The best word to describe the Division 1 boys MIAA season so far is parity.
Through a month and a half, the rankings have changed a lot. There have been upsets and a revolving list of teams in the top five.
There is, however, a clear No. 1 team. At least so far.
It’s also been an interesting season in terms of private schools who are used to being at the top facing some hard times to open the season. We’ll get into that in this story.
Here’s a look at what we’ve seen so far this season and we’ll get into some storylines to watch going forward.
As good as advertised
1. Pope Francis: The clear No. 1 team through a month and a half, the Cardinals dropped their first game of the season to Don Bosco (N.J.) then rattled off 10 in a row. In that stretch, Pope Francis took care of St. John’s Shrewsbury, Catholic Memorial, St. John’s Prep, Belmont and Arlington. From what I've seen, Pope Francis is the deepest team with three legitimate lines and multiple players on defense who are making an impact. The leaders up front have been senior Mike McGrath and junior Matt Regan. Juniors Max Monroe and Mason Gautreau, as well as freshman Joe Chianciola, have been terrific on defense. Senior Nick Ritchie has been a standout in net again, too.
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2. Hingham: The Harbormen are good every year, and this season is no different. They’re the deepest public school team I’ve seen through a month and a half, which isn’t a huge surprise given that Hingham has no issue churning out a lot of talent. The top line has been humming with senior Colin Lasch and juniors Cam McKenna and Conal Mulkerrin. Defensemen Colman Donohue and Andrew Palek have been stellar for head coach Tony Messina. In net, Mike Karo has proven to be a legitimate No. 1. After winning eight of their first nine games, the Harbormen could be poised to make it all the way to TD Garden.
3. Arlington: High expectations have surrounded the Spy Ponders, and they’ve mostly delivered. Big wins for Arlington came against Catholic Memorial, Hingham and Winchester, as head coach John Messuri’s team began 7-4-1. The big storyline with Arlington is the top-line connection between JP Messuri and linemates Nolan Russell and Cam Petrillo. Those three can match up with any other line in the state. Kurt Beck is a two-way, No. 1 defenseman. In net, John Snider has been strong so far. Arlington has lost to BC High, Pope Francis, Belmont and Woburn. While the Spy Ponders have fallen on hard times the last two weeks, things should stabilize and they appear headed for a high seed.
Three surprises
1. The overall parity: For the past couple of seasons, the top teams have been a tier above everyone else. While Pope Francis appears to be the No. 1 team, the top 10 has greatly fluctuated every week. Numerous teams could be No. 3 or No. 8. Others could be No. 7 or No. 19. Heck, Xaverian just went from being not ranked to No. 3 in our rankings in one week. This should make for a highly entertaining, unpredictable tournament come March. Last season, No. 11 Winchester made it all the way to TD Garden. Winchester faced No. 18 Arlington Catholic in the final four. Teams at the bottom of, and outside, the top 10 likely will make runs in the tournament.
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2. Catholic Memorial: The Knights are always in it. So it’s not a total shock. But they lost a lot in the offseason, be it to graduation or prep school. As of mid-January, they were in the top-five mix with big wins over Xaverian and St. John’s Shrewsbury. As Catholic Conference play picks up in the second half, we’ll have a better idea of what they are. But the pieces are there. Sophomore forward Christian Hinckle has broken out offensively. Senior Tommy Hurst has been a great contributor up front, too. The biggest development, however, has been eighth-grader Jaxson Fleming in net. The 2010-born netminder has been sensational.
3. Reading: Like CM, Reading is always good. But the Rockets lost star goalie Chris Hanifan and standout forward Cam Fahey to graduation. Usually, teams need a reset after those kinds of losses. Head coach Mark Doherty’s team made a statement to open 2025 with a 3-2 OT win over St. John’s Prep on New Year’s Day. They’ve beaten Belmont and Winchester and tied Arlington. In the MIAA’s first power rankings, the Rockets were ranked No. 2. They’re not just a top public school — they’re one of the top teams in the state.
Three questions
1. Can St. John’s Prep become a favorite? The Eagles lost their entire top line and top defensemen from last season’s Division 1 championship team. Through one month, they looked like a team that lost all those pieces. They lost to Hingham, Pope Francis and Reading. But head coach Kris Hanson’s team bounced back with wins over Malden Catholic, St. John’s Shrewsbury and Catholic Memorial. Senior goalie AJ Farese has turned back into a rock in net. Up front, senior forward Mason Luciano has consistently scored, and junior Brandon Ward has broken out as a force. As of mid-January, the Eagles got back into the top five. Can that continue?
2. How about Xaverian? The Hawks fell into the same category entering the year — a consistent power that lost a lot. It wasn't until the last week that they hit their stride with wins over St. John's Prep, Central Catholic and Catholic Memorial. Senior goaltender Michael Bulkin has broken out. The top line of seniors Devin Gosciak and Jackson Morse, along with junior Joe Von Handorf, has been dominant. Outside of that, head coach Dave Spinale’s team has struggled to score. Xaverian went 4-4-1 in its first nine games with losses to Arlington Catholic, Archbishop Williams, Catholic Memorial and St. John’s Shrewsbury. Ultimately, that tough stretch to start should give them the necessary adversity to overcome obstacles in March.
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3. Who will be the Winchester of this March? Last year, No. 11 Winchester was a goal away from winning a Division 1 state title. Those lower-seeded teams going on runs are always some of the best storylines every year. Who will that be this season? St. Mary’s Lynn is a team in the bottom part of the top 10 that could go on a run. Belmont and Arlington Catholic are two other teams in the same boat.
Further down the rankings, Waltham went 10-2-0 in its first 12 games. Needham went 8-3-0 in its first 11. Braintree beat Pope Francis. Barnstable went 9-3-0 in its first 12 games, while Wachusett went 9-1-1 in its first 11. Those two teams don’t play the same caliber of teams that higher-ranking Division 1 teams play, but do a lot of wins equate to confidence come March? There’s only one way to find out.
