We're roughly one week into the boys MIAA hockey season. Some teams have played upwards of three games, while others won't be in action until Saturday.
But the majority of teams have played at least once, so what better time than now to take stock of the top 10?
There weren't a lot of high-ranking matchups, but one actually got a newcomer into our rankings. This coming week, however, features several big clashes.
So, for the first time this season, let's dive into the top 10 teams in boys MIAA hockey.
1. St. John's Prep (1-0-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Kris Hanson
Next game: at Hingham, Dec. 21, 2 p.m.Â
St. John's Prep took care of business in its lone game so far, crushing LaSalle (R.I.) Academy, 8-2. Hanson knew this team, which lost a lot to graduation, would need new names to step up. In their first game, they got it. Junior forwards Brandon Ward (Melrose, Mass.) and Andrew McCauley (Andover, Mass.) both notched four points. Senior forward Mason Luciano (Salem, Mass.) tallied two goals and an assist. Senior forward Braden Hurley (Wenham, Mass.) posted a goal and two helpers. Senior defenseman Greg Bennedetto (Lynnfield, Mass.) scored a goal and tallied an assist, too.
2. Arlington (2-0-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: John Messuri
Next game: vs. Burlington, Dec. 21, 12:40 p.m.Â
The Spy Ponders got off to a scorching start, taking down Wakefield, 7-0, in the opener and Wilmington, 6-0, a few days later. The big story for Arlington so far: Messuri got his 400th win after the Wakefield victory. Against Wilmington, JP Messuri posted a goal and two assists, while Evan Sparks added two goals. Arlington has a tough stretch to finish December with Burlington, BC High and Catholic Memorial on the schedule.
3. Pope Francis (2-1-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Brian Foley
Next game: at Catholic Memorial, Dec. 21, 6 p.m.Â
Pope Francis falls one spot for its season-opening, 4-1 loss to Don Bosco (N.J.) prep at the Sacred Heart Tournament. Don Bosco is a difficult opponent, as its 5-0-0 so far. But Foley's team rebounded for two nice wins. The first was a 2-1 overtime win over LaSalle (R.I.) Academy. When Pope Francis returned to Massachusetts, they went to New England Sports Center and got a 4-2 road win over then-No. 10 St. John's Shrewsbury. I wouldn't be shocked if this was the lowest Pope Francis ranked all season.
IN PREP: Check out our latest top 10 teams in boys prep entering the holiday tournaments
4. Hingham (0-0-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Tony Messina
Next game: vs. St. John's Prep, Dec. 21, 2 p.m.Â
The Harbormen haven't played yet, so no reason to move them out of No. 4. They will certainly move after their first game, as they take on No. 1 St. John's Prep at home, which is a candidate for MIAA game of the weekend. Messina's team follows that up with Weymouth on Christmas Eve at 12 p.m.
5. Xaverian (1-0-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Dave Spinale
Next game: at Arlington Catholic, Dec. 21, 2:25 p.m.Â
Xaverian started its season off right with an 8-1 drubbing of Duxbury on Wednesday night. Senior forward Jackson Morse (Raynham, Mass.) scored a hat trick (and added an assist)Â in the win to kick-start what should be a huge season from him. Senior Devin Gosciak (Easton, Mass.) rode on the other side of Morse and tallied a goal and three assists. Sophomore forward Max Larosa (Weymouth, Mass.) potted two as well. A date with No. 10 Arlington Catholic will be a matchup to watch on Saturday.
6. Catholic Memorial (2-0-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Larry Rooney
Next game: vs. Pope Francis, Dec. 21, 6 p.m.Â
Catholic Memorial is off to an outstanding start, getting a 3-1 win over Belmont to open the season and then a 3-0 victory against a strong Franklin team on Wednesday. The big story with CM has been its goalie, Jaxson Fleming, who's in eighth grade. He was strong in both games, but the 19-save shutout in just his second game is impressive.
"As soon as the buzzer went off, the three of us said, 'We've got a goalie'," Rooney told the Boston Globe.
HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT PREVIEWS: Groton/Lawrence | Avon Christmas Classic | Kevin Mutch | Flood-MarrÂ
7. Reading (2-0-0)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Mark Doherty
Next game: vs. Stoneham, Dec. 21, 7:45 p.m.Â
Reading took care of business in its first two games, scoring a 3-1 win over Burlington and a 2-0 victory against Melrose. After Reading's matchup with Stoneham on Saturday, Doherty's team's first big tests will come against Winchester on Dec. 28 and then St. John's Prep on New Year's Day. Nothing like facing the two Division 1 state finalists back to back, right?
8. Marshfield (0-0-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Head coach: Dan Connolly
Next game: vs. Plymouth North, Dec. 21, 5:40 p.m.Â
Marshfield hasn't played yet, so no reason to move it down. The Rams face Plymouth North and then Malden Catholic on Dec. 23 to open the season.
9. Winchester (2-0-0)
Previous ranking: 9
Head coach: Geno Khatchadourian
Next game: vs. Melrose, Dec. 21, 12 p.m.Â
Winchester took down Wilmington, 5-0, in the season-opener, before beating Stoneham, 5-2, on Wednesday night. The top line of Caiden Brady, Max Vozella and Chris McCarthy have been the story so far. Brady and Vozella both have three goals in two games, while Vozella lit the lamp twice against Wilmington. After facing Melrose Saturday, Winchester has big dates with St. Mary's Lynn on Dec. 23 and Reading on Dec. 28.
10. Arlington Catholic (2-0-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Curt Colarullo
Next game: vs. Xaverian, Dec. 21, 2:25 p.m.Â
Arlington Catholic was a goal away from going to TD Garden last season. After starting the season unranked, the Cougars join our top 10 after one week. They opened the season with a nice, 5-1 win over Bishop Feehan. But the real reason they make it in here is from their 2-1 overtime win against Archbishop Williams on Wednesday. Senior defenseman Prescott Mulligan scored the OT-winner.
"We wanted to send a message to the rest of the league and to the state: Arlington Catholic hockey is here to stay," Colarullo told the Boston Globe.
Colarullo and his team will get to back that statement up when they take on No. 5 Xaverian Saturday.
Click or tap here to access all boys prep holiday tournament schedules and results.Â
DROPPED OUT:Â St. John's Shrewsbury (1-1-0; 10)
IN THE HUNT:Â St. John's Shrewsbury, BC High, St. Mary's Lynn, Archbishop Williams, Braintree, Franklin, Woburn
