New Yorkers dot list of top prep school goalies for new season

Stephen Peck has big skates to fill at Avon Old Farms. (Brian Kelly/NYHJ)

A good prep school goaltender can make the difference between being merely a contender and winning a championship in March.

Great goaltenders have come through the prep school circuit. Jonathan Quick (Milford, Conn.) and Cory Schneider carved out long NHL careers after starring at Avon Old Farms and Phillips Andover. More recently, Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) spent a season at Avon Old Farms before moving on to USA Hockey’s NTDP, Boston College and eventually the Florida Panthers.

This year’s group of top prep goaltenders includes three Division 1 college commits and a couple of others likely to join. There are also three New Yorkers among the list.

Below are the top 17 goaltenders in prep hockey based on future potential and the impact they’ll have on their current team.

1. Thatcher Bernstein

Nobles, 7/17/06, catches left, 6-3/209

Bernstein is the most gifted goaltender in prep school hockey. Between his size, athleticism and skating, there’s a lot to like. The one area of his game that needs improvement is his rebound control and not allowing the occasional soft goal. He’s not there yet, but he has a chance to be an elite goaltender. Expect the Brookline, Mass., native to have his pick of Beanpot schools to choose from when he’s ready to pick his college. There were times last year as a freshman when he played the role of a brick wall in the net, including during the Flood-Marr Tournament where he was named MVP. Nobles is a team that could squeak into the Elite 8. If the Bulldogs do so, it will likely be because of Bernstein.

2. Rudy Guimond

Taft, 5/19/05, catches left, 6-3/180
NCAA: Yale

Guimond might not have had great numbers in 2021-22, but the team in front of him needs to be factored into any equation when judging the Pointe-Claire, Quebec, native. He’s got the size and ability to make the first save. Working on his rebound control and angles will help him take that next leap in his game. A two-year quality performer with the Yale Junior Bulldogs in the fall helped him earn his commitment to Yale.

3. Daniel Heroux

Kimball Union, 1/14/05, catches left, 6-2/190
NCAA: Vermont

Heroux got his feet wet in 2021-22 and had his moments of greatness while leading Kimball Union to the NEPSAC Elite 8 semifinals. He stole a few games for his fall team and will likely be called upon to do just that again this winter for the Wildcats. The Montreal, Quebec, native has good size and moves well in net. It will be his crease and he’ll have a top-five team in front of him, despite a young defense.

4. Beau Lane

Thayer, 6/16/04, catches left, 6-3/165

Lane is in his second year of prep school hockey after playing bantam and midget with Boston Advantage. Lane had a tremendous fall, especially at the state tournament, helping the Cape Cod Whalers advance to the final. He’s got good size, takes up a lot of net, and doesn’t give much room for shooters with his angles. He’s got the potential to be a Division 1 goaltender. With a young and rebuilding Thayer squad, expect Lane to face a ton of rubber this winter.

5. Stephen Peck

Avon Old Farms, 1/18/05, G, catches left, 6-2/170

Peck has big skates to fill, replacing Conor Callaghan between the pipes at Avon Old Farms. The last three AOF goaltenders are Knight (Florida Panthers), Alex Aslanidis (American International) and Callaghan (Muskegon Lumberjacks). Peck brings a solid pedigree to the Winged Beavers. He’s got good size and the tools to intrigue college recruiters and scouts with his upside. The New York, N.Y., native is no stranger to winning, having spent the previous four seasons with the North Jersey Avalanche.

6. Paul Dalessio

Dexter Southfield, 4/4/05, catches left, 5-10/165

Dalessio, no stranger to winning, joins a successful Dexter Southfield program looking to regain some mojo. The Burlington, Mass., native was the goaltender of record for Bishop Kearney Selects, the winner of the 2022 USA Hockey 16U National Championship. He’s a technically sound, smaller goalie who does a good job eating pucks and preventing second chances.

7. Cooper Rautenstrauch

Cushing, 1/21/05, catches left, 5-10/190

Rautenstrauch is another smaller goalie who has always excelled, despite not having the prototypical size of the modern era. The West Seneca, N.Y., native will have the task of filling the void left by Jackson Irving, who is now tending net in the USHL with Sioux Falls. Rautenstrauch, a longtime member of the Buffalo Junior Sabres, will have a strong team in front of him as he makes his prep hockey debut.

8. Ryder Shea

St. George’s, 5/4/06, catches left, 6-0/189
NCAA: Maine

Shea has long been considered a top ’06 goaltender in this region along with Bernstein. He’s got a blue-collar mindset and fights for everything he has earned. He’s not small, but he doesn’t have elite size. He competes hard and studies the game. Now in his second year at St. George’s, he’ll be counted upon a little more this winter, but will still split time with Matt DellaRusso.

9. Brendan Holahan

Brunswick, 6/15/04, catches left, 6-2/181

Holahan (New Canaan, Conn.) spent the preseason in the USHL with Muskegon. He struggled in that setting, but should be a very good goaltender and will wear a letter for the Bruins. He’s got good size and is able to take away angles from opposing shooters. He’ll have to play two years of junior hockey, but he’s got the tools to play in ECAC Hockey down the road.

10. Aidan Hopewell

Kent, 1/10/05, catches left, 6-3/180

Hopewell split time in the Lions’ crease last winter and ended up being a big part of the team’s NEPSAC Large School Championship. The Ashburn, Va., native has the size and potential to intrigue scouts and college coaches. A former NTDP Evaluation Camp attendee, the Lions’ coaching staff is hoping Hopewell regains his form from last winter and helps offset the departure of a ton of offense.

11. Michael Salvatore

Phillips Exeter, 8/9/03, catches left, 5-11/170

Salvatore has been on my radar for a number of years, dating back to when he played for the Junior Bruins 16U. On the smaller side, he’s athletic and gets the job done regardless. Back for his senior season with the Big Red, he’ll get the majority of minutes. Division 3 and Division 1 schools looking for a third goalie would be wise to consider Salvatore.

12. Ethan Ramonetti

Groton, 5/2/06, catches left, 5-9/155

Ramonetti has quietly gone about being one of the top goaltenders in his birth year among players from New York and New Jersey. A two-time national camp player, the North Greenport, N.Y., native has strong fundamentals and plays a simple game for an undersized goaltender. He’s strong on rebound control and uses his hockey sense to know where the next shot is coming from.

13. Ben Skowronek

Andover, 2/15/05, catches left, 6-0/175

Skowronek, from Arlington, Va., has been a quiet assassin for Team Maryland for a number of years. He’s average height, but he’s quick and explosive going side-to-side. He’s had good junior camps and had a strong fall. A rookie for the Big Blue, he’s got the potential to steal some games this winter.

14. Evan Plunkett

Holderness, 9/3/03, catches left, 5-9/161

Plunkett has age and size against him when it comes to Division 1 potential. However, he showed last season that he’s more than capable of being a very good prep school goalie. From Charlotte, N.C., he’s got quick reflexes. No team might have three quality goaltenders like the Bulls do. In addition to Plunkett, Ryan Nolan and Kolin Beliveau are on the Holderness roster and ready to hold down the fort in net.

15. Sam Caulfield

Milton, 8/29/06, catches left, 6-1/165

Caulfield is a newcomer to the Mustangs after previously being on the middle school and junior varsity teams at Belmont Hill. Caulfield looks the part and has shown some flashes of potential. He’s got good size and should help fortify the goaltending position at Milton for the next couple of seasons.

16. Evan Zhang

Roxbury Latin, 2/2/06, catches left, 6-1/150

Zhang has long been well-regarded in this birth year. His skating and ability to stay square to shooters have been good attributes. His recent growth spurt has helped him become more explosive and limited shooters’ ability to beat him up high. Roxbury Latin doesn’t have the horses many of the others in the ISL do, so Zhang will have to be an equalizer most nights.

17. Connor Towle

Hotchkiss, 3/27/06, catches left, 5-10/150

Towle (Fairfield, Conn.) comes to the Bearcats after backstopping the Westchester Express ’06 team in 2021-22. He’s technically sound and is capable of making a game-changing save. He’ll have to fight for ice time against a pair of upperclassmen who have been with Hotchkiss for a few seasons, but he’s the best prospect among the three.