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. That said, here’s a look at the state champs from around New England this season.
CONNECTICUT
BOYS: Division 1
Champion: Fairfield Prep
A late third-period surge propelled Fairfield Prep to a 4-2 win over Greenwich to earn its first state title since 2014. Fairfield Prep unleashed three goals from Kevin Oricoli, Evan Uva and Carter Kral in the third period. Part of the reason why Prep enjoyed the success it did this season is because of a difficult schedule, going 21-2-1, with its only losses to powerhouses Malden Catholic (Mass.) and Delbarton (N.J.). The tie came against Bishop Hendricken (R.I.)
Division 2
Champion: Farmington Valley
Piling up five second-period goals, Farmington Valley cruised past the defending state champ, Guilford, in a 7-3 championship win. Matt Arena (two), Owen Lacourciere, Jake Percival, Tim Arena, Kyle Kadziolka and Eric Schweitzer were the scorers for the winners. Trevor Paluso picked up the win in net for the first title in the co-op’s 13-year history.
Division 3
Champion: Eastern Connecticut
Kevin Close played a crucial role in the Eastern Connecticut Eagles offensive attack, as they overpowered Tri-Town in the Div. 3 title game. Close had a hat trick as the Eagles picked up their first state title. He also had a pair of goals in an 8-6 semifinal win over Staples.
GIRLS
Champion: Darien
Another year marked another state title for Darien; the girls topped Suffield 5-2 to win their third straight state title. Goaltender Hallie Kreppein earned tournament MVP, and in the championship, five different players scored goals for Darien — Sally Cassidy, Caitlin Chan, Kate Bellissimo, Shea van den Broek and Lucie Edwards.
Maine
BOYS: Class A
Champion: Lewiston
It should be no surprise that Lewiston was able to win a championship — for the third straight season. To do so, Lewiston defeated Biddeford, 2-1, in the championship. Youth and depth allowed the team to succeed, propelled by forwards Alex Robert, Dustin Larochelle, Sam Frechette and Jack Leblond.
Class B
Champion: Old Town-Orono
Old Town-Orono completed its title conquest with a 3-2 win over Greely. The Black Bears rallied from a 2-0 deficit and became the first boys co-op in state history to win a title. Ben Allan-Rahill had the championship-winning goal at the 3:52 mark in overtime.
GIRLS
Champion: Greely/Gray-New Gloucester
Greely/Gray-New Gloucester’s dynasty continued this season with a decisive 3-1 win over Cheverus/Kennebunk in the championship. The win was propelled by senior captain Courtney Sullivan, who scored all of her team’s goals unassisted. It was Greely/Gray-New Gloucester’s third championship in a seven-year span.
Massachusetts
BOYS: Division 1
Champion: Waltham
Waltham handily defeated Marshfield, 4-1, to win its first state title since 2002. Senior goaltender Kyle Penton recorded 33 saves in the win while Chris Egan, Andrew Miller and Declan Reynolds had goals for the Hawks. A major reason for Waltham’s success was a deep senior class featuring 11 players.
Division 2
Champion: Plymouth South
Alex Hayward was the hero for Plymouth South as it beat Stoneham, 4-3 in overtime, in the Div. 2 final. He netted a game-winner 2:26 into overtime. The Panthers presented the game puck to Stoneham head coach Paul Sacco in memory of James Luti, a Stoneham hockey player who passed away in November.
Division 3
Champion: Shrewsbury
A deep Shrewsbury Colonials team was able to take care of Hanover in a 2-1 win for their third state title in five seasons and second over Hanover in that span. James Tepper put up the gamewinning goal with six minutes left, lifting Shrewsbury over a Hanover team that was previously undefeated. Over the course of the season, the Colonials attack was led by senior captains and twins Anthony Quinlivan (21 goals. 28 assists) and Liam Quinlivan (27 goals, 20 assists).
Division 3A
Champion: Lunenburg/Ayer-Shirley
Jared Simmons delivered with a hat trick for Lunenburg/Ayer-Shirley as it fended off Easthampton, 5-2, in the title game. Lunenberg’s season was focused around a high-powered offense, which put up 4.91 goals per game and was led by junior forward Jacob Mauro (23 goals, 22 assists).
GIRLS: Division 1
Champion: Woburn
The Woburn Tanners capped off an undefeated season with a 1-0 win over Tewksbury/Methuen to win their second straight championship. A stout defensive unit led by freshmen Sophia Gregory and Cailin Flynn and 13-save performance from sophomore Amanda Essigmann helped the Tanners shut out their foe. Senior forward Kaitlyn Delaney gave the team its lone goal of the game.
Division 2
Champion: Wellesley
Wellesley’s offense, which put up nearly five goals per game this season, could not be silenced, even against an elite defense like Canton’s. The Raiders beat Canton, 1-0, in the title game. Liddy Schultz got the shutout in net and was helped by the defensive corps, especially captain Olivia Vernon and sophomore Erin Fleming. What made Wellesley so potent offensively during the season was a spread-out scoring effort. Senior forward Jenna Harrison had the team’s goal in the championship.
Rhode Island
BOYS: D1
Champion: La Salle
After dropping Game 1 of the championship series, La Salle Academy came back with back-to-back wins, including the 5-2 title-game victory over Bishop Hendricken. Brayden Edwards earned tournament MVP with five goals in the series for La Salle, which included two scores in Game 3 of the series. Robert Doorley, Matt Pimental and Ryan Schwender also scored in that contest.
Division 2
Champion: Barrington
Unleashing three goals in the final six minutes, Barrington was able to win its second straight state championship with a 4-2 win over Coventry in the final game of their series. Tournament MVP Luke Rudman put up a shorthanded goal with 5:36 remaining. Seniors Owen Gordon and Dominic Robidoux piled on goals for Barrington after that to secure the win.
Division 3
Champion: Pilgrim
In securing its first state championship since 1990, Pilgrim was flat-out dominant, beating the West Warwick/Exeter/West Greenwich co-op 5-1 in Game 1 and 7-0 a day later, on St. Patrick’s Day. Jack Clement earned tournament MVP honors by putting up seven points (two goals, five assists) in those two games.
GIRLS
Champion: East Bay
The East Bay girls co-op completed a perfect 17-0 season with 3-2 and 4-1 wins over the La Salle/Moses Brown co-op. In the final game, Sydney Parkhurst and Mary Arkins each netted goals in the first three minutes of the contest, giving East Bay great momentum for the remaining three periods.
New Hampshire
BOYS: Division 1
Champion: Hanover
David Lehman lifted Hanover with a pair of goals in a 2-1 state title win over Bedford. Harris LaRock recorded 21 saves in net as the team earned its ninth state title. Prior to the season, Hanover was an underdog because it was on the younger side; this year’s team featured just four seniors.
Division 2
Champion: Keene
Top-seeded Keene earned its first championship, 3-2, in overtime over St. Thomas Aquinas. Joe Walsh was the hero again for Keene, burying a second-chance scoring opportunity with 40 seconds left in the first overtime period. He also scored the game-winner in the team’s state semifinal win over Dover one day prior. In order to get to overtime in the championship, the team received a chip-in goal from Will MacLean with 71 seconds remaining.
Division 3
Champion: John Stark/Hopkinton
John Stark/Hopkinton shined offensively in a 6-2 championship win over the defending state champ, Kennett. Freshman Noah Sauer scored twice for the winners, putting them ahead late in the second period and giving them an insurance goal early in the third period. Noah Chapman, Tyler Scordo, Benny Madden and Joe Sawitsky put up a goal apiece for John Stark/Hopkinton.
GIRLS
Champion: Hanover
Hanover’s dynasty continued. The Marauders earned their ninth straight state championship with a decisive 7-3 win over Exeter. The win exemplified Hanover’s impressive depth as six different players scored goals; Briland Laycock was the only player to put up multiple goals (two) for Hanover. Junior netminder Claire Yegian made 13 saves in the win.
Vermont
BOYS: Division 1
Champion: Essex
Essex was ready to go, putting up three goals in the first period of its 5-0 win over Spaulding. Grady Cram scored the go-ahead goal five minutes into the game while Ryan Young and Sam Gibbs put up first-period scores to help Essex pull away. Sam Foster recorded 17 saves in net as Essex won its 15th state title.
Division 2
Champion: Woodstock
A 17-save shutout performance from Henry Greene led Woodstock to a 4-0 championship win over Lyndon Institute, completing an undefeated (22-0-1) season. In all, Woodstock put 41 shots on goal, and four of those landed. Cullen McCarthy Tom Bissaillon, Andrew Gubbins and Warren Coates scored to help Woodstock earn its first crown in more than a decade.
GIRLS: Division 1
Champion: BFA-St. Albans
BFA-St. Albans kept its dynasty going with its 10th state title win and first since 2013 with a 2-0 win over Essex. In the win, Linsey Larrow and Lizzie Hill scored a goal apiece while goaltender Madelei Hungerford recorded a shutout in net with 24 saves.
Division 2
Champion: Stowe
Allison Walker had a hat trick and Leo Clark earned a 28-save shutout in net as Stowe rolled over Missisquoi 5-0 in the Div. 2 title game. Stowe, which outscored its playoff opponents 16-0, did not have any seniors on the team this season, so it is a group to follow closely in the future.
