The MIAA Super 8 play-in games are always two of the most entertaining contests of the high school season in Massachusetts.
The 2018 play-in games should be full of excitement and intrigue as Arlington, Pope Francis, St. John’s Shrewsbury and St. Mary’s battle it out for a spot in the final Super 8 field.
Both games will be played at the Chelmsford Forum in North Billerica on Monday evening. The first game, between No. 7 Arlington and No. 10 Pope Francis, will drop the puck at 6 p.m. No. 8 St. John’s Shrewsbury and No. 9 St. Mary’s will face off at approximately 8 p.m.
No. 7 Arlington Spy Ponders (12-5-4) vs. No. 10 Pope Francis Cardinals (16-3-3)
The defending Super 8 champions from Arlington face a difficult task on Monday evening, drawing a Pope Francis team that was seeded last because of a MIAA rule. Pope Francis downed Arlington, 3-1, at Ed Burns Arena back in December in what was the season opener for both clubs.
The Cardinals are the third best team in the state, but will have to get past the Spy Ponders if it is going to make it into the final Super 8 field. Offensive stalwart Brendan Nehmer, a senior who leads Division 1 in scoring with 48 points, leads Brian Foley’s Cardinals. Juniors Makem Demers, Max Cocchi and Jon Tavella are the other forwards to watch. Senior defenseman Jacob King is a solid offensive defenseman at the high school level.
John Messuri’s Spy Ponders lost a lot of strong upperclassmen from last season’s Super 8 championship squad. However, the cupboard is far from empty. Up front, sophomores Anthony Messuri and Drew Malatesta and junior Dara Conneely are the players to watch. Junior defenseman Jack Simon is strong on the blue line. Senior goaltender Jack Pinard is back from last year’s team.
Both teams played a tough schedule and are tested and ready for a pressure-packed game such as this one. The Cardinals have the better and deeper team, but the goaltending of Pinard could be a difference maker.
No. 8 St. John’s Shrewsbury Pioneers (13-6-3) vs. No. 9 St. Mary’s Spartans (12-6-4)
Monday’s second play-in game pits two teams that enter the post-season on down notes. The Spartans lost three of their last four while the Pioneers are losers of two of three.
However, both teams deserve to be here based on their entire body of work. St. John’s Shrewsbury has wins over Xaverian and Austin Prep while playing tough against many other top teams in the state. St. Mary’s had a key win over BC High as well as downing Hingham and Austin Prep earlier in the season.
The Pioneers are back in the Super Eight after a few dry seasons in Shrewsbury. Senior forwards Nick Palermo and Will Horrigan provide offensive flare and experience up front. Sophomores Dhillon Wilde, Matthew Myers, Sean Clark, Hunter DiGregorio and Griffin Burns are a few young players to keep tabs on Monday night.
Senior defenseman Jack Herlihy is the top blue liner for Michael Mead’s team while classmate Corey Splaine will man the crease.
Mark Lee’s Spartans, the defending Division 1 State Champions, always compete hard and are tough to play against. Freshman forward Jaiden Moriello and eighth grade defenseman Davis Kinne are two of the better ‘03s in Massachusetts.
Senior forward Anthony Bono and junior forward Nicholas Napolitano are the top two threats offensively. Senior Kevin McMullen will likely get the start in net.
This game is a tough one to call. The Pioneers are a little banged up with a key sophomore potentially out of the lineup. If the bright lights of the Super 8 play a role, St. Mary’s should have the edge with a deep playoff run a year ago.
