EMass Boys Division 3 Top 15
The top four teams in this week’s HNIB News Eastern Mass. Division 3 boys hockey rankings all turned in impressive, or thrilling, victories. Or both.
No. 1 Hopkinton continues to roll with a pair of wins, including Saturday’s 6-3 vanquishing of Div. 2 Medfield in which the Hillers poured on five first-period goals and never looked back.
No. 2 Dartmouth made a huge statement win with an 8-0 pounding of Somerset Berkley, capping a week in which the Indians outscored three opponents by a combined 21-1.
Bedford stays at No. 3, and the Buccaneers started their week with a solid victory against a ranked Div. 2 Marblehead.
Cambridge jumps to No. 4 thanks to its last-second victory Wednesday against Newton South. The Falcons swapped spots with new No. 5 Hanover, which had been on a roll until running into a red-hot Whitman-Hanson team Saturday.
The two new entries this week are No. 10 North Quincy and No. 15 Hamilton-Wenham. North Quincy is only .500 overall, but has responded well following the devastating injury to senior Connor Kulig, as the Red Raiders this week tied No. 9 Norwell and also posted a strong 3-0 win against No. 12 Silver Lake.
As for Hamilton-Wenham, the Generals were on the short end Saturday vs. Bedford, but did score a nice win Monday against a previously ranked Swampscott team.
Looking ahead, Cambridge and Bedford square off Wednesday (4:05, Edge Sports Center) in one of two ranked matchups this week. Bedford handed the Falcons their only loss of the season earlier in January.
A bit later Wednesday, North Quincy travels to Hobomock for a 6:10 faceoff with Hanover.
Hopkinton puts its unbeaten season to the test with a pair of matchups with Tri-Valley Div. 2 foes – Dedham (Wednesday, 8:00, NE Sports Center) and Westwood (Saturday, 7:55, Canton Ice House). Dartmouth tries to avenge its lone loss Wednesday when it hosts Bridgewater-Raynham (8:00).
In key games Saturday, No. 11 Lowell meets Boston Latin (3:00, Murphy), and North Quincy takes on Whitman-Hanson (6:15, Rockland).