VOTE for the Shore Conference (NJ) Ice Hockey Player of the Week
With our foray into ice hockey coverage comes another feature very familiar to Shore Sports Network readers: The SSN Player of the Week vote.
There were some great individual performances in Week 4 of the season and now it’s time to get your vote in for who had the top performance in the conference to choose the Shore Sports Network Ice Hockey Player of the Week. The winner will be announced on Wednesday right here on ShoreSportsNetwork.com. Voting will end Tuesday at midnight.
Scroll down to see the candidates and make your selection. If you'd like to vote more than once, just wait one hour and come back.
Ryan Bechutsky, Sr., Fwd., Manalapan
No player in the Shore and maybe even New Jersey is on more of a hot streak right now than Bechutsky. The Braves senior forward scored six goals and totaled eight points in just two games during the week as Manalapan stretched its winning streak to four games. Bechutsky had a hat trick plus one assist in a 6-3 win over South Brunswick and again in a 7-1 victory over Southern. Going back to Manalapan’s 4-2 win over Monroe on Feb. 4, Bechutsky now has hat tricks in three straight games, which is a program record. He now has 11 goals and six assists on the season.
Justin Ervelli, Sr., D., Toms River North
Ervelli had three goals and five assists in two games, including a timely goal in a thrilling victory over Toms River East. The senior blueliner scored twice in a 4-3 win over the Raiders and it was his goal with 49 seconds left in regulation that tied the score at three and set up DJ Freed to net the game-winning goal with just 20 seconds left. In a 10-5 win over Lacey, Ervelli had a goal and a career-high five assists. He has three goals and 10 assists this season.
James Fay, Sr., Fwd., Howell
The Rebels picked up their first two victories of the season this past week and Fay played a major role in both wins. He had two goals and one assist in a 5-4 victory over district rival Freehold Township and also scored twice when Howell shut out Brick, 4-0.
Daniel Goldstein, Sr., D, Marlboro
Goldstein had three goals and two assists in two games as the Mustangs continued their strong play. He had a goal and an assist in a 2-2 tie with Rumson-Fair Haven and tallied two goals and one assist in an 11-4 win over district rival Freehold Township.
Christopher Laureigh, Jr., Fwd., Southern
Laureigh had three goals and two assists during the week as the Rams went 2-1 with one win over a top-10 team. Laureigh scored once when Southern upended Catholic (St. Rose/RBC/Donovan), 5-1, and then powered the Rams to a 4-2 victory over Wall with two goals and two assists.
Brett Pritchard, Jr., Fwd., Rumson-Fair Haven
Rumson had a big week and Pritchard was at the forefront with six points in four games, including a pair of two-goal games, as the Bulldogs went 3-0-1 and knocked off three teams that were ranked in the state top 20. Pritchard had an assist when RFH knocked off No. 19 Westfield, 3-2, and also had an assist in a 2-2 tie with Marlboro. He scored his first goals of the season in a 5-3 victory over Shore Conference No. 3 and state No. 17 Middletown South with a pair of sensational goals, including one short-handed goal. Then, in a 3-1 victory over traditional state power Morris Knolls, Pritchard scored twice, including the eventual game-winner, as RFH took down the No. 13 team in New Jersey.