FRAMINGHAM – The stage was set for one more potential all-time battle between Catholic Conference heavyweights in a Div. 1 state semifinal Sunday evening, however the St. John’s Prep boys hockey crew’s early haymaker proved simply an excessive amount of to maintain it from taking place.
Senior Caleb White delivered successful so arduous at heart ice within the opening minute that his personal helmet popped up, establishing a starvation the top-seeded Eagles (21-3) used for 3 targets within the first interval of a 4-0 win over No. 4 Xaverian.
Jake Vana’s aim within the opening six minutes fanned flames to a hearth that additionally noticed seniors Christian Rosa and Brendan Powers tally deflating scores earlier than the primary intermission. Hawks goalie Cole Pouliot-Porter (41 saves) stood on his head within the following two intervals, however St. John’s Prep prevented any offensive rhythm for a comeback inside a 45-13 shot benefit.
Xaverian ends its season one win shy of a 3rd straight journey to TD Garden, the place the Eagles as an alternative will face No. 11 Winchester seeking a second state title in three years.
“I respect what (the Hawks) do, so coming into this game, we certainly didn’t take them lightly and we knew we had to play our best,” stated St. John’s Prep head coach Kristian Hanson. “I think that was part of our motivation in the first period was we knew how good they are, we knew they scored on their first shift in all three tournament games, we knew that push was coming. … (Our seniors) were ready to go and right from the drop, we played our game.”
Physicality was noticeably excessive for the Eagles even past White’s opening hit, and their bench fed off the vitality.
Vana scored on a feed in entrance from senior Brady Plaza for the 1-0 lead, and he adopted with a dish from under the aim line to Rosa 4 minutes later to go up 2-0. An influence play simply earlier than the top of the interval led to Powers’ tip-in aim, and an empty web aim from Johnny Tighe (two assists) late within the third capped off an enormous efficiency from the seniors.
After the primary interval, it was nearly sustaining that stage of depth and staving off no matter Xaverian might reply with. Limiting it to 2 photographs on web within the third, when Xaverian wanted a three-goal rally, did precisely that.
“All practices, all we do is D-zone,” Rosa stated. “It’s really paying off and we’re just keeping things simple.”
“I think it also shows how tight of a group we are,” Vana stated. “We’ve emphasized it all year.”
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