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By Kevin Doyle • HNIB News
The tournament that had been Catholic Memorial's personal post-season playground since its inception in 1991 had lost its luster in recent years. The Knights hadn't won a Division 1A title since 2005 and hadn't appeared in the championship game since 2006. In comparison to CM teams of the past, those in the know said this club didn't seem to have what it took that would enable this senior class from avoiding becoming the first not to wear the Super 8 crown at some point in its career. Those in the know said something was missing. While the Knights' final record (14-5-4) may not be particularly eye-catching, what those in the know failed to adequately consider was the measure of this team's heart. So much for those in the know and what they thought they knew about this squad for CM's grit and determination and, yes, heart was on full display throughout this tournament, capped by their systematic 5-1 dismantling of Middlesex League representative Burlington in the title game at TD Banknorth Garden. The championship was the Knights' 13th in the tournament's 19-year history and won high praise from hard-nosed veteran Hall of Fame coach Bill Hanson. He's seen it all and then some throughout his career and acknowledged the accomplishments of this team, which had been hampered by injuries to the likes of scoring leader Derek Colucci (broken jaw) and defenseman Billy Carey (broken list), and which lost its tourney opener to Winchester. "This has been an awful long year from a physical and emotional standpoint," Hanson told the assembled media after the game. "We've had ups and downs. I've never had in all my years coaching anyone accomplish what these kids did. I can't say enough about what they accomplished." Burlington (21-4-1) was hopeful of following the path blazed by Middlesex League compatriot Reading, which last year became the first public school ever to capture this grinding event. And, the Red Devils were trying to do so having played an extra game after gaining their spot in the 8-team field by defeating Arlington Catholic in a play-in game. Despite a momentary lift from having tied the game at 1-1 midway through the first period, Burlington was outplayed by a considerable margin in the session as CM dictated tempo and established control it rarely relinquished. "I don't think we played our best hockey (in the first period), so we tried to regroup," Burlington coach Bob Conceison said. "We had a couple of good opportunities, and they came right back in transition and scored. That's what good teams do. They take our opportunities and make them into theirs." The Knights were powered by junior TJ O'Brien's hat trick, his second in as many games. What's that they say about big players coming up big in big situations? Then there was the junior Colucci, who broke his jaw in the loss to eventual semifinalist Winchester and seemed unlikely to skate again this season. Yet there he was with a specially-designed facemask, free-wheeling and creating throughout. As a unit, CM's forwards stifled the high-scoring Burlington offense, which tallied a division-leading 107 goals this season. CM's Dan Cornell, who scored only six regular-season points, continued his post-season emergence and staked the Knights to a 1-0 lead a little more than three minutes into the game. His odd angle shot from the half wall eluded Burlington goalie Ben Irwin (21 saves), who seemingly never saw the puck until it settled in the cage behind him. The Devils -- making their first 1A appearance since 1993 -- gave their sizable contingent something to hoot and holler about by answering less than a minute later. Working a 2-on-1 with Joe Yeadon, Peter Russo's attempted pass deflected off the stick of a CM defender and past goaltender Tommy Knox to knot it at 1-1. That proved to be the only chink in Knox's armor as he finished with 18 saves before exiting in the final minute. However, CM continued to attack, eventually amassing a 12-5 edge in shots for the period. Their relentless play resulted in the eventual game-winning goal at 8:13 when O'Brien beat Irwin high on the short side. Shane Walsh (3 assists) and Colucci drew assists on the play, then Colucci helped the Knights shift into overdrive in the first minute of the second period when he re-directed Walsh's cross-ice dish past Irwin for a 3-1 lead. That left it to O'Brien to complete his hat trick, starting with his second goal, a jaw-dropping unassisted bit of artistry which made it 4-1 at 8:40 of the second period. After swiping the puck from a Burlington defenseman at the offensive blue line, O'Brien cut in hard on Irwin, faked the backhand, pulled to the forehand and, while airborne, somehow swept the puck into the far side at the left post. If it was all but over at that point, O'Brien put the exclamation point on the victory less than a minute into the final period, gathering in a Colucci pass and burying his third goal of the night and seventh in three games. All that remained was the countdown to the celbratory pigpile signifying the Knights' ascension to the throne of the domain they had so long ruled with an iron glove.
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