CANTON--It's a pair of Division 1 South first round match-ups on Thursday afternoon at the Canton Ice House. The rink, operational for under seven months, is already getting into the tournament game.
There will be a very Bay State Conference feel to the double header, as three of the four teams reside in the BSC - and a fourth which just may have aspirations to join the conference.
But that's another story for another time. Here's a preview of the two games on the NFHS Network via MyHockeyLive.com tonight.
Game 1: No. 5 Framingham Flyers vs. No. 12 Bridgewater-Raynham Trojans, 5:30 p.m.
Winner faces winner of No. 4 Franklin/No. 13 Brockton on Sunday at Gallo Arena
Previous meeting: N/A
Common opponents: Xaverian, Braintree, Marshfield, Walpole
Framingham Flyers (12-6-4, 10-2-3 Bay State Conference)
Finished second in Carey Division, 23 points (Braintree, 24)
Goal differential: plus-19 (67-46); nonleague differential: minus-11 (10-21)
Last postseason: Lost vs. Marshfield, 5-0, in Div. 1 South Quarterfinals
MHL RPI: 17
Streak: Lost 1
Last game: Lost vs. Burlington, 6-0, Feb. 23 (Cahoon Cup Finals)
Biggest win: 7-1 vs. Brookline, Jan. 21
Worst loss: 6-0 vs. Burlington, Feb. 23
Best win (RPI): No. 15 Braintree, 3-0, Feb. 1
Only team to tie vs. Walpole (2-2, Jan. 25)
Roster breakdown: Seniors-6 Juniors-9 Sophomores-8 Freshmen-1
Leading scorer: Scott Swennes, Sr. F (17-12--29)
Last state championship: 1992 (Also won in 1961)
Bridgewater-Raynham Trojans (5-11-4, 2-1-1 Old Colony League)
Finished tied for first in OCL, 5 points, with Dartmouth (Div. 3)
Clinched postseason berth by beating Dartmouth, 2-0, on Feb. 20 to earn share of OCL
Goal differential: minus-29 (43-72); nonleague differential: minus-25 (32-57)
Last postseason appearance: 2015
MHL RPI: 37
Streak: Lost 1
Last game: Lost @ Quincy, 2-0, Feb. 22
Biggest win: All five wins by 2 goals (Medway, Braintree, Barnstable, King Philip, Dartmouth)
Worst loss: 11-0 vs. Xaverian, Jan. 4
Best win (RPI): No. 15 Braintree, 3-1, Dec. 27 (Island Creek Oysters Cup)
Roster breakdown: Seniors-11 Juniors-6 Sophomores-6 Freshmen-3
Leading scorer: (tie) Joey McDermott, Sr. F (7-9--16) and Ben Thorne, Sr. F (5-11--16)
Last state championship: None
Game 2: No. 7 Natick Redhawks vs. No. 10 Weymouth Wildcats, 7:30 p.m.
Winner faces No. 2 Wellesley on Sunday at Gallo Arena
Previous meeting: Feb. 8 (Natick 4, Weymouth 1 at Chase Arena); Weymouth hasn't beaten Natick since 2014
Common opponents: Bay State Conference
Natick Redhawks (11-7-2, 9-6-1 Bay State Conference)
Finished third in Herget Division, 19 points
Goal differential: plus-20 (63-43); BSC differential: plus-19 (56-37)
Last postseason: Lost vs. Marshfield, 3-2 (OT), in Div. 1 South Semifinals
MHL RPI: 31
Streak: Won 2
Last game: Won @ Brockton, 4-2, Feb. 20
Biggest win: 12-0 @ Dedham, Jan. 4
Worst loss: 6-0 vs. Walpole, Jan. 14
Best win (RPI): No. 16 Wellesley, 4-0, Feb. 18
Roster breakdown: Seniors-10 Juniors-11 Sophomores-4
Leading scorer: Sean Harney, Sr. F (10-13--23)
Last state championship: 1951
Weymouth Wildcats (8-7-3, 7-5-3 Bay State Conference)
Finished third in Carey Division, 17 points
Goal differential: plus-3 (53-50); BSC differential: plus-7 (46-39)
Last postseason: Lost vs. Framingham, 4-2, in Div. 1 South first round
MHL RPI: 30
Streak: Won 1
Last game: Won vs. Andover, 3-2, Feb. 20 (Ed Burns Classic consolation game; clinched playoff berth)
Biggest win: 7-1 vs. Milton, Jan. 25
Worst loss: 6-1 @ Framingham, Feb. 11
Best win (RPI): No. 12 Andover, 3-2, Feb. 20
Roster breakdown: Seniors-5 Juniors-11 Sophomores-2 Freshmen-4
Leading scorer: N/A
Last state championship: None