Boston, MA – Welcome in MIAA hockey fans – today we are hosting our annual live blog to keep you up-to-date on all things happening today at TD Garden! Four boys hockey champions will be crowned and let’s run through today’s schedule at a glance:
D3 Hanover Hawks (1) vs Medfield Warriors (3) at 11am
D1 Pope Francis Cardinals (7) vs St. John’s Shrewsbury Pioneers (8) at 1pm
D2 Canton Bulldogs (1) vs Tewksbury Redmen (2) at 3pm
D4 Littleton/Bromfield Tigers (2) vs St. Bernard’s Bernardians (9) at 7:30pm
Make sure to bookmark and refresh this page as we will be updating it after each period with a live recap to keep you informed in the goings on. Also, be sure to check out our Instagram and X feeds where we will be sharing updates all day long, including the Championship celebrations.
Enough with the preamble, it’s time to get after it!
D3 Championship: Hanover vs Medfield
Boston, MA – We found our seats in the Bruins broadcast booth as the D3 game was getting underway and the vibe inside the Garden was electric. Both teams brought large fan sections. The Medifeld faithful on the near side were dressed in St. Patrick’s Day green whereas the fans on the Hanover side were dressed all in white. They each took up one loge section a piece and they were VOCAL pregame. After a stellar National Anthem by a Hanover HS student, we were fired up and ready to roll.
In the opening period, each team looked to dictate the pace. Medfield played heavy on the puck and worked to create opportunities down low. Hanover was looking to get out in transition and create looks with their speed up ice. It was a back-and-forth affair in the opening minutes and neither team had a decisive advantage…until senior Louie Slesar made a brilliant save on a breakaway to galvanize the Warriors on the bench. A few minutes later, they would be the ones to break the ice. It all started with sophomore stud Luke Dickson who dragged a defender and then ripped one top shelf on the rush to give his squad the 1-0 lead seven minutes in. The fan sections went bonkers and skated straight over to celebrate with them. Following that goal, the Warriors had the best of the play and they would continue to flex and add to their advantage. In the words of Mark Jackson: Momma there goes that man again – it was Dickson again six minutes later who would hold off a defender at the blue line and find plenty of open ice to fire a low shots past the Hanover goalie to make it 2-0 Medfield. At this point, there was a necessity for Hanover to make a strong push back before the period ended and that’s exactly what they would do. Just 30 seconds later they got that goal right back. A beautiful pass by sophomore Jack Cathas from behind the net found the stick of Joe Galvin in the slot and he buried to make it 2-1 and that would be our score after 15 minutes.
In the second period, Medfield got off to a hot start off the rush 36 seconds in as Dickson (again) made a great play on the rush, shooting for a rebound that freshman Max Abramson was able to convert at the back door: 3-1 Warriors. As they have all game, Hanover came up with a response just a minute later on the power play. It was a nice setup as junior forward Ryan Kisiel delivered an accurate feed to the slot to senior Henry Phillips who one-timed it past Slesar to make it 3-2. After that goal, the game hung in the balance as the next goal was critical. The Warriors were looking to maintain puck possession and limit Hanover from scoring ice. They were effective at steering pucks to the edges and that meant fewer chances in the middle. Hanover was still continuing to push and they would find the back of the net once more, minutes later, and again it came on the man advantage. This time it was a strong body play by junior Connor Hines who delivered a puck in the slot to a wide open Kisiel who buried to tie us up at 3-3 just before the seven-minute mark. For the remainder of the period, there were a number of high-danger chances with posts hit, close calls with loose pucks and lots of exciting rushes leading to chances. This game was wide open: it was anyone’s game. 15 minutes left to crown a champion…
In the third period, it was franatic action at both ends and the goal scoring started early and it didn’t stop until the very end of the game. Just 1:55 in Hanover would untie it as Cathas delivered a slick lateral pass to Brody Kiley who buried it: 4-3 was our score. After that goal the action started to even out as both Medfield and Hanover were creating chances left and right. Five minutes later Medfield would find the equalizer. On the power play it was freshman Avery Stein who dished to senior Jake Cragan and the puck slid under the goalie’s pad to make it 4-4. Just three minutes later, Hanover would come right back with a tally as a shot by junior Shane Fanning caromed off a defender’s stick and into the net to make it 5-4. At this point we were entering the final five minutes and momentum was critical. Medfield took it right back two minutes later as the top line brothers connected once more as Matty Dickson found his brother Luke for the hat trick on a one-timer to square us up 5-5. Only 20 seconds later, Hanover would move ahead for good. On a 3-on-2 rush it was Cam Melone who handed it off to Kisiel who buried in-stride to make it 6-5 Hanover. At that point, it was desperation time for Medfield as they pulled their goalie with just over a minute to go. Hanover thought they had an empty net goal seconds later, but it was immediately waved off by the referees. Shortly after with 1:01 to go, a timeout was called and the Warriors regrouped for the final time. The Hawks would come right back and salt this one away with a empty netter by Phillips to give us our final score: Hanover 7, Medfield 5: the Hawks are D3 State Champs.
Three Shamrocks:
- F Ryan Kisiel, Hanover
- F Luke Dickson, Medfield
- F Henry Phillips, Hanover
D1 Championship: Pope Francis vs St. John’s Shrewsbury
Boston, MA – Just after the ice was cleared following the D3 title game we got settled in for the D1 title game between Pope Francis and St. John’s Shrewsbury. The atmosphere was ratcheted up as both fan sections piled in. The Pioneers fans were very vocal pregame, dressed in all green and taking over the near side of the bowl. On the other side the Pope Francis fans were active pregame cheering on their Cardinals. Both teams were flying pregame and they were ready to drop the puck, following a great anthem from a Pope Francis student.
In the first period, it was clear there were a lot of nerves on both sides. A lot of early missed passes as well as wide shots. The moment was big, this was for the D1 State title and the players knew it. As the period moved along, the players started to really settle in and both teams got into their rhythms. Both teams play a tough, physical style and do not give up many quality chances and that was exactly what happened in the early minutes of this game. It was clear that the goal was to get to the net and look for loose change by both sides. There were a handful of quality looks but both goalies were locked in: George Ramsey for Pope Francis and Colin McCarthy for St. John’s Shrewsbury. The period absolutely flew by as there were minimal stoppages and a great pace by both sides with good layers and details defensively. We went to the second period still tied 0-0.
In the second period, this game took on a very gritty style as both teams were working to get pucks below the dots and chase down the rebounds. Both teams were sound defensively and there were still more than a few shanked shots and missed passes leading to turnovers. Ultimately the first couple of minutes were similar to the first period but we did see our first goal scored by the home team. The Cardinals sophomore defender Luke Latulippe fired a shot from the point that generated a juicy rebound that senior Wolfgang Zinger was able to bury to make it 1-0 Pope Francis five minutes in. Following that goal there was an immediate pushback from the Pioneers as they looked to restore momentum. Just two minutes later they would find that equalizer as senior defenders Sahvy Andino fired a puck on net from just beyond the blue line and it somehow snuck past Ramsey to knot this game up at 1-1 at 6:42. After that goal was scored, both teams dug in and there was very little open ice available. The defensive sticks and physicality picked up and both teams refused to give up their zones without marking the puck carriers. The remainder of the period moved quickly with minimal stoppages and as a result, we went to the locker rooms tied up 1-1. The next 15 minutes would be huge to determine a winner.
The third period featured more tense moments than both teams were willing to admit, but it was exciting hockey with non-stop action at both ends. The two teams were putting in the work and looking to net the game winner but there seemed to always be obstacles in the way. The defenses on both sides showed active sticks to shutdown chances below the dots and there was not a lot of room to operate as a result. Both teams looked to stretch the oice and create off the rush but both goaltenders were locked in and rock solid. We would roll through the period at breakneck speed but there were no goals forthcoming. Ultimately, we would see a ton of great chances that brought the fans on both sides out of their seats but we would head to 4×4 OT tied at 1-1.
In the overtime, we played eight full minutes with a lot more open ice. Interestingly, there were more regroups than there were shots on net and both teams were flying knowing that it only would take one goal to end it. There were several quality rushes but both goalies were stout and refused to bend to the offensive attempts. We were headed to a second OT following an ice cut, which would be 3×3.
In the second OT it would not take long for this one to end with so much open ice. A rush by senior Liam Dolan led to a shot through the five hole that hit the post and was ultimately swept out of the crease. Pope Francis would soon gather the puck again and Dolan would hand it off to Latulippe who fired it top shelf and that was your ballgame just 1:08 into the proceedings. Pope Francis wins the D1 State Championship 2-1 in 2OT.
Three Shamrocks:
- D Luke Latulippe, Pope Francis
- F Wolfgang Zinger, Pope Francis
- G Colin McCarthy, St. John’s Shrewsbury
D2 Championship: Canton vs Tewksbury
Boston, MA – In our third Championship game of the afternoon, we took our seats once again as the top two seeds were ready to do battle in the D2 title tilt. As both teams hit the ice, the fan sections began to file in and took over the entirety of the lower bowl and they were very loud early. Tewksbury matched their team’s jerseys, dressed in all red while Canton matched their team’s colors wearing green. The two sides were chanting pregame and taunting each other – it took things up a whole other notch. In the pregame the lineups were announced, the anthem played and it was go time for more hockey.
In the first period, both teams came out and made no bones about how this game was going to be dictated: with physicality. Both teams delivered big hits early and punished the opposition behind the nets – that limited the offensive chances collectively but there were still some good looks. The majority of them came from the Tewksbury top line of Jason Shreenan–Tyler Bourgea–Kevin Andriolo. The early saves from Matt Wright in the Canton net were big to stem the tide and allowed the Bulldogs to gain their own momentum. They created a couple of strong looks but those were kicked out by sophomore Cole Abruzi. There were a couple of posts hit, but ultimately neither team would crack the scoresheet and we went to the room at 0-0.
In the second period, it was more of the same as both teams were locking it down and open ice was difficult to come by. There were solid odd-man rushes, but quality stick checks and great physicality meant that there was not a lot of goal scoring on the board. What was clear is that this was going to be a goaltending battle and both Wright and Abruzi were on their games. Both made terrific lateral saves and flexed their pads to keep second chances opportunities from going in. As the period wore on the Bulldogs began to really press and they created several Grade A looks, only to be turned away by great pad extension from the 6’5 Abruzi. This game looked to be headed to a scoreless second…until it wasn’t. A pretty pass down low by Bourgea to Andriolo on the back door led to the first tally of the game: 1-0 Tewksbury with 1.2 seconds left. As we headed to the room: Tewksbury had the momentum and they were looking to keep it rolling into the third period. But they also knew Canton would empty the clip with one period to go.
In the third period, it was a knock down drag out battle between two teams who refused to give an inch. Both teams were rough and tumble and emptied the tank in this frame. The early lead for Tekwsbury gave them the advantage and they looked to press for the game clincher. Canton would instead have an answer. Just 3:12 into the period it would be a feed from sophomore defender Kellen Labanara that would find the stick of Ryan Elrick and he would wire it home top shelf to make it 1-1. At that point, the Bulldogs were really feeling the momentum and would generate their strongest push of the night. Full credit to Tewksbury that they were able to weather the storm and they found their footing midway through the period. In the final minutes, it was truly anyone’s game. Both teams created great looks and made life difficult on the opposition but there were no results on the scoreboard. This game looked destined for OT, until it wasn’t. With 1:22 left, a clean shot from the point by Canton senior Graidy Carr found it’s way through sticks and bodies and found the waiting stick of junior Cam Guerschuny who backhanded it in at the far post to make it 2-1 Bulldogs. This looked like a backbreaker for Tewksbury, but the team quickly regrouped following a timeout and got Abruzi out of the net with a minute to go. They would make one final rush attempt that was swept to the corner and that was the ballgame: 2-1 Canton wins the D2 State Championship.
Three Shamrocks:
- F Cam Guerschuny, Canton
- F Ryan Elrick, Canton
- G Cole Abruzi, Tewksbury
D4 Championship: Littleton/Bromfield vs St. Bernard’s
Boston, MA – For our final Final of the night, all eyes turned to Central Mass as the 2nd seed Littleton/Bromfield Tigers took on the 9th seed St. Bernard’s Bernardians. The atmosphere of this game was a bit different as it was the final game of the night and the crowd was a bit more sparse after the girls Final had wrapped up. Still, the fans filed in and started to pack the barn. Both teams looked like they were dressed for St Patrick’s Day, fully clad in green and they were ready to get this game underway as they had waited all day for this tilt. For St Bernard’s, they even brought cheerleaders in the front row next to the bench to add to the atmosphere and support the team. Littleton/Bromfield responded by bringing their Tiger mascot to hangout near that home bench and pump the team up. Following a spirited lineup read and anthem, we headed into the final game of the night.
In the first period, the Littleton/Bromfield Tigers took control and they refused to relinquish it for 15 minutes. They got off to a hot start as sophomore Blake Hannon grabbed a puck off the wall and curled to the slot, ripping the puck past the goalie to give his team the 1-0 lead just 35 seconds in. The Tigers owned all of the possession in the early minutes and refused to let St. Bernard’s get a shot off. The game progressed and the Tigers would double their lead just three minutes later as Hannon fed a wide open senior Gavin Werling who was all alone with the goalie. He approached and got the netminder to open up and deftly slid the puck 5 hole to make it 2-0 3:42 in. At this point the Tigers had all the momentum and they were not willing to let it go. They continued to use their skating game to keep the puck in the attacking end. They also picked up their physicality in the defensive end, punishing Bernardians skaters who dared to enter the offensive zone. This compounded even further nine minutes into the period as senior Liam Glew fired a shot on the power play from above the circles that Werling was able to tip home to make it 3-0 Tigers. Following that goal, we started to see the Bernardians make a push. They were able to successfully gain the blue line and put more shots on net. They were working more consistently below the dots and that led to a few Grade A looks. None of them were able to find the back of the net and our score after one was 3-0 in favor of the Tigers.
In the second period, we saw the hardest push yet from St. Bernard’s. The coaches had made it clear that this was their opportunity to get back into the game and they took it to heart. Just 43 seconds in the Bernardians were on the board as sophomore Ryder Testagrossa stole a puck, approached the dot and wired one in bar down to make it 3-1. The student section was going bonkers and the energy was back on the Bernardians bench, but it turns out that boost would be shortlived. Just three minutes later it was a beautiful individual effort by Hannon, who stole a puck in the neutral zone, gained the blue line and fired one home five hole to make it 4-1 Tigers. That snuffed out the comeback that the Bernardians were building and the Tigers resumed their tough to play against combination of speed and fury. The period minutes that followed were a bit helter skelter with turnovers and odd-man rushees but neither team would find the back of the net for roughly 10 minutes. Then with two miuntes remaining, the Tigers inserted an early dagger as sophomore Austin Huber made a smart play to fake shot and dished it back to the middle as senior Andrew Archer was driving to the net and he one-timed it home: 5-1 was our score and it would reamin that way for the balance of the period. We headed to the final 15 with the Bernardians needing to empty the tank.
In the third period, St. Bernard’s came out playing with determination and generated a couple of quality looks off the rip. They were playing with more speed and power and that led to more quality looks. The Tigers were able to drive into the attacking zone with numbers as well but neither team was solving the opposing goalie. The game began to settle into a rhythm and that benefitted the Tigers as the clock continued to tick. It was a penalty at the 7:07 marker that might be the nail in the coffin, but the Bernardians were able to kill it off. With four minutes to go, a high hit on the Bernardians star player in the defensive zone led to a penalty on Littleton/Bromfield but once again the Tigers were able to kill it. There were a couple of skirmishes thereafter that were also penalized but the net result? Littleton/Bromfield was crowned D4 Champions: 5-1 final.
Three Shamrocks:
- F Gavin Werling, Littleton/Bromfield
- F Blake Hannon, Littleton/Bromfield
- G Jacob Dangel, Littleton/Bromfield