North Billerica, MA – Following the two Semifinals at Conte Forum, MassNZ made the drive up to Chelmsford Forum for the rematch of last year’s Semifinal as the 8th-seeded St. John’s Shrewsbury Pioneers were taking on the 4th-seeded Arlington Spy Ponders to determine who was going to TD Garden. This was going to be a difficult task as the MIAA decided to place two D1 Semifinals in different locations, but luckily not too far from each other. Getting to the rink was no problem, but parking certainly was. The exiting cars from the girls Semifinal beforehand and the lack of available spots snarled traffic around the venue and there were some proprietors charging $10 for spots because the Chelmsford Forum had not plowed out or opened the supplemental lot, leaving roughly 100 spots for easily over 1000 people. The math wasn’t mathing. Still, we were fortunate to have found a spot and then took our place inside the venue. Upon entering, this was the biggest crowd we had seen at the Forum since we began covering games here roughly 8 years ago. Room was scarce for this game and we sat up top in the end zone but we were asked to leave by league officials. Despite having a media pass, they felt it was better to clear the area. So, we found a different spot up in the corner and that would be our perch come game time. Of note, about 30 minutes after we were asked to vacate – the entire section was filled with fans because there was nowhere else to put them – this building was PACKED. The Arlington cheering section was the largest, loudest and most aggressive we had heard all playoffs. They were dressed in burgundy and brought multiple large flags with them. On the other side, it was all business as the Pioneers fans brought suits, ties and newspapers for when the opposition was announced. This was an atmosphere like we had never seen, after the lineups and the anthem…it was time for hockey.
In the first period, there was no doubt what kind of game this was going to be: Big Boy Hockey. There were thunderous hits by both teams and there was no hesitation by either team to deliver punishment wherever possible. St. John’s Shrewsbury had the slight edge in terms of size, but Arlington were no shrinking violets; they were physical and tough at both ends. Both teams were playing stellar defense as they each protected the house well and both goalies were quick to react to every shot. John Snider for Arlington and Colin McCarthy for St. John’s Shrewsbury were locked in early and neither of them wanted to relent. There were great plays by both teams to start this one and you could tell this was two heavyweights preparing to do battle. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the opening 15, and after scarfing down a clutch meatball sub from Suppas (PLPG sponsorship opportunity?), on we went to the middle frame.
In the second period, we saw a lot more of the same physicality and solid defensive play. Neither team wanted to give up ice easily, there were always sticks and bodies in the way. Something instinctually told us this would be a low-scoring game and it was certainly headed in that direction based on the early minutes of the second. At the seven-minute mark is when this game really got ramped up to another level as junior Carter Richard was playing catch with sophomore Colby Spencer and the former fired a shot from the top of the circle and the latter tipped it home top shelf, the Pioneers were up 1-0 and the fan section went apoplectic. The Pioneers continued to dig in and worked their possessions from line to line, stacked momentum and creating quality looks with different units. Four minutes later, they would double their lead. Ironically, on a power play for Arlington, it was stellar sophomore Matty McGinty who poked a puck to neutral ice and won a race to catch up to it. He cruised in off the left wing, beat a defender to the near post, took a shot which generated a rebound and put the second one home to make it 2-0 Pioneers with three minutes left in the frame. It was a party on the Pioneers side but to the Arlington fans’ credit – they were anything but fairweather – they were loudest when their team needed them most and even though they went to the room trailing by two, they were willing something big to happen in the final 15.
In the third period, Arlington came out with their strongest effort and left nothing to chance on each shift. Not only were they a step quicker, but they were heavier on their sticks and leaning on puck carriers to create takeaways. They started on the comeback trail early as just before the four-minute mark it was senior Drew Beck, the Bryant football commit, who worked a clean scissor rush alongside Babson commit Nolan Russell and the latter was able to bury a wrister to cut the lead in half. With 11 minutes left to play, it was a nail-biter the whole way through. Both teams created chances off the rush and there were a couple of netfront chances that either hit the post or involved a big scrum in the crease. Neither team was able to solve the opposing netminder and both teams had spent all their resources looking for that next goal. It was clear that both teams were starting to run low on fuel. We got down to the final minute and Arlington, still trailing, pulled their goalie. After a quick shift, they would call a timeout with 42.5 left to regroup and reset and whatever was said in the huddle seemed to have worked. Just 11 seconds later they would get the tying goal as Russell delivered a smooth backhand pass at the left post and Johnny on the spot was junior Dylan Sweeney, who one-timed it into the net. We were all square at 2-2. Believe it or not, there would be one more half slap from the faceoff dot for a chance to win it for Arlington but McCarthy came up with the save and we were headed to overtime to determine who was headed to TD Garden.
In the first overtime, the teams played eight minutes of 4-on-4 but, if we are honest, both teams were content to play the string out, get some rest by holding onto the puck and play for a second overtime when they would both be fresh. There were certainly chances at both ends with a lot more open ice available, and there was a late timeout called with a minute to go (we aren’t positive who called it since both teams clearly needed it). As each team was in agreement, we headed to a second OT following an ice cut and a short intermission.
In the second overtime, the action was 3 on 3, which, in our minds, meant that with fresh bodies, somebody was going to win this before it went to a shootout. We were correct in this assumption. Each team has opportunities near the net to win it, but the final word came off the stick of senior defenseman Kevin Bisson. With two minutes elapsed in the second overtime, he wound up and shot a puck short-side that produced a rebound. The Arlington defender attempted to carry it behind his net, but Bisson picked his pocket, spun around and shot again. This time the puck squirted through Snider’s pads and that was the ballgame. 3-2 in 2OT was the final score and the Pioneers will be headed back to TD Garden to play for a D1 Championship. This time, they will face Pope Francis as they look to avenge last year’s loss.
Three Stars:
- D Kevin Bisson, St John’s Shrewsbury
- F Nolan Russell, Arlington
- G Colin McCarthy, St. John’s Shrewsbury