Hagan leads Canton back to Garden
One year after helping guide Canton to a state championship, Johnny Hagan assured that the Bulldogs will have a chance to defend their title.
Hagan scored four goals, three of which came in the third period, as top-seeded Canton claimed the Div. 2 South crown for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 win over No. 15 Bishop Feehan on Sunday afternoon at Gallo Ice Arena.
The Bulldogs (21-1-3) will take on either Lincoln-Sudbury or Triton in the Div. 2 State Final next Sunday at the TD Garden.
“This is everything,” Hagan said of winning the sectional title. “Our goal from day one after last season ended. We wanted to go back, win another one, and leave our mark.”
The two sides entered the third period tied 1-1 with Bishop Feehan (13-9-2) goalie Ryan D’Amato piling up 22 saves over the first 30 minutes. Hagan, however, broke the tie just over four minutes in the final stanza as the senior forward cleaned up a pass delivered from behind the net by Chris Lavoie to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. Just seconds later Hagan — who netted the Bulldogs first goal of the game in the second period —completed the hat trick winning a battle low, taking the puck to the net, and finishing top corner near side to give Canton a 3-1 advantage with 10 minutes remaining.
“What a career that Johnny (Hagan) has had. He’s arguably the greatest player I’ve ever coached and one of the greatest athletes we’ve seen at Canton High School,” Canton coach Brian Shuman said. “He’s a fierce competitor who went out there and did what he could in that third period.”
Hanover back on top of Div. 3 South
BOURNE — Hanover coach Jon Abban conceded he was unsure exactly where his team would end up this season.
Turns out, the third-seeded Indians wound up in a familiar spot, hoisting a familiar trophy.
Hanover captured its fourth Division 3 South title in seven years Sunday as Nate DelPrete netted two goals and junior Manning Morris tallied the 100th point of his career on an assist in a 2-0 victory over No. 4 Dartmouth at the Gallo Ice Arena.
“The kids have really come together, worked hard and we live for another day,” said Abban as Hanover (20-3-1) advances to the state semifinals versus Lowell Wednesday.
Hanover couldn’t solve Dartmouth goalie JP Kerney (14 saves) through the first two periods, and almost fell behind late in the second frame when it appeared Dartmouth (19-4-1) scored, but the referees waved off the goal, saying the puck never crossed the goal line.
Hanover then survived a man-down situation midway through the third period as goalie John Aidonidis (20 saves) came through with a couple of timely stops and moments later, DelPrete delivered in the clutch. Hanover won a battle along the boards in the offensive zone and the puck squirted right to DelPrete, who buried his chance five-hole for a 1-0 lead with 5:24 left.
“It was amazing,” DelPrete said. “I thought the North Quincy goal I scored (in overtime in the first round) was big. No. This was bigger.”
Walpole’s Curran blanks Archbishop Williams 1-0
BOURNE — You only need one shot on net to hit the back of the twine and well, one heck of a goaltender on the other end of the ice.
No. 12 Walpole (13-8-5) rode the pads, stick, and glove of netminder Jack Curran as the junior picked a fine time for his first shutout of the Division 1 South Sectional tournament in a 1-0 win over No. 14 Archbishop Williams (11-9-4) to give the Rebels the Division 1 South flag.
Curran stopped 25 shots, 11 in the final period, as Walpole captured their first Division 1 Sectional title in the program’s history.
“We had to play ourselves into it and had to win our last three games and the kids just bought in and believed in themselves,” said Walpole head coach Ron Dowd. “(Curran) was outstanding, we know we have to rely on him, and we are a defensive minded team and that’s what we are built on.”
Liam Fisher scored the only goal of the game in the waning seconds of the first period for the Rebels. The senior captain took a pass from his fellow defenseman Joe Cox from behind the net and circled past the point to the top of the left circle.