It’s been a turbulent start to the high school hockey season in Massachusetts, which makes the first installment of New England Hockey Journal’s MIAA Power Rankings exciting.
Xaverian and Arlington are clearly the top two teams in the state, but after that, there are a whole bunch of teams vying for pecking order. A number of early-season results have left longtime observers, including myself, scratching our heads.
With the unpopular decision to cut the Super 8 for the 2021-22 season, the MIAA Division 1 state tournament is wide open. It would have been extremely hard for anyone to defeat Xaverian or Arlington twice, but anything can happen in a single-elimination format.
I’ve been to two dozen MIAA games over the first month of the season. While I haven’t seen everyone, I believe I have a solid grasp on the top 16 teams in the state for the 2021-22 season. Hopefully, administrators will step out of the way and allow for a full and uninterrupted finish to the winter on the ice in the Bay State.
Without further ado, here is the first installment of our MIAA Power Rankings:
1. Xaverian
Record: 5-0-0 | Conference: Catholic Conference
In high school hockey, defense and experience win championships. That’s why I have Dave Spinale’s team in the top spot. The Hawks are a senior-laden team with all but one regular being an upperclassman. The defending Catholic Conference champs play a physical brand of hockey and don’t have any weak links that I saw in my viewing at the Pat Serio Cup. A big Catholic Conference tilt against St. John’s Prep looms on Saturday.
2. Arlington
Record: 5-0-0 | Conference: Middlesex Liberty
The Spy Ponders likely won’t have any trouble scoring goals this season. Jack Sadowski is one of the top-3 prospects in the state and John Messuri can roll three fairly productive forward lines over the boards. Defense and goaltending might trip up Arlington’s bid to win a third MIAA crown since 2015. Outside of the BC High win, the schedule hasn’t been all that challenging. The next four games will change that with games against Winchester, Hingham, Belmont and Reading, all inside this top 16.
3. Belmont
Record: 7-0-0 | Conference: Middlesex Liberty
Belmont has come out of the gate making an emphatic statement. The 2020 Division 1 co-state champion has already blanked BC High and Winchester. Four of their seven wins have come via the shutout. Leading the way offensively for the Marauders is junior right wing Cam Fici, a pure goal scorer. Key Middlesex League matchups against Reading, Woburn and Arlington await.
4. St. John’s Prep
Record: 4-1-0 | Conference: Catholic Conference
Kristian Hanson’s team has three solid forward lines and has the size and older roster to do some damage this winter. Defense and goaltending keep them behind Xaverian in terms of top teams in the Catholic Conference. The Eagles have a chance to prove me wrong this Saturday when they travel to Canton Ice House for the biggest Catholic Conference game of the season to date.
5. Catholic Memorial
Record: 4-0-0 | Conference: Catholic Conference
The Knights have scored 25 goals over their last three games, including the 12-spot they put up against Bishop Fenwick in the championship game of the Christmas Tournament they hosted. That one viewing against a clearly inferior team wasn’t great for optimal evaluation. However, I liked what I saw from Larry Rooney’s team. The key for the remainder of the season is getting consistent goaltending from senior Dom Walecka. With two of their next three opponents being Hingham and Xaverian, stiffer tests are on the horizon.
6. Austin Prep
Record: 2-1-0 | Conference: Catholic Central
The Cougars haven’t played as many games as their counterparts in these rankings. Wins over St. Mary’s and Malden Catholic propelled Bill Pappas’ team to the championship of the Christie Serino Christmas Classic. AP has quite a bit of talent, but much of it is the younger variety. While that interests scouts, it might be tough to win come tournament time when the majority of the top players are '06s.
7. Malden Catholic
Record: 4-1-0 | Conference: Catholic Conference
The Lancers have the best player in the state in '06 defenseman Owen Keefe. He logs a ton of minutes for Chris Kuchar’s team. There is some talent outside of the Saugus, Mass., native, but MC lacks the depth of the top three teams in the Catholic Conference. A brutal stretch has the Lancers playing their next three against St. John’s Prep, BC High and Catholic Memorial.
8. Pope Francis
Record: 3-2-0 | Conference: Independent
This certainly isn’t a typical Cardinals squad. Losing Ryan Leonard to the NTDP and four other top players to prep school hockey isn’t ideal. Also gone is reliable veteran goaltender Ben Zaranek. Brian Foley’s team still has some talent, but there will be some lumps taken by the boys from the Olympia Rink.
9. Braintree
Record: 4-1-0 | Conference: Bay State Herget
The Wamps always have a competitive team with Dave Fassano behind the bench. This year’s group is no different, despite losing some key players to prep hockey. Back are Nolan Leonard and Nick Fassano up front while Danny Keegan heads up the blue line. The emergence of sophomore goaltender Jack Fitzgerald is a pleasant development for Braintree.
10. BC High
Record: 2-3-1 | Conference: Catholic Conference
The Eagles have two of the best forwards in the state in junior center Ryan Flaherty and sophomore left wing James Marshall. However, the Eagles are thin after that, especially on defense. Goaltending could be a problem in big Catholic Conference games. John Flaherty’s team has hit some road bumps early in the season. I expect BC High to find a way to return to above .500 and make the tournament. Wins over St. John’s Prep and Pope Francis are impressive resume builders.
11. St. Mary’s
Record: 2-1-2 | Conference: Catholic Central
Scoring goals isn’t going to come easy for the Spartans this winter. Mark Lee’s team, winless in three consecutive games, has scored just 10 goals in five games. The more recent history is bleaker with just six goals in the last four. St. Mary’s will always play hard and bring a physical element. Expect the team to rack up some wins over the next three games before a rematch with Austin Prep and a trip to Hingham.
12. Hingham
Record: 4-2-0 | Conference: Independent
Tony Messina’s program has become known as one of the top public school teams in the state year in and year out. The Harbormen always play a challenging schedule as an independent. This year is no different. There’s been some inconsistency with lopsided results for and against. An 8-2 loss to St. John’s Prep keeps Hingham down in the rankings for now.
13. Winchester
Record: 4-1-0 | Conference: Middlesex Liberty
I had pegged the Sachems higher following a big 2-0 win over Reading on New Year’s Eve. However, a 6-0 loss to Belmont Wednesday pushed Gino Khachadourian’s team down. Arlington, Woburn and BC High are among the opponents over the next four games. That will give a good barometer of whether or not this Winchester team is for real.
14. Reading
Record: 3-1-1 | Conference: Middlesex Liberty
The Rockets have a good amount of talent and should end up in the top 16 when the season is complete. Mark Doherty’s group is a good mixture of veterans and youthful exuberance. After a loss and a tie, Reading can bounce back when it hosts undefeated Belmont in a Middlesex League clash on Saturday night at Burbank Arena.
15. Tewksbury
Record: 5-0-0 | Conference: Dual County/Merrimack Valley 2
I’ve yet to see the Redmen this season, but a few familiar names are back. Right wing Jason Cooke and defenseman Caden Connors both spurned prep school options to come back and play for the hometown high school. Derek Doherty’s team has outscored its opponents 22-4 through five games. Looking through the team’s schedule, there isn’t much in the way.
16. Woburn
Record: 4-1-1 | Conference: Middlesex Liberty
The Tanners slipped into this final spot just ahead of Waltham. Jim Duran’s team has faced a challenging slate. After starting out 4-0, Woburn lost to Arlington and tied Reading. Another key date against archrival Winchester looms. Depth will hurt Woburn, but first line center Jackson Powers will look to carry this team on his back.
