WOBURN — After losing star goalie Aiden Emerick to prep school following an inspired run to the 2024 Division 1 state title game, Winchester boys’ hockey coach Geno Khachadourian knew a possible replacement was waiting in the wings.

Aiden, now a senior at Lawrence Academy, assured Khachadourian that his younger brother, Graham, had the tools be just as good. He just needed to grow a few inches.

“Aiden would tell me how good his brother is,” said Khachadourian. “He’d say, ‘He’s just tiny now, but he will be this good.’ ”

Aided by nearly six inches of growth over the past two years to reach 5 feet, 8 inches, Graham Emerick is living up to the family pedigree as a second-year varsity starter for the Red & Black.

The junior’s talents were on full display Saturday as he made 31 saves to backstop No. 12 Winchester (4-1) to a 2-1 victory over No. 5 Arlington in a Middlesex League clash at O’Brien Arena.

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Though the Red & Black were outshot, 32-14, they received timely goals from senior Axel Osborn in the second period and junior Max Vozzella via a penalty shot in the third period, along with numerous clutch saves from Emerick to preserve the tight lead.

“[Emerick] has been a guy we can rely on, he gives us a chance to win every single night, and that’s what you want from the goalie,” said Khachadourian. “When Graham gets hot, he’s hot. He sees the puck well, and he’s so poised in there . . . Once he started to grow a little bit, it’s taken off.”

Graham Emerick made 31 saves to beat Arlington, 2-1. JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

Though Emerick eventually specialized in goal like his older brother, he grew up loving to skate, starting with pond skating — which he sometimes played in the backyard rink of then-Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who resided in Winchester during his Boston tenure. Emerick was childhood friends with Cassidy’s son, Cole.

Graham watched from afar in 2024 as Aiden, then a junior, guided 11th-seeded Winchester to the state title game, a run which included 46 saves in a quarterfinal win over Catholic Memorial and 47 saves in a 3-2 championship loss to St. John’s Prep.

Once Aiden, a two-year varsity starter, departed for Lawrence Academy following the 2024 season, Graham stepped into a co-starting role along with Macklin O’Flynn and immediately thrived.

Despite significant roster turnover ahead of last season, the Red & Black reached the Division 1 quarterfinals behind Emerick’s 35-save performance in a 2-1 triple-overtime upset of Belmont in the Round of 16.

Though still far from the tallest player, Emerick’s physical growth — combined with fast-growing experience — helped him progress quickly.

“I’ve grown both physically and mentally, but the physical part is a big one,” he said. “It’s the experience of playing these big games, knowing the tendencies of the opposing players. And then being able to see pucks better and just feeling more confident.

Winchester players and fans support Axel Osborn’s second-period goal.JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

With Winchester returning most of last season’s nucleus and fostering ambitions of competing for a state title, the team knew it also could rely on excellent goaltending from an Emerick brother for the fourth straight season.

That was on display against a challenging the rival Spy Ponders Saturday, with Emerick’s saves in traffic helping Winchester kill four penalties. He also stymied a clean breakaway in the second period following a neutral zone turnover, preserving a one-goal advantage.

Winchester’s Axel Osborn (2) scores a second-period goal on Arlington goalie Chris Displacedo.JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

“He’s just so technically sound,” said Khachadourian. “His game keeps getting better. If he [keeps] growing, he’s going to be just as good as his brother, if not better.”

As Winchester looks to return to the state title game and possibly win its first crown since 2000, Saturday’s victory — and Emerick’s confidence — will go a long way.

“We just feel confident in these types of games,” said Emerick. “It’s just fun to play in these big moments. We know we’ll have more of them.”

Winchester’s Axel Osborn (2) celebrates a second-period goal with his teammates. JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston GlobeWinchester’s Joseph Vaccari lays a big hit on Arlington’s Dylan Courtney.JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston GlobeWinchester’s Eli Krogmeier (left) attempts to skate past Nolan Russell of Arlington.JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston GlobeWinchester goalie Graham Emerick stops a shot from Arlington’s Aarmen Vartanian, one of 31 saves on the day. JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

Matty Wasserman can be reached at matty.wasserman@globe.com. Follow him @Matty_Wasserman.