READING -- The win was probably expected for Catholic Memorial. The top-ranked Knights received a goal and two assists from junior Mike Collins and skated to a 4-1 victory over host Reading Monday afternoon at Burbank Ice Arena in a nonleague matchup.

But the question most came here seeking an answer to was whether Reading was a Super 8-worthy squad. Catholic Memorial coach Bill Hanson was more than willing to give his two cents.

"Yes they are," said Hanson. "Listen guys, my thinking is this: Any team should be rewarded for what they have done in the regular season... Reading won (the Middlesex) League, they deserve a spot. If the committee doesn't think so, then they're wrong."

Hanson went on to point out that Reading plays only a handful of nonleague games and shouldn't be penalized because of teams that struggle to compete with them in the Middlesex League.

"They play BC High, they play us... It's not their fault that the low-end of their league is not up to par."

The one question left unanswered is where exactly the fourth-ranked Rockets deserve to be seeded. While Catholic Memorial (14-1-2) enters the final five days of play knowing the top seed is all but locked up, Reading (17-3) is left to ponder what its fate is.

Asked if this was the type of competition his team could expect in the Super 8, Reading coach Peter Doherty said: "If we get in. You never know."

While the final score might suggest a more lopsided game, the Rockets ultimately did themselves a favor in Monday's loss. They controlled play out of the gates and showed spurts of being able to hang with the region's top squad. The Super 8 committee should look favorably at the way Reading played.

But, as Doherty lamented, mental mistakes cost the Rockets. The hosts left Derek Collucci all alone in front late in the first period and Catholic Memorial's freshman standout banged home a perfect feed from Collins for a particularly back-breaking goal that made it 2-0.

Collins had already fed linemate Bryan Rosata on the Knights' first goal. But it was a bit of a flukey tally with Rosata sweeping home a loose puck from outside the left circle at 6:13 of the first period.

Collucci's goal left Reading with a big whole to climb out of.

"You can't make mistakes against a good team," said Doherty. "I feel like we can skate with anybody. In the first period we didn't play well, but after that we were okay."

Okay simply doesn't cut it against CM, however. Garrett Noonan scored off a feed from Dan Furlong at 5:12 of the second period to extend the Knights' lead to 3-0.

Garrett Collins pulled one back with a power-play tally at 5:17 of the third stanza with Pat Kiley earning an assist. But Catholic Memorial's Collins struck at 7:19 of the frame to ensure the victory.

"We played a real smart, solid game today in all three zones," said Hanson, whose squad finished with a 26-14 advantage in shots. The veteran coach took much more pleasure in this win than a sloppy 3-1 triumph over Winchester Thursday in which the Knights outshot their opposition, 59-6.

"A lot of our play emanated from the neutral ice area. Our defensemen did a terrific job coming up and closing all the gaps. If you back in on this team, they get in on you and use their size... Their forwards had to work awfully hard to get the puck to neutral ice area. The antithesis of that was our guys making big plays, jumping on them and getting in their face the whoel time. The forechecking was on for one team and the other team was off a bit."

Hanson heaped praise on his defensemen, signaling out senior Adam Roof for his play. Goaltender John Jay made 12 saves for the Knights and got help from the right post on a blast by Kiley in the second period. Jay did make an absolutely spectacular glove save on a breakaway in the third period to preserve the lead.

Sophomore Jeff Wyer turned aside 22 shots for Reading. But the Rockets walked away with how much Catholic Memorial has improved in a short time.

"We scrimmaged them in the second week of the season," said Doherty. "They are much, much improved."

Now Reading must find a way to elevate its game as the Super 8 nears.

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Knights, 3-0
at Burbank Arena, Reading

CM -- 2-1-1--3
Reading -- 0-0-1--1

Scoring: CM - Bryan Rosata (Mike Collins) 6:13; CM - Derek Collucci (Collins) 12:48; CM - Garrett Noonan (Dan Furlong) 5:12; R - Garrett Collins (Pat Kiley) PP 5:12; CM - Collins (Collucci, Rosata) 7:19.

Saves: CM - John Jay 12; R - Jeff Wyer 22.

Shots: CM - 26; R - 14.

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Check back later for highlights from today's game.