After determining its state Tier 1 and Tier 2 Youth champions for the 15O, 16U and 18U levels Nov. 8-10, Massachusetts held its state tournament for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Girls at the 16U and 19U levels during Thanksgiving Weekend Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. Winners earned berths in the USA Hockey National Championship to be held April in Virginia and Ohio next April.

In the United States, Minnesota and Massachusetts have large enough hockey-playing populations that their Tier 1 state champions are awarded automatic bids to Nationals. In other areas of the United States, several states combine to form districts, and those district champions also earn the right to compete for Tier 1 national titles in April. At the Tier 2 level, state champions from around the country qualify for Nationals.

Minnesota recently crowned its Tier 1 Youth and Girls champions, with winners earning National Championship berths.

 

Minnesota 15O Tier 1 Youth Champion

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

 

Minnesota 16U Tier 1 Girls Champion

#2 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

 

Minnesota 16U Tier 1 Youth Champion

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

 

Minnesota 18U Tier 1 Youth Nationals Representative

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

 

Minnesota Tier 1 19U Girls Champion

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

 

Youth USA National Championship berths in Massachusetts were decided Nov. 8-10 as Tier 1 and 2 state champions were crowned at the 15O, 16U and 18U levels. Here are those winners:

 

Massachusetts 15O Youth Tier 1 Champion

#7 Boston Jr Eagles

 

Massachusetts 16U Youth Tier 1 Champion

#23 East Coast Militia

 

Massachusetts 16O Youth Tier 2 Champion

#38 Boston Jr. Terriers

 

Massachusetts 18U Youth Tier 1 Champion

#2 Boston Jr. Eagles

 

Massachusetts 18U Youth Tier 2 Champion

#3 Neponset Valley River Rats

 

Massachusetts Girls 19U/16U Tier 1 & Tier 2 State Championship

The Massachusetts Girls 19U and 16U Tier 1 and 2 State Championship began the morning of Nov. 29 and ran through the afternoon of Dec. 1. All games were held at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, Mass., and most games should be available for viewing via LiveBarn for about the next month.

CLICK HERE for the Massachusetts Girls State Tournament Program

 

Massachusetts 19U Girls Tier 1 State Championship

The field for the Massachusetts 19U Tier 1 State Championship was stacked, with all eight competing teams ranked among the top 30 in the United States, according to the Week 10 MHR Rankings. Four top 10 teams participated. There were two four-team pools. Every participant played two pool-play contests Nov. 29 and one Dec. 30. The top two finishers in each pool advanced to the semifinals, which were played at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30. The Dec. 1 championship was played at 10:20 a.m.

 

19U Girls Tier 1 Participating Teams – American Pool Standings

#4 North American Hockey Academy (3-2-0)

#6 East Coast Wizards (3-1-0)

#25 Lovell Academy (1-2-0)

#12 Valley Jr. Warriors (0-3-0)

 

National Pool

#3 Assabet Valley (4-1-0)

#7 Massachusetts Spitfires (3-1-0)

#17 Boston Jr. Eagles (1-2-0)

#30 Minuteman Lady Flames (0-3-0)

 

Semifinals Nov. 30 (click link for game summaries)

Assabet Valley 6, East Coast Wizards 4

NAHA 4, Massachusetts Spitfires 1

 

Championship Game Dec. 1

Assabet Valley 5, NAHA 1

After skating to a 2-1 lead through one period, Assabet scored the game’s final three goals to capture the state title and earn a trip to Nationals. Five different players scored for the winners. Christina Scalese and Caroline Averill tallied in the opening frame, with Molly Boyle, Madelyn Murphy and Margaret Averill rounding out the scoring. Ella Johnson had the lone NAHA goal. Taylor Senecal added three assists for Assabet, while Boyle and Caroline Averill contributed two points apiece.

 

CLICK HERE for Massachusetts Girls 19U Tier 1 Schedule, Scores, Stats & Standings

 

 

Massachusetts 19U Girls Tier 2 State Championship

The field for the Massachusetts 19U Tier 2 State Championship was a deep one, with 10 of the 12 teams ranked among the top 30 in the United States, according to the Week 10 MHR Rankings. Four top 10 teams participated. There were two six-team pools. Every participant played two pool-play contests Nov. 29 and one Nov. 30. The top four finishers in each pool advanced to the quarterfinals, which were held at 5:20 p.m. Nov. 30. Sunday’s semifinals were played at 8 a.m., with the championship also played at 3:20 p.m. Dec. 1.

 

19U Girls Tier 2 Participating Teams – American Pool Standings

#7 Boston Jr. Eagles (6-0-0)

#21 Valley Jr. Warriors (3-1-0)

#30 Boston Americans (1-3-0)

#2 East Coast Wizards (1-3-0)

#65 Minuteman Lady Flames (1-2-0)

#18 Bay State Breakers (0-3-0)

 

National Pool

#5 North Suburban Wings (4-2-0)

#14 Assabet Valley (4-1-0)

#1 Northeast Generals (2-3-0)

#13 Charles River Blazers (2-2-0)

#22 North Shore Vipers (1-2-0)

#53 MassConn United (0-3-0)

 

Quarterfinals Nov. 30 (click links for game summaries)

North Suburban Wings 2, Boston Americans 1

Boston Jr. Eagles 7, Charles River Blazers 1

Assabet Valley 3, East Coast Wizards 1

Boston Jr. Eagles 4, Assabet Valley 1

 

Semifinals Dec. 1

North Suburban Wings 2, Northeast Generals 1 – OT

Boston Jr. Eagles 4, Assabet Valley 1

 

Championship Game Dec. 1

Boston Jr. Eagles 2, North Suburban Wings 1

All three goals were scored in the third period, with Boston striking twice in the final 8:08 to capture the state title and earn the Nationals berth. Alyssa Jankowski gave North Suburban the lead with 11:41 remaining, but Isabella Paes and Louise Roper scored with 8:08 and 2:50 left, respectively, to steal the win for the Jr. Eagles. Grace Collins and Gabrielle Oakes assisted on the deciding tallies, and Eve-Maire LeClerc made 32 saves to record the victory in goal.  Helen Zeaske stopped 24 shots for the Wings.

 

CLICK HERE for Massachusetts Girls 19U Tier 2 Schedule, Scores, Stats & Standings

 

 

Massachusetts 16U Girls Tier 1 State Championship

There were seven teams ranked among the top 23 in the United States, according to the Week 10 MHR Rankings, competing for the Massachusetts 16U Girls Tier 1 championship. Three top 10 teams participated. There were two six-team pools. Every participant played two pool-play contests Nov. 29 and one Nov. 30. The top four finishers in each pool advanced to the quarterfinals, which were scheduled for 5:40 and 7:20 p.m. Nov. 30. Sunday’s semifinals were played at 8:20 a.m., with the championship also played at 3 p.m. Dec. 1

 

16U Girls Tier 1 Participating Teams – American Pool Standings

#5 East Coast Wizards (3-2-0)

#14 Massachusetts Spitfires (3-1-0)

#21 Valley Jr. Warriors (2-2-0)

#31 Boston Americans (1-3-0)

#40 Charles River Blazers (1-2-0)

#41 Minuteman Lady Flames (0-3-0)

 

National Pool

#3 Lovell Academy Lions (6-0-0)

#15 Assabet Valley (3-3-0)

#10 Boston Jr. Eagles (3-2-0)

#23 North American Hockey Academy (2-2-0)

#38 Boston Advantage (1-2-0)

#42 Bay State Breakers (0-3-0)

 

Quarterfinals Nov. 30 (click links for game summaries)

Assabet Valley 4, Massachusetts Spitfires 2

Lovell Academy 2, Boston Americans 0

East Coast Wizards 6, NAHA 1

Boston Jr. Eagles 4, Valley Jr. Warriors 0

 

Semifinals Dec. 1

Assabet Valley 3, Boston Jr. Eagles 0

Lovell Academy 4, East Coast Wizards 2

 

Championship Game Dec. 1

Lovell Academy 3, Assabet Valley 1

Assabet Valley struck first on Molly Bardol’s opening-period goal and held that 1-0 lead until 7:37 remained in regulation, but Sydney Stoughton, Mirella Martinelli and Emily MacAulay scored in the remaining time as Lovell skated to the state championship and earned a trip to Nationals. Anabelle Lovell assisted on two of those three tallies, while Peyton Scott earned the win in goal.

 

CLICK HERE for Massachusetts Girls 16U Tier 1 Schedule, Scores, Stats & Standings

 

 

Massachusetts 16U Girls Tier 2 State Championship

The Tier 2 16U field included seven teams ranked among the top 31 in the United States, according to the Week 10 MHR Rankings. Four top six teams participated. There were two six-teams pools. Every participant played two pool-play contests Nov. 29 and one Nov. 30. The top four finishers in each pool advanced to the quarterfinals, which were played at 3:10 and 5:20 p.m. Nov. 30. Sunday’s semifinals took place at 7:40 and 8:20 a.m., with the championship also held Dec. 1 at 3 p.m.

 

16U Girls Tier 1 Participating Teams – American Pool Standings

#2 Massachusetts Spitfires (5-1-0)

#3 Boston Jr. Eagles (3-2-0)

#30 Valley Jr. Warriors (1-3-0)

#47 Minuteman Lady Flames (1-3-0)

 

#41 North Shore Vipers (1-2-0)

#44 Bay State Breakers (1-2-0)

 

National Pool

#1 East Coast Wizards (6-0-0)

#6 Assabet Valley (3-2-0)

#31 Boston Americans (2-2-0)

#39 MassConn United (1-3-0)

#50 Cape Cod Storm (1-2-0)

#27 North Suburban Wings (0-3-0)

 

Quarterfinals Nov. 30 (click link for game summaries)

Boston Jr. Eagles 2, Boston Americans 0

East Coast Wizards 5, Minuteman Flames 1

Massachusetts Spitfires 7, MassConn United 0

Assabet Valley 5, Valley Jr. Warriors 0

 

Semifinals Dec. 1

East Coast Wizards 1, Boston Jr. Eagles 1

Massachusetts Spitfires 7, Assabet Valley 3

 

Championship Game Dec. 1

East Coast Wizards 2, Massachusetts Spitfires 1

Clara Cary scored the eventual game-winning goal on the power play with 6:19 left to give the Wizards a 2-0 lead, but McKenna Ruland scored with 54 seconds remaining to make things interesting. East Coast netminder Chloe Scott held off the Spitfires in the final minute, however, to secure the state championship and trip to Nationals for the Wizards. Kiley Carmichael scored East Coast’s other goal, with Caroline Matusovich and Violet Lorusso each adding single assists for the victors.

 

CLICK HERE for the Massachusetts Girls 16U Tier 2 Schedule, Scores, Stats & Standings