Title contenders gear up for home stretch: Boys hockey Top 10 ranking

At last check (Tuesday morning), the South Shore had 21 boys hockey teams in position to snatch MIAA playoff berths. Six of those teams were ranked in the Top 10 of their respective divisions in the MIAA power rankings.

It's business as usual around here as plenty of programs realistically are chasing state titles. Last season, this area netted two crowns − Canton in Division 2 and Norwell in Div. 4 with Scituate losing the Div. 3 final in overtime.

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With the postseason closing in on us, here's our latest Patriot Ledger/Enterprise Top 10 ranking for the 2023-24 season. Current record, through Tuesday, and previous ranking are in parentheses. If you need a refresher, this was our first Top 10 list, back on Jan. 5.

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To bring our hockey rankings in line with our basketball ones, we're flipping the order and counting down to No. 1, starting with the teams that just missed the cut.

On the bubble: BC High (6-8), Weymouth (5-6-1), Duxbury (6-6-3), Hanover (8-7), Oliver Ames (7-6-1), Milton (4-6-2), Whitman-Hanson (5-7-2), Plymouth South (6-6-1), Middleboro/Carver/Wareham (8-5), Cohasset/Hull (6-7).

10. Southeastern/Bristol-Plymouth (12-3-0, NR)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 40 in Div. 3

Sure, the Mayflower Athletic Conference isn't the toughest hockey league around here, and the power-ranking formula isn't super high on the Hawks, but they have won 12 straight since starting 0-3 and deserve some attention. Nick Sturdevant's OT winner vs. South Shore Tech kicked off the win streak. That game also marked the debut of sophomore Cole Tammaro, who "seems to score a big goal every game," says coach Mark Cabral. Senior defenseman Kacey Brown also is having a great campaign for the co-op.

9. Pembroke (6-4-3, 9)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 11 in Div. 3

The Titans won only one of their first four games, but a 2-0 conquest of Duxbury on Jan. 3 got the ball rolling. Pembroke also has split with Hanover (Colin Blake scored twice in the first meeting, a 3-2 win) and skated to a 1-1 tie with Scituate. Coach Chris Googins says junior goaltender Kyle Ready has been "outstanding," including in the Duxbury shutout. "Team defense has been a major emphasis as of late," Googins noted. Wednesday's matchup with Plymouth North (7:50 p.m. at Hobomock Arena) will be a good measuring stick.

8. Plymouth North (8-3-3, NR)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 13 in Div. 2

Interesting season for the Blue Eagles, who stumbled to an 0-2 start (outscored 9-1), then immediately ripped off a 10-game unbeaten streak (8-0-2) that was just halted by a 6-0 loss to Marshfield. (The Rams also beat North in the opener, 2-1). In the hot streak, North beat town rival Plymouth South, 3-2, (on goals by Aidan MacKenzie, Sean Hallissey and Jack Brennan), skated to a 3-3 tie with Duxbury and edged Scituate, 1-0. Two big games are on the docket for this week, both at Hobobock Arena − Pembroke on Wednesday and Hanover on Saturday.

7. Norwell (10-4-1, 5)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 4 in Div. 4

The Clippers, defending Div. 4 state champs, got off to a rousing 9-1 start to the season with the lone loss to Sandwich by a goal. It's been a little more challenging since then − 1-3-1 over their last five, including losses to powerhouses Scituate and Sandwich (currently 12-2-1) and a tie with Medfield (9-5-1). In the Div. 4 title chase, No. 1 Winthrop (11-0-1), No. 2 Nantucket (11-1) and No. 3 Sandwich all loom as roadblocks to a Norwell repeat, and don't count out No. 5 Hanover. The Clippers hope to get some traction as their next four games are against teams they've already beaten.

6. Braintree (6-5-1, 8)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 20 in Div. 1

The Wamps have been flirting with .500 all season, although maybe back-to-back wins over Natick (3-2 in overtime) and Chelmsford (3-0) can be a springboard to a strong finish to the regular season. Braintree has skated to a 2-2 tie with Hingham and was competitive in a 1-0 loss to defending Div. 1 champ Pope Francis, so the ceiling might be as high as usual. It's a busy week for the Wamps, who face Wellesley on Wednesday and Walpole on Saturday before a Sunday date with Norwood in the Brinn Division semifinals of the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament (4:20 p.m. in Walpole).

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5. Scituate (11-3-1, 7)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 2 in Div. 3

Wins over Norwell, Pembroke and Hanover highlight the Sailors' season to this point. They can make a big statement Wednesday night against mighty Marshfield. Defense, led by Dylan Richman, and goaltending, with Thomas McMellen, have been the winning formula so far for Scituate, which has allowed just 24 goals in 15 games. The offense has been a little top heavy with linemates James Sullivan (12-14−26), Luke Ryan (10-8−18) and Nate Sannella (6-11−17) ranking 1-2-3 in scoring, although Jackson Belsan (6-5−11) and Will Cahill (5-4−9) have provided some additional pop.

4. Canton (11-3-1, 1)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 4 in Div. 2

The Bulldogs have endured a little turbulence lately, going 4-3 in their last seven games after a sparkling 7-0-1 start to the season. Said coach Brian Shuman: "We've been struggling to score consistently against good teams with good goalies, so we need to find ways to generate better scoring opportunities." Brendan Tourgee (11-13−24), Travis Thomas (7-11−18), Ryan Elrick (8-7−15), Teddy Shuman (2-13−15) and Brian Middleton (9-4−13) lead a balanced attack. Sunday's Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament consolation game vs. Hingham (11:50 a.m. at Rodman Arena in Walpole) should be a good one.

3. Marshfield (12-2-1, 3)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 12 in Div. 1

The Rams, whose Dec. 27 win over Framingham in an endowment game doesn't count for MIAA power-ranking purposes, are coming off maybe their best game of the season − a 1-0 win over fellow public power Arlington (10-3-1) in the first round of the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament. Sammy Holte scored late, and goaltender Kevin Murphy was sharp in beating the defending tournament champs. Murphy boasts a .937 save percentage and 6 shutouts on the season. Nine forwards have 9-plus points, led by Teddy Devoe (9-12−21) and Cam McGettrick (7-9−16). The Rams will face Tewksbury on Sunday (6:20 p.m., Bentley University) in the Ed Burns Doherty Division semis.

2. Hingham (8-5-1, 2)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 5 in Div. 1

The Harbormen's only loss by more than a single goal came on Sunday, a 6-4 defeat by Franklin at the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament. Getting Travis Rugg back from injury should help down the stretch. The senior forward has a 5-10−15 scoring line in his seven games back, taking some pressure off fellow senior captain Paul Dzavik (12-3−15). Sophomore goalie Mike Karo (.908 save percentage, 2.03 GAA) has been sharp. Huge weekend coming up for Hingham with games vs. defending Div. 1 state champ Pope Francis on Saturday and defending Div. 2 state champ Canton on Sunday, the latter in the Ed Burns consolation round (11:50 a.m., Rodman Arena in Walpole).

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1. Archbishop Williams (12-2-0, 4)

Latest MIAA power ranking: No. 2 in Div. 1

Our new No. 1 team takes the top spot by virtue of an 8-1 hot streak in which the lone loss (this past Saturday) came vs. defending D1 state champ Pope Francis in OT. The Bishops bounced back to beat St. Mary's (Lynn), 4-0, Monday night to clinch a second straight Catholic Central League crown. Finn Kelley (14-13−27), Carver's Ben Sylvester (11-12−23) and Casey Kelley (7-15−22) continue to power the attack. The Feb. 7 home showdown vs. Catholic Conference heavyweight Catholic Memorial (No. 6 in Div. 1 right now) should be a good playoff prep, along with the Buddy Ferreira Classic in Falmouth that ends the regular season.

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