BOSTON — Entering Sunday's Elite 8 final, Jack Sadowski was in the midst of one of the best New England prep hockey campaigns ever.
It was only fitting that he brought his best in the championship, scoring two goals and adding an assist, leading Kimball Union to a 4-1 victory over Cushing en route to the Elite 8 title.
The Arlington, Mass., native opened the scoring early in the first period on a beautiful net-front play, depositing a chance in tight past Cushing goalie Marko Bilic.
Sadowski's fingerprints were all over KUA's second goal when he toe-dragged around a Cushing defenseman and dished it to linemate Corwith Simmers who one-timed a shot past Bilic, giving Cushing the 2-0 lead in the first period.
The Penguins needed a strong second period, but took a penalty less than one minute into the middle frame. Sadowski ripped a wrist shot from the face-off dot past Bilic, giving the Wildcats a commanding 3-0 lead.
Cushing did get some life with just under 12 minutes to play in the second period. Cushing postgraduate forward Bronson Hunt converted on a chance in front, putting it past KUA goalie Blake McMeniman (Revere, Mass.) to cut the Wildcats' lead to 3-1.
FULL BRACKET: Check out how we got here in the Elite 8Â
A bit of controversy struck with just over seven minutes left in the second period. Sadowski had the puck in a 2-on-1 and ripped it over Bilic's glove. He, along with the rest of the KUA team, claimed it went in, but the referees waved it off.
Cushing spent the remaining period and a half after Sadowski's power play goal pressing, but to no avail. Instead, Simmers netted a full-ice empty-net goal, ensuring a 4-1 win for Kimball Union.
Let's dive into some takeaways.
1. Not enough good things can be said about Sadowski's performance in this game, as well as this season. The UNH commit finished with 41 goals and 87 points in 37 games. Those are somehow beyond video-game numbers. He showed up at all times this season, but especially on Sunday. Both goals were rockets. Word from those who were filming the game was that his goal that was waved off definitely went in. A fitting end to one of the most dominant seasons ever seen in prep.
2. The two big stories for KUA on Sunday were Sadowski and McMeniman. On the biggest stage and against Bilic, arguably the best goalie in prep hockey, McMeniman didn't just hold his own — he shined and won the battle. After Hunt's goal, Cushing surged, hemming Kimball Union in its own end, cycling the puck well and getting chances. McMeniman stopped them all. Most notably, he robbed Cushing sophomore Eric Lund (Bridgewater, Mass.) on a point-blank chance from above the crease.
Both Sadowski and McMeniman are interesting cases. Hockey decision-makers will always point to Sadowski's weaknesses in his skating and McMeniman's height (yes, he's 5-foot-8) as reasons not to take chances on them. But Sadowski (who's committed to New Hampshire) never stops producing and McMeniman (who's uncommitted) won every challenge he was faced with this season. At some point, the results are the results.
3. After the game, I chatted with KUA coach Tim Whitehead for a bit and asked him when he felt this team could go all the way. He prefaced it with how unpredictable seasons could be, but that the DNA for an Elite 8 run was on display in their Flood-Marr win and at the GameSheet Prep Cup. While I picked against Kimball Union in the championship (which Wildcat parents, rightfully, had no problem reminding me of), I'd say I realized this team was different when they went back and forth with St. Andrew's College at the GameSheet Prep Cup, winning, 6-5, in overtime on a goal from Sadowski.
OTHER BOYS CHAMPS: Canterbury wins Small School | Kent wins Large School
4. Cushing just couldn't get anything going on Sunday night, which is the second straight year that's happened in the Elite 8 final. The Penguins pushed for chances, but just kept getting stifled around the front of the net. Give credit to Kimball Union's defense and forwards for keeping Cushing to the perimeter.
5. Whitehead joined KUA in 2013 after 12 seasons as the boss at the University of Maine. The Wildcats won a Small School title in his first season and from 2016-19, won three straight Elite 8 championships. Sunday marked the fourth Elite 8 title for Whitehead. In terms of smart prep coaching hires, Whitehead ranks at, or at the very least near, the top.
