The highly-anticipated, third annual Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament is finally around the corner.

Captains and coaches on 16 of the best public-school teams met for a media breakfast at Oakley Country Club in Watertown Sunday morning, where they ate a buffet spread together before My Hockey Live’s Paul McNamara introduced them all with notes over livestream.

Legendary former Boston College head coach Jerry York made an appearance to share words of wisdom. Marshfield coach Dan Connolly followed by speaking a few words on the meaning and specialness of the revamped tournament. Director Dan Brothers also took the floor to review formatting, logistics and rules of what to expect, before coaches gathered for a quick meeting and players were made available to speak to the media.

All the bells and whistles were pulled out to really hype up the significance of the tournament, or at least it felt that way to some players who have been a part it before.

“It seems like there’s a little bit more excitement,” said Reading senior TJ Michel. “You really see behind the scenes, you see why they do this tournament. Now we’ve really got to work hard and try to win it.”

“It’s pretty neat,” added Tewksbury senior Jeremy Insogna. “Even having Jerry York here, it’s kind of like, ‘Woah, this is THE Jerry York.’ It gives you a sense of more importance, but at the same time, it’s just a game – going out there and give our best effort.”

These might be just regular games, but many of the teams in the tournament are considered legitimate state title contenders in Div. 1 and Div. 2 fields. The past two years have shown some elite play, making it one of the most exciting parts of the year for Marshfield’s Connolly.

“I think it’s an unbelievable tournament, creates unbelievable excitement for the players, the coaches and fans,” he said. “You don’t know (yet) who you’re playing in Round 1. Whoever you’re going to get is going to be a great team. Win or lose, you’re getting a great team (next). … There’s just so many very good hockey clubs in here and (the) 16 teams – 1-16, they can beat you.”

Some notes and storylines on the tournament ahead of its start this weekend, with words from players:

Format, seeding and rules

Each team is guaranteed three games, one each week starting on Sunday. The field is split into two divisions, with the top eight seeds playing in the Doherty bracket and the bottom eight playing in the Brinn bracket. Winners will move on according to a normal bracket structure, while consolation matches will be selected.

Seeding is determined by the MIAA’s power rankings system, which will be finalized after Wednesday night’s action. Seeding may be altered to adjust for league foes in first-round play to keep matchups fresh.

Regular MIAA playing rules apply, though an eight-minute, 3-on-3 double-overtime would follow the regular 4-on-4, five-minute overtime. If still tied after that, games go to a three-person shootout.

First round action will have four games in Canton, and four games at Ed Burns Arena.

Arlington, Tewksbury defend titles

Securing an Ed Burns-inspired trophy is a huge deal for the tournament’s hometown team, and Arlington was able to do that in the Doherty division last year by surviving three overtime games for the championship – with the last being a 1-0 win over Hingham.

As the Spy Ponders continue to turn heads at 8-2-1 so far this year, they’re excited for the challenge of holding onto that trophy for at least one more year.

“It’s our tournament, and Ed Burns is, like, the biggest part of Arlington high school sports in general,” said senior captain Kevin O’Connor. “So, we really want to win it. It’s a goal every year, to win it, since I think my sophomore year.”

Tewksbury didn’t need the same theatrics to take the Brinn division, ousting Winchester in the championship, 7-1, last year.

Much of the group is back, and a 9-1 start has them high enough in the seeding (as of Friday) to make a run for a repeat in the Doherty division this time. The entire field is loaded, but there is appeal in playing against the other top eight seeds instead of among the bottom eight.

“To be able to play a team that’s competitive and gives us a real run for our money, requires us to actually go out there and compete with teams that we feel like we’re on par with skill-wise and competitive-wise,” said Insogna. “I think it’s good in that aspect to get in the top division this year.”

“I think we played very well last year,” added Tyler Barnes, last year’s Brinn finals MVP. “Just to have the opportunity to play these really good teams – like we’d have the Arlingtons, the Hinghams, the Marshfields. Those D1 teams, they always help the power rankings. I think it gives us a big opportunity to do something great here that not a lot of D2 teams get the opportunity to do. … It’s a great challenge for us and it’s right up our alley.”

New teams look to leave mark

With the exit of a few teams, fresh faces have a chance to compete. Chelmsford and Norwood are both new, while Franklin makes its return after a one-year hiatus.

An early Div. 2 title threat at 7-1-1, Norwood checked in as the 14th seed in Friday’s update partly due to a weaker strength of schedule rating. Senior forward Andrew Gillis feels that’s a reflection more of the high-quality teams in the tournament, but hopes they can move up in seeding before spots finalize on Thursday.

Regardless, the Mustangs feel ready to prove themselves.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for us because there’s a lot of good teams from all over the state in this tournament,” said Andrew Gillis. “We can really show that we can play with the best.”

Other storylines

As one of the state’s consistent premier teams, Hingham has made the finals in each of the last two tournaments. They lost both in overtime, with Marshfield taking a 6-5 win in 2021.

Reading-Hingham gave one of the more thrilling bouts in the Doherty semifinal round last year before the Harbormen won on Jack Rakauskas’ double-overtime goal. Reading’s Michel says there isn’t extra incentive off the loss, but the team is still fueled to do well. Belmont also lost in overtime in the semifinal to Arlington.

Winchester made a run to the Brinn final before Tewksbury routed it. Already with signature wins this year, the Red and Black have a good chance to run it back for a better ending.

The Brinn division could be battle grounds for Bay State Conference revenge, representing half of that group. All are dangerous any given night. In the Doherty as of right now, Braintree instead has a great chance to further show why it’s better than its .500 record. The same goes for Franklin, continuing its tough schedule.

Should they both advance that far in the tournament, Div. 2 rivals Canton and Tewksbury could preview a meeting in the state tournament Final Four.

Standings as of Friday’s MIAA power rankings

**Team, record (rating)

Doherty Division

1.) Hingham, 6-4-1 (3.2007)

2.) Canton, 9-0-1, (2.9925)

3.) Tewksbury, 7-1-0 (2.8965)

4.) Arlington, 7-2-1 (2.7297)

5.) Reading, 6-2 (2.4616)

6.) Marshfield, 6-2-1 (2.2042)

7.) Braintree, 3-4-1 (2.0074)

8.) Franklin, 6-5 (1.9205)

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Brinn Division

9.) Wellesley, 7-2-2 (1.7645)

10.) Winchester, 5-5 (1.6468)

11.) Weymouth, 4-4-1 (1.5357)

12.) Framingham, 3-4-1 (1.3011)

13.) Belmont, 3-4-1 (1.2507)

14.) Norwood, 5-1-1 (1.1972)

15.) Walpole, 1-5-1 (0.5727)

16.) Chelmsford, 2-6-1 (0.2785)