Westfield freshman forward Max Bengston, right, battles South Hadley defenseman Brian Bak during a recent game at the Olympia Ice Arena. The Bombers will begin defense of their 2012-13 title, beginning Saturday against the Longmeadow Lancers at the Olympia in West Springfield at 1 p.m. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The puck is set to drop on another postseason for the Westfield High School boys’ ice hockey team.
No. 2 Westfield will begin its 2013-14 tournament run when it renews its long-time rivalry with third-seeded Longmeadow Saturday in the Western Massachusetts Division 3 semifinals at the Olympia in West Springfield at 1 p.m.
The two teams have accounted for every west sectional title over the course of the last 10-plus years. Westfield is seeking its ninth title in 13 years. The Bombers are the defending state champs.
Westfield swept the regular season series (2-0) against Longmeadow this past season.
“If we can get by Saturday, anything can happen,” Westfield coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews said. “We need to be on our game.”
Longmeadow’s Matt Pierson stays ahead of a Ludlow defenseman during a 2014 Western Massachusetts Division 3 quarterfinal. Longmeadow and Westfield will meet in a semifinal matchup Saturday at the Olympia in West Springfield at 1 p.m. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
A possible championship game against top-seeded Agawam looms. The Brownies are the only western Massachusetts team that Westfield failed to defeat during the regular season.
“Everybody is going to be up for the Bombers,” Matthews said. “They all want a piece of us … It’s not going to be a cakewalk.”
The WMass D3 boys’ ice hockey championship will be held Thursday, March 6 at the Olympia at 8:30 p.m.
ONE BOMBER’S TOP 10 RUN: Westfield High School’s Neil Sheehan capped off a fine season with a ninth place finish on the Giant Slalom in the state ski championships Feb. 25 at Wachusett Mountain. Sheehan finished the race in 55.64. Wellesley’s Matt Piispanen won the event in 53.84.
