Final Boston Herald Top 20 Boys Hockey Rankings

Shortly after breaking the news to his team that they would not get a chance to play in the state final, Arlington boys hockey coach John Messuri told the Herald he would also look at his team as the Super 8 champion since they won the winner’s bracket.

There’s no question that Arlington’s body of work gives them the top spot in the final Boston Herald boys hockey rankings. A talented group of seniors guided the Spy Ponders to 19 wins, three coming in the Super 8 tournament.

The St. John’s Prep baseball team can relate to Pope Francis’ plight. After losing a pair of heartbreakers in the last two Super 8 hockey finals, Pope Francis was relishing a third crack at the grand prize this season and was playing its best hockey at the right time.

The rest of the top five has a distinctive Catholic Conference flavor. St. John’s Prep proved that its No. 4 seed was no fluke as the Eagles won three games before losing in overtime to Pope Francis in the semifinals. BC High’s attempt at a three-peat went by the board as they lost to St. John’s Prep.

Catholic Conference regular-season champion Catholic Memorial beat Burlington in the Super 8 before bowing to St. John’s Prep. Overall

1. Arlington (19-1-4)

2. Pope Francis (16-5-2)

3. St. John’s Prep (14-6-5)

4. BC High (15-5-4)

5. Catholic Memorial (9-8-6)

6. Framingham (16-7-2)

7. Xaverian (13-6-3)

8. Burlington (15-6-4)

9. Lincoln-Sudbury (20-3-2)

10. Canton (21-1-3)

11. Belmont (15-5-5)

12. Reading (11-5-7)

13. Austin Prep (11-8-1)

14. Walpole (13-8-5)

15. Hingham (12-8-3)

16. Natick (14-3-3)

17. St. John’s (12-9-5)

18. Triton (17-5-2)

19. Masconomet (18-4-1)

20. Archbishop Williams (11-9-1)

Division 1 North

1. Arlington (19-1-4)

2. St. John’s Prep (14-6-5)

3. Burlington (15-6-4)

4. Belmont (15-5-5)

5. Reading (11-5-7)

6. Austin Prep (11-8-1)

7. St. John’s (12-9-5)

8. Westford Academy (12-8-2)

9. Waltham (13-7-1)

10. Shrewsbury (12-7-2)

Division 1 South

1. Pope Francis (16-5-2)

2. BC High (15-5-4)

3. Catholic Memorial (9-8-6)

4. Framingham (16-7-2)

5. Xaverian (13-6-3)

6. Walpole (13-8-5)

7. Hingham (12-8-3)

8. Natick (14-3-3)

9. Archbishop Williams (11-9-1)

10. Duxbury (13-7-4)

Division 2 North

1. Lincoln-Sudbury (20-3-2)

2. Triton (17-5-2)

3. Masconomet (18-4-1)

4. North Andover (14-4-6)

5. Tewksbury (15-4-3)

6. Gloucester (13-6-3)

7. Boston Latin (12-7-3)

8. Wilmington (10-9-3)

9. Marblehead (14-4-4)

10. Wakefield (11-7-3)

Division 2 South

1. Canton (21-1-3)

2. Whitman-Hanson (17-5-1)

3. Bishop Feehan (13-8-2)

4. Medway (14-4-5)

5. Plymouth North (15-4-2)

6. Brookline (14-8-1)

7. Medfield (12-6-4)

8. Dedham (13-5-3)

9. Westwood (11-9-2)

10. Scituate (13-8-1)

Division 3 North

1. Lowell (13-8-4)

2. Cambridge (15-3-4)

3. Bedford (15-4-2)

4. Newton South (12-9-1)

5. Shawsheen (14-7-1)

6. Swampscott (11-12-0)

7. Watertown (13-6-2)

8. Latin Academy (12-8-2)

9. Essex Tech (11-5-5)

10. Somerville (10-8-3)

Division 3 South

1. Hanover (21-3-1)

2. Dartmouth (19-4-1)

3. Foxboro (12-5-5)

4. Bishop Stang (12-6-5)

5. Hopkinton (19-2-0)

6. Norwell (17-4-3)

7. St. John Paul (17-3-2)

8. Martha’s Vineyard (12-8-2)

9. Somerset Berkley (16-5-0)

10. Nantucket (12-7-2)

JIM MAHONEY / BOSTON HERALD TICKLING THE TWINE: Arlington’s Brendan Jones celebrates a goal against St. John’s Prep.

FAITH NINVAGGI / HERALD STAFF BACK IN THE MIX: Catholic Memorial’s Jonny Nichols celebrates scoring against Pope Francis.

JIM MICHAUD / BOSTON HERALD DENIED: Framingham’s Jake Handy makes the save on a shot from Reading's Robbie Granara.