The Central Mass. High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the player of the year nominees for boys' hockey. The winners will be announced during the live show on Wednesday, June 26, at the Hanover Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins promptly at 7.
This award is sponsored by New England Sports Center.
During the live show, athletes of the year in 31 sports will be honored. In addition, top teams, coaches and overall athletes will be honored as will a Courage Award winner. Nominated athletes who RSVP will receive a complimentary ticket to the event thanks to sponsors.
Nominees can register here: Nominee Registration for the 2024 Central Mass High School Sports Awards (smartsheet.com)
Tickets for the public are on sale here: 2024 Central Mass. High School Sports Awards Tickets (enmotive.com)
For more information about the show and to opt into email updates, visit its website and you can also follow it on Facebook.
The Central Mass. High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.
Zack Baker
Grafton High
Senior, Center
Baker scored 15 goals and had 25 assists to lead his team in scoring and rank in the top five in Central Mass. Baker helped the Gators to a 14-6-1 record and the Division 3 state tournament round of 16. Defeating Longmeadow, 4-1, at home in the first round of the tourney was Baker’s most memorable moment of the season. Baker, a team captain, was a Roy Conference all-star and topped 100 points for his career. In the fall, he will attend Florida Atlantic University, where he will study finance. He is the son of Laura and John Baker of Grafton.
Jason Flaherty
Wachusett Regional
Senior, Forward
Flaherty scored 22 goals and had 21 assists to lead Central Mass. Division 1. He helped the Mountaineers to an appearance in the Division 1 state tournament and a record of 13-8. Flaherty posted two hat tricks this season, as well as a four-goal, three-assist performance against Lexington. He scored two short-handed goals in a late-season win over Nashoba Regional. Flaherty earned T&G Super Team honors for baseball last spring. After high school, he plans to work in the business sector. He is a West Boylston resident and the son of Christy and John Flaherty.
Luke Gerardi
St. John’s High
Senior, Forward
Gerardi scored 20 goals and had 21 assists and, for the third straight season, led the Pioneers in points. He finished his career with 84 points. Gerardi, a team-captain, was a two-time Catholic Conference all-star. Scoring the winning goal with 3:57 left in overtime to beat Central Catholic in the first round of the Division 1 state tournament and celebrating with his teammates afterward was his most memorable moment of the season. St. John’s finished 11-9-2. In the fall, Gerardi will attend New Hampton School, with hopes of playing college hockey and studying biology and business. He is the son of Sandra and Bruce Gerardi of Shrewsbury.
Colin Kreuz
St. Paul
Junior, Center
Kreuz earned his second straight T&G Super Team honor after leading Central Mass. in scoring for the second year in a row. Kreuz finished with 16 goals and 36 assists. Early in the season, he reached 100 points in his career. Beating Marlborough, 3-1, to capture the CMADA Class A championship, which was his most memorable moment of the season. Kreuz scored a goal in the victory. He had a goal and two assists in the Knight’s Division 3 state tournament first-round loss to Watertown. St. Paul finished 16-4-1. He is the son of Julie and Nick Kreuz of Worcester.
Ethan LaPlante
Auburn High
Sophomore, Goalie
LaPlante, who is a student at Tantasqua Regional, helped the Rockets reach the quarterfinals of the Division 2 state tournament. He posted a 2.11 goals against average and a 89.8 save percentage. The Rockets finished 17-6. Beating Algonquin Regional on the Titans’ Senior Night to win the Quinn Conference for the first time since 2007 was LaPlante’s most memorable moment of the season. He made 21 saves in the 5-3 victory. LaPlante assisted on a goal against Westfield. LaPlante, an assistant captain, is a two-time Quinn Conference all-star. He is the son of Nina and T.J. LaPlante of Fiskdale.
Luc Masse
Marlborough High
Senior, Defense
Masse, a student at AMSA, helped the Panthers to the second round of the Division 3 state tournament. Masse scored 11 goals and added nine assists and helped Marlborough to a 10-9-3 record. Masse was a two-year captain and a recipient of the team’s MVP and Unsung Hero awards. His most memorable moment of the season was stepping on the ice in Marlborough’s last game against Nauset. In the fall, he will attend the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he will study engineering. He is the son of Karen and Scott Masse of Hudson.
Sean Myers
North Middlesex Regional
Senior, Right wing
Myers scored 28 goals and added 17 assists to lead his team in scoring and rank in the top 10 in Central Mass. Myers finished his career in the top 10 in points in North Middlesex history. A captain, Myers helped the Patriots to a berth in the Division 3 state tournament and an 11-10 record. Beating rival Groton-Dunstable in overtime was Myers’ most memorable moment of the season. He scored twice in the 5-4 win. In the fall, Myers will attend Mount Wachusett Community College, where he will be a general studies major. He hopes to own his own business. He is the son of Brenda and Todd Myers of Townsend.
Anthony Nuzzolilo
Shrewsbury
Senior, Forward
Nuzzolilo was named the MVP of the Merrimack Valley/Dual County League after helping the Colonials finish 12-8-1 and reach the first round of the Division 1 state tournament. Shrewsbury lost, 2-1, to Arlington Catholic in the postseason, but Nuzzolilo scored the tying goal with 50 seconds left in the second period.
Mark Quinn
Gardner High
Senior, Goalie
Quinn, a Murdock student, helped lead the Wildcats to the Division 4 state tournament round of 16. He posted a .924 save percentage and 1.53 goals against average and had four shutouts, including a 24-save performance in a win over Oakmont Regional. Quinn was a three-sport captain (football, hockey, baseball) and a leader in the school community. He served as class president and vice president of the National Honor Society and student council. In the fall, he will attend Worcester Academy. He is the son of Iva and Robert Quinn of Winchendon.
Braeden Rich
Auburn High
Senior, Defense
Rich, a student at Tantasqua Regional, helped the Rockets limit opponents to 2.43 goals per game and advance to the Division 2 state quarterfinals, which was one of his favorite moments of the season. Winning the Quinn Conference championship was another highlight. Auburn finished 17-6. Rich had a plus-15, and he scored seven goals and added nine assists. During his three-year varsity career, he was plus-10 with 13 goals and 16 assists. Rich was a team captain and two-time Quinn Conference all-star. In the fall, he will attend the University of New Hampshire, where he will study business. He is the son of Karen and Shawn Rich of Sturbridge.
Drew Short
Lunenburg High
Eighth grade, Forward
Short led the Coughlin Conference in scoring and helped the Blue Knights reach the second round of the Division 4 state tournament. Short scored 11 goals and had 21 assists. Among his bigger games were four-point performances against Oakmont Regional and Southwick-Tolland. Winning the Coughlin Conference title was Short’s most memorable moment of the season. The Blue Knights finished 16-5-1. Short was a Coughlin Conference all-star. In the fall, he will attend the Winchendon School, and he plans to play college hockey and study commercial real estate and business. He is the son of Michelle and Eric Short of Lunenburg.
Evan Waden
St. Paul
Freshman, Left wing
Waden scored 22 goals and added 24 assists and ranked second in Central Mass. in points behind only teammate Colin Kreuz. Waden helped the Knights to a berth in the Division 3 state tournament and a 16-4-1 record. Beating Marlborough to capture the Central Mass. Class A championship was Waden’s most memorable moment of the season. Scoring the tying goal late in the second period against Nashoba Regional and the winner 27 seconds into overtime to beat the Wolves was another highlight. Waden is an honor roll student and member of the varsity baseball team. He is the son of Jaime and Scott Waden of Northborough.
Honorable Mention
Division 1
Matt Bjorkman, Wachusett
Brody Hoar, St. John's
Luke May, St. John's
Parker Meyer, Wachusett
Connor McKenna, St. John's
Cody Penniman, Wachusett
Dom Reidy, St. John's
Christian Thoren Shrewsbury
Thomas Williman, Wachusett
Division 2
Jordan Adu, Leominster
Max Aires, Westborough
Landon Connor, Auburn
Austin Dono, Auburn
Jack Doolan, Algonquin
Jack Gulachenski, Algonquin
Nate Gulachenski, Algonquin
Brendan Martel, Westborough
Ethan McDermitt, Auburn
Luke Palma, Algonquin
Chris Pascale, Westborough
Jackson Redfern, Algonquin
Wyatt Shea, Algonquin
Owen Stattenfield, Auburn
Jacob Turner, Leominster
Division 3
Braden Amidon, North Middlesex
Roman Belli, Marlborough
Joe Bent, Assabet
Max Caliri, North Middlesex
Nathaniel Carter, Nashoba
Aiden Collins, Hopedale
Mason DeCaire, Grafton
Michal DiTullio, Nashoba
Jack Dunton, Assabet
Ollie Eschelbacker, Assabet
Brett Flanders, Northbridge
Chauncey Guenard, Marlborough
Mason Holmes, Nashoba
Brennan Kelleher, Nashoba
C.J. Kivlehan, Hopedale
Jack Krauss, Valley Tech
Max Krauss, Valley Tech
Sammy Laighton, Assabet
Ben Larose, Northbridge
Thomas Liddy, Valley Tech
Finn Lozeau, Valley Tech
Joe Manzi, Valley Tech
Charlie Mattocks, Nashoba
Sean McGee Hopedale
Cam Michaud, Grafton
Jack Nummela, Northbridge
Chris Palermo, St. Paul
Gavin Petrucci, North Middlesex
Anthony Skillings, Marlborough
Joe Sullivan, Northbridge
Cameron Swank, St. Paul
Zac Terski, Grafton
Ty Warren, Grafton
Cam Wilson, Grafton
Division 4
Charles Becker, Littleton
Dom Benner, Lunenburg
Ty Burdett, Gardner
Kosta Cobleigh, Groton-Dunstable
Tyler Fortier, Lunenburg
Conor Glew, Littleton
Liam Glew, Littleton
Jason Fuller, Worcester
Garrett Hakey, Lunenburg
Ryan Hill, St. Bernard's
Colin Hines, Fitchburg
Nate Hylan, Oakmont
Zachary Lizotte, Littleton
Joe Lozoraitis, Hudson
Colin Majowicz, St. Bernard's
James Morse, Worcester
Owen Nanartowich, Hudson
Andrew Nicosia, Lunenburg
Jayden Patel, Gardner
Jacob Pruneau, Fitchburg
Sal Smarra, Worcester
Christian Stevens, Hudson
Jack Van Pelt, Groton-Dunstable
Gavin Werling, Littleton
Cullan White, Gardner
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