It's been a crazy year in prep hockey.
New teams are earning spots in the top 10 rankings every week. There are quite a few teams vying for spots in the Elite 8. It doesn't take rocket science to assume that will continue in the final month of the season (hopefully, it doesn't require that.)
There have been many great players this season — some who came into this season with high expectations, and some who did not.
Here are the top performers from the first two months of the season.
Holt
Top skater:Â Eli Chilicki, Berwick
In the Holt, it's been the Chilicki show. The top-line center has 15 goals and 36 points in 19 games. In the month of January alone, the North Berwick, Maine, native had 19 points. When the clock struck midnight on Feb. 1, he found himself in a tie for the most points in prep hockey. His last game of January sums up his season so far — a hat trick and two assists in a big win over Worcester Academy.
Honorable mentions: Mark Evangelous, Worcester Academy (8-15—23); Ryan Kavanagh, Pingree (7-15—22)
Top goalie:Â Patrick McDevitt, Portsmouth Abbey
Portsmouth Abbey hasn't lost a game since Jan. 7 and McDevitt has been a huge part of that, backstopping them to a 5-0-2 record. The 6-foot, 165-pound goalie has played in all but one game this season and has been terrific, posting a 2.67 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. Throughout the region, he ranks inside the top 10 for most saves this season with 444.
Honorable mentions:Â Nick Hubbard, Pingree (2.10 GAA and .935 save percentage in 695 minutes); Ryan Rosenau, Kent's Hill (2.76 GAA and .927 save percentage in 881 minutes)
Housatonic
Top skater:Â Joe Connor, Avon Old Farms
This was an extremely tough decision given all of the great talents in the Housatonic (I'm looking directly at Ryan Shaw, Tom Molson, Gio DiGiulian and Jackson Holl), but Connor has been the top performer on one of the best teams in prep hockey. His 12 goals and 28 points are most on his team and he always finds his way onto the scoresheet. The Northeastern commit looks primed for a big February to help Avon Old Farms earn a slot in the Elite 8.
Honorable mentions: Ryan Shaw, Westminster (10-16—26); Tom Molson, Deerfield (12-15—27); Joe Odyniec, Avon Old Farms (12-15—27); Jackson Holl, Taft (8-18—26); Gio DiGiulian, Kent (15-10—25); Charlie Gollob, Avon Old Farms (10-15—25)
PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Evaluating Player of the Year candidates in prep hockey
Top goalie:Â Andrew Heinze, Loomis Chaffee
Again, not an easy call here. Heinze has been terrific for a Loomis Chaffee team that sits at 10-4-3 and is very much in the mix for Elite 8 contention. He sports a 2.00 GAA and a .930 save percentage and has also played in almost every game. His one hiccup came against Cushing on Jan. 21, but other than that he's been one of the best goalies in prep.
Honorable mentions:Â Stephen Peck, Avon Old Farms (1.25 GAA and .944 save percentage in 863 minutes); Rudy Guimond, Taft (2.67 GAA and .936 save percentage in 729 minutes); Matt Alberti, Salisbury (1.98 GAA and .918 save percentage in 572 minutes); Harrison Fogel, Kent (2.23 GAA and .931 save percentage in 485 minutes)
ISL Eberhart
Top skater:Â Richard Gallant, St. Mark's
This decision took all of *checks notes* 15 seconds. Gallant has lit it up this year for St. Mark's despite missing some early games due to injury. The speedy, skilled center continues to put up flashy numbers with his 10 goals and 27 points in 13 games — good for 2.08 points per game. The 5-foot-7 center may be undersized, but he's doing everything he can to strengthen his case for the U.S. National Team Development Program next year.
Honorable mentions: Colin Walsh, St. George's (11-12—23); Sebbie Johnson, St. Mark's (10-12—22); Will Rassier, Brooks (12-10—22)
BEST OF THE BEST: Top prep performers from the final week of January
Top goalie:Â Ethan Ramonetti, Groton
Ramonetti has been strong in net for a Groton team that has had scoring trouble. His 535 saves rank third in the region. Despite facing a ton of rubber, he has a nice 2.07 GAA and his .942 save percentage ranks fourth in New England. The junior '06 has been a nice addition to a Groton squad that needed a boost after last year's one-win season.
Honorable mentions:Â Jeevan Anand, St. Mark's (2.04 GAA and .923 save percentage in 477 minutes); Charles Watson, St. Mark's (1.43 GAA and .933 save percentage in 302 minutes); Evan Zhang, Roxbury Latin (2.53 GAA and .928 save percentage); Jason Delehoy, Rivers (2.05 GAA and .904 save percentage)
ISL Keller
Top skater:Â Matt Cataldo, St. Sebastian's
As many good performers as there are in the ISL Keller, it was impossible not to pick Cataldo, who's burst onto the scene this year as a key cog for St. Sebastian's. Cataldo has 14 goals and 16 assists. His 30 points rank sixth in the region. His play down the middle has been a big reason why the Arrows are averaging 3.56 goals per game and are right there for Elite 8 contention.
Honorable mentions: Mikka Kelechian, Milton Academy (8-18—26); Teddy Mutryn, St. Sebastian's (5-21—26); Isaac Mitchell, St. Sebastian's (9-16—25); Ted MacAusland, Nobles (6-17—23); Jack DesRuisseaux, Tabor (11-11—22); Ronan O'Donnell, Belmont Hill (14-7—21); Mason Chen, Milton Academy (3-16—19)
ISL BATTLE: Standouts from St. Sebastian's-Milton Academy tie
Top goalie:Â Sam Caulfield, Milton Academy
There are a ton of great goalies in the ISL Keller this year, but Caulfield stands above the rest. His season has been nothing short of sensational. Obviously, his most notable performance came in the Flood-Marr Tournament, but he's kept up his play since. The '06 sits at a 1.45 GAA and a .959 save percentage. That save percentage is the best in New England and his GAA ranks fifth. He's been a massive reason why Milton has been inside the Elite 8 window for two months.
Honorable mentions: Beau Lane, Thayer (1.93 GAA and .942 save percentage in 755 minutes); Thatcher Bernstein, Nobles (1.79 GAA and .928 save percentage in 634 minutes); Pelle Russo, St. Sebastian's (2.11 GAA and .933 save percentage in 818 minutes); JJ Thibodeau, Belmont Hill (2.16 GAA and .901 save percentage in 749 minutes)
Lakes
Top skater:Â Jackson Kyrkostas, Kimball Union
Kyrkostas has consistently shown why he's committed to playing Division 1 college hockey at RPI. The dynamic center has been dominant for Kimball Union this season, ranking right at the top of prep hockey in points with 36 through the first two months. Kimball Union ends its season with a home-and-home series with Cushing. That will be a massive test for Kyrkostas' team, as well as some terrific hockey to watch.
Honorable mentions: Christian Day, New Hampton (12-16—28); Cam Caron, New Hampton (13-14—27); Jack Sadowski, Kimball Union (14-11—25); Keegan Knight, Tilton (11-12—23); Braden O'Hara, Tilton (10-13—23)
Top goalie:Â Dan Heroux, Kimball Union
Heroux continues to impress for the Wildcats. The Univerisity of Vermont commit posted a great 2.42 GAA and .921 save percentage in the first two months. He's a stable netminder who brings consistency to the position. If Kimball Union is to make a deep run in the Elite 8, it will be in large part due to Heroux.
Honorable mentions:Â Owen Willgos, Vermont Academy (2.66 GAA and .940 save percentage in 487 minutes); Evan Plunkett, Holderness (2.08 GAA and .903 save percentage in 545 minutes); Ryan Nolan, Holderness (2.33 GAA and .908 save percentage in 324 minutes)
Independents
Top skater:Â Landan Resendes, Cushing
I give every credit in the world to Cushing. We posted some big ole expectations on them and, so far, the Penguins are on the right track to meet them (and potentially surpass them). No one embodies that more than Resendes, who's been the top performer on arguably the top team in prep hockey. He notched 16 goals and 32 points in the first two months. The Marlborough, Mass., native has more than shown why he's a Boston College commit.
Honorable mentions: Sean Gibbons, Brunswick (15-18—33); Jed Brazo, Canterbury (17-16—33); Ethan Gardula, Cushing (9-18—27); Eli Friedman, Brunswick (11-16—27); Drew DellaSalla, Brunswick (11-16—27); Sam Ciappa, Canterbury (12-14—26); Jaden Davis, Berkshire (9-16—25)
UNCOMMITTED: 5 uncommitted standouts from Cushing's 3-0 win over Tilton
Top goalie:Â Michael Salvatore, Exeter
This was another tough call, but it's hard to deny how good Salvatore has been with the number of pucks he's faced this season. He has the most saves in the region (someone get this kid some water) and still has a 2.67 GAA and .923 save percentage. He's been a huge reason why Exeter has eight wins.
Honorable mentions:Â Cooper Rautenstrauch, Cushing (1.77 GAA and .923 save percentage in 977 minutes); Paul Dalessio, Dexter Southfield (1.59 GAA and .930 save percentage in 509 minutes); Max Gatti, Dexter Southfield (1.40 GAA and .931 save percentage in 270 minutes); Tommy Adams, Northfield Mount Hermon (2.08 GAA and .917 save percentage in 544 minutes); Ryan Crowshaw, Frederick Gunn (2.32 GAA and .916 save percentage in 653 minutes); Mitchell McCusker, Frederick Gunn (1.87 GAA and .932 save percentage in 549 minutes)
