Neutral Zone is proud to announce our 2026 New England Prep Awards. Our New England staff was polled on who should win each award. As a group, we watched 216 Prep games throughout the season. We place little value on points and more on how we graded each player. There are plenty of other players who deserve recognition. There were some colorful conversations, and the players below are our final choices. Players who win major awards do not qualify for All-Prep Teams. Rookies had to be from 2009 to 2011. Winning mattered in our decisions, so we waited until after the playoffs. However, only a few players were changed due to playoff performance.
Most Valuable Player
Neilan Johnson, G, Hotchkiss
Johnson led his Bearcats squad to a five-seed in the Elite 8, finishing the 2008 season with a 95.6 Save Percentage and a 1.35 goals-against average. Without Johnson, Hotchkiss does not have nearly the season they did. The Northeastern commit will have interest come the NHL Draft this Spring. One NZ Scout said of Johnson, “Athletic and resilient, Johnson remains in the play until the puck is out of reach.”
Runner Up: Myles Brosnan, Dexter
Forward of the Year
Billy MacAusland, Nobles
Nobles had a down season by their standards, but one enormous bright spot was MacAusland. The Brown commit was off his point total from last season, but in the context of the Bulldog’s season, it was his most impressive year yet. He factored in more than half of the Nobles’ goals this season. One of our Scouts said, “Billy is a strong, athletic, hardworking player who competes for pucks in all three zones. He does a lot of little things well. Takes good angles and applies pressure to the puck. Stops on pucks. Gets in lanes and has an active stick to strip pucks and turn pucks over.”
Runner Ups: Caiden Pellegrino, St. Mark’s; Charlie Puglisi, Winchendon
Defenseman of the Year
Myles Brosnan, Dexter
Brosnan was the catalyst and leader for a Dexter team that lost only three games and was the top seed in the Elite Eight. Myles finished with 51 points while balancing time with the NTDP. He broke former Dexter standout, Harvard standout, and NHLer Jack Rathbone’s record for points by a defenseman. Brosnan will follow Rathbone to Harvard and is another player who will receive attention in the NHL Draft. Our Scouts said about Myles, “His defensive play was as expected with tight gaps, a firm stick, and quick reads in his own end. Brosnan showed his ability to skate away from the forecheck, even using one hand to protect the puck on his forehand while holding off pressure with his other hand. We liked several bursts of speed to slip through seams as he showed more pace than we remembered. His ability to hold the puck at the offensive blue line and deke opponents, or to change his position laterally, was elite as he pumped pucks on net and avoided blocks.”
Runner Up: Maksim Yakub, Avon Old Farms
Goalie of the Year
Neilan Johnson, Hotchkiss – The best in the business all season.
Runners Up: Tom Saulnier, St. Sebastian’s, Elliott Lennon, Deerfield
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Lee, Belmont Hill
Lee played with pace and flair all season while becoming better and better at getting to the net front and sliding off contact. A highly athletic player who may play for the NTDP next season, he recorded 31 points in 31 games, with 15 goals and 16 assists. Our NZ Scouts noted at the Lawrenceville Toirnament, “Samuel Lee is a skilled and confident winger who demonstrates strong offensive instincts for his age. He has good puck skills and a quick release, and he effectively manipulates defenders with head fakes and deception. Despite being younger, Lee isn’t afraid of physical play and consistently finishes his checks, showing competitiveness and confidence.”
Runner Up: Logan Cotter, St. Mark’s
Coach of the Year
Mark Naclerio, Avon Old Farms
Coach Naclierio took his eighth-seeded Winged Beavers all the way to the Elite Championship Title, winning three road games in less than a week. It was a difficult year at Avon Old Farms with the Passing of legendary Coach John Gardner. Coach Naclerio guided his team through that jolt to his program, along with some key injuries, the loss of his top scorer and starting goalie for the Final, all the way to a NE Prep Championship.
Runners Up: Carl Corazzini, St. Mark’s; Mike Doyle, Hotchkiss
First Team All Prep
F- Billy MacAusland, Nobles
F- Caiden Pellegrino, St. Mark’s
F- Charlie Puglisi, Winchendon
D – Myles Brosnan, Dexter
D – Maxim Yakub, Avon Old Farms
G – Neilan Johnson, Hotchkiss
Second Team All Prep
F – Ethan Gingeleski, Avon Old Farms
F – Joshua Phillips, Kimball Union
F – Jack Broderick, Kent School
D – Evan Jones, Belmont Hill
D – Matthew Koch, Avon Old Farms
G – Tom Saulnier, St. Sebastian’s
All-Rookie First Team (2009-2011)
F- Blake Wilichowski, Milton
F – Sammy Lee, Belmont Hill
F – Max Prudovsky, Dexter
D – Logan Cotter, St. Mark’s
D – Nick Ware, Belmont Hill
G – Mason Raycroft, Cushing
All Rookie Second Team Team
F – Alec Taylor, Fred Gunn
F – Robert Dekleine, Belmont Hill
F – Carter Felt, Rivers
D – Jack O’Dell, Andover Academy
D – Elliott Watson, Salisbury
G –Kamden Jackson, Williston Northampton
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images