Hockey-crazed Minnesota already crowned its Youth and Girls Tier 1 and 2 state/district champions and USA Hockey National Championship qualifiers at the 15U, 16U, 18U and 18U levels, and this weekend another United States Hockey hotbed will determine it’s Youth Tier 1 and Tier 2 Nationals representatives as boys teams in Massachusetts will compete for state/district titles at the 15O, 16U and 18U levels.

Play got underway Friday and runs through Sunday at the sprawling New England Sports Center in Marlboro, Mass., with 60 teams competing for state/district titles and Nationals berths. Massachusetts Girls Tier 1 and Tier 2 championship tournaments will be held Thanksgiving weekend.

Many states and districts around the U.S. wait until spring to determine their champions and Nationals qualifiers, but with high school and prep hockey being so popular in Massachusetts and Minnesota, most of the club programs in those areas play a fall “half” or “split” season and compete for the state and district titles in late October or early November just prior to the start of the various school seasons.

We are highlighting the Massachusetts championship tournament for our Week 8 MHR Games of the Week feature.

 

About Games of the Week

Games of the Week previews will be posted every Thursday, Friday or Saturday through the end of the regular season. Game summaries, along with occasional video highlights, will be posted no later than Wednesday of the following week. 

With more than 20,000 teams in our database by season’s end, it’s impossible to be aware of all the great games that are scheduled throughout North America each week, so if you know of any upcoming games between highly ranked teams please feel free to email the details a week in advance if possible to scott@myhockeyrankings.com.

Include in your email:

• Team names, location, league affiliations and age group
• Current team rankings (national, state, provincial, etc.)
• Day, time and location of the game or games
• Any other details – past history, statistical info/team leaders, college commitments playing or other interesting information
• Quotes from players or coaches are great, too, but not required
• If the game or games are available on LiveBarn or via another streaming service, please send the link

We will be partnering with Clanko Media throughout the season to bring our readers and followers video highlights of selected Games of the Week, and we also are open to posting highlights of any other games we feature if someone can provide them for us.

Here is a closer look at our Week 8 featured matchups:

 

MHR WEEK 8 GAMES OF THE WEEK

Massachusetts State/District Tier 1 & Tier 2 Youth Championship

New England Sports Center – Marlboro, Mass.

Streamed on LiveBarn

Sixty Massachusetts-based boys Tier 1 and Tier 2 hockey teams are invading the New England Sports Center this weekend in hopes of capturing championships and advancing to the USA Hockey National Championship in April. Tier 1 champions will be crowned in the Youth 18U, 16U and 15O divisions, while Youth 18U and 16U champs also will be determined at the Tier 2 level. 

Each age-group championship features 12 teams competing in a single-elimination format at NESC starting Friday afternoon and running through Sunday evening. The top-four seeds in each tournament receive byes to the quarterfinals, with the fifth-through-12^th seeds facing off in opening-round matchups Friday. 

 

Massachusetts Youth 18U Tier 1 Championship

The 18U Tier 1 Youth championship tournament includes 12 of the nation’s top-56 USA Boys teams, according to the most recent MHR rankings. 

Competing teams include:

 

#5 Central Mass. Penguins

#10 Boston Jr. Eagles

#11 Neponset Valley River Rats

#21 Islanders Hockey Club

#24 Cape Cod Whalers

#25 Boston Little Bruins

#36 Top Gun

#39 Valley Jr. Warriors

#44 American Hockey Academy

#46 Lovell Academy

#49 East Coast Wizards

#56 Springfield Jr. Thunderbirds

 

CLICK HERE for the Massachusetts 18U Youth Tier 1 tournament schedule at results.

The tournament started with first-round matchups featuring seeds 5 through 12 on Friday at 8:10 p.m.

Quarterfinals will be played at 3:30 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 4:50 p.m. and 5:10 p.m. Saturday. 

Semifinals are set for 9:20 a.m. Sunday, and the championship game will face off at 4:50 p.m. Sunday.

 

18U Youth Tier 1 First Round Matchups

#56 Springfield Thunderbirds 7, #24 Cape Cod Whalers 6

#36 Top Gun 5, #46 Lovell Academy 2

#49 East Coast Wizards 2, #25 Boston Jr. Bruins 3

#44 American Hockey Academy 3, #39 Valley Jr. Warriors 2

 

Quarterfinals

#5 Central Mass Penguins 4, #44 American Hockey Academy 1

#21 Islanders Hockey Club 7, #56 Springfield Jr. Thunderbirds 3

#10 Boston Jr. Eagles 9, 36 Top Gun 5

#25 Boston Little Bruins 4, #11 Neponset Valley River Rats 1

 

Semifinals

 #25 Boston Little Bruins 4, #10 Boston Junior Eagles 6

#21 Islanders Hockey Club 1, #5 Central Mass Penguins 4 

 

Championship

#10 Boston Jr. Eagles 6, #5 Central Mass Penguins 4

Boston Jr. Eagles win the Massachusetts championship and advance to USA Hockey Nationals.

 

The Favorites

The No. 5 Central Mass Penguins entered the weekend with a 13-4-3 record and having outscored their opponents, 82-38.

The No. 10 Boston Junior Eagles brought a record of 16-9-4 into the championship and had outscored their opponents, 94-55. 

The No. 11 Neponset Valley River Rats were 18-7-5 and had outscored their opponents, 92-62.

 

Massachusetts Youth 16U Tier 1 Championship

The 16U Tier 1 Youth championship tournament includes 12 of the nation’s top-75 USA Boys teams, according to the most recent MHR rankings.

Competing teams include:

 

#6 Boston Jr. Eagles

#27 East Coast Militia

#28 Neponset Valley River Rats

#29 Cape Cod Whalers

#35 American Hockey Academy

#43 Top Gun

#49 East Coast Wizards

#54 Lovell Academy

#55 Boston Little Bruins

#58 North Shore Academy

#60 95 Giants

#75 Assabet Valley Patriot Hockey

 

CLICK HERE for the Massachusetts 16U Youth Tier 1 tournament schedule at results. 

The tournament started with first-round matchups featuring seeds 5 through 12 on Friday at 6:10 p.m.

Quarterfinals will be played at 2:00 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 2:40 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. Saturday.

Semifinals are set for 9:30 a.m. Sunday, and the championship game will face off at 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

 

16U Youth Tier 1 First Round Scores

#35 American Hockey Academy 6, #75 Assabet Patriot Hockey 2

#60 95 Giants 3, #55 Boston Little Bruins 2

#54 Lovell Academy 6, #49 East Coast Wizards 2

#43 Top Gun 6, #58 North Shore Academy 4

  

Quarterfinals

#6 Boston Jr. Eagles 8, #60 95 Giants 0

35 American Hockey Academy 5 #29 Cape Cod Whalers 4

#27 East Coast Militia 3, #54 Lovell Academy 2

#28 Neponset Valley River Rats 9, #43 Top Gun 1

 

Semifinals

#35 American Hockey Academy 1, #6 Boston Jr. Eagles 5

#28 Neponset Valley River Rats 5, #27 East Coast Militia 2

 

Championship

#6 Boston Jr. Eagles 2, #28 Neponset Valley River Rats 0

Boston Jr. Eagles win the Massachusetts championship and advance to USA Hockey Nationals.

  

The Favorites

The No. 6 Boston Jr. Eagles entered the weekend with a 16-5-3 record and having outscored their opponents, 85-49.

The No. 29 Cape Cod Whalers brought a record of 11-9-5 into the championship and had outscored their opponents, 78-65.

The No. 27 East Coast Militia were 14-6-6 and had outscored their opponents, 82-46. 

The No. 28 Neponset Valley River Rats had posted a 16-10-4 record while outscoring their opponents, 88-80. 

 

Massachusetts Youth 15O Tier 1 Championship

The 15O Tier 1 Youth championship tournament includes 12 of the nation’s top-80 USA Boys teams, according to the most recent MHR rankings.

Competing teams include:

 

#6 Boston Jr. Eagles

#14 Neponset Valley River Rats

#28 Cape Cod Whalers

#29 Assabet Valley Patriot Hockey

#42 East Coast Militia

#65 American Hockey Academy

#66 Boston Jr. Terriers

#68 North Suburban Wings

#69 Valley Jr. Warriors

#74 Minuteman Flames

#78 Boston Advantage

#80 Top Gun

 

CLICK HERE for the Massachusetts 15O Youth Tier 1 tournament schedule at results. 

The tournament started with first-round matchups featuring seeds 5 through 12 on Friday at 4:10 p.m.

Quarterfinals will be played at 8:50 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 9:20 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Semifinals are set for 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Saturday, and the championship game will face off at 2:00 p.m. Sunday.

 

15O Youth Tier 1 First Round Scores

#42 East Coast Militia 6, #80 Top Gun 0

#69 Valley Jr. Warriors 4, #68 North Suburban Wings 1 

#66 Boston Jr. Terriers 3, #74 Minuteman Flames 1

#78 Boston Advantage 3, #65 American Hockey Academy 2

 

Quarterfinals

#7 Boston Jr. Eagles 11, #69 Valley Jr. Warriors 1

#14 Neponset Valley River Rats 5, #66 Boston Jr. Terriers 3

#29 Assabet Valley Patriots 5, #42 East Coast Militia 4 

#28 Cape Cod Whalers 3, #78 Boston Advantage 2

 

Semifinals

#7 Boston Jr. Eagles 4, #29 Assabet Valley Patriots 2 

#24 Neponset Valley River Rats 4, Cape Cod Whalers 1

 

Championship

#7 Boston Jr. Eagles 1, #24 Neponset Valley Eiver Rats 3

Neponset Valley River Rats win the Massachusetts championship and advance to USA Hockey Nationals.

  

The Favorites

The No. 7 Boston Jr. Eagles entered the weekend with a 20-5-4 record and having outscored their opponents, 109-50.

The No. 14 Neponset Valley River Rats brought a record of 16-9-2 into the championship and had outscored their opponents, 76-48

The No. 28 Cape Cod Whalers were 10-10-3 and had been outscored, 58-55.

The No. 29 Assabet Valley Patriots had posted a 21-6-2 record while outscoring their opponents, 107-73.

 

Massachusetts Youth 18U Tier 2 Championship

The 18U Tier 2 Youth championship tournament includes 12 of the nation’s top-69 USA Boys teams, according to the most recent MHR rankings. 

Competing teams include:

 

#11 Boston Jr. Terriers

#14 Neponset Valley River Rats

#24 Walpole Experess

#26 Bay State Breakers

#27 Assabet Valley Patriot Hockey

#28 Worcester Jr. Railers

#33 Boch Blazers

#43 East Coast Militia

#57 Boch Blazers South

#61 Boston Jr. Rangers

#62 North Suburban Wings

#69 Boston Jr. Huskies

 

Semifinals

#24 Walpole Express 5, #14 Neponset Valley River Rats 3

#27 Assabet Valley Patriots, 4 #11 Boston Jr. Terriers 5

 

Championship

#25 Walpole Express 4, Boston Jr. Terriers 3

Walpole Express win the Massachusetts championship and advance to USA Hockey Nationals.

 

CLICK HERE for the Massachusetts 18U Youth Tier 2 tournament schedule at results.

 

Massachusetts Youth 16U Tier 2 Championship

The 16U Tier 2 Youth championship tournament includes 12 of the nation’s top-134 USA Boys teams, according to the most recent MHR rankings.

Competing teams include:

 

#12 Islanders Hockey Club West

#26 Bay State Breakers

#39 Boston Jr. Huskies

#42 Boston Jr. Terriers

#68 Boston Jr. Terriers Platinum

#74 New England Bulldogs

#77 Boston Jr. Eagles

#92 Boch Blazers

#98 Boston Imperials

#110 Walpole Express

#121 Cape Cod Lightning

#154 South Shore Kings

 

Semifinals 

#77 Boston Jr. Eagles 2, #74 New England Bulldogs 2

#42 Boston Jr. Terriers 3, #12 Islanders Hockey Club West 2

 

Championship 

#77 Boston Jr. Eagles 2, #42 Boston Jr. Terriers 7 

Boston Jr. Terriers win the Massachusetts championship and advance to USA Hockey Nationals.

 

CLICK HERE for the Massachusetts 16U Youth Tier 2 tournament schedule at results.