The Northeastern Conference hockey all-stars were announced Tuesday morning and the Lynn Jets were well represented. John DiFilippo was named the most valuable player of the NEC South. DiFilippo has scored 25 goals and dished 36 assists this season.
“John’s a speedy center who plays physically and is a backbone to our leadership,” Jets coach Mike Roberts said. “He made the move to center from left wing and hasn’t disappointed. He’s up from his regular season point total in 2018 (42 points). He has scored seven shorthanded goals. He has great character and love for the game.”
DiFilippo and Brian Clougherty were named to the South all-conference team.
“Brian’s the first Jet member of the 150-point club,” Roberts said. “He has a big, long reach and he’s our go-to guy on offense. He’s had an opposing defender on his hip all year and has still produced almost 60 points (23 goals, 34 assists).”
Andrew Patrie, Owen Downey and Paul Papageorgiou were named to the all-star team.
“Andrew’s quite the story,” Roberts said. “He had five points in 2018 and has rattled off 28 goals and 18 assists for 46 points. He’s by far the most improved and making the most of his fellow linemates’ successes.
“Paul transferred from Bishop Fenwick and he’s an outstanding young man,” Roberts said. “He has 15 goals and 10 assists this season. He’s the leader of the second line. He’s a true Jet, the hardest working guy we have.
“Owen (14 points) is our defensive captain and the backbone of the defensive core,” Roberts said. “He plays about 30 minutes a game and has been a true role model for the underclassmen defensemen under his wing. He has shown he can stand the physical game play and distribute the puck as needed.”
Also earning South all-conference nods were Swampscott’s Conor Donovan and Drew Olivieri, Gloucester’s Connor Vittands and Jack Costanzo and Somerville’s Chris DeSousa. The North all-conference team includes Winthrop’s Ryan Skoczylas, Sam Yarrow and Luke Evangelista, Marblehead’s Jacob Garfield and Peter Santeusanio, Danvers’ Jared Mscisz and Beverly’s Andrew Mezza. Winthrop’s Yarrow was named the North’s most valuable player.
“Sam’s a special young man on and off the ice,” Winthrop coach Dale Dunbar said. “He’s a great student in school. He’s very respected by his community and peers. He’s very deserving of this award. He’s led the league in scoring from start to finish. When his name came up, he was selected right away. That speaks volumes to what type of kid he is on and off the ice.”
Gloucester coach Derek Geary was named South coach of the year, while Winthrop’s Dunbar earned the honors for the North.
“It’s always nice being voted by your peers,” Dunbar said. “It also means your kids have done a nice job as far as executing the gameplans and working hard on a daily basis. Plus, I have a tremendous staff. It’s really a team thing. In the past, I’ve never taken it as winning the award by myself. It’s always been a team thing.
“It’s been a great year,” Dunbar said. “I think our league’s very competitive. I’m anxious to see what the playoffs bring. I think any of us can be there at the end.”
Peabody (North) and Somerville (South) earned the sportsmanship awards.
The rest of the all-stars are Swampscott’s Zach Elwell, Peabody’s Nick Capillo and Connor McCarron, Gloucester’s EJ Field, Colby Mitchell, Derek Hopkins and Ryan Muniz, Somerville’s Jeremy Proctor and Joe Carey, Revere’s Matt Cravotta, Wayne Cintolo and Zach Rufo, Everett’s Brendan Currie, Saugus’ Adam Rodrigues, CJ Graffeo and Ronnie Paolo, Medford’s Cole Brennan, Brian Paone and Chris Freeman, Beverly’s Steve Hallinan, Marblehead’s Will Shull and Charlie McGurrin, Winthrop’s Chris Finn, Brian Chalmers and Joey Holgersen, Danvers’ Jack Thibodeau, Tyler Puska and Adam Bridgeo.
The Northeastern Conference all-star game will be played Saturday afternoon (2) at Salem State’s Rockett Arena.
The Northeastern Hockey League all-stars were also announced Tuesday morning. Marblehead’s Sydney Cresta, who scored her 100th career goal Tuesday, earned co-most valuable player honors with Masconomet’s Abby Gendron. The all-conference team includes Winthrop’s Emma Carleton and Bella Perrotti, Peabody’s Sammie Mirasolo and Abby Buckley, Medford’s Brenna Forbes, Beverly’s Ava Daly and Masconomet’s Isabel Hulse.
The league all-stars are Peabody’s Jess Robert, Jen Flynn, Reilly Ganter, Maria Pierce and Sadie Gearan, Winthrop’s Abby Stafford, Olivia Driscoll, Summer Tallent and Mia Martucci, Marblehead’s Caroline Kinne, Beverly’s Emma Thibodeau and Emma Knott, Masconomet’s Molly Elmore, Mikayla Vincent, Meghan McElaney, Erin Irons and Anna Behringer, Medford’s Elizabeth Lazzaro, Abby Vigliotte and Rayanne Forbes. Peabody’s Michelle Roach was named the league’s coach of the year and Medford earned the sportsmanship award.
