Lower than two minutes remained and the scoreboard confirmed a four-goal lead. Basically, the Arlington Catholic boys hockey crew had already overwhelmed Archbishop Williams.
However in Ed Burns Enviornment, tucked within the far-left nook of the rink, are two golden Catholic Central League title banners up to date by way of 2009. Although the Cougars (14-2-1) made a Cinderella run to the Div. 1 Ultimate 4 two years in the past, it’s been some time for the reason that former juggernauts had the sort of buzz it does this 12 months.
A win over Archies final week could be the CCL title clincher. So, even in these last minutes, up 4-0, gamers had been diving on the ice. They had been blocking photographs.
Senior co-captain Stephen Constantine (12-13-25), one of some AC gamers on varsity in second-place finishes every of the three years prior, had had two objectives and an help. Six others notched no less than a degree. Freshman Stephen Camara posted a shutout, and AC gave every thing it had towards including one other 12 months on that second banner.
“The children actually needed it, and you might inform,” mentioned Cougars head coach Curt Colarullo, class of 1997. “To win the league, it’s a extremely prideful factor. … They needed it greater than something and so they went out and so they took it.”
The most recent MIAA Div. 1 energy rankings have AC at No. 9, and it’s an actual menace to the eight ranked above it. Tenacity by way of the ultimate whistle has develop into a staple for the Cougars by way of a now 14-game unbeaten streak – the longest energetic streak in Div. 1.
In truth, with out that tenacity, the Cougars seemingly wouldn’t be CCL champs, and positively wouldn’t be on this tear.
Only one sport previous to their win over Archbishop Williams, they trailed St. Mary’s 2-0 getting into the third. Fellow senior co-captain Tyler Heldenbergh (13-10-23) scored twice to tie it, and freshman standout Cael Colarullo (12-9-21) potted the game-winner.
Earlier within the month, longtime linemates Constantine and Heldenbergh mixed for 5 objectives in a 5-4 additional time win over Barnstable. 5 gamers every posted multi-point outings the sport earlier than it to rally from a three-goal deficit to beat Framingham, 6-5. In addition they topped Needham in additional time to take Natick’s Vacation Event, and edged Billerica, 2-1, in honor of teammate Matt Driscoll, who tragically handed.
“Adversity is sort of the nickname of our season; we’ve been battling adversity all 12 months,” mentioned fellow senior co-captain Sam Mathews, a fourth-year varsity defenseman. “Clearly, we want we might simply blow each crew out of the water. However that’s not going to occur, we’re going to have some powerful video games. … Having the ability to win these video games is basically going to assist us in the long term and we’re very glad we obtained to try this.”
That confidence AC is taking part in with proper now wasn’t precisely there to start out the 12 months. Although they knew they had been lacking three of their high defensemen and a middle, a 7-1 loss to Xaverian in December was an eye-opener.
“I feel that loss sort of struck one thing into us, like, if we need to be a high crew, then now we have to step our sport up,” Constantine mentioned.
Maybe there was no higher response than scrapping by way of a 3-2 win over defending Div. 1 state finalist St. John’s of Shrewsbury within the very subsequent sport. It was the primary time any of the Cougars had beat them, and Constantine known as it “the very best day of my life.”
“It additionally gave us the enhance of confidence, too, understanding that we are able to beat the groups like that,” Mathews mentioned. “St. John’s Shrewsbury, they performed within the Backyard final 12 months. That enhance of confidence actually helped us flip it round.”
The chemistry between Heldenbergh, Constantine and fellow senior co-captain Alex Frost (4-11-15) on the highest line has led to a litany of essential objectives on this streak, however stability by way of the lineup bolsters the Cougars.
Cael Colarullo is a vital a part of an efficient energy play, the place he has eight of his 12 objectives. Sophomore ahead Brayden Boczenowski (7-7-14) has been a robust playmaker up high, whereas senior co-captain Brody Lawhorne (1-6-7) returned from a month absence to assist anchor the blue line with Mathews (2-11-13), senior John Recinito (2-4-6) and junior Kiercen Keane (0-3-3).
In all, the Cougars have six freshmen and three eighth-graders. Naming 5 captains is kind of a bit, however Curt Colarullo had intention behind it.
“I knew that the youthful gamers had been going to play a key position on this crew, so for them to develop, we would have liked robust management on the highest,” he mentioned. “And the 5 captains now we have work glorious collectively. It’s simply nice to have them right here. The management that they’ve given is simply unbelievable.”
Constantine surpassed 100 profession factors on Thursday. Colarullo is a win away from 100. The Cougars had been a bit uncertain of what the goaltending would appear to be after two-time All-Scholastic Patrick Clair graduated, however their 4 goalies now are a supportive and tight-knit group that’s seen Camara stand up as of late. A part of that’s Clair training with the crew and serving to Camara’s improvement.
Most significantly, camaraderie between everyone seems to be excessive.
“This group of fellows is simply actually (shut),” Heldenbergh mentioned. “All of us love one another. It’s an incredible group. Previous years, we haven’t been so shut. We had been all the time all shut and every thing, however this 12 months, it simply appears particular.”
One-timers
Gloucester multi-sport standout Keagan Jewell turned the primary participant within the women program’s historical past to surpass 100 profession factors, doing so on Wednesday in a 4-0 win over Marblehead.
The Burlington boys clinched the Middlesex League Freedom title Wednesday with a 6-2 win over Melrose, bettering to 12-2-1 for his or her most wins since since 2019 (15).
The King Philip women (13-2-1) punctuated their contender standing by beating Div. 2 favourite Duxbury, 3-2, on Thursday.
The Ed Burns Espresso Pot Event finals are Sunday. Div. 2 boys favorites Canton (14-1) and Tewksbury (16-0-1) conflict at Tsongas Heart for the Doherty title in a possible state last preview, whereas Winchester (9-6-1) and Woburn (9-4-2) play for the Brinn at O’Brien Ice Rink.
Simply three groups stay unbeaten in women hockey: Methuen/Tewksbury (13-0-2), Algonquin (16-0) and Auburn (12-0-2).
