We’ve officially reached a point of the season where a countdown of sorts is appropriate; Hockeyland’s regular season ends in just 15 days.
Many programs save the bulk of their challenge for this final stretch, one that should bring a little more clarity in what’s been a season filled with mind-twisting parity. Several teams are already in a title-bound rhythm, hoping to put the cherry on top of what should be competitive bids for deep runs in the state tournament. Others are working out the kinks to consistently hit their potential. And many are entering the final stage of their hunt for a league/conference title.
As for the crystal ball, we’re trying to just get away from the mediocrity that’s been the last three weeks (20-22-2).
Some of the most notable games of the week, with no repeat teams:
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 7-7-1
OVERALL RECORD: 55-43-7 (.557)
WINNERS in caps
BOYS
WEDNESDAY
Boston Latin at CONCORD-CARLISLE, 4:10 p.m. – Div. 2 implications on the line between top-10 teams in the latest MIAA power rankings. The Patriots won their first matchup 3-1, and the Wolfpack followed it with an OT loss to Waltham and a five-game win streak ever since. Concord-Carlisle has cooled off a bit, so a win here would go a long way.
Waltham at TEWKSBURY, 7 p.m. – A loss to Waltham in early January sparked a bit of a slump against fellow contenders, which the Redmen have since recovered from. A win here puts them in the driver’s seat near the close of the MVC/DCL II title race, though the Hawks are still hot as winners in nine of their last 10 games.
Winthrop at MARBLEHEAD, 7:30 p.m. – Call it a vote in parity. These two split the season series last year, and the Vikings won Round 1 earlier this season. Quality Northeastern Conference matchup between Div. 3 and Div. 4 contenders, separated by a point in the conference title race. Headers can take a three-point lead with a win.
SATURDAY
BEDFORD at Methuen, 2 p.m. – The Bucs won the first matchup in overtime, but have since seen Methuen take a slim lead in the three-team race for the MVC/DCL III title. Bedford ranks higher in a matchup of Div. 3 top-10 teams. Should be plenty of juice here.
BC High at ST. MARY’S (L), 4 p.m. – Powers of the Catholic Conference and Catholic Central League collide for a meeting of top-10 teams in the latest MIAA Div. 1 power rankings. Iron sharpening iron here. Chance for St. Mary’s to finish off a marquee nonleague foe, after tying Hingham and losing a lead over Pope Francis in the final minute recently.
St. John’s (S) at ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS, 7:40 p.m. – Another nonleague showdown of Catholic stalwarts. Both have shown capable of skating with the state’s bests, but each has experienced some tough losses over the last few weeks. A win here for either is excellent momentum in the final stretch.
SUNDAY
CANTON at Weymouth (at Tsongas Center), 11 a.m. – The first half of the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament’s grand finale. Weymouth has a tough week against Braintree and Milton first, but we have a chance here to see two of the state’s longest unbeaten streaks colliding in the Brinn division’s final. Entering Wednesday, the Wildcats’ streak is 11 games, while Canton’s is 15.
Catholic Memorial at ST. JOHN’S PREP (at West Point), noon – Barring losses earlier in the week, the Catholic Conference title comes down to this game. Catholic Memorial needs to win its last two conference games for a shot, while an SJP win Wednesday clinches at least a share of the crown for the Eagles. An SJP tie or win here then takes it outright for a second straight year.
ARLINGTON at Belmont (at Tsongas Center), 1 p.m. – Quite the important weekend for these two. Their matchup on Friday has implications atop the Middlesex League Liberty title race, then they square off two days later for the Coffee Pot’s Doherty title. That’s two major preseason goals within both groups’ reach, and either could step up to take one or both.
GIRLS
WEDNESDAY
MARSHFIELD at Falmouth, 5 p.m. – As of Tuesday, these two are on a collision course to meet in the Div. 2 second round. Rams have proved tough against the powers of the Patriot League, now get a Falmouth group that sits atop the competitive Cape and Islands League.
Bishop Feehan at MALDEN CATHOLIC, 5 p.m. – Bishop Feehan’s biggest test outside of the Catholic Central League since losing to Notre Dame Academy (H) in the Tenney Cup. Both are in the top-10 of the Div. 1 power rankings. Great chance for Bishop Feehan to further prove itself, or for Malden Catholic to find its finishing touch after tying each of the last three top-10 teams it’s played.
Duxbury at HINGHAM, 6 p.m. – Unbeaten Hingham (15-0) ranks No. 1 in Div. 1. Duxbury is No. 2 in Div. 2, and its only loss in the last 10 games came to the Harborwomen, 3-2. Not much else needs to be said – this is a huge tilt.
BELMONT at Reading, 6 p.m. – Every game becomes a must-follow for the Marauders (13-0-1) at this stage of an unbeaten season, especially this week against surging Reading and Arlington (Saturday) groups likely hungry to hand out the first loss. No reason to believe Belmont can’t get the job done once again, though the Rockets come off an overtime win over Woburn for their fourth win in their last five games. Belmont won Round 1 in OT.
Shrewsbury at METHUEN/TEWKSBURY, 6 p.m. – It’s quite impressive that exactly 80 percent of Methuen/Tewksbury’s 15 games thus far have been decided by one goal or less, but it’s still unbeaten (13-0-2). And after holding onto a 1-0 win over Billerica/Chelmsford on Saturday, the queens of clutch are one MVC/DCL Large win away from securing the league title for the first time since 2019.
WESTWOOD at Medfield, 7 p.m. – Westwood’s (14-0-1) only blemish came in a 5-5 tie with Medfield to start the year. Wolverines rank No. 1 in the Div. 2 power rankings as of Tuesday, Warriors (9-3-2) rank No. 7.
SATURDAY
St. Mary’s (L) at NOTRE DAME ACADEMY (H), 3:50 p.m. – First time these two meet since the defending-champion Spartans edged NDA at TD Garden in triple overtime. St. Mary’s has gained steam since starting the year at 2-6-1 with five wins in its last eight, and all three losses were by one goal (two in overtime). Meanwhile it’s a tough second half of a back-to-back for NDA, which hasn’t wavered as a favorite for another deep run.