This is it for the Maine boys high school hockey season. It’s make-or-break time for teams vying for the state tournament to make their mark and establish an identity.
And a new team has catapulted its way into the rankings with authority. Yes, Falmouth is red-hot.
With wins over Cheverus/Yarmouth and Lake Region/Fryeburg Academy/Oxford in the team’s four-game winning streak, Falmouth is pressing all the right buttons at just the right time as it barrels its way into the Class A conversation.
Elsewhere, Thornton Academy hasn’t lost its stride, and Messalonskee and Lewiston look like real playoff contenders.
Here is where things currently stand in our latest boys top 10.
1. Thornton Academy (12-1-0)
Previous rank: 1
Class A
Coach: Jamie Gagnon
Next: vs Cheverus/Yarmouth, Feb. 5, 7:05 p.m.
Thornton Academy is just making it look easy. Since our last top 10, the team has captured three more wins dominantly. After blowing out Hampden/Nokomis/Ellsworth/MDI 7-1, Thornton Academy skated to a 5-1 win over Scarborough and an 8-2 romp over Edward Little. Gagnon benefited from five different goal scorers against Scarborough, as Jake Allaire, Grady Hersey, Oliver Thompson, Trent Lesieur and Ryan Gagnon all lit the lamp. Jake Skillings, the league’s leading scorer (13-20-33), dished two assists. It required overtime to beat Cheverus/Yarmouth the last time these teams met. Look for this week’s clash to be a big one.
2. Messalonskee (11-2-0)
Previous rank: 2
Class B North
Coach: Dennis Martin
Next: vs John Bapst/Hermon/Bangor, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.
Messalonskee has also been on a tear, winning its last five games since our latest rankings. The team has beaten Houlton/Hodgdon/S. Aroostook/Katahdin on two occasions (7-0, 9-3), Leavitt/Poland/GNG/Oak Hill Kings (3-2), Presque Isle/CAHA/Caribou/Wisd (4-0) and John Bapst/Hermon/Bangor (3-2). In its recent 3-2 overtime win over John Bapst/Hermon/Bangor, Christian Salvadori was the hero, scoring his second goal of the game. With five games left on the regular season slate, look for Messalonskee to finish in style.
3. Lewiston (9-3-1)
Previous rank: 4
Class A
Coach: Sam Cloutier
Next: at Lake Region/Fryeburg Academy/Oxford, Feb. 3, 5:10 p.m.
With a 4-1 win over Cheverus/Yarmouth, Lewiston is finding its stride at just the right time. It was quite the response from the Blue Devils after suffering a 3-0 defeat to them in December, and it symbolizes just how much Cloutier and his group have improved this winter. Aizyk Laliberte (21-4-25) has continued his goal-scoring ways and will be a big part of Lewiston’s quest to sustain their momentum.
4. Falmouth (8-4-0)
Previous rank: NR
Class A
Coach: Hogan Tracy
Next: at Bangor/Brewer/Skowhegan/Narraguagus, Feb. 4, 6:10 p.m.
What’s in the water in Falmouth? Tracy’s team picked the perfect time to get hot. In a stunning second-half turnaround, Falmouth has won its last four games and is firing on all cylinders with some notable wins. How about a 10-2 thumping of Lake Region/Fryeburg Academy/Oxford and a 2-1 win over Cheverus/Yarmouth? The team also beat Edward Little (3-1) and Kents Hill/Oceanside (1-0) in the impressive stretch. Anthony Graceffa and Chase Woolworth found twine in the win over Cheverus/Yarmouth.
5. Cheverus/Yarmouth (7-5-0)
Previous rank: 3
Class A
Coach: David St. Pierre
Next: at Thornton Academy, Feb. 5, 7:05 p.m.
It isn’t going to get any easier for Cheverus/Yarmouth, which has lost its last two games. A huge test with Thornton Academy looms this week. But the last time these two teams met on an ice sheet, it was a battle, as Thornton skated away with a 4-3 win in overtime. After losses to Lewiston (4-1) and Falmouth (2-1), the best way to get back on track would be to throw another scare into the No. 1 team.
6. Edward Little (8-6-0)
Previous rank: 5
Class A
Coach: Kevin Smith
Next: at Falmouth, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Riding a three-game slide, Edward Little looks to climb back into the win column this week against Falmouth. Edward Little has recently suffered losses at the hands of Lewiston (7-4), Falmouth (3-1) and Thornton Academy (8-2), but has a golden opportunity to seek revenge against Falmouth on Saturday. Watch for Nolan Heath (9-14-23) to be at the center of that push.
7. Scarborough (7-3-1)
Previous Rank: NR
Class A
Coach: Eric Wirsing
Next: vs York/Biddeford, Feb. 3, 8:30 p.m.
Scarborough has snuck its way into the top 10 with a recent slew of impressive performances, which includes a pair of 5-1 wins over Windham/Westbrook/Bonny Eagle/Sacopee Valley and Gorham/Massabesic, as well as a 3-2 win over Lewiston. The team also battled with Thornton Academy, falling 5-1. The Red Storm eye a gauntlet the rest of the way, however, with Cheverus/Yarmouth, Falmouth and Thornton Academy looming on the docket before the state tournament.
8. Lake Region/Fryeburg Academy/Oxford (7-3-0)
Previous rank: 6
Class A
Coach: Wayne Neiman
Next: vs Lewiston, Feb. 3, 5:10 p.m.
After falling to Falmouth, 10-2, the Ice Cats responded nicely with a 1-0 win over Kents Hill/Oceanside last week. Gunner Truman (11-15-26) continues to dazzle, and his scoring output will certainly be called upon in the team’s big game with Lewiston this week. It will likely be the Ice Cats' biggest test before the postseason.
9. Cony Co-Op (10-3-0)
Previous rank: 7
Class B North
Coach: Dan Foster
Next: at Camden Hills Regional, Feb. 4, 8 p.m.
Cony Co-op fell to Cheverus/Yarmouth in a competitive 1-0 decision and has continued its strong play, winning two of its last three. Last weekend, the team erupted with an 8-1 win over Houlton/Hodgdon/S. Aroostook/Katahdin after falling to John Bapst/Hermon/Bangor, 3-2, and beating Hampden/Nokomis/Ellsworth/MDI, 3-2. In the 3-2 win over Hampden/Nokomis/Ellsworth/MDI, Kyle Lepage, Cooper Clark and Jackson Wing collected goals. Clark (8-16-24) ranks ninth in the league in points.
READ MORE: The latest Maine girls hockey rankings
10. Gorham/Massabesic Co-op (9-3-0)
Previous rank: 8
Class B South
Coach: Shawn Sullivan
Next: at Leavitt/Poland/GNG/Oak Hill, Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Gorham/Massabesic dropped a 5-1 decision to Scarborough last week but rebounded with a 2-1 victory over Greely, improving to 9-3-0. Levi Wagner (7-11-18) is leading the scoring front, but the Rams are also receiving secondary contributions from Andrew Collins, who potted his ninth goal of the season in the loss to Scarborough. Their two games with Leavitt/Poland/GNG/Oak Hill Kings over the next few weeks will tell us more.
