It's been an action-packed last week and a half in boys MIAA hockey. There have been numerous top-10 matchups due to holiday tournaments. On New Year's Eve, there will be even more. Those will no doubt reshape the top 10 for next week. But this past week, no team improved its stock more than Xaverian....
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Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Larry Rooney
Next game: at Arlington, Dec. 31, 2 p.m.Â
The former champs are very much still No. 1. CM took down Falmouth, 2-0, on Dec. 20 before rolling through the William Hanson Tournament with a 4-1 win over St. Mary's Lynn and an 8-2 triumph against Fairfield Prep. Senior defenseman James Baker continues to prove why he's one of the best defensemen in the state, posting a goal and three assists throughout the William Hanson Tournament. Wednesday's date with Arlington will be a big test.
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Kris Hanson
Next game: at Reading, Dec. 31, 1 p.m.Â
After tying Hingham, 4-4, to open the season, St. John's Prep is rolling. After beating LaSalle Academy, 4-1, on Dec. 20, the Eagles crushed BC High, 7-0, in the opening round of the Pete Frates Winter Classic and got a huge, 3-2 win over Pope Francis in the championship. Watch out for the duo of brothers Brandon and Blake Ward, who both scored in the final. Like CM, St. John's Prep will be tested against a top public school on Wednesday.
3. Xaverian (5-0-0)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Dave Spinale
Next game: at St. Mary's Lynn, Jan. 1, 4 p.m.Â
Xaverian has been dominant over the last nine days. It started with a 7-1 drubbing of Arlington Catholic and a 2-1 edging out of Winchester right before Christmas. In the South Shore Holiday Classic, the Hawks beat Archbishop Williams, 5-1, before winning 6-5 in overtime to beat Hingham in a game-of-the-year candidate. Against Hingham, Xaverian came back from being down two goals in the third. It was senior forward Daniel Gentile who sniped the winner with 43.2 seconds left in the extra frame.
4. Pope Francis (4-2-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: Brian Foley
Next game: vs. Malden Catholic, Jan. 31, 12:30 p.m.Â
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The Cardinals only dropped one spot this week, following an eventful week. They took down BC High, 2-0, in the first game of the Sacred Heart Tournament before falling to Don Bosco Prep, 6-4. At the Pete Frates Winter Classic, Foley's team beat Central Catholic, 2-0, but lost to SJP in the final. Still, Pope could've just as easily won its matchup with St. John's Prep and is more than deep enough up front and in back to safely be in the top five.
5. St. John's Shrewsbury (3-2-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Michael Mead
Next game: vs. Shrewsbury, Dec. 31, 2 p.m.Â
Saint John's Shrewsbury dropped a spot primarily because of its 3-2 loss against Arlington Catholic on Dec. 23. But the Pioneers rebounded well with a great showing in the My Hockey Live Cup, earning a 5-1 win over Franklin and a 5-2 win against Framingham in the championship. With the score tied, 2-2, midway through the third period against Framingham, sophomore Matt McGinty knocked in the rebound, which ended up being the winner.
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: John Messuri Next game: vs. Catholic Memorial, Dec. 31, 2 p.m. Â
The Spy Ponders haven't been too busy, only playing once since our last rankings. They took care of business with a 5-1 win against Stoneham on Dec. 20. Messuri's team has a chance to put these rankings in a blender with their next three games: Catholic Memorial, Winchester and Pope Francis. That's all before Jan. 4.
7. Hingham (2-1-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Tony Messina
Next game: at Marshfield, Dec. 31, 6 p.m.Â
Things are tight in the middle of the top 10, which is why Hingham dropped two spots this week. The Harborbmen took down Weymouth, 6-3, on Christmas Eve. In the South Shore Holiday Classic, Hingham started with an 8-2 rout of Braintree before falling to Xaverian in overtime. Had Hingham held on for the win against the Hawks, it likely would've shot into the top five. Instead, it will have the chance with its upcoming slate of games. After Marshfield on New Year's Eve, the Harbormen face Andover, Catholic Memorial, Winchester and Arlington in the next few weeks.
8. Reading (3-0-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Head coach: Mark Doherty
Next game: vs. St. John's Prep, Dec. 31, 1 p.m.Â
Like Arlington, Reading was only in action once since our last rankings, getting a big, 7-1 win over Watertown/Wayland on Dec. 20. Senior defenseman Nate Vitarisi and junior forward Kamden Greatorex both tallied a goal and two assists in the win. The Rockets' first big test of the season will come on Wednesday when they battle St. John's Prep.
9. Canton (3-0-0)
Previous ranking: 10
Head coach: Brian Shuman
Next game: at Milton, Dec. 31, 10 a.m.Â
I typically don't include teams outside Division 1 in my rankings, but teams like Canton and Tewksbury have made it impossible not to. Canton earned a huge, 3-1 win over Archbishop Williams on Dec. 20. Most recently, the Bulldogs crushed Westwood, 2-0. Wednesday's matchup with 3-0 Milton will be a big test.
Previous ranking: 9
Head coach: John Flaherty
Next game: at Belmont, Dec. 31, 2 p.m.Â
No team outside the top 10 did enough to get in, so BC High was saved from falling out. It opened its season with the Sacred Heart Tournament, falling to Pope Francis, 2-0, but beating ND West Haven, 2-0. At the Pete Frates Winter Classic, BC High was routed by SJP but rebounded to beat Central Catholic, 5-0. The most positive development: When BC High went on a five-minute power play in the third period against Central Catholic, the offense came alive with three goals.
Dropped out:Â None
In the hunt:Â Arlington Catholic, Tewksbury, Winchester, St. Mary's Lynn
RinkWise podcast: The biggest storylines from the holiday tournaments
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1. Catholic Memorial (4-0-1)
2. St. John's Prep (3-0-1)
3. Xaverian (5-0-0)
9. Canton (3-0-0)
