Title chases kick off again: First boys hockey top 10 ranking of the season

Not counting the 2020-21 season in which no MIAA playoffs were held due to COVID, the South Shore has had at least one boys high school hockey team claim a state title in five straight postseasons.

Last winter we had two champs – Canton in Division 2 and Norwell in Division 4 – with Scituate losing the Division 3 title game in overtime. Canton's crown was its third since 2019, while Norwell celebrated for the first time ever.

Who will rise to the top this time? Round up the usual suspects, many of whom are represented on our first Patriot Ledger/Enterprise Top 10 ranking of the season.

If you want a refresher course on what happened last winter, this was our final ranking of the 2022-23 season. And this was our Patriot Ledger/Enterprise All-Scholastic team from 2022-23.

Here's our first Top 10 for 2023-24. Current record, as of Jan. 4, and last season's final ranking in parentheses.

1. Canton (6-0-1, 1)

Full speed ahead – again – for the Bulldogs, who have come roaring out of the gate as defending Division 2 state champs with solid wins over Falmouth (6-2) and Franklin (4-3). The lone blemish is a 4-4 tie with Milton. Senior forward Brendan Tourgee has 8 goals already; he had 10 last winter when he was a Second Team All-Scholastic. Freshman Ryan Elrick has notched 5 goals in the last six games as the Bulldogs look to replace the production of grads Jack Digirolamo (8 goals, 19 assists) and A.J. Thomas (12-7–19). Junior goalie Connor Geoghan has stepped up to replace Colin Davis, who transferred to prep school.

More: Newcomers to reigning champ Canton High boys hockey powering team's run at a repeat

2. Hingham (4-3-1, 2)

The Harbormen's above-.500 start has been well earned as their first seven opponents so far have an aggregate record of 29-15-5. Included in that opening gauntlet are losses to St. John's Prep (currently 5-1) and Xaverian (currently 6-0), wins over Weymouth and Marshfield and a tie with Braintree. "Nothing has come easy," coach Tony Messina remarked. The return of senior forward Travis Rugg should boost the offense; he had a pair of goals Wednesday in his injury-delayed season debut. Fellow first-liner Paul Dzavik has 8 goals already, and sophomore goalie Mike Karo (1.83 GAA, .920 save percentage) has been sharp in his first varsity experience.

3. Marshfield (5-2, 3)

The Rams got off to a 4-0 start, then lost back-to-back games to St. John's (Shrewsbury) and Hingham before snapping back into form with a 10-0 win over Quincy on Wednesday. There were a lot of firsts in that most recent game as Matty Garland, Cole Blankenship and Sean Leonard each scored his first varsity goal and Liam Fullam posted his first career shutout. It's been a bit of feast-or-famine offensively for Marshfield, though – three games with 6-plus goals, four games in which they've scored 1 or 2 goals. No wonder coach Dan Connolly suggested "finding consistent offense" as the top item on this month's to-do list.

4. Archbishop Williams (5-1, T-10)

The Bishops have gotten off to a strong start with their only loss coming by a goal to unbeaten Xaverian at Braintree's Arrow Christmas Tournament. Archies has a win over Braintree and is plus-19 in goal differential already. Finn Kelly (6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points), Carver's Ben Sylvester (5-4–9) and Casey Kelley (4-5–9) lead a balanced offense, and goalie Sean Velozo, of Raynham, has put up solid numbers (2.20 goals-against average, .900 save percentage). The Bishops have big games remaining against the likes of Milton, Canton, Pope Francis and Catholic Memorial before ending the regular season at the star-studded Buddy Ferreira Classic in Falmouth next month.

5. Norwell (7-1, 5)

The Clippers ended last season on a 19-game winning streak and stretched it to 22 before falling, 2-1, to Sandwich on Dec. 22 in a rematch of last year's Division 4 state final. Can Norwell duplicate last winter's 25-1 masterpiece that included the first state crown in program history? Even though graduation claimed star forward Tim Ward, who posted absurd numbers (30 goals, 40 assists) and was the South Shore League MVP, as well as star defenseman Kevin Leary (9 goals, 25 assists), the Clippers have been churning out excellent seasons for a while now. This year's gang is led by forward Nolan Petrucelli and defensemen Aedan Coyle and Charlie Booras.

More: With long-awaited title captured, Norwell boys hockey now in uncharted waters to defend it

6. Milton (3-1-2, NR)

The Wildcats already have a title under their belt, having won the Quincy Youth Arena Holiday Tournament by virtue of a 5-2 victory over North Quincy in the final. Even better was a 4-4 tie with powerhouse Canton on Dec. 23. The three-way local battle among Milton, Braintree and Weymouth for the Bay State Conference Herget Division crown will be fascinating to watch. (Needham and Walpole will also have a say in that race.) The Wildcats can take a big step in the right direction over the next few days as they host Weymouth on Saturday and visit Braintree on Jan. 10.

7. Scituate (4-2-1, 6)

The Sailors finished 20-5-2 a year ago with all five losses coming by a single goal, three of them in OT, including the Division 3 state final. Their two losses so far this season also were close ones – to Duxbury (3-1 score) and Nauset (2-1) at the Island Creek Oyster Cup. Senior captain James Sullivan (16 goals, 36 assists last season) will be the offensive focus after Teagen Pratt (26 goals, 24 assists) graduated. The Sailors' secret weapon could be an all-senior third line that rotates in Will Cahill, Carter Theriault, Grady Spinale and Jake O'Malley. Coach Brian Hurcombe loves their work ethic.

8. Braintree (2-2-1, 7)

The Wamps' best performance so far has been a 5-0 win over fellow Top 10er Weymouth. Braintree also skated to a 2-2 tie with Hingham, although the Harbormen advanced in a shootout at the Arrow Christmas Tournament. Coach David Fasano is looking for more offense in the new year as the Wamps are averaging under 3 goals per game, despite strong starts from senior forward Sean O'Rourke and junior forward Andrew Gaffney. "We need more guys to step up and get involved in the scoring if we're going to make a run like we have the past few years," Fasano said.

9. Pembroke (2-1-2, NR)

On Wednesday afternoon, coach Chris Googins said the Titans were still "trying to put together a complete game with the emphasis on team defense." A few hours later, the Titans blanked Duxbury, 2-0, for a signature win that might lead to bigger and better things. Pembroke also has a solid 1-1 tie with Scituate as evidence of a high ceiling. Forwards Brandon Perry and Colin Blake and defenseman Ryan Bradley have been key, along with junior goalie Kyle Ready, whom Googins describes as "the glue behind the team, keeping us competitive and giving us a shot to win."

10. Weymouth (3-2-1, T-10)

Coach Pat Kennedy says every game so far "has been a grind" for the Wildcats. They started out with a pair of one-goal wins over Walpole and Needham, then came up short against local rivals Braintree (5-0) and Hingham (3-1) but bounced back to win the Island Creek Oyster Cup at The Bog during vacation week, topping Duxbury, 7-4, in the final. Senior goalie Grady Salfity has been sharp; Kennedy says his presence "gives the team plenty of confidence." A couple of transfers – forward Johnny Bell (team-high 5 goals) and defenseman Jake Buccigross – have made immediate impacts.

On the bubble: BC High (2-4), Duxbury (4-4), Hanover (4-3), Plymouth North (4-2-1), Whitman-Hanson (3-4), Oliver Ames (3-2-1), Stoughton/Brockton (4-4), Cohasset/Hull (3-3), North Quincy (3-3), Middleboro/Carver/Wareham (3-2)

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: South Shore high school boys hockey top 10 ranking