STONEHAM – Head coach Kristian Hanson might speak in regards to the luck concerned within the Div. 1 boys hockey state match lots of of instances with out ever dropping the which means behind his message – it’s extraordinarily tough to constantly win.
His St. John’s Prep group made its personal fortune Thursday night time at Stoneham Arena, although, propelling itself to its third straight state semifinal look.
After Mason Luciano’s purpose following a protracted bounce off the again boards gave the top-seeded Eagles a lead within the opening minutes, first-year beginning goalie AJ Farese (21 saves) and the protection dialed in to make sure that’s all they’d must beat No. 8 Hingham, 3-0.
It’s no coincidence the sport’s solely purpose by way of a lot of an thrilling back-and-forth with the Harbormen got here on such a bounce, up till St. John’s Prep’s Johnny Tighe scored an empty-netter and Jake Vana added one other insurance coverage purpose within the ultimate two minutes. It’s additionally no coincidence the Eagles, the No. 1 seed in every of the three years of the revamped state match format, had been on the profitable aspect of it.
St. John’s Prep will face No. 4 Xaverian within the state semifinals for a spot within the ultimate at TD Garden – a rematch of the 2022 state ultimate that the Eagles gained.
“It’s a credit to the players and the seniors of this group, five of these guys were on the championship team two years ago,” Hanson mentioned. “We have a lot of kids that have been around, have experience and know what it takes to win. That was on display tonight. I really felt like with the game so close for so long that we really did a good job of never breaking.”
Action had barely simply begun when Ethan Goodrich’s again examine and Brendan Powers’ dump deep despatched the puck laborious off the again boards. Luciano was in the suitable spot on the observe for the 1-0 lead simply 2:06 in.
“Couldn’t have done it without my wingers,” Luciano mentioned. “I was shocked at first, very amped, very pumped to get my team on the board early and quick. I think it set the tone early.”
That can be the rating for the subsequent 41 minutes, as Mike Karo (21 saves) and Farese traded a number of signature saves in a sport in any other case full of performs one or two inches away from lighting the lamp a number of extra instances.
Paul Dzavik as soon as once more stood out for Hingham by placing not less than 5 photographs on web and by organising a number of Grade-A possibilities that had been whiffed on or damaged up. Farese, the first-year starter, was prepared for no matter did get by way of.
“We were just trying to focus on blocking shots … just trying to lock it down,” Farese mentioned. “Just being able to follow in the footsteps of the two goalies previously, help get us to the Final Four and a chance for the Garden, it just means a lot.”
Tighe prolonged the result in 2-0 with 1:15 left on the empty web. Less than a minute later, Vana added another by way of the five-hole for good measure.
Source: www.bostonherald.com