North Reading Hockey Begins Title Hunt Friday against L-S

With the goal a trip to the TD Garden, North Reading finally has an opponent for its first game in the Division 2 North hockey tournament. The Hornets will face Lincoln-Sudbury (13-5-3) Friday in the quarterfinals. L-S advanced with a 3-1 win over Pentucket Tuesday. L-S is coached by former Boston Bruin Hal Gill.

The last time North Reading played L-S was in last year's quarterfinals when L-S eliminated the Hornets, 5-4, in overtime. The No. 2-seeded Hornets finished the year 15-2-3, just behind the No. 1 seed Lowell Catholic (16-2-2). The difference in the seeding was Lowell Catholic's 2-0 win over North Reading in the final game of the year Tuesday.

The hockey state championships are Sunday, March 19, at TD Garden.