Over the last seven days, various teams had get-right weeks where they rattled off wins to help steer their seasons back in the right direction.
Similarly, for several teams who have had underrated good seasons, their strongest players rose to the top.
The second full month of boys prep hockey is winding down, which means the postseason push is fully underway.
Here are the top performers from the week of Jan. 17-23.
Holt
Top skater:Â Parker Murch, Berwick
Murch continued to be a consistent producer over the last week, posting three goals and three assists over three games. The '07 scored a goal in a 2-2 tie with Kents Hill, potted two and assisted on another in a 4-1 victory against Portsmouth Abbey and notched two assists in a 5-2 loss to Phillips Exeter. It took him only 19 games to hit 40 points.
Honorable mentions: Noah Jimbo, Portsmouth Abbey (2-3—5); Chris Hughes, Worcester Academy, (1-3—4); Jack Copponi, Worcester Academy (0-4—4); Cayne Leive, North Yarmouth Academy (1-3—4); Quinn Moses, Pingree (0-4—4)
Top goalie:Â Aidan McAuslin, North Yarmouth Academy
There were several strong goaltending performances, but McAuslin was stellar. The senior stepped in and made 40 saves to beat Worcester Academy, 4-2, before turning aside 28 shots to take down Hebron, 3-2, in overtime.
Honorable mentions:Â Matthew Pimentel, Berwick (69 saves on 72 shots over two games); Patrick McDevitt, Portsmouth Abbey (146 saves on 163 shots over four games); Braden Clifford, Worcester Academy (72 saves on 77 shots over two games); Kody Yancey, Kents Hill (40 saves on 42 shots in one game)
Housatonic
Top skaters:Â Matt Lemay and Jason Rothstein, Taft
Taft has had an up-and-down season in the follow-up to its Large School Tournament title last year. The Rhinos went 1-2-1 over the last seven days, but got plenty of offense from Lemay and Rothstein, with Lemay totaling five goals and two assists, while Rothstein tallied three lamplighters and three helpers. Goals haven't been easy to come by for Taft, making it all the more encouraging that Lemay and Rothstein had the weeks they had.
Honorable mentions: Indiana Grossbard, Loomis Chaffee (3-2—5); Jake Owens, Hotchkiss (3-2—5); Jack McGregor, Hotchkiss (2-3—5); Alex Pelletier, Avon Old Farms (1-3—4); Ben Brown, Hotchkiss (1-3—4); Jack Roberts, Kent (1-3—4); Joey Crescrimanni, Taft (2-2—4); Ryan Hedley, Salisbury (1-3—4); Justin Tavares, Deerfield (0-4—4)
Top goalie:Â Michael Heinke, Avon Old Farms
Head coach John Gardner's team has gotten consistent, stable goaltending from his two netminders in Heinke and sophomore Anthony Palmer. Heinke got the bulk of the workload last week, making 25 saves to shutout Northfield Mount Hermon, 5-0, before turning aside 23 shots to beat rival Westminster, 3-2. The '06 has a 1.97 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage on the season.
Honorable mentions:Â Liam Joyce, Loomis Chaffee (66 saves on 71 shots over two games); Connor Towle, Hotchkiss (78 saves on 84 shots over two games)
ISL Eberhart
Top skater:Â Ryan Staples, St. George's
Staples continues to be a perfect fit in the St. George's lineup. The Yale commit tallied a goal and added an assist in both wins over BB&N and Portsmouth Abbey. His most clutch performance came in a comeback, 4-2 win over St. Mark's when he scored two goals. He leads St. George's in goals (10) and points (26).
NEXT GENERATION: How four Rivers eighth graders are taking prep hockey by storm
Honorable mentions: Tate Pecknold, St. George's (2-4—6); Zach Baker, Groton (2-4—6); Tedy O'Keefe (3-3—6); Marco Senerchia, St. George's (2-3—5); Max Donatelli, St. George's (1-4—5); Matt Egan, Middlesex (2-3—5); Troy Hayes, St. George's (2-2—4); Danny Buckley, St. George's (1-3—4); Jake Novak, Roxbury Latin (1-3—4); Brendan St. Peter, Roxbury Latin (1-3—4); Jack Francini, Middlesex (3-1—4); Carter Meyer, Rivers (3-1—4); Andrew Gibbons, St. Mark's (3-1—4); Austin Borggaard, St. Mark's (2-2—4)
Top goalie:Â Ethan Ramonetti, Groton
Groton has quietly been putting together a nice season and that continued this past week, as head coach Bill Riley's team went 2-0-1. Ramonetti made 37 saves in a 4-4 tie with Governor's Academy, and followed that up with two wins — a 31-save effort to beat Pingree, 4-2, and a 30-save night to sneak past Middlesex, 5-4, in overtime.
Honorable mentions:Â Ryder Shea, St. Mark's (59 saves on 61 shots over two games); Alex Tarves, St. Mark's (71 saves on 76 shots over two games); Caio Bernardini, Middlesex (101 saves on 110 shots over three games)
ISL Keller
Top skater:Â Nolan Flynn, St. Sebastian's
This spot came down to several St. Sebastian's players, and Flynn takes it. In a 7-6 overtime loss to Phillips Andover, Flynn showed up, scoring one goal and assisting on three others. He tallied two more assists in a 4-1 win against Middlesex before potting a goal in a 6-2 victory against Governor's Academy. The Sacred Heart commit is tied for second on his team in points with 24.
Honorable mentions: Ben Merrill, St. Sebastian's (3-4—7); Brendan Keaveney, St. Sebastian's (2-4—6); Matt Cataldo, St. Sebastian's (3-3—6); Ted MacAusland, Nobles (2-3—5); Shawn Leary, Lawrence Academy (2-3—5); Colin Gorman, St. Sebastian's (2-3—5); Anthony Sergeyev, Milton Academy (3-1—4)
RANKINGS: There's a new No. 1 in boys prep hockey
Top goalie:Â Tyler Bloomfield, Nobles
Nobles found its way back into the top 10 this week, and that's partially due to the strong play of Bloomfield. The senior made 29 saves to sneak past Lawrence Academy, 5-4, before getting a 22-save shutout against Phillips Andover. With his .920 save percentage and 2.63 GAA, Bloomfield has been strong as the starter for Nobles.
Honorable mentions:Â Sam Caulfield, Milton Academy (70 saves on 77 shots over two games); Kam Carkner, St. Sebastian's (50 saves on 53 shots over two games)
Lakes
Top skater:Â Caden Wells, Holderness
Wells had himself a week. In just two games, the senior posted nine points. He had a four-goal game against North Yarmouth Academy and tallied an assist, too. His strong play continued in a 6-2 win over Governor's Academy when he notched one goal and three assists. Here's a crazy stat: Wells is averaging over two points per game...and ranks third on his team in points (33).
Honorable mentions: Malcolm Baar, Kimball Union (4-4—8); Sam LeDrew, KUA (3-4—7); Jack Sadowski, KUA (2-4—6); Pavit Mehra, Holderness (2-4—6); Aaron VanWie, Holderness (3-2—5); Caeden Herrington, Holderness (0-5—5); Mason Meltzer, Brewster Academy (2-2—4)
Top goalie:Â James Mikos, Vermont Academy
While Vermont Academy is still winless, the Wildcats had a slew of close matchups this week. Mikos did just about everything in both of his starts, stopping 48 shots against Williston Northampton before making 40 more against New Hampton. Fellow Vermont Academy goalie Owen Willgos performed well against St. Paul's, turning away 36 shots.
Honorable mention:Â Ryan Nolan, Holderness (42 saves on 45 shots over two games)
Independents
Top skater:Â Cullen Emery, Dexter Southfield
Emery's decision to return to Dexter Southfield after testing out the BCHL was a good one. Emery started with one goal and four assists in an 11-2 thumping of Austin Prep. In a 5-3 loss to Thayer, Emery was outstanding, notching two goals and assisting on the other. The next day, he posted one goal and two assists to beat Brooks, 5-1.
Honorable mentions: Ryan Stratton, Canterbury (3-5—8); Noah Survilas, Dexter Southfield (2-5—7); Duncan Stewart, Canterbury (3-4—7); Tyler Hamilton, Dexter Southfield (4-2—6); Sean Leetch, Dexter Southfield (3-3—6); Max Dineen, Cushing (2-4—6); Jake Stevens, Canterbury (0-6—6); Ian Kuisis, Frederick Gunn (3-2—5); Dalton Kane, Millbrook (5-0—5); Brendan Giles, Brunswick (1-4—5)
MIDSEASON REPORT: Surprises, questions and more at the halfway mark
Top goalies:Â Kyle Bolduc and Tommy Adams, Berkshire
Berkshire has put together a strong season under new head coach Kevin Czepiel. The goalie tandem of Bolduc and Adams has been a big reason why. This past week, Bolduc made 20 stops to beat Choate, 5-1, while Adams turned aside 30 of 31 shots in a 2-0 loss to Avon Old Farms.
Honorable mention:Â Colin Davis, Dexter Southfield (71 saves on 78 shots over three games)
