This is the first installment of the 2025-26 Western Massachusetts Boys Hockey Top 10. Pope Francis, though, competes in the Independent Division, so they won’t be a part of this project. But the rankings will be updated on a weekly basis throughout the winter regular season.
- Greenfield (0-0)
- Westfield (0-0)
- East Longmeadow (0-0)
- Ludlow (0-0)
- West Springfield (0-0)
- Longmeadow (0-0)
- Minnechaug (0-0)
- Amherst (0-0)
- Easthampton (0-0)
- Agawam (0-0)
The first rankings of the boys’ hockey season have arrived, with Greenfield beginning the 2025-26 campaign as the top-ranked team in Western Massachusetts.
And for sound reasoning, the Green Wave were the only team to earn multiple Super-7 nominees in Jack Laurie and Cooper Smith. Behind strong efforts from that duo, Greenfield outlasted Westfield to claim the Berry Division title in its first season under the league’s newest alignment change.
The Bombers returned the favor, though, as Super-7 nominee Joseph Maffia recorded a game-high six points (two goals and four assists) to guide Westfield past the Green Wave and raise its second consecutive WMass Class A crown.
But it won’t be easy for the Bombers to secure a 3-peat, as they bid farewell to eight seniors, including star netminder Evan Mastroianni and defensive specialist Paul Lawry. But aside from filling the goaltender void, Westfield remains in good hands with Cody Bard (nine goals and 11 assists) and Maffia (30 goals and 39 assists), leading the offense this winter.
East Longmeadow rounded out the top three, as it finished last season with a record of 11-9-1. The Spartans, though, needed a 12th win to punch their ticket to their first WMass Class A finals since 2023.
But Jake Jurek said otherwise, as the former Super-7 selection secured Greenfield an impressive 4-3 comeback win in overtime to foil those plans. East Longmeadow, though, will attempt to rewrite history with help from its own Super-7 nominee in Brayden Erickson.
Erickson, who was named one of three Aldo Altobelli Rookies of the Year for Western Mass. hockey last season, completed his rookie campaign with 11 goals and four assists for 15 combined points. Erickson also finished tied for the team lead in goals scored with Kevin Baker (11).
Like the previously mentioned teams, the Spartans also bid farewell to at least six upperclassmen. Those names included netminder Owen Reid (213 saves and one shutout) and three of the team’s leading scorers in Carson LePage (eight goals and seven assists), Thomas Kakley Jr. (five goals and eight assists), and Mike Mendrala (four goals and eight assists).
Regardless, East Longmeadow will weather the storm under coach Dan Reid and its supporting cast of defensemen Connor Brewster and Jack Rustico, alongside Erickson and Baker at the forward position. The Spartans will open their season on Saturday against North Middlesex, inside the Wallace Civic Center at 4 p.m.
Other essential games to watch during the opening week are Natick versus Pope Francis on Thursday, inside Olympia Rink at 6:40 p.m., while Taconic will face Minnechaug on Friday from the same venue at 7:10 p.m.
There is a doubleheader on Saturday inside Olympia Rink, as Agawam will welcome Ludlow for the first match at 12:30 p.m., before West Springfield and Longmeadow will compete afterward at 2:30 p.m.
And then Easthampton and Amherst will complete the weekend from Lossone Rink at 8 p.m., as the Hurricanes look to earn their third consecutive one-goal win over the Eagles.
