MIAA Super 8 Hockey Team Capsules

BOSTON -- The Super 8 starts for real Sunday afternoon at the TD Garden, home of the Boston Bruins. Catholic Memorial ousted Braintree, 2-1, and Xaverian out dueled Archbishop Williams, 6-5, in double overtime on Monday to set the field.

The quarterfinals, best-of-three series, start Sunday with No. 4 Austin Prep taking on No. 5 Central Catholic at 12 p.m., followed by No. 6 Duxbury clashing with No. 3 Springfield Cathedral.

No. 2 Malden Catholic, the three-time defending champions, takes on No. 7 Catholic Memorial at 4:30 p.m. No. 1 BC High squares off with No. 8 Xaverian in the final game of the day.

Team Capsules

No. 1 BC High (14-2-4)

Location: Dorchester

Head Coach: John Flaherty

Top Players: Forwards Patrick Kramer (Merrimack), Steve DeForge, Jake Lemanski and Kayser Raei; Defensemen Ryan Shea, Sam Topham and Billy Roche; Goaltender Brandon Payzant

The Eagles play a very disciplined and well-structured game. BC High is extremely well coached and fundamentally sound in all three zones. The most special player is sophomore defenseman Ryan Shea, a '97 whose father Dan had 190 points at Boston College. He is poised beyond his age and always seems to make the right decision with the puck.

No. 2 Malden Catholic (16-4-0)

Location: Malden

Head Coach: John McLean

Top Players: Forwards Ara Nazarian (UNH), Tyler Sifferlen (UMass Lowell), Matt Filipe (Northeastern) and Jake Witkowski; Defensemen Nick Rolli and John McLean, Jr., Goaltender Alex Reissis

The three-time defending champions have some explosive offensive players, but don't match up as well in their own end as BC High. Ara Nazarian is an NHL Draft prospect who has good drive and vision. Recent Northeastern commit Matt Filipe is a physically imposing player who also has skill.

No. 3 Springfield Cathedral (15-2-5)

Location: Springfield

Head Coach: Brian Foley

Top Players: Forwards Peter Crinella (Holy Cross), D.J. Petruzzelli (Quinnipiac), John Leonard (UMass), Riley Prattson and Devon Tongue; Defensemen Dan Petrick and Bryce Peritz; Goaltenders Keith Petruzzelli (Quinnipiac) and John Liquori

The Panthers are loaded with talent, having four players already committed to Division I colleges and several more likely on their way. D.J. Petruzzelli and John Leonard both have terrific hands, but look for Peter Crinella to impose his will physically on the opposition. He is a power forward with a rocket of a shot. Coach Brian Foley wouldn't show his hand on who would be the starting goaltender. Freshman phenom Keith Petruzzelli has split time with senior John Liquori.

No. 4 Austin Prep (13-4-4)

Location: Reading

Head Coach: Louis Finnochiaro

Top Players: Forwards Bobo Carpenter, Cam Russo, Ryan McDonough and Eric MacAdams; Defensemen J.J. Layton and Andrew Cross; Goaltender Elijah Harris

The Cougars battled through injuries for much of the season, but the runner-up in 2013 doesn't have the depth or high-end skill that the top three teams have. Bobo Carpenter, son of NHL veteran Bobby, has as hard of a shot as anyone in high school hockey. Sophomore goaltender Elijah Harris, who made a name for himself during last summer's Beantown Classic and USA Select 16 Festival, is always reliable between the pipes.

No. 5 Central Catholic (16-3-3)

Location: Lawrence

Head Coach: Mike Jankowski

Top Players: Forwards Lloyd Hayes, Alex Lester and Corey Weber; Defensemen Sean Holly and David Sheehan; Goaltender Colin Soucy

The Raiders are used to being the underdogs in this tournament, but came into this season with a little bit more recognition following last year's run. Goaltender Colin Soucy doesn't have the upside or the notoriety of some of the younger goaltenders in this tournament, but the senior can certainly steal a game. Lloyd Hayes, Corey Weber and Alex Lester are a very good offensive trio. One thing that can be assured when watching a Mike Jankowski team is that it will be well-coached, disciplined and skate hard for a full 45 minutes.

No. 6 Duxbury (16-2-3)

Location: Duxbury

Head Coach: John Blake

Top Forwards: Shayne O'Brien, Nick Marrocco, Trevor O'Brien; Defenseman Tyler Powers; Goaltender Tucker Kelly

The Dragons were a bubble team until they knocked off BC High in the second to last game of the regular season to capture the Buddy Ferreira Classic. Shayne O'Brien had a hat trick to propel Duxbury past the vaunted BC High defense. It will take a tremendous effort to take two of three from Cathedral, but Duxbury has already proved it can compete with the best in the state.

No. 7 Catholic Memorial (10-7-4)

Location: West Roxbury

Head Coach: Bill Hanson

Top Players: Forward Aaron Clancy, Paul Hardiman and Michael Stathopolous; Defensemen Tim Weinstein and Frank Cosolito; Goaltender Brandon Payzant

The Knights struggled to finish the regular season, going 0-6-2 over the last eight games. Bill Hanson's team rebounded, with a little bit of puck luck, to defeat Braintree in the play-in game. CM lost to Malden Catholic, 11-0, the second time the two faced each other, but won the first meeting, 3-2. Goaltender Brandon Payzant will have to play his best to keep the Knights in this tournament.

No. 8 Xaverian (12-3-6)

Location: Westwood

Head Coach: Dave Spinale

Top Players: Forwards Tony Marini, Jon Beniers, Tim Sweeney, Connor McCarthy and Jack Cook; Defensemen Ryan Walsh and Nick Colantuoni; Goaltender Aidan Murphy

The Hawks rallied to tie Archbishop Williams and eventually were triumphant in double overtime to get past the Super 8 play-in game. The first line of seniors Tony Marini and Tim Sweeney and sophomore Jon Beniers is one of the best in the state. Freshman Aidan Murphy has some experience with the South Shore Kings U16 team in the USPHL and has been hot at times. He seemed to settle down after the first half of the game on Monday.

Jeff Cox covers college, junior and high school hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.