Game 1 (Consolation): Archbishop Williams vs Braintree
Hingham, MA – With the holiday weekend in the rearview mirror we made the trip to the South Shore to catch two tilts featuring Top 10 teams in D1. Up first at Pilgrim Arena was the consolation game featuring the 9th-ranked Bishops of Archbishop Williams and the Wamps of Braintree. The Final shortly thereafter would feature the 5th-ranked Harbormen of Hingham and the 6th-ranked Hawks of Xaverian for the chip. Even though there was not an abundance of places to sit or stand, Hingham’s home rink was filled to capacity and we were ready for hockey.
In the first period, both teams were playing a similar style: dump and chase and play the body. It was clear early that Archies wanted to use their team speed and crafty hands to their advantage and the Wamps were looking to knock every player with a dark blue jersey into the fifth row. The early territorial advantage belonged to Archies as they whipped the puck around and won battles in the attacking zone. Still, the Wamps were quite strong around the net and nothing got through them during the opening 17 minutes. Braintree created a couple of quality looks at the far end but sophomore Austin Gaylord was able to absorb and shut the door. We would advance to the second period with no score on the board yet.
In the second, there was just as much if not more intensity than in the first. Both teams were looking to create an edge and each team got more aggressive. As a result, there were more home run passes and more transition players looking to hit the home run but as a credit to both goalies: the score remained 0-0. Both Gaylord and senior goalie Cam Barron were excellent in this period. Not only did they kick shots aside but they were quick to reset and make the secondary save. Both teams were able to open things up a bit in this frame and there were far more shots on net. It was a back-and-forth affair as the teams traded chances. Neither team had a possession advantage; it was truly 50/50. After 34 minutes, we were still tied at 0-0.
In the third period, it was anyone’s game but a pattern began to emerge as Archies began to take control. They started the third period with a flurry of activity and that led to the opening goal of the game (which would prove to be the game winner). It started with a nice feed to the slot by senior forward Stephen O’Malley and the recipient was sophomore forward Jake Guerriero who buried it top shelf to give his team the 1-0 lead 2:39 in. Those two had shown good chemistry all night and they finally found both their names on the scoresheet. Following the goal, Braintree made a push and strung a couple of quality shifts together but Archies was able to weather the storm, they then twisted the dagger a couple of shifts later. With just under seven minutes to play, sophomore defenseman Brayden Crowley put a shot on net that was available in the crease and senior James Neff hopped on it for his first career goal. The score was now 2-0 and Braintree threw everything they had at Archies but Gaylord stood tall in the net. The Wamps called their timeout with 2:58 left, but a penalty was assessed a minute later putting them shorthanded and that essentially ended this one to seal the shutout.
Three Stars:
- G Austin Gaylord, Archbishop Williams
- F Jake Guerriero, Archbishop Williams
- F Stephen O’Malley, Archbishop Williams
####
Game 2 (Championship): Hingham vs Xaverian
Hingham, MA – After the Consolation game had wrapped up it was time for the main event. A prime time matchup of the 5-ranked Hingham taking on the 6-ranked Xaverian. Both of these teams have a healthy rivalry against one another and this game would mean early-season bragging rights. The venue was once again packed early with students from both schools in full voice ahead of puck drop. Once we knocked out the anthem and starting lineups it was time to go.
In the first period it was a truly frenetic pace as both teams were flying early. The speed of the game was cranked up a couple notches from the last game and both teams were creating chances early. The first tally would come four minutes in as senior Brian Murray spun and fired a shot on net through bodies that snuck home: 1-0 Hingham. Xaverian pushed back immediately and had an answer three minutes later as junior Charlie Comerford took a pass from freshman Lochlan Horsman and buried it top shelf from below the circle. The momentum was now on the X bench and they would take the lead a minute later as junior Max LaRosa fired a centering feed from sophomore James Johnson through the five hole to make it 2-1 Xaverian. The Hawks Nest was whooping it up and life was good midway through the first period on the road. To Hingham’s credit, they began to push back on the next two shifts and would tie it up four minutes later as senior Aiden Rotondo’s shot produced a rebound that senior Colin Garrity was able to bury in the slot to make it 2-2. That would be our score after 1.
In the second period, we had no shortage of offense and both teams were trading body blows. It all started 49 seconds in as senior Cam McKenna ladeled a pass to the point that Ryan LaRonde bombed home top corner to make it 3-2 Harbormen. Xaverian had the answer just four minutes later as junior Justin Mosher fired a shot from the point that produced a juicy rebound that Charlie Comerford was able to pounce on to tie this game up 3-3. The ongoing seesaw battle was decidedly tilted in Hingham’s direction for the remainder of the period as they untied the game four minutes later. A long outlet by junior Walter Dzavik fed Murray on the breakaway and he stashed his second of the night to make it 4-3. It would take another seven minutes but they would go up to two as Dzavik pounced on a loose puck in the crease to make it 5-3 and that would be our score after two.
In the third period, we are not sure what was said in the Hawks locker room, but whatever it is, it worked. They were shot out of a cannon all period but they were held at bay by Hingham for the opening few minutes. They were able to break through five minutes in as Horsman found a loose puck at the goal line and shoveled it home to make it a 1 goal game. The pressure from the Hawks kept coming in waves over the next eight minutes, but to Hingham’s credit, they had an answer to every rush and every shot. That was not in the 13th minute as Hingham was whistled for a penalty and Xaverian was able to tie the game up. Senior Daniel Gentile found junior defender Liam Doherty in the slot and he was able to bury a 1-timer to square us up at 5-5. Despite a couple of sparkling chances before the end of the period, we would head to OT all tied up looking to crown a Champion.
In the 4-on-4 OT period, the ice was opened up a bit, but both teams were cautious from the start, there were more than a few regroups, looking to limit turnovers. Ironically, that cautious nature led to turnovers at both ends and Grade A looks for both teams, but neither goalie was willing to relent. We played on into the the final minute and it looked like we might be headed to 2OT…until we weren’t. A steal by LaRosa in the defensive zone allowed Gentile to fly the zone and the two connected on an outlet pass. Gentile cruised in unencumbered and ripped home a wrister from the dot with 43 seconds left. Ballgame. Xaverian wins 6-5 to move to 5-0 in MIAA play and capture the Arrow Sports Classic trophy as pictured above.
Three Stars:
- F Daniel Gentile, Xaverian
- F Brian Murray Hingham
- F Charlie Comerford, Xaverian