LOWELL – Thump.
The assertion made by the No. 9 Canton boys hockey staff was loud Sunday afternoon at Tsongas Heart, beating No. 6 Tewksbury 5-0 within the Ed Burns Espresso Event’s Doherty championship, a matchup many seen as a possible Div. 2 state ultimate preview between the MIAA energy rankings’ prime ranked groups.
By no means had a Div. 2 staff taken the Doherty championship earlier than within the Espresso Pot Event’s 5 years, spiking anticipation for a tilt between the 2 who ousted Div. 1 powers Arlington, Hingham and Studying. And after shutting out the Harbormen within the semifinals, the Bulldogs (16-1) have been masterful once more on protection towards the beforehand unbeaten Redmen (16-1-1), permitting simply 13 pictures on objective to complete the three-round match with one objective allowed.
“These are the perfect groups within the state so far as I’m involved,” stated Canton head coach Brian Shuman. “For us to take the title, we’re honored and really humbled as a result of there are eight actually good groups in that division. Boys performed rather well at present. That’s a hell of a staff. … For us to make just a few performs in that recreation was particular.”
Linemates Joey Ryan (objective, two assists), Ryan Elrick (objective) and Andrew Gillis (objective, two assists) led an assault with 5 totally different objective scorers, potting not less than one objective in all three durations.
Essentially the most notable was a three-goal second interval, with all three coming within the final 3:33 of an in any other case lock-down body. Groups had mixed for simply 5 pictures via the primary 11 minutes of it, all coming from the surface.
Ed Burns Espresso Event championship recreation Sunday. (CJ Gunther/Boston Herald)
Elrick, Gavin O’Toole and Gillis scored the targets to blow open a 4-0 lead heading into the third.
“It goes to our work ethic,” Elrick stated. “We simply by no means cease. I believe the large factor about our staff is it’s go, go, go. Doesn’t matter what number of targets we’re up by, down by. We’re all the time going to be at our greatest.”
Shuman spoke glowingly of Ryan’s playmaking, which was on full show in that stretch. A spectacular feed from in entrance to Elrick on the publish constructed a 2-0 lead, and after O’Toole scored on a two-man rush, Ryan drew all of Tewksbury’s consideration earlier than crossing a cross to Gillis on the proper circle for a wide-open capturing lane.
“Me and (Elrick) have had just a little little bit of unstated chemistry all through our complete highschool profession, identical with (Gillis),” Ryan stated. “I simply all the time search for them in house and as quickly as I see that little angle, I attempt to get it to them as fast as I can.”
Tewksbury had simply three pictures on objective within the second interval, and have been largely restricted in particular groups because the Bulldogs held it 0-for-4 on the facility play.
“It’s type of coming pure to us at this level, we’re all defensive-minded,” Gillis stated.
“I believe the entire thing is, we’re a D-first staff,” Elrick added. “All of our offense comes from our D-zone. After we shut down our D-zone, our offense is that significantly better.”
Redmen star senior Tyler Bourgea made just a few performs to problem Matt Wright (13 saves) in web, however Canton successfully shut down the prolific assault by taking it out of its high-flying recreation. Defensemen Teddy Shuman, Kellen Labanara and Will Doucette (objective) stood out, however everybody performed a significant position.
“It was staff protection,” Brian Shuman stated. “We couldn’t allow them to get snug (going via) the impartial zone. They’ve unimaginable velocity, and we simply actually had to verify we had guys again. … D-core performed nice. Can’t say sufficient good issues.”
Tewksbury head coach Derek Doherty stated “dud” a number of occasions after the sport, feeling like his group didn’t play with the traditional tempo, ardour and aggressiveness it usually does, and the group will be taught from the loss.
“We’re a greater staff than we confirmed at present, for certain, and I do know that,” he stated. “However you’ve obtained to return ready, mentally, and go on the market and carry out. And we didn’t try this, and that’s it. And you already know what, hopefully it’s a great factor for us. … We all know what we’re up towards now.”
