The MIAA Hockey Division 2 Tournament has some familiar faces looking to be crowned champion at TD Garden in Boston on March 15.
Defending state champion Canton, with a record of 17-1-3, is the top seed in the South Division and is a favorite to win it all again in 2020. Tewksbury, the third seed in the North Division, will look to get back to the TD Garden as it did last March. Both teams have many key figures back from a year ago.
Below is a look at the brackets, the teams and players to watch, and my prediction for who will skate off TD Garden’s ice with the ultimate trophy in Division 2 on March 15:
MIAA Hockey North Division 2
1. Masconomet (16-3-1)
2. Lincoln Sudbury (16-3-2)
3. Tewksbury (14-3-3)
4. Marblehead (14-3-4)
5. Triton (14-4-2)
6. North Andover (12-3-6)
7. Gloucester (12-5-3)
8. Everett (12-7-1)
9. Boston Latin (11-6-3)
10. Wakefield (11-6-3)
11. Lynnfield (11-7-2)
12. Winthrop (9-8-3)
13. Wilmington (9-8-3)
14. North Reading (9-8-3)
15. Danvers (9-9-2)
16. Stoneham (6-11-2)
MIAA Hockey South Division 2
1. Canton (17-1-3)
2. Plymouth North (15-3-2)
3. Norwood (14-3-3)
4. Whitman-Hanson (15-4-1)
5. Southeastern/West Bridgewater (13-4-1)
6. Medway (12-3-5)
7. Dedham (13-4-3)
8. Dighton-Rehoboth/Seekonk (14-5-1)
9. Medfield (11-5-4)
10. Brookline (13-7-1)
11. Apponequet/Old Colony/Connolly (10-5-4)
12. Scituate (12-7-1)
13. Wareham/Carver (11-8-1)
14. Westwood (10-8-2)
15. Bishop Feehan (10-8-2)
16. North Attleboro (7-7-6)
17. Taunton (9-9-3)
Teams to watch
Canton
Senior John Hagan is back to lead Canton’s charge for a second straight state championship. The forward is a solid athlete who skates well, has skill, and plays a complete game. The Bulldogs returned quite a bit of talent from last year’s team, including Timmy Kelleher, Owen Lehane and Tommy Ghostlaw, who are serving as captains this year along with Hagan. The two biggest faces gone from last year are leading scorer Ryan Nolte and starting goaltender Michael Staffiere. Head coach Brian Shuman is one of the best bench bosses in high school hockey in Massachusetts.
Tewksbury
Head coach Derek Doherty’s team is loaded and has good depth. The Redmen are led by forwards William O’Keefe, Jason Cooke, Campbell Pierce, and defensemen Caden Connors and Tom Barbati, who returned after playing the last two seasons at Selects Academy at South Kent. Tewksbury certainly has the firepower to return to TD Garden.
Lincoln Sudbury
The Warriors have played a tough schedule and have some big wins. Lincoln Sudbury is responsible for Canton’s only loss and also has wins over Boston Latin, Waltham, Tewksbury and a tie against Natick. One young player to keep close tabs on is sophomore Brendan Quinn. Don’t be surprised if Matt Carlin’s team makes a deep run.
Masconomet
Outside of a loss to Division 1 Melrose, Andrew Jackson’s team didn’t lose once the calendar turned to 2020. The Chieftans are led by senior forwards Peyton Defeo and Jason Schueler and freshman forward Kai Roberto. Senior goaltender Tucker Hanson is one of the better goalies in Division 2.
Boston Latin
Senior forwards Owen O’Brien, Sam Hutchison, and Noah Sargent lead the way for the Wolfpack. Coached by Frank Woods, the team’s best player might just be sophomore defenseman Damon Alexander. Boston Latin has wins over Tewksbury, North Andover and Andover.
North Andover
The Scarlet Knights have key wins over Andover and Boston Latin as well as a couple of ties against Division 1 foes. Head coach Pete Marfione’s is led by junior Cole Fagan, sophomore Andrew Perry and junior Adam Heinze. Sophomore Patrick Green is a solid goaltender.
Triton
The Vikings are well-coached and play with great structure. Coached by Ryan Sheehan, Triton had a couple of victories over Division 1 teams, and could be dangerous in the post-season. Key players for the Vikings are defenseman Tyler Godfrey and forwards James Tatro and Brad Killion.
Medway
The Mustangs enter the post-season on an 11-game unbeaten streak. Sophomore forward Alex Infanger, whose dad Karl Infanger played at Merrimack, is one of the top players in Division 2.
Other players to watch
Grayson Badger
The Brookline sophomore forward might be the best player in Division 2, or perhaps the state. No one competes harder than Badger. He gives it his all each and every shift. Badger hunts pucks and gets a lot of chances. He had 25 goals and 15 assists during the regular season.
Riley Fitzgerald
The sophomore forward and Wilmington’s leading goal scorer (11) sees the ice extremely well. After coming back from Belmont Hill, Fitzgerald has been a key component to the Wildcats’ success.
Drew Damiani
The Lynnfield freshman defenseman was a standout for the Boston Jr. Rangers and has earned his ice time this season for the Pioneers.
Prediction
I can’t see anyone but Canton coming out of the South Division. Tewksbury has as good of a shot as anyone of repeating as champion of the North Division, but I’m going to pick Lincoln Sudbury. At the TD Garden, Lincoln Sudbury comes out victorious.
