ARLINGTON, Mass. — The results from the first round of the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament were almost the complete opposite of last year’s tournament.
The 2024 edition of the tournament featured upsets in five of the eight first-round games. This season, it was all chalk. The higher seeds in each division took home wins.
There was plenty to keep track of in the Doherty Division first round at Ed Burns Arena in Arlington. You had No. 1 Reading outlasting No. 8 Braintree in a goalie duel that went to double overtime. No. 2 Hingham pulled away from No. 7 Winchester in a back-and-forth affair, while No. 3 Belmont and No. 4 Arlington rolled to high-flying wins.
Here’s a look at the results for the Doherty Division. Click or tap here to access the scoreboard from the Brinn.
- No. 2 Hingham 5, No. 7 Winchester 3
- No. 1 Reading 1, No. 8 Braintree 0 (2OT)
- No. 4 Arlington 7, No. 5 Tewksbury 1
- No. 3 Belmont 5, No. 6 Concord-Carlisle 1
Various defensemen and goaltenders showed well in the Doherty Division’s first round of the tournament. We focused another story earlier this week on standout forwards from the first round.
Let’s dive in.
Amir Cullinane
Braintree, 2007, G, catches left, 6-1/210
Cullinane was the star of the game in Braintree's double-overtime loss to Reading. He finished with an astounding 41 saves and was the biggest reason the game got to double-overtime, especially after Reading dictated the pace early on and in other parts of the game. Cullinane's size allowed him to fill a lot of the net, and he took good angles against shooters. He tracked the puck well from distance, and his good positioning allowed him to make several positional stops on tips in tight. Cullinane made some highlight-reel saves to keep it alive for Braintree, too, including one in the third where he sprawled to his right to rob Aidan Shaughnessy with the right pad.
Cullinane's heroics continued into the overtimes, especially the second. He made a trio of unbelievable saves, including one on Nate Vitarisi toe-dragging to the high slot and firing a shot that was labeled for the top-left corner. He came up big again moments later when he stretched out and robbed another chance in alone.
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Owen Holland
Reading, 7/23/2006, G, catches left, 5-10/175
Holland didn't see the same volume that Cullinane did, but he was just as strong, making some unbelievable saves in his own right. Most of the shots he did see were quality looks, and he made the saves he needed to make. He reacted quickly and made several desperation stops on high-quality chances, too. In the second, he made a fantastic save sprawling to his left to get his glove on Sean Canavan's one-timer in the slot. Late in the third, he had a strong sequence in a scramble around his crease, including one save where he laid out to get his paddle on Kinno Zhu's rebound bid. In the second OT, Holland made another great stop as he stretched out to smother Devin Lucas trying to toe drag and go upstairs. Holland finished with 29 stops in the shutout.
Nate Vitarisi
Reading, 1/17/2008, D, right shot, 5-10/165
Vitarisi was one of the most dynamic players on the ice in Reading's win over Braintree. He impacted the play in all three zones, and he was a strong shooting threat from the point with a quick, hard release. Vitarisi had some great sequences preventing transition for Braintree in the second. First, he stepped up with a big hit at the blue line to deny an exit, sending the puck right back in to keep the pressure going. Later, he did a good job to cut off his man at the red line, win the puck and go the other way, gaining the offensive zone with possession.
One of his best chances came in the third when he jumped up on the weak side and got a good shot from the face-off circle, leading to an offensive zone draw. In overtime, Vitarisi changed speeds before driving wide around a defender for a great look in tight.
Thomas Casey
Winchester, 2007, D, left shot, 6-0/176
Casey helped set up Dayton Ogden's opening goal when he pinched down the wall, winning a race for a puck and putting a quick shot on net that Ogden tipped in. Casey also had a strong game moving the puck quickly in transition and using his size in the defensive zone. He had a couple good stretch passes, including a strong heads-up pass in the first on a regroup as he threaded a stretch pass through center ice right on the tape to catch Hingham too far up and get a 3-on-2. He put pucks in good spots for forwards to skate into. Defensively, he used his frame and reach well and had some big blocks.
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Sean Carroll
Hingham, 10/25/2007, D, right shot, 5-10/172
As strong as Vitarisi was throughout the game for Reading, Carroll was that guy for Hingham in the first game. He was a shooting threat out high and he was excellent in transition, making good passes and knowing when to use his legs. His mobility gave him a big edge. It led to his equalizer in the first period, when he led the rush, carving through middle ice and setting up a good look in front. The puck worked back to him at the point and he put a good wrist shot with purpose on net that changed directions and went in. In the second, Carroll led a great exit on the breakout, sending a perfectly-timed pass to his forward right on the tape through a seam.
Matt Harvey
Braintree, 2007, D, right shot
Harvey's mobility was a difference-maker for Braintree. He used his legs to his advantage to lead the rush as well as defend it. It led to him drawing a key power play to start the third as he took a loose puck and drew a trip as he motored into neutral ice. Harvey was also good in the 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 overtimes, skating the puck through neutral ice, staying patient and playing with possession.
Bobby Nigro
Arlington, 2007, D, left shotÂ
Nigro is the kind of senior defenseman you want on your side come March. That was on display in Sunday's matchup with Tewksbury, as Nigro consistently thwarted the opposition's rush opportunities. He maintained good gaps and had no hesitation on stepping up and separating Tewksbury forwards from the puck. There was one sequence where Tewksbury senior star forward Tyler Bourgea tried to dangle through the Arlington defense, but Nigro stopped him.
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Ethan Bauer
Belmont, 10/25/2008, G, catches left, 6-3/174Â
While Belmont won the game, 5-1, it was close for much of the first two periods and Bauer was key in ending any chance Concord-Carlisle had at getting into the game. He showcased quick feet and really quick movements. Even at his size, he was able to get down and make key leg stops. He was on his stomach midway through the first period with the score tied and made a vital save. Midway through the second period, he robbed Concord-Carlisle of a likely goal with his legs.
