3-2—5); Tanner McFaul, Brooks (3-2—5)
Top goalie:Â Evan Zhang, Roxbury Latin
I guess this is turning into Roxbury Latin week with top performers. Zhang was great over Roxbury Latin's three games, stopping 25 shots to beat Middlesex, 26 to take down Brewster Academy and 31 against Rivers. Zhang, an '06, has been solid for Roxbury Latin this season with a .912 save percentage.
ISL Keller
Top skater:Â Matthew Biotti, Belmont Hill
Belmont Hill is getting hot at the perfect time, as it's gone 10-0-1 in its last 11 games. Two of those wins came last week — one against St. Sebastian's and the other against Thayer. The '04 defenseman, who's committed to Harvard, stepped up in both games, registering one goal and two assists against St. Sebastian's and one goal and one helper against Thayer.
Honorable mentions: Michael Marchese, Governor's Academy (4-2—6); Jack Farrell, Governor's Academy (0-6—6); Brendan Hirsch, Lawrence Academy (4-1—5)
Top goalie:Â Sam Caulfield, Milton
Caulfield continues to post terrific weeks. Last week was no different, as the Needham, Mass., native stopped 37 of 40 shots to beat Tabor, 4-3, and turned aside 35 shots to tie Nobles, 2-2. His. 956 save percentage still leads the region by quite a bit.
Honorable mention: Gus Ackerman, Tabor (64 saves on 70 shots over two games)
Lakes
Top skater:Â Jack Sadowski, Kimball Union
Sadowski has been on a tear of late, and that continued last week. The former Arlington High standout had one goal in a stunning, 3-2 loss to Andover, two goals and one assist in a bounceback, 5-1 win against New Hampton and then added another goal in a 2-2 tie with Holderness. An '06, Sadowski has been his team's top point-getter (38) after Jackson Kyrkostas' 48.
Honorable mentions: Sam LeDrew, Kimball Union (1-4—5); Avan Pyle, Proctor (2-3—5); Caden Wells, Holderness (1-2—3); Mason Meltzer, Brewster Academy (2-1—3)
LAST WEEK: Check out the top performers from the week of Feb. 1-7Â
Top goalie:Â Evan Plunkett, Holderness
Plunkett had a great game against Tilton, stopping all 58 shots for a 3-0 win. He followed that up with a 36-save performance in a 2-2 tie with Kimball Union. At 15-5-1, Holderness continues to push for Elite 8 contention and Plunkett's been a big part of that with his sub-2.00 GAA and .923 save percentage.
Honorable mention:Â Dan Heroux, Kimball Union (65 saves on 69 shots over two games)
Independents
Top skater:Â Ethan Gardula, Cushing
This was a really tough call given how many great performances there were for the Independents. The Cushing star and UConn commit posted two goals and eight points over three games last week. One of those goals and four of those assists came in a 7-0 win over Winchendon. He also posted one goal and one assist in a big, 4-2 win over St. Mark's. He added an assist in a 5-3 win over Canterbury. Gardula ranks second on his team in points with 38 and will be massive come the postseason.
Honorable mentions: Alex LoGuercio, Frederick Gunn (6-1—7); Landan Resendes, Cushing (4-3—7); Luke Calabria, Frederick Gunn (0-6—6); Jonathan Lanza, Dexter (1-5—6); Connor Sutherland, Dexter (2-3—5); Michael Ryan, Frederick Gunn (1-4—5); Mark Pizzo, Frederick Gunn (0-5—5)
Top goalie:Â Cooper Rautenstrauch, Cushing
While Rautenstrauch posted 19 saves to shut out Winchendon, his best performance came against St. Mark's when he stopped 30 shots. In the team's win over Canterbury, he turned aside 31 of the 34 pucks sent his direction.
