2023-24 SALEM NEWS GIRLS HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ALYSE MUTTI
Peabody Junior
Goalie
Living by a humble goaltender’s motto of just wanting to give her team a chance to win, Peabody junior Alyse Mutti went above and beyond that call of duty in another record-breaking season.
Tying her own school record with 18 wins, Mutti led the North Shore area in that category and so many others. Her .941 save percentage was far and away the region’s best (and one of the top marks in the state), as were her 1.09 goals against average and eight shutouts as she backstopped the Tanners to the Northeastern Hockey League title.
“Alyse is one of the best goalies in the state. I don’t think there’s much argument about that,” said Peabody head coach Michelle Roach. “She’s such a calming presence for us and one of our hardest workers. She’s put a lot of effort in to being the absolute best she can be.”
Taking her game to another level in the postseason, Mutti stopped 83-of-86 shots (.965%) in three Division 1 state tournament games while helping Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading advance to its second straight Elite Eight quarterfinal. She was spectacular in a 31-save home shutout of Winchester, made 19 stops to upset No. 8 Pope Francis on the road and held state runner-up Notre Dame Hingham (which averaged more than four goals in its other four playoff games) to only two goals with 33 saves.
“Without Alyse, we don’t get as far as we did,” said Roach. “She’d be the first person to deflect credit to her teammates, and she’s a great leader. She’s such a huge part of what we do and the way we play … knowing we can always depend on her calms everyone down and helps things fall into place.”
A North Reading High student, Mutti is a multi-time Salem News all-star and Northeastern Hockey League All-Conference pick. She has a career record of 45-15 with 1,035 saves (413 of them this season) and 20 career shutouts.
THE ALL-STARS
BRADIE ARNOLD
Beverly Junior
Center
Northeastern Hockey League all-star from Ipswich is one of the region’s best two-way forwards … Notched 11 points on three goals with eight assists despite missing several games due to injury … Frequently won faceoffs on offensive zone draws to set up scoring chances, as she did on two key goals in home win over Gloucester … Repeat Salem News all-star boasts career totals of 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points … Elected captain as a junior … Had a goal against state champion St. Mary’s Lynn.
AVA BUCKLEY
Peabody Junior
Center
Set a new Tanner single-season record with 22 assists while posting a career-high and North Shore best 39 points … Northeastern Hockey League Most Valuable Player had 17 goals … Triple crown winner led area in goals, assists and points … Scored twice with four assists in a win over Newburyport … Alternate captain for the Tanners is reliable three-zone player but really blossomed offensively this winter with deft hands and a strong finish … More than a dozen multi-point games … Took over game in third period of home win over Beverly … Boasts 66 career points heading into her senior season … Also excels at cross country and spring track.
LEAH BUCKLEY
Peabody Junior
Defense
Hunts for loose pucks like no other blue liner on the North Shore … Alternate captain took command as Peabody’s only returning defenseman and led a unit that allowed only 1.09 goals per game and 19 shots per game … Northeastern Hockey League all-star … Helped out in the offense end with a goal and seven assists … Tough to push off the puck along the walls … Varsity regular since her freshman season helped Tanners win the NEHL title and reach a second straight D1 Elite Eight … Accomplished distance runner in spring track as well as cross country.
MACKENZIE CRONIN
Masconomet Senior
Goalie
Captain played every minute of every game (903 in all) for the Chieftains in her senior season … Posted a career-high seven wins with a pair of shutouts … Made a career-high 51 saves against Longmeadow … Had six games with at least 40 saves plus four others with more than 30 … Totaled 518 saves for a 3.73 goals against average … Northeastern Hockey League all-star made 850 career saves … Excellent lacrosse goalie … Plans to attend the University of South Carolina and study early childhood education.
PIPER DAVEKOS
Pingree Freshman
Goalie
A rock in net for the Highlanders playing every minute of every game … Finished with a North Shore best 754 saves, which ranked No. 2 among 117 goaltenders in the New England Prep School Athletic Council’s purview … Goals against average of 2.48 was third in the region and 1,326 minutes were the most … Danvers native made 61 saves against one of New England’s top squads … Posted four shutouts … Also added two assists … Field hockey goalie and lacrosse attacker for Highlanders is grateful for her dad’s support.
BELLA FLINN
Masconomet Senior
Forward/Defense
One of the region’s most versatile skaters shifted between forward and defense depending upon what her team needed … Earned first-team All-Conference nod from the Northeastern Hockey League’s coaches … Team captain … Had career-bests of five goals and 10 points … Scored in comeback win over Marblehead and assisted the game-winner in victory over Wakefield … Strong on her skates and able to impact the game in all three zones.
AVERY FREDO
Pingree Senior
Defense
Excellent defenseman locked down the left side for the Highlanders … Helped her team reach the Eastern Independent League semifinals and was Pingree’s Defensive MVP … North Andover native was among the region’s leaders in assists from the blue line with nine … Had a tremendous game in 2-1 victory over Kent’s Hill … Felt her performance against Portsmouth Abbey in the playoff was her best effort of the year … Will be attending Fordham University.
ASHLEY FREITAS
Beverly Sophomore
Defense
One of the area’s top defensive defensemen was selected as a Northeastern Hockey League all-star … Excels at blocking shots as well as playing the body to prevent scoring chances … Had a huge role in Beverly reaching the Division 2 state playoffs … Chipped in offensively with a goal and three assists … Varsity regular since her eighth grade season … Danvers native also plays for the Falcon girls soccer squad.
HALLE GREENLEAF
Beverly Senior
Winger
Two-year captain, three-time Salem News all-star and three-time All-Northeastern Hockey League pick graduates as one of the Panthers’ all-time best … Ranks ninth on Beverly’s girls career scoring list (and top 20 on the North Shore) with 54 goals and 83 points … Tied for second in the NEHL with 16 goals … Had a half dozen game-winners … Knack for blocking shots in big moments … Ipswich native looks up to her sister, Cayla, a former BHS hockey captain … Excels for Tiger lacrosse squad … Will play ice hockey next year at Salem State University.
MEREDITH JOHNSTON
Beverly Sophomore
Winger
One of three double-digit goal scorers for the Panthers netted 10 goals while earning Northeastern Hockey League all-star honors … Notched hat tricks in back-to-back games, victories over Masconomet and Medford … Also filled in at goaltender when called upon, earning a shutout and three wins with 41 saves over three starts … Physical presence along the boards excels at freeing up pucks for her teammates … Also an excellent softball player for the Panthers.
CATIE KAMPERSAL
Peabody Senior
Winger
Mass. State Hockey Coaches Association senior all-star earned Northeastern Hockey League all-star honors and is a three-time Salem News all-star … Graduates fourth on the Tanners’ all-time scoring list with 75 points on 45 goals and 30 assists … Captain had game-winner in state playoff win over Winchester … Scored winning goal with less than a second to play at Marblehead … Totaled 14 goals and 26 points (third in the region) … Fast, aggressive skater drew copious penalties with her speed … Moynihan Lumber Student-Athlete of the Month is an all-star in softball and soccer for Lynnfield High.
MADDIE KENNY
Masconomet Junior
Center
Northeastern Hockey League all-star from Topsfield is a two-year Salem News all-star and will be in her third season as captain next year as a senior … Led the Chieftains in assists (7) for the second straight season … Scored six times and topped Masco in points with 13 … Scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals in the same third period shift of a win over Marblehead … Also had multi-point efforts in two other games … Crafty playmaker excels in the faceoff dot.
MIA LAVA
Peabody Junior
Center
Talented, skillful pivot enjoyed a breakout season for the Northeastern Hockey League champs … Posted career highs of nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points … Bo Tierney Award winner as Most Valuable Player in Carlin Cup victory over Fenwick … Scored game-winner goal in road win over Gloucester … Excellent backchecker was named an NEHL all-star … Centered a line that produced 22 goals and nearly 50 points as Peabody reached the D1 Elite Eight round … Received her team’s MVP award at North Reading winter sports night.
PENNY LEVINE-STEIN
Bishop Fenwick Junior
Center
Catholic Central League all-star was chosen as Crusader captain as a junior and excelled in her leadership role for a young team … Fenwick’s leading goal scorer with eight also led the team in points with 11 … Scored both goals in coach Kylie Currier’s first career win over Hopkinton … Netted three of her team’s four game-winners on the year … Never afraid to play with an edge when it comes to forechecking and backchecking … Salem native attends Essex Tech and played hockey in the Bay State Games.
MORGAN LINSKEY
Beverly Sophomore
Defense
Confident puck mover ranked third among all North Shore defensemen with 17 points … Scored six goals and added 11 assists while being named a Northeastern Hockey League all-star … A one-woman breakout who can rush the puck from end-to-end … Potted two goals in a victory over Marblehead … Reliable in the defense end with a strong stick lift and good shot blocking in her repertoire … Also one of the leading scorers for the Panther field hockey squad.
AVA SCHULTZ
Marblehead Senior
Center
All-Conference choice in the Northeastern Hockey League led both by example with her play and in the locker room with her words as the Lady Headers’ lone senior … Netted four goals along with two assists to rank among Marblehead’s leading scorers … Lady Headers’ Team Most Valuable Player … Felt her best effort came in a home 2-1 setback against powerhouse Peabody where the entire squad worked together as one … Had a goal in her team’s opening day win over Medford … Hopes to study economics in college … Also captains the Marblehead girls lacrosse team.
ASHLEY SMAIL
Pingree Senior
Wing
Captain for the Highlanders was named All-Eastern Independent League … Excellent distributor led her team in assists with 11 … Recovered from a knee injury that cost her almost 1/3 of the season to be one of Pingree’s leading scorers with 14 points … Scored a goal in her first game back and then had three assists to spark a win over Kent’s Hill the following day … South Hamilton native is grateful to her mom, a national champion at Harvard, for teaching her to be a team player … Excellent lacrosse play who is committed to play at Colby College.
ELLA TUCKER
Bishop Fenwick Junior
Goalie
One of the North Shore’s busiest goaltenders didn’t wilt under the heavy work load, making her 1,000 career save while posting 556 stops … Made a season-high 60 saves against D1 Final Four squad Malden Catholic and also stopped 55 against Archbishop Williams … Gloucester native now has 1,333 saves in her three-year career … Essex Tech student excels on the softball field … Competitive netminder is great at directing the defense in front of her … Had a 3.73 goals against average in 845 minutes played.
SHIRLEY WHITMORE
Peabody Junior
Winger
Opportunistic finisher at the net came in eighth in the region with 11 total goals … Recorded a career-high 19 points while earning Northeastern Hockey League all-star honor for the conference champs … Scored the game-winning goal in second round playoff triumph over 8th ranked Pope Francis, sending PLNR to its second straight Elite Eight … Two-point night in win over Beverly and three in a win at Newburyport … North Reading native played Hockey Night in Boston’s Girls Major Showcase.
HONORABLE MENTION
Beverly: Clara Cary, Fr. F; Caroline Horn, Jr. D; Asuka Keogh, Fr. D; Megan McGinnity, Sr. G.
Bishop Fenwick: Maddie Faragi, Sr. D; Brynn Lally, Sr. F; Molly O’Sullivan, Jr. F.
Marblehead: Teyah Fleming, Soph. F; Madeline Graber, Soph. F; Ella Graham, Soph. F; Scarlet Lee, Fr. G; Paige Waldman, Soph. D.
Masconomet: Bella Campbell, Fr. F; Hannah Coleman, Sr. F; Allie LaCava, Jr. D; Tara Thompson, Fr. D.
Peabody: Abby McInerney, Soph. F; Alexa Pepper, Jr. F; Vanessa Steinmeyer, Jr. F; Eleni Spack, Soph. D.
Pingree: Aby Amigo, Jr. F; Neely Payne, Soph. F; Georgia Rossetti, Sr. D.