Massachusetts Boys D4 Top 10
| Rank | Team | W | L | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stoneham | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | Sandwich | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Norwell | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Fitchburg/Monty Tech | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Winthrop | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | Shawsheen | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | Watertown | 4 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| 8 | Martha's Vineyard | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Ashland | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 10 | Chicopee Comp | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
 |
|||||
It’s not often that a team loses a game by five goals and still holds on to its top spot in the rankings. But Stoneham has been a rare case in the Hockey Night in Boston Massachusetts Division 4 rankings this season – the Spartans fell to D1 power Arlington on Saturday, and all four of their defeats this season are to D1 opponents in the Middlesex League. Stoneham did open the week with a solid win over Lowell Catholic.
No. 2 Sandwich continues to knock on the door, beating Dennis-Yarmouth in its only action last week.
No. 3 Norwell had a huge week with four wins – sweeping Dartmouth, Hull/Cohasset, East/West Bridgewater and then Sunday’s victory on Nantucket.
Fitchburg/Monty Tech remained perfect and moved up to No. 4 after beating St. Bernard’s and Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley.
No. 5 Winthrop continues to claw its way back up the rankings, despite a loss to D2 Masconomet. The Vikings did beat another D2 team, Medford.
No. 6 Shawsheen also moves up despite a loss to start the week against Essex Tech. The Rams bounced back to beat Hamilton-Wenham.
Everything said about Stoneham is even more true for No. 7 Watertown, despite its seven losses. Six of those setbacks have been to D1 teams – including Woburn, Burlington and Reading last week.
No. 8 Martha’s Vineyard was off last week, but the Vineyarders are scheduled to be back this week vs. Dennis-Yarmouth and Nantucket.
No. 9 Ashland had a mixed week, falling to Westboro and Medway with a win over Abington in between.
No. 10 Chicopee Comp had its perfect start come to an end with a loss to Amherst, but the Colts did recover to beat Wahconah and Ludlow.
Here is a look at this week’s games featuring top-10 teams:
Monday: Watertown at Winchester (5, O’Brien).
Wednesday: Fitchburg/Monty Tech at Gardner (5, Gardner Veterans); Martha’s Vineyard at Dennis-Yarmouth (6, Tony Kent); Stoneham vs. Beverly (6, Stoneham); Ashland at Dover-Sherborn/Weston (7, Rivers); Shawsheen at Haverhill (7, Haverhill Veterans); Norwell at Abington (7:50, Rockland); Watertown at Melrose (8, Stoneham); Sandwich at Nauset (8:10, Charles Moore).
Thursday: Shawsheen vs. Greater Lowell/Nashoba Tech (7:10, Hallenborg).
Friday: Sandwich at Falmouth (5, Falmouth).
Saturday: Ashland at Dedham (11:30, Nobles); Winthrop vs. Beverly (1:30, Larsen); Fitchburg/Monty Tech vs. Chicopee (2, Wallace); Martha’s Vineyard at Nantucket (2, Nantucket); Watertown vs. Wakefield (4:20, Ryan); Chicopee Comp at Gardner (5:30, Gardner Veterans); Shawsheen at North Middlesex (6, Wallace); Stoneham vs. Melrose (6, Stoneham); Norwell vs. Rockland (7:40, Bog).
