Meanwhile, in the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League and the Maryland Student Hockey League, new rivalries formed. Churchill continued its efforts to return to the MSHL throne before falling in the final, and a slew of Virginia squads tried and failed to finally top Langley.
Capital Scholastic Hockey League favorites Colgan and Washington-Liberty fell to Alexandria City in the postseason. Elsewhere, perennial challengers such as Georgetown Prep proved experience can carry teams far in the playoffs.
St. John’s (22-6-4) Last ranked: 1
The Cadets defended their WCAC title against Gonzaga but couldn’t repeat in the MAPHL rematch. Still, St. John’s raised the bar all season, and with Carter Johnson’s aggressive offense and Jack Faricy’s rock-solid goaltending set to return next year, the Cadets are showing every indication of maintaining their powerhouse status.
Gonzaga (22-7-2) LR: 4
Gonzaga stepped on the gas in the postseason, making use of excellent conditioning and a powerful forecheck to top St. John’s in the MAPHL final, avenging an earlier loss.
Langley (13-0-0) LR: 3
The Saxons cruised to another NVSHL title, their third in a row and fourth in six years. Relying on experience and a clinical passing game, Langley, which hasn’t lost in more than two years, demonstrated the best can always get better.
Landon (14-3-3) LR: 2
After defending its IAC title in a rematch of last year’s championship battle against Bullis, Landon ran out of gas in the MAPHL playoffs, falling to Georgetown Prep in a quarterfinal shootout. It ended another strong season defined by Alex Parker’s steady coaching and the Bears’ relentless, physical style.
Archbishop Spalding (14-8-3) LR: 5
The Cavaliers repeated as MIAA champions and looked like a powerhouse in the making, going neck-and-neck with tough opponents such as Landon and Bullis.
Alexandria City (9-3-1) LR: Not ranked
After falling to Colgan early in the season, the Titans got revenge when it counted in the CSHL playoffs. That momentum carried them to an action-packed win against Washington-Liberty for the title.
Churchill (14-4-4) LR: 7
The Bulldogs were deprived of a playoff rematch against rival Walter Johnson but made it to the MSHL final, where Oakdale sent them home as the runners-up. With a promising crop of underclassmen leading the charge, Churchill should stay strong.
Georgetown Prep (12-7-1) LR: 8
The Little Hoyas were major threats to the region’s top teams, making it to the semifinals of the IAC and the MAPHL. Their poise in high-pressure situations and a sturdy defense helped them come away with statement wins in the postseason, including against rival Landon.
Stone Bridge (10-2-1) LR: NR
Making the most of late-season momentum, the Bulldogs fought hard to reach the NVSHL final, where Langley pulled away late.
Bullis (14-9-4) LR: NR
Despite falling behind in the MAPHL, Bullis found success with its fast-paced style. That culminated in a return trip to the IAC final, where it lost to Landon for a second-straight runner-up finish.
Girls’ Top 3
It was a championship season of repeats in girls’ hockey. Georgetown Visitation won its second consecutive Mid-Atlantic Girls Hockey League title, with sophomore defenseman Charlotte Morrell scoring her first goal of the season to secure a 2-1 overtime win over Stone Ridge.
While the season ended in disappointment for Stone Ridge, the Gators have plenty to build on for next year, even though they lose goals leader Addie Shannon.
In the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, St. John’s secured convincing wins over St. Mary’s Ryken and Bishop O’Connell to take the title for a third straight year. The Cadets are in line to have their top three scorers back next season.
1. Georgetown Visitation (11-0-1)
The Cubs have gone more than two years without a loss.
2. Stone Ridge (9-4-0)
The Gators took Visitation to overtime in their first MAGHL championship game appearance since 2020.
3. St. John’s (13-3-1)
The Cadets bounced back from an MAGHL semifinal loss to Stone Ridge to win a third consecutive WCAC title.
