WESTFIELD – The Western Massachusetts Division 3 boys’ ice hockey tournament field was unveiled Saturday, and Westfield High earned a No. 2 seed.
The second-seeded Westfield Bombers, fresh off a 2012-13 state title, and No. 1 Agawam will receive byes. The Brownies won the season series with the Whip City, besting WHS in their most recent meeting. The two teams tied earlier this season.
It is sure to be a wild run to the championship as Westfield attempts to defend its title, and Agawam tries to justify its number one seed. The Brownies, who made the leap in divisions this season, are the defending Division 3A champs.
“With the skaters and the numbers they’ve got – they’re the Division 3A champs; they brought them all back – we’re the underdogs,” Westfield coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews said.
The tournament gets under way Tuesday with No. 3 Longmeadow versus No. 6 Ludlow and No. 4 East Longmeadow against No. 5 Minnechaug. Both games will be played at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, beginning with Longmeadow-Ludlow at 6 p.m.
The semifinals will be played at the Olympia Saturday, March 1, beginning at 1 p.m. Westfield will take on the winner of Longmeadow-Ludlow. The Bombers swept the regular season series with the Lancers, and beat and tied the Lions.
“If we can get by Saturday, then anything can happen,” coach Matthews said. “Everybody is up for the Bombers. They all want a piece of us. It’s not going to be a cakewalk.”
The finals are scheduled to take place Thursday, March 6 at 8:30 p.m.
“We’re going to practice hard all week, get ready, and hopefully make it the finals,” Matthews said.
