Through the first 12 games of the year, the BC High boys never won or lost twice in a row. They had a mammoth of a Catholic Conference and nonleague schedule, and the Eagles just kept finding their way back to .500, with a few ties sprinkled in.
As many coaches do, head coach John Flaherty and his staff put an emphasis on the season’s second half. Flashes of what it can do against some of the state’s best showed BC High could compete against anyone. Bumps and bruises came with it, but the first half of the year is gone. It was time to piece its best moments together across three periods to consistently add to the win column.
Entering the Buddy Ferreira Classic’s first round Saturday, those Eagles (9-5-3) are 5-1-1 since the halfway point. They’re unbeaten over their last five, with four of those games coming against other teams ranked in the top 10 of the MIAA’s Div. 1 power rankings.
Parity has ran wild across all of Hockeyland this year for what has been a perplexing and cinematic regular season, with several programs experiencing a bit of what BC High had in its first 10 games. And now, with only nine days left until the cutoff, those programs are looking to find the momentum the Eagles produced heading into the state tournament.
Do-or-die season is almost upon us. It’s gut-check time now.
That goes for the crystal ball too, which finally broke out of a three-week skid of a .500 win-percentage.
Games to watch out for through Sunday before action really heats up Monday, with no repeat teams:
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 9-5-1
OVERALL RECORD: 64-48-8 (.567)
WINNERS in caps
BOYS
WEDNESDAY
Woburn at BELMONT, 4 p.m. – The Middlesex League Liberty’s chaotic, four-team title race could finally simmer by the end of the day. Woburn needs to win-out in the league for a chance. The Marauders don’t necessarily need to, but the crown comes home to Belmont should it win-out against the Tanners and Arlington (Sunday).
Hanover at SCITUATE, 5:50 p.m. – Title contenders with two different flows of momentum right now. Hanover (No. 2 in Div. 4) has won five straight, with its last loss coming to Scituate. The Sailors (No. 4 in Div. 3) had an eight-game win streak disrupted and is 0-1-2 over its last three.
St. John’s (S) at HINGHAM, 6 p.m. – Juggernaut Hingham looked like the only team in Div. 1 to somehow avoid the parity that’s overrun everyone else entering the second round of the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament, up until it’s gone 0-3-1 since the start of February against other contenders. Perfect opportunity here to get back on track before the Buddy Ferreira Classic, though St. John’s is looking for the same amid a 1-7 stretch since beating Xaverian on Jan. 15.
READING at Arlington, 6 p.m. – Whether or not the Liberty’s title race cools off depends on what happens here. If Reading wins, the four-team race is down to two, unless Belmont doesn’t win its 4 o’clock game against Woburn. In that case, the Rockets will have secured the league title. But if Arlington ties or wins it, this dance is likely coming down to the very end on Sunday.
Westford Academy at WALTHAM, 7 p.m. – The Grey Ghosts showed there’s still plenty to watch out for with them, handing Billerica its first non-win (2-2 tie) on Saturday. They’re unbeaten over their last four, while Waltham looks to further bounce back from the two-game skid that ended its nine-game win streak.
ST. JOHN’S PREP at St. Mary’s (L), 7 p.m. – The Spartans have shown their strength as a legitimate state title contender by taking the dangerous Catholic Central League and have hung with other powers. Though, they haven’t quite sealed the deal against a fellow top-10 team yet. St. Mary’s will undoubtedly be hungry against the reigning state champs, who are 9-2 over their last 11 and rank No. 2 in the latest power rankings.
THURSDAY
Boston Latin at DUXBURY, 7:10 p.m. – Top-10 Div. 2 teams collide, though both rank at the bottom of that group. The Dragons rebounded from an 0-6 start to get back to .500 recently, and another signature win would go a long way heading into the Buddy Ferreira Classic. The same goes for the reigning state champs, who still look for a top-10 in their tough schedule.
SATURDAY
Catholic Memorial at POPE FRANCIS, 12:20 p.m. – The Knights look to be heating up at the right time, beating Hingham and St. John’s Prep as part of a five-game win streak. They get Archbishop Williams before this rematch with the No. 1 Cardinals, who are on a six-game win streak themselves. CM hasn’t lost twice to any opponent yet this year, though Pope Francis might be the exception.
Melrose at STONEHAM, 6 p.m. – Another chance for Melrose to prove it’s better than its 8-8-1 record as a team to look out for in Div. 3, facing the top-ranked team in Div. 4. Stoneham edged Melrose in overtime in their first matchup. Expect another entertaining bout with late-season momentum on the line.
Buddy Ferreira Classic, noon – A staple that needs little introduction. Public and private forces collide for the first round on Saturday, followed by the semifinals on Sunday and the championship on Wednesday.
GIRLS
WEDNESDAY
Marshfield at HINGHAM, 4 p.m. – A rematch of a tough earlier battle between Patriot League contenders. Harborwomen edged out Marshfield 4-3 in what’s been a special, unbeaten season. A win over a premier contender here would significantly bolster Marshfield heading into the tournament.
METHUEN/TEWKSBURY at Boston Latin, 5 p.m. – Two opposite sides of one-goal fortune. The Red Rangers are unbeaten despite playing 12 games decided by a goal. Boston Latin has played in seven one-goal games over its last nine, only to be 2-5-2 in that stretch. Though, the Wolfpack were right in it against the likes of Malden Catholic, HPNA, and an overtime loss to Methuen/Tewksbury. They also beat Billerica/Chelmsford. Never count out Boston Latin.
Billerica/Chelmsford at HPNA, 6 p.m. – Every time we pick against Billerica/Chelmsford, it blows up in our face, including the last time these two matched up. HPNA is red-hot ever since, though, at 5-1-2 despite playing many of the state’s top dogs. Here’s a chance to avenge a loss to another top dog in a premier clash.
Peabody/Lynnf./N.R. at MALDEN CATHOLIC, 6 p.m. – Opponent rating has weighed down PLNR over the last several weeks in the Div. 1 power rankings, and it just cracked the top-10 again at 13-2-1. The Tanners have allowed the least goals in the state thus far, and now get one of the favorites to crack the Final Four. Malden Catholic is a force to be reckoned with and is an excellent measuring stick.
THURSDAY
Woburn at BELMONT, 8 p.m. – A battle between two of the best in the Middlesex League Liberty, which has proven to rank around the best in the state all year. Belmont remains unbeaten despite a tough schedule, and this is another mountain to climb. Though a 3-1 win in Round 1 shows it can certainly be done again, the Tanners haven’t been an easy draw for anyone as a serious Div. 2 contender.
SATURDAY
Falmouth at DUXBURY, 3:40 p.m. – Always tension to be found in a rematch, let alone the first meeting of teams that played each other at TD Garden last. Falmouth has produced up-and-down results against Div. 2 powers this year, get a Duxbury team looking to get into form before the hunt for a third straight state title.
ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS at Bishop Feehan, 4 p.m. – A slow start is in the distant past for Archbishop Williams, who have looked every bit of a contender with just one loss in its last 13 games. Bishop Feehan is right there alongside it. Quality matchup of Div. 1 top-10 teams.
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