The MIAA Division 1 boys hockey schedule has hit its stride. We're past the post-Christmas tournaments and into the beginning of divisional play.
While there is a lot of parity in and around the top 10, I don't think there's any dispute on which team is No. 1. We'll get into that.
Since we did our last rankings on Dec. 30, multiple top-10 matchups have shaken up the top 10. A couple of new teams that have dominated so far have entered our "in the hunt" section.
It's been an eventful 10 days.
Let's dive into the latest rankings.
1. Pope Francis (7-1-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Brian Foley
Next game: vs. Northwest Catholic (Conn.), Jan. 11, 2 p.m.Â
At the moment, the Cardinals reign supreme in Division 1. Since January began, they took down Belmont, 6-3, and edged out Arlington, 2-1. In the big win over then-No. 3 Arlington, Foley's team got scoring from junior forward Matt Regan and junior defenseman Mason Gautreau, whose goal turned out to be the winner. I haven't seen every MIAA team yet, but I haven't seen a team as deep as Pope Francis.
2. Arlington (6-2-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: John Messuri
Next game: vs. Belmont, Jan. 11, 2:25 p.m.Â
The Spy Ponders played four times since our last rankings. Sure, they fell to Pope Francis, 2-1. But that result, combined with their three wins reinforced why they're the No. 2 team right now. The wins were a 2-0 triumph over then-No. 7 Catholic Memorial, a 2-1 victory against then-No. 2 Hingham and a hard-fought, 3-2 overtime win against Winchester on Wednesday night. Messuri's team is legit.
TOP PUBLICS: 6 takeaways from Arlington's 2-1 win over Hingham
3. Hingham (6-1-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Tony Messina
Next game: at Lincoln-Sudbury, Jan. 11, 12 p.m.Â
The main reason Hingham fell one spot was due to its one-goal loss to Arlington on Monday night. But, as I wrote after the game, the two teams were relatively even. The difference between the No. 2 and 3 teams this week is one goal. That's it.
The Harbormen also took care of business against Marshfield with a 6-0 win on New Year's Eve. They followed it up with a close call against Duxbury, needing overtime for a 4-3 win.
4. Catholic Memorial (6-3-0)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Larry Rooney
Next game: at Malden Catholic, Jan. 11, 6:40 p.m.Â
The Knights fell to then-No. 3 Arlington, 2-0, on New Year's Eve, but outplayed the Spy Ponders for the majority of the game. Even outplaying them still wouldn't warrant a three-spot boost.
What did raise Rooney's team up was a 4-1 win at Xaverian and a 3-1 victory against then-No. 5 St. John's Shrewsbury. Freshman forward AJ Ankstitus (North Dighton, Mass.) scored in both wins. Eighth-grader Jaxson Fleming (Waltham, Mass.) continued to be one of the best stories in the MIAA, making 27 saves to beat SJS and 21 against Xaverian.
5. Reading (5-1-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Mark Doherty
Next game: at Belmont, Jan. 9, 8 p.m.Â
Reading fell out of the top 10 in late December after losing to then-No. 9 Winchester. Normally that wouldn't knock a team out, but the margins were thin after the post-Christmas tournaments. But the Rockets responded emphatically, beating St. John's Prep, 3-2, in overtime on New Year's Day. Three days later, Doherty's team beat Woburn, 4-1. A cool story was senior forward Kevin Lentell scoring his first varsity goal on a penalty shot against Woburn.
BOYS PREP RANKINGS: Belmont Hill, Cushing re-join latest top 10
6. St. John's Prep (4-3-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Kristian Hanson
Next game: at St. John's Shrewsbury, Jan. 11, 2 p.m.Â
St. John's Prep fell two spots after falling to Reading, which was the Eagles' third loss in four games. Hanson's team responded well, however, taking down Malden Catholic, 5-0, and Bishop Feehan, 6-0. Senior forwards Mason Luciano (Salem, Mass.) and Sam Croke (Swampscott, Mass.) netted two apiece in the win over Bishop Feehan and junior forward Christian Coleman (Lynnfield, Mass.) scored his first varsity goal against MC.
7. St. John's Shrewsbury (6-2-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Michael Mead
Next game: vs. St. John's Prep, Jan. 11, 2 p.m.Â
By no means did the Pioneers have a bad stretch since our last rankings. They beat Shrewsbury, 5-3, and then got a big victory over then-No. 9 BC High, 4-3. But Mead's team fell to then-No. 7 Catholic Memorial, 3-1, on Wednesday night.
SJS will have every chance to boost its stock on Saturday when it hosts rival St. John's Prep in the game of the weekend.
8. Archbishop Williams (5-3-0)
Previous ranking: 10
Head coach: Chris Cunningham
Next game: at Bishop Feehan, Jan. 11, 7 p.m.Â
Archies took care of business since the calendar flipped to 2025. It started with a 2-1 win over Central Catholic on New Year's Day. Then came a 9-1 drubbing of Bishop Fenwick and a 3-2 takedown of then-No. 6 St. Mary's Lynn, which is the biggest reason why Cunningham's team jumped two spots.
The victory over St. Mary's Lynn was a huge Catholic Central League win for Archbishop Williams. Senior forward Finn Kelly is rolling, notching his 10th goal of the season in the win.
9. Xaverian (4-3-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Dave Spinale
Next game: at BC High, Jan. 12, 12 p.m.Â
The Hawks surprisingly fell out of last week's rankings amidst a choppy start. Since then, Xaverian edged out then-No. 6 St. Mary's Lynn, 1-0, fell to then-No. 7 Catholic Memorial, 4-1, and crushed Malden Catholic, 9-2. Seven of the nine goals against Malden Catholic came in the third period and junior forward Ryan Bello had two goals and a helper.
Xaverian has some new faces in bigger roles so these growing pains have been expected. It wouldn't shock me in the slightest if the Hawks continually rise in these rankings and are playing their best hockey come mid-February.
ALTERNATE UNIVERSE:Â What would the MIAA look like without preps, academies and junior?Â
10. St. Mary's Lynn (6-3-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Matthew Smith
Next game: at Bishop Fenwick, Jan. 11, 6 p.m.Â
St. Mary's Lynn had a great start to its season but got tripped up a bit since the beginning of the month. Two losses bookended a win, as the Spartans fell to Xaverian, 1-0, and then beat Bishop Feehan, 3-0. Smith's team lost a close one with then-No. 10 Archbishop Williams, 3-2, on Wednesday night.
DROPPED OUT:Â Winchester (5-3-0; 8); BC High (3-3-1; 9)
IN THE HUNT:Â Winchester, BC High, Marshfield, Barnstable, Wachusett, Arlington Catholic
