In some ways, it still feels like yesterday we witnessed absurd parity within a thrilling hockey season last year.

It always kept us guessing. It often proved us wrong, especially in a March filled with Cinderella runs and sudden-death battles. Few needed more of a reset than the weekly crystal ball.

But now, after a wait that felt more like years than months, excitement is high to break it out for another season back in Hockeyland.

Less than a week in, teams are already putting themselves to the test to shape up for what figures to be another tight race in each state tournament. In the power rankings era, these high-powered matchups are at every turn.

What we do here is predict seven or eight of the closest or most meaningful matchups in boys and girls hockey, aiming more to highlight what should be the top games of each week. For the sake of acknowledging more than the conferences with top matchups EVERY game, no teams are listed twice in one week.

The idea is to pick the closest finishes. But it’s also to accurately predict the winners, darn it, and that .621 win-percentage from last year is laughing in our face.

Here’s to cracking .700 in Year 3 (all in good fun, of course):

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 96-56-14 (.621)

**WINNERS in CAPS

BOYS

WEDNESDAY

Winchester at STONEHAM, 6 p.m. – Two teams that turned heads within Cinderella Final Four trips last tournament. Spartans follow a tight loss to Woburn with a signature Middlesex League crossover tilt. Never count them out.

Weymouth at BRAINTREE, 6 p.m. – A rivalry rarely short of juice. Wamps look for momentum in a year with high expectations.

SATURDAY

Norwell at WINTHROP, 1 p.m. – An early measuring stick between perennial Div. 4 title contenders. A win would go a long way for the Vikings.

St. John’s Prep at HINGHAM, 2 p.m. – Nothing like a season-opener against a fellow top-10 team – the reigning Div. 1 state champions, no-less. Harbormen have a way with scrapping out signature wins on defense.

Pope Francis at CATHOLIC MEMORIAL, 6 p.m. – Catholic Memorial is young in net, but a couple games under the belt prepares it for a serious test against a fellow top-10 team.

ST. MARY’S (L) at Archbishop Williams, 7:40 p.m. – The Catholic Central League made plenty of noise all last year. Spartans have a chance at an early statement against the reigning league champs.

XAVERIAN at Arlington Catholic, 8 p.m. – Both groups return star power from trips to the Div. 1 Final Four. Getting past Cougars goalie Patrick Clair is a tough early test for a new-look Hawks attack.

GIRLS

TUESDAY

Marshfield at CANTON, 4 p.m. – The new, Marissa Massaro coaching regime in Canton kicks off against a Rams group coming off a magical run to the Div. 2 Final Four.

WEDNESDAY

Falmouth at NAUSET, 6:10 p.m. – One of the state’s most prolific attacks gives Nauset a good chance at getting ahead in an always tight Cape and Islands League title race.

St. Mary’s (L) at ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS, 7:10 p.m. – As if their rivalry in the CCL wasn’t enough, the Bishops – who returned just about everyone – are still hungry after an overtime loss to the Spartans in the Div. 1 state semifinals.

Billerica/Chelmsford at LINCOLN-SUDBURY, 7:45 p.m. – For as much as they lost from last year’s league-winner, the Warriors improved in the offseason to contend for a league title once again, and maybe more.

SATURDAY

Andover at BOSTON LATIN, 2 p.m. – A threat to anyone and everyone last year, Boston Latin looks to make early noise in its first year in the MVC/DCL Large.

Methuen/Tewksbury at HPNA, 2 p.m. – Early conversation is this could be HPNA’s year. Red Rangers are as good as any at quieting those kinds of whispers. No matter what, bet the under on goals scored.

Burlington at ARLINGTON, 2:25 p.m. – It’s always tough, but the Middlesex League is one to pay close attention to this year. A win for either group would be signature