Syracuse.com’s 2025-26 winter media day boys, girls hockey player poll: Slickest moves? Quickest draw?

Syracuse, N.Y. — Many of Section III’s best boys and girls hockey players have the knack of standing out at all the right times.

At syracuse.com’s recent winter sports media day, we asked players a pair of questions about their teammates:

Who is most likely to pull the fans out of their seats with a slick deke? And who is going to win that clutch faceoff late in a close game?

Here are their responses.

Best dekes

Boys

Anderson Pineau, Auburn

“He’s always trying that fancy stuff in practice.” — Max Laraway

Rocco Weaver, Baldwinsville

“He’s got some nasty hands. He definitely likes to get the crowd going.” — Daniel Hinman

Jack Casey, Cazenovia

“He’s been working really hard. He’s changing from defense to forward, and he’s going to be a really good player for us this year.” — Fin Hagan

Logan Novak, Christian Brothers Academy/Jamesville-DeWitt

“I mean, he did it last year in the sectional final. Everyone knows the goal. He went forehand, backhand through the five hole and he cellied into the student section. I see a lot more of that this year happening.” — Justin Buffum

Calen Brown, Cicero-North Syracuse

“He’s got the best bag for hands. He’s always doing some crazy moves. Nobody would really stop him.” — Alex Kirby

Nolan O’Brien, Clinton

“He’s just got insane hands. Quick ripper.” — Jack Elia

Martin Petri, Cortland-Homer

“Marti Petri is an excellent talent to have on the ice and can do some incredible things with the puck. With his moves, he has so many possibilities to make the crowd go wild. Whether it’s a crazy deke or a great shot, he can do it.” — John Medeiros

Drew Mayne, Fayetteville-Manlius

“He’s got really good hands, so he’s definitely the one.” — Ty Mayne

Mason Donabella, Oswego

“He’s big, physical, fast hands, plays with his head up. I’d say he plays the most hockey outside of high school. He plays Triple-A, he goes all-around. — Jason Bartlett

Jack Carpenter, Rome Free Academy

“He’s a funny guy on the ice and off the ice and willing to try really anything. He does it in practice all the time. Random moves.” — Jacob Bruno

Drew Schneider, Syracuse

“He’s a big kid and he has good moves and he’s good at protecting the puck with his size.” — Ryan Victoriano

Nick Meluni, Matthew Schneid, West Genesee

“They obviously stick-handle before practice, after practice, stick handling in the locker room. Obviously, on the ice too, in warm-ups. They do that every day. And I think they’ve got the toe drags, they got all the skills to be able to pull that move.” — Logan DeWaters

Gavin Aceto, Whitesboro

“He has the speed and hands to pull off ridiculous moves. I’ve seen him make dekes that have left me shocked and he’s even used some of them on me.” — Drew Witchley

Girls

Brooke Parry, Clinton

“She’s a sophomore and she’s just always out there to do the best. She surprises us.” — Eliza O’Donnell

Allie Gurney, Oswego

“She’s a freshman and in practice she pulled a backhand top shelf and everyone went crazy already.” — Natalee Miller

Clutch on the faceoffs

Boys

Cal Maher, Auburn

“He’s just a gritty player. You can trust him to always have your back, do the right thing, make the right play.”

Alessio McGrane, Baldwinsville

“He’s quick on the draws. He’s really good at pulling it back.” — Daniel Hinman

Jake Hightchew, Cazenovia

“He’s got a killer shot and he’s going to win that draw because he’s going to need it.” — Fin Hagan

Charlie Letourneau, Christian Brothers Academy/Jamesville-DeWitt

“He’s a good kid. Get right off the draw, go for a skate and put one in the net.” — Justin Buffum

David Cooley, Andrew Gabor, Cicero-North Syracuse

" I think both of them have great hand-eye coordination." — Alex Kirby

Jack Elia, Clinton

“I’m first-line center, so I think I’m going to have to go with myself here. Been on the team for a while now. I have high expectations for myself. I would just expect myself to get it.” — Jack Elia

Colin Boyzuck, CNY Fusion

“He’s a senior this year, and he’s had more experience and he’s been a center longer than most.” — Blake Swick

Lukas Norman, Cortland-Homer

“Luke Norman, with some great offensive experience, is a force on the faceoff dot. I trust him to have the best success for the team in faceoffs, giving us great chances whether for scoring, breakouts, or starting off the period.” — John Medeiros

Greyson Mucha, Fayetteville-Manlius

“He is the most consistent faceoff guy. He works on it every single practice. So he’s the go-to guy.”

Owen Bartlett, Oswego

“He’s small. He gets his hands down low and wins it to the wall. — Jason Bartlett

Mark Varano, Rome Free Academy

“One of our better centers. Can win really anything that you got to put him up to.” — Jacob Bruno

Grady Etoll, Syracuse

“It’ been playing with him since I was little. He’s good at faceoffs and I put my trust in him.” — Ryan Victoriano

Collin Aceto, Whitesboro

“He’s been great in the faceoff circle the past three years, especially in the defensive zone. He’s a guy who’s willing to make a gritty play or execute a small detail to win a game.” — Drew Witchley

Matthew Schneid, West Genesee

“I think he’s going to bear down, get us the puck and give us the best chance to put the puck in the back of the net.” — Logan DeWaters

Girls

Riley Constantinetis, Clinton

“She’s always pouring her heart out and she doesn’t want to lose it.” — Eliza O’Donnell

Natalee Miller, Oswego

“Myself, because I always win it back to Hailey Workman.” — Natalie Miller