The first rankings for February are here! The top spot seems to be curse, as the parity continues across Massachusetts high school hockey. Check it out:
1: Arlington (2) – Arlington still only has one loss this year which has them at the top seed as February begins. They are coming off of wins over Reading and Woburn along with a tie today with BC High.
2. BC High (5) – Since having a mid-season slump, the Eagles are red hot as they have 3 big wins in a row against top competition. They are coming off of a win over St. Mary’s Lynn and a tie with top ranked Arlington.
3: Canton (4) – Canton again proved they can compete with the top teams in the state as they downed Barnstable in a good game. They continue to make their case for the Super 8, which might come down to their game against Braintree.
4: Xaverian (1) – Xaverian is the most recent victim of the parity in MIAA hockey, as they fall out of the top seed after losses to BC High and Catholic Memorial.
5: Catholic Memorial (8) – After a big win over Xaverian, the Knights have been quiet as they waited for tonight’s matchup against Malden Catholic.
6: Hingham (9) – The Harbormen are trending up after their victory over Pope Francis. They are red hot and keep improving their resume for a shot at the Super 8.
7: Pope Francis (6) – The Cardinals had a seven-game unbeaten streak going until their one-goal loss to Hingham last week. They begin the Pope Francis Invitational this week against Delbarton of New Jersey.
8: St. John’s Prep (3) – The Eagles had a slip up this past week with a loss to St. John’s (S). They fall five spots, but have plenty of solid wins on the year to keep them in Super 8 discussion. Their next opponent is Andover tonight.
9: Framingham (10) – The Flyers are a perfect 10-0-0 in league play so far. They are riding a 5-game winning streak heading into their matchup with Needham.
10: St. Mary’s Lynn (7) – It has been a steady decline for St. Mary’s ever since they held the top spot in the rankings. They have two losses in a row heading into their game with Archbishop Williams.
11: Burlington (11) – Burlington has an impressive 11-3-2 record and has not lost since their January 25th loss to Arlington.
12: Braintree (13) – Braintree sneakily has one of the lowest loss totals in division one play with only three losses. They are on a five-game unbeaten streak as they enter their game with Wellesley.
13: Austin Prep (14) – It has been an up and down season so far for Austin Prep as they bounce around the rankings. They have two wins in a row and are up one spot this week.
14: Shrewsbury (16) – Shrewsbury is making their voice heard in the D1 north as they hold a 10-3-2 record with a few solid wins. They failed to qualify for the tournament last year, but are ready to make a run this year.
15: Reading (15) – Reading always seems to heat up this time of year, as their strength of schedule helps them build their resume for the playoffs. They are 5-1-4 in their past 10 games, a very impressive run.
16: Melrose (20) – I really like this Melrose team as the playoffs creep closer and closer. They are getting hot at the right time as they are on a 5-game winning streak.
17: Central Catholic (NR) – I was surprised to see Central on the initial Super 8 watch list, but taking a look at their season, they have some pretty impressive wins. Wherever this team falls come playoff time, they will be a tough out.
18: Natick (NR) – Natick is another team that is quietly creeping into the discussion with the top teams in the state. They only have two losses on the year and hold victories over teams like Shrewsbury, Braintree, and Barnstable.
19: Malden Catholic (NR) – Their record may only be 5-5-3, but this year Malden Catholic has held their own in the powerhouse Catholic Conference. They are 4-1-3 in their past 8 games and have competed with some of the top teams in the rankings.
20: Marshfield (18) – Marshfield is on a 4-game winning streak and has not allowed a goal in two full games.
Best of the rest: Duxbury, Hopkinton, Waltham, Barnstable, King Philip