What’s Going on at Matignon?

According to reliable sources, Matignon High School in Cambridge, Mass. is considering dropping or suspending its legendary boy’s hockey program, but school officials are denying that’s the case.

Sources say the move is being debated due to a drop in participation numbers. According to sources, this year’s varsity team only has about 11 interested players, including at least one player who would be new to the sport. Matignon could also be looking to co-op with another program, according to sources, but nothing has been finalized and that appears to be a long-shot.

According to sources, the returning players have not been notified whether or not there will be a team this season despite requests from some families as to what the school’s plans are for this winter.

Neutral Zone reached out to Matignon headmaster Timothy Welsh, principal Joseph DiSarcina and athletic director Mike Lahiff on Wednesday. Lahiff responded to the request for comment denying the rumor.

“We have never discussed not fielding a boys hockey team,” he said. “We are looking forward to the hockey season this year.”

Under MIAA rule 57.7.4 players are allowed to transfer immediately, with no lapse in their eligibility, if a school closes. However, under the transfer section of the MIAA handbook, it does not define what happens to a transfer student if a current MIAA school drops or suspends a program. Under rule 57.4, the receiving principal would have to declare, utilizing MIAA Form 200, that the transfer “was in no way motivated by athletics.”

Neutral Zone reached out to the MIAA in an attempt to clarify the rule specific to this situation, but that request had not been returned as of this writing.

Under legendary coach Marty Pierce, the Matignon boy’s hockey program won eight state championships in Massachusetts and the program also won nine sectional championships but haven’t won a title since 1993. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, the program was named best in the nation five times. The 1984 team had four players selected in the NHL Entry Draft and nine more earned NCAA Division I scholarships. Prominent NHL alumni include Steve Leach, Shawn McEachern and Niko Dimitrakos.

Matignon hired Derek Edgerly as head coach in May of 2018. Edgerly was previously the head coach at Wakefield High School and was an assistant on the Arlington staff that won the Super Eight championship in 2017.