Before the chaos of the final stretch kicks in, let's stop for a moment.
The boys prep hockey season is a little over two months old. Kimball Union is the best team in the region, followed by Avon Old Farms, Brunswick, Cushing and Holderness. Many more teams will battle for spots behind them over the next month.
As for the talent, there have been many top performers. Some are already committed to play college hockey while others hope to use strong seasons as a springboard to a commitment.
Here are the top boys prep performers through the first two months of the season (Nov. 18-Feb. 4).
Holt
Top skater:Â Parker Murch, Berwick
Berwick has a plethora of high-level scorers at the top of its lineup, but no one has been as dominant as Murch. The York, Maine, native is averaging one goal per game, scoring 24 goals in his first 24 games. He's also averaging over two points per game, with 52 points. The sophomore '07 ranks second in the region in scoring.
Honorable mentions: Michael Delage, Berwick (16-25—41); Justin Massa, Berwick (20-19—39); Adrian Mendoza, North Yarmouth Academy (15-20—35); Hugo Daniel, North Yarmouth Academy (16-15—31); Noah Jimbo, Portsmouth Abbey (11-20—31); Felix-Antoine Parenteau, Kents Hill (13-17—30)
Top goalie:Â Matthew Pimentel, Berwick
I usually try to have two different teams represented between top skater and top goalie, but Pimentel has been too good to do that. The junior '05 netminder carries a 2.38 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage, getting the majority of the reps. That .937 save percentage ranks fourth in the region.
Honorable mentions:Â Nick Hubbard, Pingree (2.45 GAA, .909 save percentage); Patrick McDevitt, Portsmouth Abbey (3.04 GAA, .916 save percentage); Tristan Bourassa, Kents Hill (2.80 GAA, .909 save percentage)
Housatonic
Top skater:Â Alex Pelletier, Avon Old Farms
Pelletier has been a huge part of why Avon Old Farms hasn't lost a game in regulation yet. The postgraduate forward has 16 goals and 33 points in 18 games, making the most of his choice to go back to Avon Old Farms. Having won an Elite 8 title last season, Pelletier looks poised to lead Avon on another deep postseason run.
Honorable mentions: Tom Molson, Deerfield (11-20—31); Justin Tavares, Deerfield (12-19—31); Gio DiGiulian, Kent (16-13—29); Michael Munroe, Avon Old Farms (14-14—28); Jake Owens, Hotchkiss (12-16—28); Jack McGregor, Hotchkiss (10-17—27); Indiana Grossbard, Loomis Chaffee (12-14—26); Owen Mahar, Kent (10-16—26)
Top goalie:Â Brady Morris, Taft
There are various Housatonic goalies worthy of this, but Morris has been impressive behind a Taft team that's struggled to score. Morris, an '06 junior, carries a 2.38 GAA and a .924 save percentage. In the year after losing star goalie Rudy Guimond to graduation, head coach Ryan Shannon has to be pleased in Morris being a suitable replacement.
Honorable mentions:Â Anthony Palmer, Avon Old Farms (1.13 GAA, .955 save percentage); Michael Heinke, Avon Old Farms (1.98 GAA, .919 save percentage); Connor Towle (2.70 GAA, .926 save percentage)
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ISL Eberhart
Top skater:Â Andrew Gibbons, St. Mark's
It's no surprise that Gibbons has been such a force for St. Mark's this season. The senior Air Force commit has 13 goals and 37 points in 19 games so far, serving as a primary play-driver for head coach Carl Corazzini. The Lions are a fairly young team, so Gibbons' contributions — both on the ice and off — have been vital for St. Mark's success.
Honorable mentions: Bryan Tang, Middlesex (11-25—36); Austin Borggaard, St. Mark's (17-16—33); Matt Egan, Middlesex (16-14—30); Ryan Staples, St. George's (11-19—30); Calvin Beard, St. Mark's (9-20—29); Carter Meyer, Rivers (14-15—29); Nathan Walsh, St. George's (9-13—22); Daigo Hotta, BB&N (5-17—22)
Top goalie: Ryder Shea, St. George's
There's really no debate with this one. Shea's senior season has been a smashing success, ranking fourth in the region in GAA (1.62) and second in save percentage (.946). The Maine commit had St. George projected as the No. 7 seed in the Elite 8 as of Sunday — an impressive feat for a team that didn't even make the playoffs last season.
Honorable mentions:Â Ethan Ramonetti, Groton (2.43 GAA, .930 save percentage); Caio Bernardini, Middlesex (2.67 GAA, .919 save percentage); Derek Huang, Rivers (1.22 GAA, .934 save percentage)
ISL Keller
Top skater:Â Matt Cataldo, St. Sebastian's
This was a tough call given Owen Leahy's (Providence, R.I.) dominance and Dylan Hunt's (Marlboro, Mass.) ascendance as a point-producing defenseman at the prep level. And yes, St. Sebastian's isn't having the season it expected to have. But Cataldo has continued to be one of the most powerful players in prep, scoring 16 goals and totaling 36 points in 21 games.
Honorable mentions: Owen Leahy, Lawrence Academy (12-25—37); Dylan Hunt, Milton Academy (8-24—32); Kyle O'Leary, Nobles (13-19—32); Casey Mutryn, St. Sebastian's (10-21—31); Brady Kudrick, Thayer (12-18—30); Dennis Davidson, Nobles (13-17—30); Teddy MacAusland, Nobles (15-14—29); Anthony Sergeyev, Milton (11-18—29)
Top goalie:Â Sam Caulfield, Milton
The Mustangs are a young team, which means inconsistencies have been prevalent. Fortunately for new head coach Jim Gaudet, he's had Caulfield, who is one of the top goalies in prep. Caulfield, a junior '06, carries a 2.70 GAA and a .929 save percentage. If Milton is to sneak into the postseason, Caulfield will have to continue to be at his best.
Honorable mentions:Â Tyler Moschella, Thayer (2.45 GAA, .914 save percentage); Keagin Wilson, Belmont Hill (2.32 GAA, .914 save percentage); Tyler Bloomfield, Nobles (2.86 GAA, .912 save percentage); Kam Carkner, St. Sebastian's (1.84 GAA, .929 save percentage)
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Lakes
Top skater:Â Jack Sadowski, Kimball Union
Between Kimball Union, Holderness and Cam Caron, there are various candidates for this. But there's no debate about Sadowski here. The New Hampshire commit hasn't just been the best player in the Lakes Region — he's been the best player in prep. Sadowski has 31 goals and 61 points in 26 games. Those are video game numbers.
Honorable mentions: Pavit Mehra, Holderness (19-31—50); Sam LeDrew, Kimball Union (24-25—49); Aaron VanWie, Holderness (25-24—49); Corwith Simmers, Kimball Union (20-26—46); Caden Wells, Holderness (19-21—40); Andrew O'Sullivan, Kimball Union (7-31—38); Caeden Herrington, Holderness (4-33—37); Cam Caron, New Hampton (14-19—33)
Top goalie:Â Ryan Nolan, Holderness
Nolan has established himself as one of the better goalies in prep this season, boasting a 2.21 GAA and a .907 save percentage. The senior '05 plays behind one of the best teams in the region, but will be vital if Holderness makes the Elite 8. Here's a prediction: If the Bulls go on a run come the postseason, Nolan will be the reason why.
Honorable mentions:Â Blake McMeniman, Kimball Union (2.43 GAA, .909 save percentage); Blake Wood, St. Paul's (3.35 GAA, .912 save percentage); Matt Wood, Tilton (2.80 GAA, .919 save percentage)
Independents
Top skater:Â Brendan Giles, Brunswick
It's a close race between Giles and Brunswick teammate Sean Gibbons, but I give the slight edge to Giles because he has 30 goals, which is second-most in the region. His 50 points are tied for fourth in the region. The senior '05 has ascended from a solid secondary scorer to one of the best players in prep and someone who should be playing Division 1 college hockey someday.
Honorable mentions: Sean Gibbons, Brunswick (17-34—51); Emerson Marshall, Cushing (13-23—36); Ryan Wachtel, Brunswick (14-21—35); Ryan Stratton, Canterbury (17-18—35); Ryan Lucarelli, Canterbury (9-23—32); Ethan Skowronek, Phillips Andover (16-15—31); Jackson Powers, Canterbury (17-13—30); Duncan Thompson, Berkshire (17-13—30); Antoine Gauthier, Berkshire (10-20—30); Cooper Cleaves, Brunswick (5-22—27); Jake Stevens, Canterbury (4-22—26)
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Top goalie:Â Marko Bilic, Cushing
As deep as Cushing's roster is at forward and on defense, the real advantage head coach Paul Pearl's team has is in net. Bilic ranks third in the region in both GAA (1.39) and save percentage (.939). The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Arizona State commit has all the tools to help the Penguins push deep into the Elite 8 if they make it.
Honorable mentions:Â Kyle Bolduc, Berkshire (1.96 GAA, .932 save percentage); Tommy Adams (2.04 GAA, .922 save percentage); Chase Anderson, Phillips Andover (2.07 GAA, .935 save percentage); Maxim Pitts, Canterbury (2.63 GAA, .911 save percentage); Will Baker, Brunswick (2.72 GAA, .909 save percentage)
