We always know this time of the year in Hockeyland is electric. We really don’t need a reminder.
But if we did, Monday’s action was a perfect a little taste of what we can look forward to over these last three days of the regular season – and beyond.
A clash between Div. 3’s unbeatens saw second-ranked Medfield battle with top-ranked Nauset for over 30 minutes of one-goal hockey before the Warriors ran away in a potential preview of the state final. The Hingham Showcase brought us Div. 1’s top-ranked Hingham versus Div. 2’s top-ranked Westwood for a matchup of unbeatens in girls hockey, which the Harborwomen edged out.
The Waltham girls handed Belmont its first loss. The Canton boys extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games by taking the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament’s Brinn title. Xaverian edged pesky Natick. The Duxbury girls edged pesky St. Mary’s of Lynn. The Archbishop Williams girls needed overtime to beat Arlington, and the Winchester boys flexed on Div. 2 power Tewksbury.
Lower-ranked teams are bolstering cases for a better seed, or just boosting their confidence to navigate a deep run against the odds. Title contenders are rounding into ultimate form.
Hockeyland action is only going to get higher stakes and tighter from here, and we can’t wait to see what unfolds.
It’s safe to say now, barring a perfect final week, that the crystal ball missed the mark on cracking a .700 win percentage. In a parity-ridden season, where teams currently ranked below 16 in the power rankings have given various fits all year, that’s quite alright. We’re just hoping to close out strong.
Thank you to whoever followed along. Most of these games have deserved your attention, much like the ones coming up.
The final go:
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 9-5-2
OVERALL RECORD: 73-53-10 (.574)
WINNERS in caps
BOYS
TUESDAY
BILLERICA at Woburn, noon – The matchup we’ve waited for in Div. 2 is here – unbeaten, top-ranked Billerica against Middlesex League force, second-ranked Woburn. Parity will certainly run its course in the tournament, but this preview of a potential meeting at TD Garden is a must-watch.
Boston Latin at CANTON, 2 p.m. – They might not be unbeaten like the other two, but the Bulldogs’ 19-game unbeaten streak is tied with Billerica and Nauset’s as best in the state. A win over the reigning Div. 2 state champs would be the cherry on top of an excellent regular season.
St. Mary’s at POPE FRANCIS, 7:40 p.m. – Premier Div. 1 contenders clash again in the first round of Pope Francis’ Cardinal Classic. Shot at revenge here for St. Mary’s, which lost in overtime to Pope Francis earlier despite a lead in the final minute of regulation.
WEDNESDAY
Essex Tech at HANOVER, 1 p.m. – Hanover ranks No. 2 in Div. 4. Essex Tech ranks No. 3 in Div. 3. Not much more needs to be said – may the best Hawks win.
ARLINGTON CATHOLIC at Archbishop Williams, 2 p.m. (at Falmouth Ice Arena) – Losses in the Buddy Ferreira Classic’s semifinals sets up this rubber match between Catholic Central League forces. Archies routed Arlington Catholic in the latest edition, though the Cougars seem to have re-discovered their spark against fellow Div. 1 titans lately.
ARLINGTON at Braintree, 6 p.m. – Arlington couldn’t take the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Doherty title against Belmont, but it made sure to repeat as Middlesex League Liberty champions against the Marauders on Sunday instead. Braintree has been up and down against fellow contenders all year, will certainly have juice for its regular season finale.
Hingham at BC HIGH (at Falmouth Ice Arena), 6 p.m. – Another Buddy Ferreira Classic championship down to a public school versus a private. BC High is one of just two teams ranked in Div. 1’s top-16 that the Harbormen haven’t played yet. They get the Eagles at their peak, too, riding a seven-game unbeaten streak. Should be a classic.
GIRLS
TUESDAY
BURLINGTON at Falmouth, 3 p.m. – Burlington has won six straight since dropping three in a row to Middlesex League powers. A win in this Div. 2 top-10 matchup against the reigning runners-up would arguably be the streak’s most significant.
WEDNESDAY
BISHOP FEEHAN at Algonquin, 1 p.m. – Two top-10 teams in their respective divisions. Hard to pick against either team at this point.
Peabody/Lynnf./N.R. at HPNA, 4 p.m. – Two of the best defenses in the state match up in a bout between serious Div. 1 contenders. No team has allowed fewer goals than Alyse Mutti and PLNR this year, but HPNA has done well when goals are at a premium in the state’s toughest conference.
Reading at METHUEN/TEWKSBURY, 5 p.m. – The unbeaten Red Rangers don’t get an easy one to close out the regular season. Reading is 8-3-1 since dropping two in a row to Middlesex League powers. Methuen/Tewksbury’s prowess in tight, one-goal games this year, though, is unmatched.
Winchester at MILTON, 7 p.m. – Few teams right now are hotter than Milton and its 13-game unbeaten streak, but Winchester has proven pesky with a long line of tight finishes against contenders.
THURSDAY
NDA (H) at Arlington, 11:30 a.m. – Spy Ponders nearly took one from Archbishop Williams (overtime) in the opening round of the Hingham Classic, have an opportunity to enter the tournament with another quality fight against a contender under their belts. NDA (12-3-2) has been an undoubted force all year and has only lost to one team not named Hingham.
St. Mary’s (L) at HINGHAM, 1 p.m. – Despite their overall record (8-11-2) and a 1-9-1 mark against teams ranked above them in the power rankings, you can never count out Frank Pagliuca’s Spartans. They’re playing everyone tough, and each of their last five losses have been by one goal. Harborwomen, of course, are still the favorite in any matchup.