Both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald have released their choices for their Winter All-Scholastics. All-Scholastics are the best players that have played in each winter sport. To check out each papers choices for all winter sports go to Boston Globe Winter All-Scholastics and Boston Herald All-Scholastics. On the Herald’s site, just scroll down to see all sports.
On the Globe’s All-Scholastics, be sure to check out the underwater photo gallery of Nick D’Innocenzo (photos by Yoon S. Byun).
Filed under Basketball, Hockey, Uncategorized, Wrestling
Some interesting news from down near Rhode Island. The Hockomock League, which is comprised of schools along the I-95 corridor near Rhode Island has extended an invitation to Attleboro High School to join the league.
A lot of things must happen in order for Attleboro to leave the Old Colony league. They first have to notify the league and then they have to comply with the MIAA’s standards for switching leagues.
If Attleboro does join the Hockomock, then gives the league 10 teams. This would enhance their chance of being split into large school-small school divisions and obtaining another playoff spot. That, though, is a conversation for another day as the MIAA won’t talk about splits for another two years after this years proposals were voted down.
Here is the article from the Sun Chronicle’s Mark Farinella. Hockomock extends invitation to Attleboro to join league
Filed under Basketball, Football, Hockey, Wrestling
The winter high school sports season is now officially over. Yesterday, four hockey games punctuated a great tournament season.
In the first game of the day, the Fontbonne Girls Hockey team captured the Division 2 State Title with a 3-0 win over Whitman-Hanson/Pembroke. Sophomore Taylor Shepherd led Fontbonne, scoring all three of her team’s goals. Kristen Conners, in her final game, recorded a shut out. Here is the game story from the Globe. Shepherd guides Fontbonne to title.
Following the girls was the Division 3 State Boys Final. Shrewsbury defeated Shawsheen 3-2. Curtis Beals was instrumental in turning a 1-0 deficit into a win for Shrewsbury. He scored a goal to tie the game and a mere nine seconds later set up the go ahead score. Here is the game story from the Globe. Shrewsbury gets its boost from Beals.
The Division1 State Boys Final followed the Shrewsbury victory. This game pitted the two teams that lost the play-in games of the Super Eight Tournament. Arlington Catholic took on Springfield Cathedral in a much anticipated match-up. The game was exciting all the way through. Neither team could gain the upper hand and the game went into overtime. In the extra session, AC took a penalty and a couple of seconds into that penalty, SC’s Dan Fenton scored the game winning goal for the Panthers. Here is the game story from the Globe. Fenton’s goal a prized moment.
The night cap featured the marquee game of the day, the Super Eight final between Burlington and Catholic Memorial. Burlington was looking to make it two and a row for public schools; Reading won last year which was the first time a public school ever won. However, it wasn’t meant to be for the Red Devils as Catholic Memorial won 5-1. TJ O’Brien had a hat trick for the Knights and they scored four unanswered goals after Burlington tied the game midway through the first period. Here is the game story from the Globe. No luck needed, CM wins 13th title.
Now that the winter season is over, my musings on high school sports may slow down for a little while. Spring practices start this week and games don’t get underway for a couple weeks. But don’t forget to check back for updates and a preview to the spring high school sports season.
Filed under Hockey
Last night, Catholic Memorial played Malden Catholic and Burlington played Winchester in the Super Eight Semifinals. In the first game, CM rallied from two goals down to beat MC 6-4. In the night cap, Burlington and Winchester battled it out but it was Burlington, behind superb goaltending from Ben Irwin, that pulled out the 1-0 victory. Just a quick note about the CM, MC match. MC’s top goalie missed the game due to mono. CM’s top scorer Derek Colucci missed the game due to a broken jaw. Also, CM finished the season 2-0-1 against the Lancers. Here are the recaps.
Burlington one ups Winchester
Knights have final say against MC
In other hockey action, The Globe had me covering the Division 1 South Final in Bourne. Springfield Cathedral beat Braintree 3-1 and will play Arlington Catholic at the TD Banknorth Garden on Sunday. That game will be a match-up of the two teams that lost the play-in games of the Super Eight Tournament. Here is a link to the story in the Globe. Panthers sprint past Braintree for win
BOURNE – Both Springfield Cathedral and Braintree stress the importance of starting fast.
In last night’s Division 1 South boys’ hockey final, Springfield Cathedral sprinted out of the gate. The Panthers scored twice in the first 6 minutes 20 seconds and never looked back as they beat Braintree, 3-1.
Springfield Cathedral (17-3-2) will play Arlington Catholic for the Division 1 state title at TD Banknorth Garden Sunday.
“It is a big part of the game for us to get out to the early lead,” said Springfield Cathedral coach Brian Foley. “We came out and came out strong and it was a big lift.”
“The first five minutes are the most important part of the game,” said Braintree coach David Fasano. “Our goal is to jump on teams, get a lead, and not look back. We weren’t able to match their tempo and that cost us.”
It took the Panthers 1:42 to get on the board against a Wamps team (16-6-1) that had yet to allow a goal in the tournament.
Defenseman Brendan Geary fired a shot from the point that was deflected by Michael Foley past Braintree goalie Robby Campbell.
The Panthers outshot the Wamps, 19-10, in the first.
The Panthers had a couple of golden opportunities to increase their lead. Ryan Fernandes whistled a shot glove side on Campbell but it hit the crossbar. While shorthanded, Keith MacDonald intercepted a pass and raced up ice on a breakaway. He tried to deke Campbell, but the goalie got a shoulder on the puck.
Cathedral found pay dirt again at 6:20 when Austin Orszulak, from the faceoff circle, fed Dan Fenton at the far post. Fenton tapped the puck in for a 2-0 lead.
In the second period, Braintree played with intensity and desperation. Braintree held Cathedral to six shots and contained most of the play in the Panther end.
“We had plenty of chances,” said Fasano. “We weren’t in position to sit back and we threw everything at them. We had three or four golden opportunities in the second. The puck just didn’t bounce our way.”
Braintree was unable to capitalize on its four power plays. The best chance was on a breakaway when Brian Downing stole a pass, sprinted up the ice, and attempted to deke Cathedral goalie Stephan Audet. He went to the backhand but lifted his shot high and wide.
Cathedral increased its lead with just over three minutes gone in the second frame. Fenton fed Fernandes in the slot, who found a wide-open Orszulak at the far post.
Braintree’s Tim Harrington scored a late goal in the third period.
Filed under Hockey
The Super Eight has now entered the semifinal stage. The teams that have made it are now a step away from title game on Sunday at the TD Banknorth Garden.
I can guarantee that the final will include a Middlesex League team and a Catholic Conference team. That is because in one crossover game, Winchester will play Burlington and in the other, Malden Catholic will play Catholic Memorial. Winchester and Malden Catholic won their brackets while Burlington and Catholic Memorial were the runners up.
Malden Catholic has been the most impressive team so far in the tournament. MC has allowed one goal while scoring 13 in he three games played so far. The Lancer offense has been clicking on all cylinders. They are getting scoring from their forwards and their defensemen. Unfortunately, MC starting goalie John Carbonneau was sidelined in the final game of the bracket play with mono and it is uncertain whether he can compete the rest of the way. Also, due to a fighting major against Needham, senior defensemen J.P. Buckley will miss the rest of the tournament.
Burlington skated in by the skin of their teeth. The Red Devil’s only loss in the tournament was to MC. They have gotten superb goaltending from Ben Irwin and will face a familiar foe in Winchester. Burlington has lost both times it has played Winchester so far.
The biggest surprise has been Winchester. The Sachems knocked off Catholic Memorial in their first game and that momentum has propelled them to the crossover games.
Catholic Memorial has been somewhat disappointing so far. Even though the Knights made the crossovers, it didn’t come easily. They lost to Winchester and barely beat Central Catholic on a controversial call. The call wiped out a Central Catholic shoot out goal because the player stopped. By the looks of the video, it is hard to tell, so make a judgement for yourself. CM is playing MC in the crossovers. CM has a 1-0-1 record against the Lancers this season.
On a side note, lets look at the predictions I made before the tournament. I predicted that Malden Catholic would win its bracket and Burlington would be the runner up. That is 2 for 2 so far. In the other bracket, I predicted CM would win and Hingham would be runner up. CM was actually the runner up while Winchester won the bracket.
Here are my new predictions for the crossovers:
Burlington will finally beat Winchester and Malden Catholic will beat CM. MC just has too much firepower.
Filed under Hockey
Last night, two teams played in the first day of the second round of the Super 8 hockey tournament. Catholic Memorial faced off against Central Catholic while Hingham played Winchester. Winchester and CC entered the game at 1-0 while Hingham and CM entered at 0-1. All of these teams are from the same bracket so it was a big game for both CM and Hingham. And, in the end, neither team disappointed. CM beat Central Catholic 3-2 in a shootout while Hingham beat Winchester 3-1. An interesting subplot to the CM-Central Catholic tilt was that the loss for Central Catholic was its first of the season. Here is the recap from Globe Correspondent Peter Martin (both recaps are in the same article).
Filed under Hockey
The first round of the super eight was played on Sunday. Here are the recaps from the Boston Globe (two were written by my good friend and one of the best writers I know, Dave Carty).
Malden Catholic 5, Xaverian 0
Central Catholic 3, Hingham 2
Burlington 2, Needham 0
Winchester 4, Catholic Memorial 2
Filed under Hockey
Here is a link to a podcast I did previewing both the Super Eight and the Division 1 Boys Basketball Tournament. One quick note, between now and the time that the podcast was recorded, the game times of the Super Eight games on Sunday have been pushed back an hour. The first game now starts at 1 p.m.
Super Eight and D 1 Boys Basketball
To listen to the podcast, scroll over the last name “Grossi” and then click play on the preview box that pops up when you scroll over it.
Filed under Basketball, Hockey
The annual Super Eight Hockey tournament starts in earnest this Sunday. The Super Eight is a tournament where 10 of the best teams in the state of Massachusetts (excluding independent school league) are chosen by a selection committee to compete for the state title. The bottom four seeds aren’t guaranteed as each team plays in a play in game to be part of the final Eight. Catholic Memorial has had the most success in the tournament, winning the title 12 times in the 18 years of the tournament. The only other team that has won more than once is BC High which has won four times. Last year, Reading High School became the first public school team to win the Super Eight. The tournament is round robin.
The seeds in this year’s tournament are as follows:
1. Catholic Memorial
2. Needham
3. Malden Catholic
4. Hingham
5. Central Catholic
6. Xaverian
7. Burlington (Won play in game)
8. Winchester (Won play in game)
The team to watch is obviously Catholic Memorial. They historically run the tournament and have the weapons this year to capture its first title since 2005. Defenseman Garrett Noonan is one of the best offensive defenseman and TJ O’Brien and Derek Colucci are snipers. The only concern is goaltending which is unproven. Malden Catholic is definitely a team to watch. It has scoring power and a great stopper in John Carbonneau. Also, MC has experience, playing in the championship last year. (Carbonneau definitely wants another shot to redeem himself after allowing three goals to Reading).
Needham might have the best shot out of all of the public schools, but watch out for the two Middlesex League teams (Burlington and Winchester) as sleepers.
Prediction:
Bracket 1 Winner vs. Bracket 2 Runner up: Catholic Memorial vs. Burlington – Winner = Catholic Memorial
Bracket 2 Winner vs. Bracket 1 Runner up: Malden Catholic vs. Hingham – Winner = Hingham
Championship = Catholic Memorial vs. Hingham
Champion = Catholic Memorial
Filed under Hockey
Here is some of my original photography from a Malden Catholic-Catholic Memorial hockey game.
Malden Catholic goalie John Carbonneau awaits the opening face off
Hit after the whistle
Catholic Memorial players take some practice shots
Catholic Memorial players celebrate after the teams second goal
Walter Brown is where Catholic Memorial plays its home games.
The above photo of Walter Brown Arena was taken by wallyg.
Filed under Hockey, Photography
Circling the Playing Fields 