High school sports coverage is proudly supported by Maine State Credit Union. 

Will Thornton Academy finish off its dominant season and make it back-to-back — and three out of four — Class A championships? Or will a new team emerge?

We know for certain that there will be a new Class B champion for the first time since 2023, since Cheverus/Yarmouth moved up to Class A after winning back-to-back B titles.

The Maine high school boys hockey playoffs begin Tuesday, with 24 teams competing to reach the state title games on March 7 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

The top teams

• Thornton Academy: The Golden Trojans finished the regular season 17-1 and are the No. 1 team in Class A. The top-ranked team in the Varsity Maine poll has outscored its opponents 129-25. The Trojans, who have won 16 straight games, also have 13 players with 10 or more points this season.

• Messalonskee: The lone team to beat Thornton (7-4 on Dec. 6), the Eagles (15-3) will try to get over the hump after falling in the regional final last season and in the quarterfinals two years ago. The top-seeded team in Class B North has won four in a row heading into the postseason.

• Gorham/Massabesic: The Rams (14-4) emerged from a competitive race with the No. 1 seed in Class B South. They reached the regional final last year.

• Cheverus/Yarmouth: The winner of the past two Class B titles earned the second seed in this year’s Class A playoffs. After losing three in a row, Cheverus/Yarmouth (12-6) has won four straight.

Lower-seeded teams that can make a run

In the past few seasons, lower-seeded teams have made a run to state championship games. Here are a few teams that could do it this postseason.

• Winner of the Lewiston co-op vs. Edward Little quarterfinal: The third-seeded Blue Devils (12-5-1) host their rivals, the sixth-seeded Red Eddies (10-8), on Friday. Both teams have victories over Cheverus/Yarmouth and Falmouth.

• Falmouth: The fifth-seeded Navigators (12-6) know how to put the puck in the net. They have scored five or more goals eight times this season. They enter the Class A playoffs with a tough quarterfinal at No. 4 Scarborough (10-7-1) on Friday.

• Kennebunk/Wells: The Rams (13-4-1), the third seed in Class B South, have a balance of scoring and strong goaltending that gives them a chance in every game. The path to the regional final will be tough, with a potential matchup with No. 2 York/Biddeford/Old Orchard Beach (14-4) in the regional semifinal.

• John Bapst/Hermon/Bangor Christian: The Crusaders (11-7) reached the Class B state final last season. John Bapst is the fifth seed in B North and defeated Messalonskee earlier this month.

Players to watch

• Alex Beckwith, Messalonskee: Beckwith led the Eagles with 22 goals and 19 assists. He scored eight power-play goals this season.

• Bryce Bellerose, Scarborough: Bellerose went 6-4 this season with a 1.82 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. He also had three shutouts.

• Aizyk Laliberte, Lewiston/Mt. Ararat/Lisbon/Morse: Laliberte is one of the most skilled players in the state. He leads the Lewiston co-op with 31 goals and nine assists.

• Jake Skillings, Thornton Academy: Skillings led the Golden Trojans with 18 goals and 27 assists in the regular season.

• Connor Thibault, York/Biddeford/Old Orchard Beach: Thibault is a standout in goal for the Wildcats. He went 14-3 with a 1.60 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.

• Levi Wagner, Gorham/Massabesic: Wagner is a playmaker with 11 goals and a team-leading 21 assists for the Rams.