The month of March marks the end of winter and winter sports at the high school level.
It’s the time where high school teams have the opportunity to prove themselves as the top programs in their state and in their division. Sometimes, it’s a dynasty continuing when a team wins the title, and other times, it’s a major underdog enjoying success. Here’s a look at the state champs from around New England this season.
Maine
BOYS
Class A | St. Dom’s
St. Dominic Academy earned its state-record 26th championship and first since 2000. Topping Biddeford 4-2, St. Dom’s received an excellent performance in net from Gaston Fuksa (28 saves). Fuksa also recorded 52 saves in the Class A North title game to advance to states. Against Biddeford, Jacques Ouellette’s empty-netter with 55.5 seconds remaining secured the win for St. Dom’s.
Class B | Greely
Greely got revenge on Old Town-Orono and flipped the outcome of last year’s championship game. This time, Greely beat the co-op in a dominant fashion, 8-0, for its fourth title in the past decade. Jake McDonald had a team-high three goals for Greely while Jared Swisher recorded 14 saves in the shutout victory.
GIRLS
Cheverus/Kennebunk/O.O. Beach
Cheverus/Kennebunk/Old Orchard Beach won the defensive battle and prevailed, 2-1, over Lewiston, which came into the game unbeaten. It was the co-op’s first title in nine season, with sophomore Trinity Atwater stopped 31 shots in the winning effort. Abby Lamontagne scored both of the team’s goals and had a block on Lewiston’s final shot opportunity to secure the victory.
Rhode Island
BOYS
Division 1 | Bishop Hendricken
Bishop Hendricken topped La Salle 4-3 in game two of the championship series, securing its title. Freshman Brady Berard shined, scoring three goals for Bishop Hendricken. The team won the first game of the series 5-3 and in it, Matt Dumond had three assists and Patrick Gribbin made 25 saves in net.
Division 2 | Cumberland
Cumberland won the defensive battle in the title bout against the PCD/St. Ray’s/Wheeler co-op, taking home a 1-0 victory and first state title in five seasons. Jack Byrne earned tournament MVP honors, recording 21 saves, and Domenic Rousseau put up the go-ahead goal in the second period.
Division 3 | Pilgrim
Pilgrim earned a second straight championship, again dominating. This time, it defeated West Warwick/Exeter/West Greenwich 7-1 in game two of the series, following a 3-1 victory in game one. In game two, Collin Driscoll netted three goals, while Matt Pacheco and Jack Clements each had two points (one goal, one assist). Dylan Cunnetta picked up the win in net, recording 22 saves.
GIRLS | La Salle
La Salle won the three-game series against last season’s champ, East Bay. In game three of the series, La Salle prevailed 3-2 in double OT, winning its first title in three seasons. Sophomore Grayson Goolgasian was the hero for La Salle, netting the game-winner. La Salle won game one of the series 4-3, but East Bay tied the series with a 2-1 win a day later.
New Hampshire
BOYS
Division 1 | Bedford
Bedford’s reign of dominance continued as it trounced Trinity 7-0. It marked Bedford’s sixth state title in the past eight seasons and seventh championship game appearance. Senior forward Parker Roberto led the attack, putting three goals past Trinity goaltender Ryan Brewitt. For Bedford, sophomore goaltender Shea Guimont posted a shutout in net, recording 17 saves.
Division 2 | St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas triumphed in a major rivalry bout. Aquinas defeated Dover 5-3 to take home its first state championship. Zach Talbot and Paddy Vetter, who scored more than 100 points in his high school career, lifted St. Thomas’ offense, each scoring a pair of goals. Hannes Demegard made 21 saves while allowing more than one goal for the first time since Dec. 19.
Division 3 | John Stark/Hopkinton
John Stark/Hopkinton got the job done again, winning its second title in a row. Senior Paul Molnar scored the only goal of the game and classmate Jameson Bourque recorded 18 saves in the shutout victory. The performance marked Bourque’s eighth shutout of the season.
GIRLS | Hanover
Make that 10 state titles in a row for Hanover. For the third consecutive season, the Marauders ousted Exeter in the title game, this time with a 4-1 final. Outshooting Exeter 34-12, Natalie Morhun, Violet Sperry, Margaret Lee and Emma Tysinger each scored for the Marauders. Thanks to the team’s impeccable defense, goaltender Rebekah Rudd needed to stop just nine shots to pick up the victory. Hanover finished 14-5-1 — its only losses against out-of-state competition.
Vermont
BOYS
Division 1 | Essex
Essex earned its second straight 5-0 state championship win, this time over Rice Memorial. Grady Cram propelled Essex on the attack, finishing the game with five points (two goals, three assists). Sam Foster recorded 17 saves in net — the same number he had in last year’s title victory — as Essex won its 16th state title.
Division 2 | Woodstock
Woodstock made it back-to-back state titles with a 3-1 win over Colchester. Charlie Greene got the job done in net, recording 20 saves, while Andrew Gubbins, Lucas Piconi and Ely Chynoweth put up the goals in the winning effort.
GIRLS
Division 1 | Essex
Essex got revenge on BFA-St. Albans in their fifth title game matchup in the past seven seasons. This time, Essex won 2-0 for its first title since 2013, bolstered by a stout defensive effort. Sophia Forcier had to make just 15 saves to ensure the shutout. Abigail Rollins and Hannah Wimes scored for Essex.
Division 2 | Missisquoi
An underdog in the tournament, No. 7 Missisquoi toppled Woodstock 3-1 in the title game to improve to 10-14 on the season. In the victory, Callie Parks led the attack, putting up a pair of goals. In net, Madison Conley was sharp, recording 18 stops. It was Missisquoi’s second straight championship game appearance.
Connecticut
BOYS
Division 1 | Fairfield Prep
Offense carried Fairfield Prep to a second straight title. This time, it defeated rival Notre Dame-West Haven 5-2 to take home the crown. Tommy Quinn, Lucas Baksay, Jack Esse, Mason Whitney and Colin Bella scored goals in the victory, while Jake Walker recorded 24 saves in net. The win marked Fairfield Prep’s 18th state title, a Connecticut record. Fairfield won the title despite getting off to a slow 3-6-0 start this season.
Division 2 | Branford
Branford won a defensive battle, earning a 2-0 win over Glastonbury to take the crown. Jared Yakimoff earned the shutout, making 20 saves, while Spencer Engstrom had the go-ahead goal early in the second period. The win marked Branford’s first state title since 1988.
Division 3 | Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug
The Lyman Hall co-op poured in the goals to secure its first state title. The co-op bested Sheehan 6-2 in a cross-town rivalry matchup. Matt Pettit and tri-captain Kyle Roberts each put up a pair of goals. Picking up the victory in net, Andrew Sacco made 33 saves in total.
GIRLS | New Canaan
New Canaan blocked Darien from winning a fourth straight title, winning 3-1. Sophomore Anika Curri and freshmen Grace Crowell and Kaleigh Harden scored goals. Sophomore Blythe Novick made 21 saves in the win, including 10 in the final period. The victory marked New Canaan’s first title since 2013.
Massachusetts
BOYS
Division 1 | Duxbury
Friend Walker notched a hat trick as the Green Dragons toppled Winchester 3-1 in the title game. Duxbury became the first team since Burlington in 2012 to win the Div. 1 state title after being bounced from the Super 8 play-in game. Steve Pisani notched 21 saves and got the win in net for Duxbury. Defense and goaltender were the team’s strong suit this season, allowing just 35 goals in 27 games.
Division 2 | Canton
Canton trounced Tewksbury in the title matchup, pulling off a 6-2 win to take the crown and cap off an undefeated season (25-0-1). Senior captain Ryan Nolte amassed five points (one goal, four assists) as the boys picked up their first state title since 2010. He had 71 points on the season. In net, senior captain Michael Staffiere earned the victory. In 26 games this season, Canton accumulated 131 goals while allowing just 23, a differential of plus-108.
Division 3 | Wachusett
Despite its youth, Wachusett managed to earn its first state title with a 3-2 victory over Hopkinton. Grant Gardula (two goals, one assist) propelled Wachusett on the attack, while netminder Jackson King made 24 saves. With just three seniors on the squad this season, none of whom recorded more than five points, the team could be in a position to contend again next season.
Division 3A | Northbridge
Northbridge’s offense exploded for three goals in the final period as it toppled Easthampton for the first Div. 3A title in school history. Owen Hogan, Liam Gill and Nolan Brown lifted Northbridge with final-period goals, while Chris Wells’ 20 stops in net secured the victory. After starting the season 6-6-1, Northbridge went 10-1-0 in its final 11 games. Since it will lose only two seniors, Northbridge should be a team to watch next season.
GIRLS
Division 1 | Methuen/Tewksbury
Methuen/Tewksbury came out on the winning side of a defensive battle against Austin Prep, winning the championship game 2-1 in double overtime. Kaia Hollingsworth shined in net for the co-op, recording 31 saves, while Carolyn Curley scored the game-winning goal. Methuen/Tewksbury averaged 5.04 goals per contest this season, and Julia Masotta (50 goals, 31 assists) led the charge offensively.
Division 2 | Wellesley
Emily Rourke lifted Wellesley to a second straight title with a game-winning goal in overtime as Wellesley beat Notre Dame Academy 3-2. Defensively, Wellesley received tremendous play as Liddy Shultz needed to record just 12 saves to pick up the win. In contrast, NDA’s Lily Prendergast, an eighth-grader, made 44 stops in the one-goal game.@
