Two overtimes and the two best teams in the region going right down to the wire.
That's how it went on Sunday. Both Taft and Lawrence Academy came away with overtime wins for titles. Avon Old Farms edged out Cushing, 3-1, for the Elite 8 crown.
It was a memorable day — one that will have mixed emotions for many. But for all who watched, there are moments they will never forget.
Here are the five moments we won't soon forget from the NEPSAC boys championships.
5. Fitting finishes for Taft's Rudy Guimond and Avon Old Farms' Stephen Peck
I'll admit that it's tough to start this list not with a moment, but with performances. Both are worthy of breaking the rules in this story.
Rudy Guimond stood on his head all season long, and that continued in Sunday's Large School final against Salisbury. The Yale commit made 49 stops to earn his team a 3-2 win. Time after time, Salisbury sent quality chances Guimond's way and time after time, the goalie made the save.
Stephen Peck is a bit different. While he carried the best goals-against average in the region into Sunday's action, he didn't face nearly the amount of pucks Guimond took on this season.
But Peck was up to the task. For the first time all season, Avon faced a team with a higher ranking. Peck stopped 44 of 45 shots to hand No. 1 Cushing a loss in the Elite 8.
Both Guimond and Peck have legitimate cases for Goalie of the Year in the NEPSAC. As for who has the better argument, that's a different story.
4. Joe Odyniec's eventual game-winner against Cushing
Any other year, the eventual game-winning goal in the Elite 8 final would make for No. 1 on this list. But Sunday was so crazy that this only comes in at No. 4.
That doesn't diminish its importance.
With the game tied, 1-1, Cushing took two straight boarding penalties, putting Avon Old Farms on a 5-on-3 early in the third period. That led to Avon Old Farms forward Joe Odyniec (Ridgefield, Conn.) cleaning up a puck in front of the Cushing net and shoveling it past goalie Cooper Rautenstrauch.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
That goal will always be remembered for being the eventual game-winner, but it also put the Winged Beavers in the driver's seat for the rest of the game.
3. Owen Leahy's game-winning breakaway goal
Owen Leahy (Providence, R.I.) had quite the game on Sunday, registering two goals in the championship victory.
But his overtime tally came when he earned a breakaway, went in on Frederick Gunn goalie Ryan Crowshaw (West Hartford, Conn.) and snuck a shot through him that trickled into the net to win Lawrence Academy the Small School championship.
PHOTO GALLERIES: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
The speed, confidence and finish Leahy showed on that goal was something onlookers will not be forgetting.
Arguably as important? Leahy's goal midway through the third period that cut Frederick Gunn's lead to 3-2 and gave the Spartans some life.
He even went airborne for it.
2. Alexander Kenerson's OT goal to win Taft the Large School championship
Salisbury goalie Matt Alberti did all he could on a single sequence in overtime.
Taft applied as much pressure as possible around his net, but the Salisbury netminder kept making stops. It was complete chaos, as Salisbury defenders dove around and tried to block shots and knock the puck away from the net.
But then the puck dribbled out to the point where Taft defenseman Alexander Kenerson (Watertown, Conn.) picked it up and sifted a shot through the traffic, past Alberti and into the net.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Avon wins Elite 8 | Taft wins Large School | Lawrence Academy wins Small School
The images of him skating down the ice, stick and gloves in the air, towards Guimond will be remembered in the minds of many.
Kenerson's clutch factor was high this year whenever he played Salisbury. In both of Taft's wins over Salisbury this season, overtime was needed. Kenerson had both game-winners.
1. Josh Erickson's shorthanded goal with 22.1 seconds left to tie the Small School championship
Lawrence Academy's chances of tying the game looked to be dead when the Spartans took a penalty with 1:01 to play in the third period.
But head coach Robbie Barker's team persevered, gaining possession of the puck and getting goalie Vincent Lamberti to the bench for the extra skater, making it 5v5.
Ultimately, Josh Erickson brought the puck down the right side of the Frederick Gunn zone and slipped a backhand through Crowshaw's legs to tie the game.
BEST OF THE BEST: Top performers from NEPSAC boys playoffs
The reaction to the goal, which is the featured image at the top of this story, says it all. Never mind Erickson, who is over the moon. But look at the fans along the glass — just complete euphoria.
It's difficult to beat out two overtime winners for the top spot, but Erickson did that with his goal on Sunday.
