MIAA Hockey Playoff Previews

February 23, 2006

Excitement is high for the postseason and Westwood’s stellar hockey teams are garnering attention from The Boston Herald. The Herald’s Tom Mulherin previewed the girls tournament with this look a Division 2. . An excerpt is below:
 
The Div. 2 field looks a little more top-heavy, but the title race will be just as thrilling down the stretch.
 
Westwood (19-1) is rightfully seeded No. 1 as one of the more complete teams. Scoring balance helped it finish the regular season with a top-10 attack in Div. 2, while strong team defense and elite goaltending helped it finish with the top GAA (0.70). It’s already avenged its only regular season loss in the last two years (Hingham), and now hopes to avenge last year’s upset loss in the state semifinals. A potential rematch with reigning state champion No. 9 Medfield (13-8) and goalie Kamryn Perachi will be one to circle in the quarterfinals despite two routs in the regular season — if Medfield can best a tough out in No. 8 Nauset (12-8).
 
PREDICTIONS
 
Div. 2
Champion: No. 1 Westwood
Final Four: No. 1 Westwood, No. 2 Milton, No. 3 Duxbury, No. 5 King Philip
Top Sleepers: No. 11 Falmouth, No. 12 Canton
Potential Upset: No. 15 Marshfield over No. 2 Milton
Best First Round Matchup: No. 16 Dedham vs No. 17 Martha’s Vineyard
 
Mulherin also previews the boys bracket, with his excerpt focused on the Wolverines:
 
Sixth-seeded Westwood (17-2-1) hasn’t lost in 15 games. No. 7 Milton (11-9-1) has proven to be tough out of an improved Bay State Conference this year, though, No. 10 King Philip (13-5-2) stands tall as one of Div. 2’s top sleepers. Never count out reigning champion No. 11 Billerica (9-9-2) from making noise. No. 13 Duxbury (9-12-1) has looked like a different team for the better in the second half of the year.
 
PREDICTIONS
 
Div. 2
Champion: No. 1 Canton
Final Four: No. 1 Canton, No. 2 Tewksbury, No. 5 Woburn, No. 6 Westwood
Top Sleepers: No. 10 King Philip, No. 13 Duxbury
Potential Upset: No. 19 Beverly over No. 14 Whitman-Hanson
Best First Round Matchup: No. 13 Duxbury vs No. 20 Boston Latin
 
The girls and boys host a back-to-back doubleheader Tuesday at the Canton Ice House. The Girls Hockey team hosts Stoneham at 5:30pm, followed by the Boys Hockey team’s matchup with Mansfield at 7:40pm.