Hopefully everyone has enjoyed a happy and safe holiday.

The eggnog might be gone and it might be around that time to take down the decorations (if you haven’t already), but the festivities are only about to get better: Holiday hockey tournament season has arrived.

Between the classic tilts, new faces in some tournaments, and some compelling nonleague matchups outside of tournament action over school vacation, we have a lot of excellent hockey to look forward to. And coming off a great week to … barely … crack a .500 mark in recovery of a brutal start, the crystal ball is ready to take a deep dive at some of the best matchups.

Remember, no repeat picks for one team in one week, and there will be holiday tournament championship matchups we just don’t know of yet that would likely crack this list. Here we go:

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 9-4-1

OVERALL: 14-13-1

**WINNERS in CAPS

Boys

Wednesday

St. John’s (S) vs FRANKLIN (Pat Serio Cup), 3 p.m. – Panthers finished off what the Pioneers nearly did by beating Pope Francis. They hope to ride that momentum in their Pat Serio Cup debut. Winner gets winner of Marshfield-Framingham.

St. John’s Prep vs BC HIGH (Pete Frates Winter Classic), 3:10 p.m. – Still in search of its first win, BC High has a knack for stepping up in the Pete Frates Winter Classic. Winner gets winner of Pope Francis-Central Catholic.

Archbishop Williams vs XAVERIAN (High School Holiday Classic), 4 p.m. – Archies has already shown the serious threat it will be in Div. 1 this year, but the Hawks have the weapons to beat anyone. Winner gets winner of Braintree-Hingham.

Norwood vs WALPOLE, 4 p.m. – Strength of the Bay State Conference versus the Tri-Valley League. Walpole bounces back from an overtime loss to Milton with a quality win against a fellow Div. 2 contender.

DUXBURY vs Scituate (ICO Cup), 7:20 p.m. – Sailors’ loaded attack averages five goals per game in a hot start. Dragons manage it to come out on top after a blowout loss to Xaverian.

Friday

Winchester vs READING, 5 p.m. – The Middlesex League Liberty race is filled with state tournament threats once again. Rockets get an early edge over the Red and Black behind their strong defense.

Saturday

WESTFORD ACADEMY vs Burlington, 1:40 p.m. – Following tight battles with Arlington and Reading, Burlington is sure to give a nightly good fight. Win here strengthens Westford Academy’s resume.

Sunday

Marshfield vs HINGHAM, 12:50 p.m. – A valued annual matchup between two true contenders that could go either way. Harbormen deliver a big win after splitting with Catholic Conference powers St. John’s Prep and Catholic Memorial.

Girls

Tuesday

DUXBURY vs Archbishop Williams (Tenney Cup), 3:20 p.m. – Girls hockey fans won’t want to miss the Tenney Cup at The Bog, featuring three high-powered games on each of its three days over the next week. Dragons kick it off with another early win over a Div. 1 contender.

Bishop Feehan vs HINGHAM (Tenney Cup), 7:20 p.m. – A good number of the state’s top proven scorers in one game. Harborwomen follow a tight loss to Duxbury by potting a few in what could be a shootout. Championship game comes New Year’s Day.

Wednesday

Pope Francis vs ST. MARY’S (L), 12:30 p.m. – Led by four returning defenders, St. Mary’s has allowed just one goal through five games. Defense delivers another win against a Div. 1 threat.

PEABODY/LYNNF./N.R. vs Winthrop, 5:15 p.m. – All streaks must come to an end, and PLNR returns enough talent into a classic matchup to hand the rolling Vikings their first regular season loss in over two years.

Thursday

Milton vs CANTON, 3 p.m. – Canton was tested plenty by the new Norwell/Scituate/Abington co-op in a narrow win. It’ll need to take what it learned into a tough matchup.

Saturday

SANDWICH vs Barnstable (Judy Gormley Cup), 6:30 p.m. – Barnstable makes things difficult for any opposing team, but Sandwich extends its win streak to four amid a dominant stretch.

Sunday

MALDEN CATHOLIC vs Burlington, 2 p.m. – Not many weaknesses to pick out on the loaded Lancers in a red-hot start, not even for unbeaten Burlington.