In last year's MIAA Division 1 boys tournament, Catholic Memorial was the No. 4 seed. The Knights rode being the lowest top-seeded team to a title.
This year will likely be different. It's hard to imagine CM not being the top seed in this year's big dance.
There are still seven games left. A lot can happen in those games, especially with head coach Larry Rooney's team playing St. John's Prep, Xavieran and Pope Francis again.
But the Knights look a tier above everyone else — and this past week proved why.
Elsewhere in the top 10, the top four got a different look and a new team joined our rankings for the first time.
Let's dive in.
1. Catholic Memorial (11-1-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Larry Rooney
Next game: vs. Malden Catholic, Jan. 24, 1:30 p.m.Â
After this last week, there's no question about it: Catholic Memorial is undoubtedly the top team in Massachusetts. CM notched a pair of 5-0 wins over then-No. 3 Xaverian and then-No. 2 St. John's Shrewsbury. Freshman goalie Jaxson Fleming (Waltham, Mass.) stepped up big in both games, earning a 26-save shutout to beat the Hawks and a 25-save shutout to take down the Pioneers. Against Xaverian, junior forward Daniel Antonellis (Belmont, Mass.) and sophomore Landon Carlson (Needham, Mass.) both had two goals, while junior defenseman Liam McKinney (Milton, Mass.) scored two to take down St. John's Shrewsbury.
2. Xaverian (11-2-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: Dave Spinale
Next game: vs. BC High, Jan. 24, 3 p.m.Â
Xaverian moved up a spot this week. While the Hawks fell to Catholic Memorial, they did follow that up with a 5-2 win over Central Catholic and a 4-3 victory against Malden Catholic. Senior defenseman Dante Horsman (Braintree, Mass.) and senior forward Braden Pinkham (East Bridgewater, Mass.) scored in each win. Senior forward Ryan Bello (Braintree, Mass.) proved to be the hero in the victory against Malden Catholic, as his goal was the eventual winner.
READ MORE:Â Canterbury jumps into top five of boys prep rankings
3. Hingham (8-2-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Tony Messina
Next game: vs. Milton, Jan. 25, 12 p.m., Canton Ice House, Ed Burns TournamentÂ
With a 7-0 win over Needham and a 4-2 victory against St. Mary's Lynn this past week, Hingham has moved into top-three territory. Senior defenseman Nick Smith potted two goals to beat St. Mary's Lynn, while senior Colin Garrity showed up in a big way against Needham, tallying two goals and a helper. Junior forward Walter Dzavik and sophomore forward Nick Bigelow found the back of the net in both games. The Ed Burns Tournament over the next three weekends will be massive in keeping Hingham near the top.
4. St. John's Shrewsbury (8-4-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Michael Mead
Next game: at St. John's Prep, Jan. 24, 2:50 p.m.Â
The Pioneers were probably due for a week like this, as they dropped both of their games. SJS fell to BC High, 3-2, at the Catholic Conference Showcase before losing to CM. Mead's team should be fine with an extremely strong roster. But things don't get any easier with St. John's Prep and Xaverian on the docket over the next six days.
5. Arlington (8-3-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: John Messuri
Next game: at Watertown/Wayland, Jan. 24, 4:20 p.m.Â
There's no reason to move Arlington out of the No. 5 spot after the Spy Ponders took down Melrose, 2-0, on Wednesday night. It was the usual suspects helping Arlington to a win with senior forwards Nolan Russell and Cam Petrillo notching a goal and an assist apiece, while senior John Snider posted a shutout.
6. St. John's Prep (6-3-2)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Kris Hanson
Next game: vs. St. John's Shrewsbury, Jan. 24, 2:50 p.m.Â
St. John's Prep had a massive bounce-back week, taking down Malden Catholic (5-1) at the Catholic Conference Showcase before beating BC High, 4-2, on Wednesday. SJP took down BC High on special teams, with senior forward Anthony Petruccelli (Lynnfield, Mass.) registering a shorthanded goal and senior defenseman JR Goldstein (Lynnfield, Mass.) and sophomore forward Gavin Anderson (Andover, Mass.) scoring on the power play. Petruccelli, Goldstein and Anderson also scored in the win over Malden Catholic. The next three games will go a long way in helping SJP move up these rankings: St. John's Shrewsbury, CM, and Xaverian.
READ MORE: Top boys prep performers from the last week
7. Pope Francis (7-4-2)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Brian Foley
Next game: at Archbishop Williams, Jan. 24, 11 a.m.Â
Like St. John's Prep, it was a get-right week for Pope Francis. The Cardinals took down Archbishop Williams, 4-1, and followed that up with a 6-0 win at Braintree. Senior forward Matt Regan took charge against the Wamps with two goals, while sophomore Whitaker Zinger did so against Archbishop Williams with a pair of his own. Foley's squad will look to maintain consistency against Archies (again), Shrewsbury and Hingham to round out January.
8. Reading (8-1-1)
Previous ranking: 8
Head coach: Mark Doherty
Next game: at Wilmington, Jan. 24, 2:45 p.m.Â
Since losing to Arlington on Jan. 10, the Rockets have done nothing but win. This past week, they beat Woburn, 2-1, before trouncing Wakefield, 5-0. Against Woburn, it was senior defenseman Nate Vitarisi who netted the winner, which continued his spectacular season. Senior forward Jack Melly lit the lamp twice against Wakefield, and sophomore Matthew Healey had a shorthanded tally. A Sunday matchup with Division 2 powerhouse Canton will be big.
9. Tewksbury (11-0-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Derek Doherty
Next game: at Acton-Boxboro, Jan. 24, 6:15 p.m.
Tewksbury being ranked in our top 10 is long overdue. It was a huge week for the Division 2 powerhouse, as it beat a then-undefeated Waltham team (6-1), Billerica (6-3) and St. Mary's Lynn (3-2). Senior star forward Tyler Bourgea had a goal against St. Mary's Lynn and had two in each of the wins over Billerica and Waltham, bringing his point total to 37 in 11 games (is that good?). Junior forward Jason Shreenan scored twice in the Billerica victory before tallying another to beat St. Mary's Lynn.
READ MORE: Full schedule, results for Ed Burns Coffee Pot tournament
10. Arlington Catholic (10-2-0)
Previous ranking: 10
Head coach: Curt Colarullo
Next game: vs. St. Mary's Lynn, Jan. 24, 2:15 p.m.Â
Arlington Catholic had a wild week, eeking out a 6-5 win over Framingham and then taking down Barnstable, 5-4, in overtime. Against the Flyers, AC went down 3-0 but clawed its way back to win on the road. Senior forward Stephen Constantine (Wilmington, Mass.) went off against Barnstable for four goals before senior Tyler Heldenbergh (Burlington, Mass.) won the game in overtime on a shorthanded goal.
Dropped out:Â Canton (10-1-0; 9)
In the hunt:Â Canton, BC High, St. Mary's Lynn, Archbishop Williams
