Not every team was in action over the past week, but the show must go on.
Prep hockey has almost fully returned from the Christmas break, and so we'll continue our efforts identifying the standout performers of the past week. The Housatonic wasn't in action, so naturally, there won't be any top performers coming from any of those teams. In some conferences, we've failed to name a top performer. That's because either enough teams weren't in action to have a true top performer, or there just weren't enough great performances.
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS: Check out all the finals from post-Christmas tournaments
There would've been a lot more action, but the Nichols-Belmont Hill Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., was canceled due to snow.
Here are the top performers from the last week.
Holt
Top skater:Â Hugo Daniel, North Yarmouth Academy
I switched things up here and went with Daniel, who notched two goals and two assists over three games. His big game came against Berwick when he lit the lamp twice to power North Yarmouth Academy to a 5-0 win. The Yarmouth, Maine, native posted assists in wins over BB&N and Roxbury Latin. The freshman leads his team in goals (5) and is tied for the team lead in points with eight.
BEST OF DECEMBER: The top performers from the first monthÂ
Honorable mentions: Eli Chilicki, Berwick (1-4—5); Daxton St. Hilaire, North Yarmouth Academy (1-3—4)
Top goalie:Â None
ISL Eberhart
Top skater:Â None
Top goalie:Â David Mallio, BB&N
While there wasn't much action in the ISL Eberhart, Mallio had a solid week between the pipes. He was at his best when he earned a 36-save shutout over Roxbury Latin. Despite losing to North Yarmouth Academy, 3-0, he made 45 stops and followed it up by making 31 saves against Berwick.
ISL Keller
Top skater:Â Cam Russo, Governor's Academy
This one was tight. Like real tight. Russo had two game-winners. One came against Stanstead College in the shootout to advance Governor's Academy to the next round of the Edward G. Watkins New Year's Invitational. The other came against Thayer in a 2-1 win to advance the Middleton, Mass., native's squad to the championship — where they'd lose to Cushing. Russo had the lone goal. He also added three assists over the three games.
Honorable mentions: Cole Estey, Tabor (1-6—7); Michael Ranaldi, Governor's Academy (2-3—5); Matt Cataldo, St. Sebastian's (4-1—5)
Top goalie:Â Pelle Russo, St. Sebastian's
He didn't face the most shots or play in the most games, but per usual, he was steady. Russo stopped 32 shots to hold off a late push from Berkshire and win 4-3. He followed it up with a 26-save win to beat Williston Northampton, 4-2. The junior is having a great season. His 1.40 goals against average and .956 save percentage both rank fourth in prep hockey. That's pretty good, right?
Lakes
Top skater:Â Cam Caron, New Hampton
There wasn't a ton going on in the Lakes Region, but Caron notched four goals and an assist at the Edward G. Watkins Tournament. After scoring a goal in each game against Lawrence Academy and Canterbury, he stepped up to beat Stanstead College, 5-4, in overtime. He scored two goals, one of which was the game-winner. He also added an assist.
UNCOMMITTED STANDOUTS: Best players from the Edwin G. Watkins Tournament
Honorable mentions: Tyler Gwatkin, Proctor (3-1—4); Matt Vohra, St. Paul's (2-2—4); Harry Dermody, St. Paul's (2-2—4)
Top goalie:Â None
Independents
Top skater:Â Landan Resendes, Cushing
Cushing put on a masterclass in scoring its own tournament, posting 21 goals over three wins. Resendes factored into eight of those goals, lighting the lamp four times and assisting on four others. He notched a goal and two assists against Canterbury, a hat trick over Lawrence Academy and two assists in a championship win over Governor's Academy. He ranks second in the region in points to Chilicki with 21.
Honorable mentions: Dan Markevych, Cushing (4-3—7); Ryan Philbrick, Cushing (1-5—6); Sam Ciapa, Canterbury (3-2—5)
Top goalie:Â Cooper Rautenstrauch, Cushing
He didn't face a ton of action, but he was solid enough in net to help earn Cushing the championship at its own tournament. He made 23 stops to beat Canterbury, 20 to edge out Lawrence Academy and 19 to beat Governor's Academy in the championship. While Cushing has great talent and depth up front, Rautenstrauch has held it down in net with a 2.00 GAA and .917 save percentage.
