Massachusetts Boys Division 1 Poll
| Rank | Team | [tooltip text="PR*" gravity="ne"]Previous Ranking[/tooltip] | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Catholic | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Pope Francis | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | St. John's Prep | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | B.C. High | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Burlington | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Austin Prep | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 7 | Franklin | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | Xaverian | 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | St. Mary's (L) | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | Arlington | 11 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 11 | Hingham | 14 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 12 | Reading | 13 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | St. John's (S) | 15 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Andover | 17 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 15 | Malden Catholic | 12 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 16 | Catholic Memorial | 10 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 17 | Waltham | 16 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 18 | Wellesley | 18 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 19 | Walpole | 19 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| 20 | Marshfield | NR | 5 | 2 | 2 |
There is a fair bit of shuffling this week but only one new entrant in the Mass. D1 Boys Top 20. Next week’s poll could look significantly different based on the results of Monday’s second annual “Middlesex vs. Catholics Shootout” at O’Brien Rink in Woburn (schedule below).
No. 1 Central Catholic remains perfect and will secure post-season qualification with a win against D2 Lincoln-Sudbury Monday. The Raiders repelled a determined No. 14 Andover club in MVC/DCL One play Saturday night, 1-0, behind Sean Brown’s goal and Matt Pasquale’s sixth shutout of the season.
No. 2 Pope Francis spent the week entertaining out-of-state opponents at The Olympia and sent each home disappointed. The Cardinals handled Notre Dame of West Haven, CT, 6-2, then slid past Rhode Island stalwart Bp. Hendricken, 4-3. No. 13 St. John’s (S) and Andover are on the schedule this week.
No. 3 St. John’s Prep shut down Xaverian, 3-0, in its lone action. This is a loaded week for the Eagles with Top 20 matchups against Burlington, No. 16 Catholic Memorial and BC High. The outcome of the latter will go a long way toward shaping the Catholic Conference race.
During what is now a five-game winning streak, No. 4 BC High has outscored the opposition, 25-2 – so much for that early-season power outage. Both Catholic Memorial and No. 15 Malden Catholic came up empty against the Eagles this week. Junior goalie Luke Garrity has three straight shutouts.
No. 5 Burlington drops three spots. After edging D2 Stoneham, 3-2, the Red Devils were dropped from the undefeated ranks by No. 11 Hingham, 3-1, on Saturday. Following Monday’s date with St. John’s Prep, a Middlesex League Freedom Division match with Melrose awaits on Saturday.
No. 6 Austin Prep knocked off D2 Lowell Catholic in a Catholic Central crossover and followed that up with a decisive 6-2 win against a Matignon club that has been playing solid hockey. CCL Large games with Bishop Fenwick and Archbishop Williams sandwich Wednesday’s non-league match with Arlington this week.
No. 7 Franklin forged a 1-1 tie with Malden Catholic, an exclusionary game result that could carry some weight if the Panthers are in the Division 1A conversation come tourney time. They followed that with a 4-3 Hockomock win against North Attleboro and host Taunton and No. 20 Marshfield this week.
After being shut out by St. John’s Prep, No. 8 Xaverian rebounded with a 3-0 whitewash of Catholic Memorial. The Hawks will be tested this week, facing off with Winchester, Malden Catholic and St. John’s (S).
No. 9 St. Mary’s (L) drops a spot after being upset by Archbishop Williams, 3-1, in Catholic Central Large play Saturday. The Spartans are at home against Hingham (Monday) and Matignon (Saturday).
Reigning 1A champion No. 10 Arlington returns to the Top 10 following a busy week that saw the Spy Ponders grab 3-of-4 available points following a shutout loss to BC High. Austin Prep and Belmont provide this week’s opposition.
***
Middlesex vs. Catholics Shootout
Monday, Jan.15
(O’Brien Rink, Woburn)
12 p.m. – No. 3 St. John’s Prep vs. No. 5 Burlington
2 p.m. – Winchester vs. No. 8 Xaverian
4 p.m. – No. 4 B.C. High vs. No. 12 Reading
6 p.m. – No. 16 Catholic Memorial vs. Belmont
8 p.m. – No. 15 Malden Catholic vs. Wilmington
