The NHIAA Division I hockey tournament begins Wednesday night, and of local interest, keep an eye on the Nashua North at Manchester West preliminary round game. The Titans are red hot, having won their last four games to get into the dance and are seeking their first tourney win. Don't be surprised if it happens, because Manchester West, despite beating North 7-2 earlier in the year, isn't exactly tourney tested, not being a major player in Division I the last few seasons. The North-West winner faces BG at Skate 3 in Tyngsborough, Mass. at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The overall pick? It certainly looks as if Bishop Brady and Bishop Guertin, the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds respectively, can reach the finals. Flies in the ointment? If Concord rights the ship, it could give Brady trouble in a potential semi, while Exeter certainly could give BG all it can handle and more, if the top four seeds remain alive after the quarters. Some question the Blue Hawks' goaltending, but it's been good enough to get them the third seed.

The pick: Brady over BG in the finals.

In Division III, Souhegan doesn't have the scoring depth it had a year ago, and the team it beat in last year's semis, Kennett, looks awfully good. Souhegan, as it did last year, has to get past Pembroke in the quarters (Saturday at 7 at Hudson's Cyclones Arena). It says here the Sabers will get past Laconia in the semis, and fall to Kennett in the finals. Tough calls, and hockey is the most unpredictable winter sport. Enjoy the tournaments.

-- TOM KING