Did you really think we were done?
The crystal ball is back in action one final time this hockey season – TD Garden style. Twelve teams take the big stage Sunday for a packed finals slate, and we’ll see six different champions crowned from last year.
Five programs are gunning for their first state title, most of which are in their finals debut. Six are back to avenge state final losses in 2025 or 2024. Four look to join St. John’s Prep and the Duxbury girls as the only programs to win multiple championships in the power rankings era.
So many storylines to dive into with less than 48 hours to go until the first puck drop. We have several of them detailed below, along with your favorite bulletin board material.
Again, a big thank you to everyone who read along these “games to watch” columns throughout the year. We hope they’ve been informative – regardless of the prediction record.
See you on Sunday:
REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 97-48-12 (.656)
FINAL AVERAGE MARGIN: 2.02 goal differential
MATCHUPS:
DIV. 2 GIRLS STATE FINAL
No. 2 Milton (24-1-1) vs No. 5 King Philip (23-2-1), 9 a.m.
A day filled with all kinds of storylines kicks off with a matchup hard not to look at affectionately.
Late King Philip head coach Ken Assad believed in a young group that returned everyone from last year. He sent a picture of TD Garden to the team’s group chat after last season ended, suggesting this would be their year. He emphatically talked about their potential, and above all else, connected with and supported the well-gelled group year-round. He loved the Warriors, and they love him.
With Assad on their minds and in their hearts, KP posted its winningest year, overcame a litany of obstacles and clinched the program’s first state final trip. There hasn’t been much KP hasn’t been able to hurdle, and that showed in double-overtime wins over Canton in the second round and Pembroke in the quarterfinals, before dethroning defending state champion Medfield in the semifinals.
When Assad passed, one of the first voices from outside the Franklin and KP communities to speak on his legacy was Milton head coach Matt Lodi, who had a great relationship coaching against Assad dating back to when they both were boys junior varsity coaches. It was Assad who Lodi turned to for assistance when preparing for Milton’s state final loss against Medfield last year, and now Lodi’s Wildcats are back for a second straight year.
Preseason expectations had Milton reaching this stage again, loaded with firepower. Freshman phenom Mia Cataruzolo fits right in with seniors Sabrina Stone and Nayeli Thayer for one of the state’s most potent lines. Speed is all over the ice, the defense has shown poise in high-pressure situations and Caera Hart is solid in net.
KP’s defense, and standout senior goalie Kiki Lynch, are fit for the challenge. They’ve posted three shutouts in four state tournament games. Goals have come fewer in the tourney, but its own top line of Annabelle Curran, Stephanie LeBlanc and Ella Morgan rival Milton’s in potency.
No matter what, either program is winning their first state title. Milton’s experience last year could pay dividends.
PREDICTION: Milton
DIV. 3 BOYS STATE FINAL
No. 1 Hanover (20-2-2) vs No. 3 Medfield (20-4), 11 a.m.
It’s almost a supernatural grip that Hanover has on the state in even-numbered years, reaching this stage literally every other season since 2014 for a staggering seventh state final trip in 12 years.
But while the Hawks are no strangers to the bright lights, neither is a Medfield group headed back to TD Garden after losing in last year’s state final to Nauset.
Warriors sophomore sensation Luke Dickson is having an exceptional year reminiscent of what former Dream Teamer Logan Poulin did in Nauset’s title run (85 points), entering the game with over 40 goals and 70 points this season. Medfield already exorcised those demons with Nauset by routing it in the state semifinal, 5-0, but still has one more to go for its first state title since 2016. Defense hasn’t been the stingiest, though, by giving three or fewer goals in each state tournament game while the attack’s erupted for 6.25 goals per game. Senior Matt Dickson and freshman Max Abramson have also been key catalysts on offense as 40-point and 30-point scorers, respectively.
Few teams have showcased gutsier wins than Hanover to reach this final, needing heroic efforts from a crew of players fighting off an illness bug that ran through the locker room at the worst time. Senior captain Cam Melone was one of them, coming down from the peak of his symptoms with a state quarterfinal hat trick to help beat Essex Tech. The latest edition of the Hawks’ grit was a comeback win over Shawsheen in the state semifinals, scoring three unanswered in the third period.
Melone leads Hanover in goals, though depth has shone bright with seven different players notching at least 15 points. Henry Phillips, Ryan Kisiel and Connor Hines have been key playmakers, while freshman Ryan McArdle has backed them with a standout job thus far in net.
Expecting an absolute dogfight in this one, which is right up Hanover’s alley.
PREDICTION: Hanover
DIV. 1 BOYS STATE FINAL
No. 7 Pope Francis (18-5-3) vs No. 8 St. John’s (S) (15-8-1), 1 p.m.
Ever since the top two seeds reached the state final in 2022, not much has gone along with what’s expected in the Div. 1 state tournament in the last four years. And even though the previous two years had a double-digit seed reach the final, perhaps this season is the pinnacle of parity with it being the first time in the power rankings era that a top-four seed didn’t clinch a TD Garden berth.
There should be little surprise at this point that St. John’s of Shrewsbury is one of the two culprits, etching itself as true “Cardiac Kids” over the last two tourneys with consecutive state final appearances – fueled by eight straight one-goal finishes, three double-overtime winners, two overtime winners, and one game-winner with 42.2 seconds left in regulation.
Heroes have arisen throughout this run, with Nico Santella especially standing out for his third-period hat trick over reigning champion Catholic Memorial in the state quarterfinal, after scoring the game-winners in each of the first two rounds, too. Colin McCarthy has been stellar in net, and scoring has been otherwise spread out among forwards. Kevin Bisson even netted the game-winner over Arlington in double-overtime in the semifinals.
The tournament has brought the best out of the Pioneers once again, but head coach Michael Mead notably compared their quarterfinal win over No. 1 CM to the 1980 USA Olympic team’s semifinal win over the Soviet Union – there’s still more work to be done.
Pope Francis looks far from a seven-seed right now, transforming in a similar way St. John’s has to bust out of up-and-down regular season performances with title-worthy play. Cardinals head coach Brian Foley had high hopes for this group after losing in the state semifinals last year to CM, but doubt started to creep in with messy showings in the middle of the year. Those doubts have eased now that Pope Francis is playing to its potential.
Matty Regan is one of the state’s top forwards, on the verge of 50 points despite an arduous schedule. State semifinal hero Gabe Kolodjay (hat trick) is a dynamic scorer, too, bolstered by a slew of talented forwards in Whitaker Zinger, Liam Dolan, Wolfgang Zinger and Quinn Woytowicz. Everyone is making the extra plays on defense – backchecking hard and blocking shots – and the result has been a 14-1 differential in the first three rounds before a furious Hingham rally nearly got to the Cardinals in the semifinals.
There’s a little familiarity between the two, having played in December well before they hit their recent strides. Truthfully, it’s hard to pick against either of them. Pope Francis seems like the hotter team right now – with a solid goalie in George Ramsey, too – but there’s something about St. John’s’ propensity to pull out these matchups in the end.
PREDICTION: St. John’s (S)
DIV. 2 BOYS STATE FINAL
No. 1 Canton (23-1) vs No. 2 Tewksbury (22-1-1), 3 p.m.
It felt like the entire season was loading up to this head-to-head for the Div. 2 crown. And on multiple fronts, it’s arguably the top matchup of the day.
Tewksbury is one of the most dominant powers in this field since the start of the power rankings era, set to play at TD Garden for a third time in five years. Senior forward Tyler Bourgea’s record-breaking scoring numbers and cinematic playmaking helps rank him among the very best players in the state. Linemate Kevin Andriolo just joined him in the 100-point club, as did junior defenseman Jake Cuhna. Jason Shreenan is another standout offensive weapon, bolstering what’s proven to be a near undeniable attack that’s wreaked havoc with a Div. 2-best 6.75 goals per game this tournament. The Redmen play fast and aggressively, often taking momentum early. Add in steady play from the blue line and goalie Cole Abruzi, and it’s no coincidence they have just one loss this year.
Of course, that one loss is to Canton.
Anticipation was high for that Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament final between the two in February, the first Doherty division final between two Div. 2 teams. And not only did Canton take bragging rights as the state’s top public, it did so with a 5-0 beatdown that saw uncharacteristically passive play from the Redmen.
It would be foolish to expect that outcome again. Yet, Canton is still the favorite.
For as notable as Tewksbury’s scoring numbers have been, Canton led Div. 2 in goals in the regular season and has 5.25 per game this tournament. The top line of 100-point senior Joey Ryan, 100-point junior Ryan Elrick and senior Andrew Gillis has a case as the state’s best, bolstered by balanced scoring production from the blue line and 100-point defenseman Teddy Shuman. Stout defense often translates into offense for the Bulldogs. Kellen Labanara and Will Doucette are other standout defensemen that help limit shots on Matty Wright, who is also a strong goaltender.
Tewksbury looks to avenge both the loss to Canton earlier, and an upset state final loss to Boston Latin in 2024. Canton looks to avenge last year’s double-overtime heartbreaker in the state final to Billerica. Surprisingly, both only have one state title in the last four years – with Tewksbury’s coming against Canton in 2022.
This is a rivalry matchup you don’t want to miss, and a matchup as loaded as this one comes down to hunger and determination. Last year’s title-game loss is fresher for the Bulldogs.
PREDICTION: Canton
DIV. 1 GIRLS STATE FINAL
No. 5 Archbishop Williams (17-7-1) vs No. 6 Methuen/Tewksbury (22-0-2), 5:30 p.m.
In the aftermath of Assad’s passing, Methuen/Tewksbury captains Lydia Barnes, Ella Duffy and Sammy Ryan offered a message of support to the King Philip girls, having gone through a similar situation with their own beloved head coach Dave O’Hearn after he passed in July from pancreatic cancer. It bothered star defenseman Lyla Chapman last year that the Red Rangers fell a game short of an unbeaten regular season for O’Hearn – which represents the hunger and determination the team plays with in a year they’ve dedicated to him.
The byproduct of that is the state’s last unbeaten record and its stingiest defense. Holding the blue line is the Red Rangers’ motto, helping Barnes (goalie) allow just 12 goals through 26 games this year. Goals – again – were a bit harder to come by, but Duffy has been on fire alongside Ryan (leading scorer) in an otherwise balanced attack. Perhaps no team has faced as many tight battles as Methuen/Tewksbury over the last two years, but overtime wins over No. 3 Algonquin and No. 2 St. Mary’s (L) in the last two rounds show the Red Rangers can gut them out against anyone.
Much like Milton in Div. 2, Archbishop Williams had high expectations surrounding it to win its first state title this year – given its talent. Key injuries slowed that dominance from materializing, but the Bishops are finally in the stride that head coach Doug Nolan anticipated a healthy group would hit. The difference shows in a 7-0 win over Billerica/Chelmsford in the Div. 1 second round, in contrast to a 1-0 regular season loss, as well as in their 5-0 quarterfinal win over Bishop Feehan after losing 3-0 to it in early January.
Archbishop Williams, bolstered by senior defensemen Kendyl Nolan and Aliya Greenwood, haven’t allowed a goal this tournament thanks to relentless backchecking and team defense. Sophomore standouts Julie Murphy and Izzy O’Brien are back on the top line with star junior Emily Fleming, who’s been a major sparkplug on the attack. And improved players that needed to step up in place of then-injured Murphy and O’Brien, like freshmen McKenzie Lima-Tower, Maddie Markarian and Emma Tomalonis, give Archies a depth advantage.
If anyone can disrupt Archbishop William’s rhythm, it would be Methuen/Tewksbury. But the Bishops are red-hot at the right time.
PREDICTION: Archbishop Williams
DIV. 4 BOYS STATE FINAL
No. 2 Littleton/Bromfield (23-1) vs No. 9 St. Bernard’s (21-3), 7:30 p.m.
Opponent rating especially stood out when the Div. 4 seeds were finalized. Only two teams in the top 10 had fewer than five losses, and they also were two of just three teams in that group to have a strength of schedule rated worse than -1.1000.
Well, they’re also set to meet for the state championship, which would be the first in either program’s history. Who needs opponent rating anyway?
There’s no doubting the scoring potency of either Littleton/Bromfield or St. Bernard’s. Both only trailed Wachusett in regular season goals in all of boys hockey this year, and both translated it into their postseason runs. Dover-Sherborn, the 2024 state champion, allowed two or fewer goals in each of its previous six games until the No. 2 Tigers posted six against it in the state semifinals, helping them average 6.5 goals in the state tournament. Only four times had anyone scored more than three goals against defending state champion Winthrop all year, before No. 9 St. Bernard’s potted six for its fourth straight game with at least four goals.
Gavin Werling (130 career points) and Blake Hannon each have over 50 points this year for Littleton/Bromfield, while Conor Glew and Liam Glew each have over 40 in a balanced attack. They’re countered by 40-plus points from all of Matthew Sylvia (81 points), Evan Walker, Pheonix Fortier and Toby Beaulac for the Bernardians. This has the potential for the highest-scoring affair of the day, though Tigers head coach Kevin Lizotte believes his group – with 1.29 goals allowed per game – is even stronger defensively.
Senior captain goalie Jacob Dangel won a soccer state title in net for Bromfield in the fall, and will likely be a major difference-maker for Littleton/Bromfield as one of few players with title-game experience in the matchup. The Tigers also might have an extra jolt for their head coach, as Lizotte is the all-time leading scorer and former coach at St. Bernard’s.
