As the calendar reaches the end of January, you can feel the games getting more important in New England boys prep hockey.
The best of the best are stepping up as the playoffs come into view.
Ironically, there were a lot of new names who won top skater or top goalie who had never won the weekly award before. That speaks to the continued parity this season — it feels like anyone can do anything.
Here are the top performers from Jan. 21-27.
Holt
Top skater: AJ Oliveri, Worcester Academy
Oliveri had a big week. In a 6-1 loss to Pomfret, he had the lone goal, and in a 6-4 defeat to Northfield Mount Hermon, he tallied another goal and registered two assists. He notched another helper in a 3-0 win over North Yarmouth Academy. He leads Worcester Academy in goals (13) and points (22).
Honorable mentions: Kellan Kissane, Worcester Academy (1-4—5); Sean Foster, Pingree (2-1—3); Caleb Keyes, Worcester Academy (2-1—3); Christian Kirsch, Pingree (1-2—3); Gus Lambert, Berwick (2-0—2); Cole Cournoyer, Berwick (2-0—2)
Top goalie: Easton Theberge, Portsmouth Abbey
Theberger was immensely busy. While he did go 0-2-1 over the last seven days, he made 40 saves on 44 shots against Pingree, 23 on 27 against Berwick and turned away 14 of 16 to tie Roxbury Latin, 2-2. He carries a 3.78 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage on the season.
Honorable mentions: Max Levine-Stein, Pingree (57 saves on 64 shots over two games); DJ Patriss, Berwick (40 saves on 41 shots in one game)
Housatonic
Top skater: Gus McGarvey, Westminster
After scoring the lone goal for Westminster in a 1-1 tie with then-No. 5 Canterbury, he exploded for a hat trick and an assist in a 9-2 drubbing of Loomis Chaffee. McGarvey leads Westminster in goals (eight) and points (14) through 13 games.
Honorable mentions: JT Rothstein, Taft (1-5—6); Mike McGrath, Deerfield (3-2—5); Aidan Patton, Hotchkiss (3-2—5); Matteo Alvarez, Deerfield (2-3—5); Owen Burke, Westminster (1-4—5); Domenico Clarizio, Taft (3-2—5); Ryan Murray, Hotchkiss (4-0—4); Max Yakub, Avon Old Farms (2-2—4); Austin Groves, Hotchkiss (0-4—4); Dylan Chery, Taft (2-2—4); Brody Latkin, Avon Old Farms (0-4—4); Henning Reinprecht, Taft (2-2—4); Michael Rossi, Westminster (1-3—4); Liam Donnelly, Avon Old Farms (1-2—3); Colton Simas, Deerfield (2-1—3); Max Hu, Loomis Chaffee (2-0); Jake Harrison, Hotchkiss (1-2—3); Joe Gannon, Taft (1-2—3); Owen Andrews, Deerfield (1-2—3); Nate Burlock, Salisbury (2-0—2); Owen Morris, Choate (2-0—2); Will Watson, Loomis Chaffee (0-2—2); Zach Gill, Salisbury (1-1—2)
READ MORE: What would boys prep hockey look like without juniors and NTDP?
Top goalie: Hunter Dryden, Taft
Dryden was locked in last week, going 2-1-0. He made 26 saves to take down Loomis Chaffee, 5-1, on Wednesday before making 33 stops on 35 shots in a 3-1 loss to Frederick Gunn the next day. Dryden's biggest game came against then-No. 5 Canterbury when he made 27 saves for the 4-1 upset victory. While Taft has underperformed, Dryden's numbers are strong: a 2.59 GAA and a .916 save percentage.
Honorable mentions: Elliot Lennon, Deerfield (63 saves on 66 shots over two games); Caden Weichselbaumer, Westminster (52 saves on 53 shots in one game); Will Bagot, Avon Old Farms (35 saves on 36 shots in one game); Anthony Palmer, Avon Old Farms (28 saves on 29 shots in one game); Charlie Abel, Hotchkiss (26 saves on 27 shots in one game); Jordan Rittenberg, Salisbury (28 saves on 30 shots in one game); Neilan Johnson, Hotchkiss (25 saves on 27 shots in one game)
ISL Eberhart
Top skater: Alejandro Hassan, Groton
While Hassan was held off the scoresheet in a 1-0 win over Governor's Academy on Wednesday, he was all over it come the weekend. He had a goal and three helpers in a 7-3 win over Pingree on Friday before notching another goal and assist in a 5-2 victory against Middlesex. He has eight goals and 13 points in 16 games.
Honorable mentions: Luke Sardone, Middlesex (3-2—5); Nate Moons, Groton (3-1—4); Nolan Cahill, Roxbury Latin (2-2—4); Bruce Li, Groton (1-3—4); Joe Meade, Roxbury Latin (1-3—4); Max Donatelli, St. George's (3-0—3); Caiden Pellegrino, St. Mark's (2-1—3); Cam Daigle, St. George's (0-3—3); Will Manchuso, St. Mark's (1-2—3); Cam Cataruzolo, Roxbury Latin (0-3—3); Evan Nee, St. Mark's (0-3—3); Connor Wood, Groton (1-2—3); Aiden Ferreira, St. George's (0-3—3); James Hamlin, Roxbury Latin (1-2—3); Charlie Brand, Middlesex (2-1—3)
Top goalie: Wes DiModica, Groton
It must be Groton week at New England Hockey Journal — Kaiden Donia (Townsend, Mass.) on the cover of the latest magazine, Hassan as top skater and now DiModica. He went a perfect 26-for-26 against Gov's before making 17 saves to take down Pingree and 20 more to beat Middlesex. He's had a strong senior year with a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage.
Honorable mentions: None
ISL Keller
Top skater: Jameson Needham, St. Sebastian's
Needham had a massive week for the Arrows. He tallied a hat trick to beat Phillips Andover, 5-3. And after being held scoreless in a 3-1 loss at Middlesex, Needham scored two first-period goals and later notched an assist to beat Governor's Academy, 3-1.
Honorable mentions: Noah Keeler, Milton (0-4—4); Sam Fishbone, St. Sebastian's (1-3—4); Matthew Carolan, Belmont Hill (2-1—3); Tommy Wilkinson, Thayer (2-1—3); Max Colosimo, Milton (1-2—3); Brady Ellis, Lawrence Academy (2-1—3); Luke Allen, Lawrence Academy (2-1—3); Alex Guo, Belmont Hill (1-2—3); Cam Menhall, Lawrence Academy (0-3—3); Blake Wilichoski, Milton (2-0—2); Sam Lee, Belmont Hill (2-0—2); Billy MacAusland, Nobles (1-1—2)
READ MORE: The latest boys prep rankings
Top goalie: Tommy Saulnier, St. Sebastian's
Saulnier went 2-1-0 on the week, making 36 saves in the win over Andover and 28 to take down Gov's. Even in the loss to Middlesex, he still made 27 saves. Saulnier carries a sparkling 1.75 GAA and a .942 save percentage. He's a huge reason why the Arrows are in Elite 8 contention.
Honorable mentions: Timmy Heaslip, Governor's Academy (80 saves on 86 shots over three games); Eli Zucker, Milton (64 saves on 67 shots over two games); Aiden Emerick, Lawrence Academy (76 saves on 84 shots over three games); Tyler Moschella, Thayer (68 saves on 73 shots over two games); Ethan Bauer, Belmont Hill (36 saves on 37 shots in one game)
Lakes
Top skater: Michael Delaney, Holderness
Delaney posted seven points in three games over the last week. He scored two goals and added two assists in a 10-1 win over North Yarmouth Academy. That production kept up in a 4-1 victory against Governor's Academy when he tallied two more helpers and then assisted on his team's only goal in a 3-1 loss to New Hampton.
Honorable mentions: Jack Welby, Holderness (3-3—6); Josh Phillips, Kimball Union (3-3—6); Keegan Hunt, New Hampton (0-5—5); Mitchell Smith, St. Paul's (2-3—5); Xander Boutilier, Kimball Union (2-3—5); AJ Jones, Holderness (2-3—5); Sawyer Graubins, Holderness (2-3—5); Tucker O'Neil, Holderness (0-4—4); Axel Black, Proctor (2-1—3); Harry Rubin, New Hampton (1-2—3); Johnny Niemela, New Hampton (2-1—3); Carter Cowan, Kimball Union (3-0—3); Dylan Podergois, New Hampton (1-2—3); Quinn Brandell, St. Paul's (1-2—3); Bryce Turmel, Tilton (1-1—2); Cazimir Wotkowicz, Tilton (1-1—2); Luke Long, Proctor (0-2—2); Andersen Kilbourne, St. Paul's (1-1—2); Chay Simons, St. Paul's (1-1—2);
Top goalie: Sam Zygulski, New Hampton
Zygulski came up huge for New Hampton. He made 20 saves in a 6-2 win against Vermont Academy on Friday. The next day, Zygulski turned in a phenomenal performance, making 39 stops in a 3-1 win against Holderness. The senior has a 3.00 GAA and a .899 save percentage this season.
Honorable mentions: Blake Truchon, St. Paul's (41 saves on 43 shots over two games); Hunter Marshall, Tilton (31 saves on 33 shots in one game); Mark Bierwirth, Holderness (64 saves on 67 shots over two games); Cam Ingram, Kimball Union (44 saves on 50 shots in two games)
Independents
Top skater: Cooper Ludwar, Winchendon
Winchendon went 3-0-0 over the last seven days, and Ludwar was a big part of the wins. He had a goal and three assists in a 10-1 win over Hoosac. Two days later, he tallied an assist in a big, 3-1 win over Cushing. He posted another goal and another helper in a 9-1 victory against Kents Hill.
Honorable mentions: Kaidan Sahajpal, Winchendon (1-6—7); Charlie Puglisi, Winchendon (2-4—6); Declan Grenache, Williston Northampton (3-3—6); Brayden White, Williston Northampton (1-5—6); Keegan Kazan, Brunswick (3-2—5); Jack Lee, Canterbury (2-3—5); Jackson Smail, Winchendon (3-2—5); Sam Gero, Millbrook (2-3—5); Hayden Hutner, Williston Northampton (3-2—5); Joey Dellacroce, Northfield Mount Hermon (1-4—5); Sam Chartier, Williston Northampton (1-4—5); Kaden Kern, Winchendon (4-1—5); Drew Short, Winchendon (1-4—5); Casey Berninger, Millbrook (2-2—4); Joseph Covelluzzi, Cushing (0-4—4); Jack Thompson, Brunswick (2-2—4); Steven Khnoroo, Winchendon (3-1—4); Michael Barrett, Phillips Andover (1-3—4); Tommy Browne, Canterbury (1-3—4); Alex Small, Phillips Andover (2-2—4); Camden Tabb, Williston Northampton (2-2—4); Laz Giardina, Winchendon (3-1—4); CJ List, Millbrook (1-2—3); Mason St. Louis, Brunswick (1-2—3); Carter Johnson, Berkshire (2-1—3); Andy Haban, Northfield Mount Hermon (1-2—3); Jonah Rainisch, Berkshire (2-1—3); Giacomo Caliri, Pomfret (1-2—3); Seamus McMakin, Canterbury (3-0—3); Colton Cleaves, Brunswick (1-2—3); Nolan Roberts, Phillips Andover (2-1—3); Myles Brosnan, Dexter Southfield (0-3—3); Ben Lombardi, Brunswick (2-1—3); Dylan Hall, Frederick Gunn (1-1—2); Troy Hamelin, Frederick Gunn (0-2—2); Patrick Cerullo, Frederick Gunn (0-2—2)
READ MORE: Our boys prep midseason report — one of the wildest years in recent memory
Top goalie: Alex Schnarr, Frederick Gunn
Schnarr made 26 saves on 28 shots in a 4-1 loss to Millbrook. But Schnarr helped his team bounce back in a 3-1 win over Taft, as the Frederick Gunn netminder made 33 saves. He has a 2.49 GAA and a .920 save percentage this season.
Honorable mentions: Cody Hew, Canterbury (116 saves on 123 shots over three games); Drew Karlovits, Dexter Southfield (33 saves on 34 shots in one game); Evan Akerman, Brunswick (37 saves on 40 shots in one game); Alex Kim, Berkshire (36 saves on 38 shots over two games); Brady Knode, Winchendon (47 saves on 49 shots over two games); Mason Raycroft, Cushing (51 saves on 57 shots over two games)
