This is the third 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.
Previous Rankings: Dec. 11, Dec. 19
- Westfield (3-2, No. 4)
- Minnechaug (6-1, No. 1)
- East Longmeadow (4-2, No. 3)
- Longmeadow (3-3-1, No. 2)
- Greenfield (2-4-1, No. 5)
- Ludlow (4-4, No. 7)
- West Springfield (3-3-1, No. 6)
- McCann Tech (4-0, NR)
- Easthampton (3-4, No. 8)
- Amherst (4-4-1, No. 9)
A lot has happened between Christmas and New Year’s on the boys’ ice hockey rink – so where do we start?
For the first time this season, Westfield has reclaimed the top overall spot in the region over Minnechaug, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, and Greenfield.
Joseph Maffia has continued to prove his worthiness to claim his second consecutive Amo Bessone Award — Overall MVP of the league. Through five games, the senior has scored 10 goals and 10 assists to help the Bombers earn vital wins against three of those mentioned teams above.
Surrounding teams can’t sleep on the Falcons, though, as their offense has outscored opponents by an impressive margin of 55-12 to ensure Minnechaug (6-1, 2-1) is only one-half game behind Westfield (3-2, 3-1) for first place in the Berry standings.
Brody Faneuff leads the Falcons with nine goals and six assists, while Dominic Fiorentino is next with seven goals and a team-best 13 assists. In net, meanwhile, Chase Folli has allowed three goals in five combined appearances. That statistic has also included multiple shutouts.
After dropping two of its opening three games, West Springfield has responded with wins against Grafton and Amherst, while also earning a tie against Greenfield last month.
Things won’t get easier for the Terriers, though, as they are scheduled to welcome East Longmeadow on Thursday before a two-game road trip against Blackstone Valley and Greenfield. Jack Therrien has recorded eight of West Springfield’s 19 combined goals thus far, while Jack Reed has collected four goals and nine assists for a team-high 13 points.
Other essential games to watch during the fifth week are a premier game between multiple Berry Division rivals, Westfield and East Longmeadow, for the second-season matchup on Wednesday inside Amelia Park at 7 p.m.
And then newly-added McCann Tech will look to claim its fifth consecutive win to open the season, as they welcome Easthampton to Veterans Rink on the same scheduled date and time.
On Thursday, meanwhile, there is a doubleheader from Olympia Rink between Greenfield and Longmeadow at 6:30 p.m. And then West Springfield will complete the nightcap against East Longmeadow at 8:30 p.m.
Pope Francis will then look to end the week in style against St. Mary’s (Lynn) on Saturday from Olympia Rink at 2 p.m. The Cardinals have won five consecutive games against the Spartans, dating back to 2022.
Longmeadow and East Longmeadow, meanwhile, are scheduled to compete in their second in-town rival matchup of the season from Amelia Park on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Spartans have claimed three of the last five games, including the last two by three combined points, so neither outcome is guaranteed.
