This is the seventh installment of the 2025-26 Western Massachusetts Boys Hockey Top 10. Pope Francis, though, competes as an independent team, so they won’t be a part of this project. But the rankings will be updated weekly throughout the winter regular season.
If there are missing statistics, coaches can please send them to sports@masslive.com.
Previous Rankings: Dec. 11, Dec. 19, Jan. 7, Jan. 14, Jan. 21, Jan. 28
- East Longmeadow (9-5, No. 2)
- Westfield (9-6, No. 3)
- Greenfield (9-6-1, No. 1)
- Longmeadow (8-5-2, No. 4)
- Minnechaug (10-4-1, No. 5)
- McCann Tech (10-1, No. 8)
- West Springfield (5-9-1, No. 6)
- Ludlow (6-8, No. 7)
- Easthampton (7-7, No. 10)
- Taconic (4-8, No. 9)
The final stretch of the boys’ hockey regular season is upon us.
And every year never seems to disappoint around the region. For example, East Longmeadow (9-5, 7-3, .700 PCT) and Westfield (9-6, 7-3, .700 PCT) are tied for first place in the Berry Standings.
But aside from both teams each having two regular-season league games left, the Spartans and Bombers have split their previous two games against each other.
So moving forward, every game counts. Luckily for East Longmeadow, though, they turned their previous three-game losing streak into a winning streak against West Springfield, Minnechaug, and Ludlow to remain in contention for the league crown.
Kevin Baker (10 goals and six assists), Jack Rustico (10 goals and four assists), Brayden Bousquet (seven goals and seven assists), Joe Mazza (four goals and seven assists), and Cody Shaw (six goals and four assists) have recorded 65 of the Spartans’ 95 combined points thus far.
The Bombers, meanwhile, have won four of their last five games against the Terriers, Lions, and, most recently, an impressive come-from-behind 4-3 win against Greenfield last week to leapfrog them in the standings.
And if Westfield hopes to continue its streak, it will rely upon the region’s points leader, Joseph Maffia (47), to continue his 15-game multi-point scoring stretch.
East Longmeadow will be back in action against Minnechaug on Thursday from Olympia Rink at 8:30 p.m., while Westfield’s next league game is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11, against Ludlow inside Amelia Park at 7:45 p.m.
Another notable team in the Berry Standings is Longmeadow. Following a previous three-game losing streak last month, the Lancers have countered by not dropping a matchup in their last six games by a combined score of 26-13.
The Lancers still need two more wins to technically qualify for the state postseason tournament. But that won’t be easy, as Longmeadow’s remaining three regular-season games against West Springfield, Agawam, and Ludlow are scheduled through next week.
But Longmeadow isn’t the only team that has turned things around at the right time, as Easthampton previously lost seven of its opening 10 games to begin the winter. Since then, though, the Eagles have won four consecutive games against Amherst, Agawam, Chicopee, and Taconic by a combined score of 28-11.
And this turnaround has been a complete team effort, as Parker Christy (team-high nine goals and four assists), Cal Gworek (six goals and nine assists), and Wyatt Hunter (five goals and team-best 10 assists) have each recorded 15 combined points for 45 of the Eagles’ 100 total points.
This week won’t get easier, though, as Easthampton will look to avenge an earlier-season overtime loss on the road against Haverhill on Wednesday from Veterens Memorial Rink at 6 p.m.
Other essential games to watch during the ninth week are McCann Tech versus Agawam for both teams’ second-season matchup against each other inside Veterans Skating Rink on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The game is scheduled on the heels of the Hornets punching their first-ever ticket into the state postseason after their second-season shutout against Amherst on Monday. It also marked McCann Tech’s fifth consecutive win.
The fun will continue with a doubleheader from Olympia on Thursday night, starting with Longmeadow versus West Springfield at 6:30 p.m. And then Minnechaug will look to avenge last week’s one-goal loss to East Longmeadow in the nightcap at 8:30 p.m.
To make matters sweeter, Friday is the first day of the Pope Francis Invitation. The Cardinals will look to extend their winning streak to three games as they begin the festivities against Notre Dame-West Haven (CT) inside Olympia Ice Center on Friday at 5:40 p.m.
And then the second day of the invitational will be finalized after both games are complete on Friday night. The two proposed times inside the same location are on Saturday for 10:30 a.m. and 12:40 p.m., with all four opponents still to be determined.
