This is the first installment of the 2023-24 Western Mass. Boys Hockey Top 10. The rankings will be updated on a weekly basis throughout the winter regular season.
- Longmeadow (6-3)
- Minnechaug (5-3)
- Amherst (8-2)
- Greenfield (7-3)
- Ludlow (4-3-1)
- Easthampton (6-2)
- East Longmeadow (3-4)
- West Springfield (3-4)
- Westfield (3-6)
- Taconic (3-2-1)
The first rankings of the boys hockey season have arrived, with Longmeadow beginning the 2023-24 campaign as the top team in Western Massachusetts.
After claiming its fourth consecutive regional crown last year, the Lancers have claimed six of their opening nine games to maintain control in the Berry Conference.
Greenfield is also off to an impressive start behind the trio of Brody Gagne (one goal and 13 assists), Jack Laurie (nine goals and eight assists), and Jake Jurek (14 goals and eight assists).
Behind their help, the Green Wave have won four of their last five games after losing two of their opening five games against Longmeadow and Gardner to remain close behind Easthampton for first place in the Wright Standings.
Despite going winless during its opening four games, Ludlow is No. 5 as the Lions have outscored their opponents 16-4 across their four-game winning streak. Earlier this week, Ludlow earned an impressive 3-1 win against first-place Amherst. It’s also essential to mention two of Ludlow’s previous three losses were by one against Longmeadow and Minnechaug.
The rankings are concluded with Westfield in the final spot, as the Bombers have finally picked up steam after losing four of their five opening games. Like Ludlow, though, two of those games were one-goal losses against Dartmouth and Longmeadow.
Westfield has earned meaningful victories against West Springfield, North Middlesex, and East Longmeadow.
There are numerous games to watch this week, as Easthampton welcomes Amherst to Lossone Rink on Wednesday at 7 p.m., while crosstown rivals Longmeadow and East Longmeadow will battle inside Olympia Ice Center on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
To conclude the weekend, Algonquin enters the region to face Minnechaug on Saturday at noon.
