HNIB News High School Hockey's Best Coverage | Est. 1972
EMass Boys Division 3 Preseason Top 15
| Rank | Team | PR* | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanover | 18 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2 | Hopkinton | 17 | 7 | 2 | |
| 3 | Lowell | 16 | 6 | 2 | |
| 4 | North Quincy | 17 | 6 | 0 | |
| 5 | Dracut/Tyngsboro | 11 | 8 | 3 | |
| 6 | Swampscott | 8 | 9 | 3 | |
| 7 | Bourne | 16 | 6 | 1 | |
| 8 | Newton South | 14 | 3 | 4 | |
| 9 | Norwell | 16 | 5 | 2 | |
| 10 | Shawsheen | 9 | 8 | 5 | |
| 11 | Martha's Vineyard | 12 | 6 | 3 | |
| 12 | Dartmouth | 13 | 7 | 3 | |
| 13 | Bishop Stang | 14 | 6 | 1 | |
| 14 | Foxboro | 12 | 7 | 3 | |
| 15 | Greater New Bedford | 14 | 6 | 1 |
Hanover spent much of the 2018-19 season atop The HNIB News EMass Division 3 rankings, only to slip after being upset in the South quarterfinals. But with three of their top scorers back, the Indians are back in the #1 spot to start off the 2019-20 campaign.
The team that ended last season in the top spot, Hopkinton, checks in at #2 from the outset. But the Hillers, who rolled to the state final, have more than enough power for a similar run.
#3 Lowell has moved up to Merrimack Valley/Dual County 2 for the regular season, but the Red Raiders still are in Division 3 for the postseason, where they won the North title a year ago.
North Quincy checks in at #4, hoping to continue the momentum after posting its highest victory total in decades.
Dracut/Tyngsboro has been pointed as a team to watch by rival MVC/DCL 3 teams, and the co-op program lands at #5 from the outset.
#6 Swampscott dropped below .500 after ending last season with a tournament loss, but the 1-2 combo of Drew Olivieri and Conor Donovan could put the Big Blue atop the revamped Northeastern Conference South.
Bourne graduated a trio of 100-point career scorers, but the #7 Canalmen have plenty of players in the wings waiting for their chance.
#8 Newton South shared the MVC/DCL 3 title last season, and with Lowell now out of the way, the Lions hope to stake a claim by themselves.
Norwell cruised to the South Shore League championship last season and the #9 Clippers have been tabbed as the favorite to repeat.
Shawsheen brings back the bulk of the scoring from its Commonwealth title team, which lands the Rams in the #10 spot.
#11 Martha’s Vineyard will try to repeat as champion in the revamped Cape & Islands League Lighthouse Division.
Dartmouth has a new league, the Southeast Conference, and the #12 Indians have the talent to be the inaugural champs.
#13 Bishop Stang remains in the three-team Eastern Athletic and will face a tough nonleague schedule.
#14 Foxboro returns Hockomock MVP Espen Reager in goal and is poised for a breakout season.
#15 Greater New Bedford hopes to be in the South Coast race again after finishing second to Bourne last season.
OTHERS TO WATCH: Ashland, Bedford, Coyle & Cassidy, Hamilton-Wenham, Nantucket, Northeast, Rockland, St. John Paul II, Silver Lake, Upper Cape
Jim Clark
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