Mass. Boys HS Hockey – Catholic Conference Semifinals: Catholic Memorial, Xaverian Advance To Title Game

SEMIFINALS

Catholic Memorial 3, St. John’s Prep 1

At the Essex Sports Center, CM defeated the Eagles for the second time in nine days to take 5-of-6 points on the season. The 2020 regular-season champion Knights packed all of their scoring into the second half after the opening 22:30 was ruled by defense.

Junior Dylan Lamonica got things started at 4:09 with a close-range tuck at the right post after junior Joey Borelli’s steal and feed from behind the net. Sophomore Brendan MacNeil followed with a backhand strike at 14:28 and senior Glenn Considine added an ENG in the final minute.

SJP’s senior captain Jake DiNapoli spoiled a shutout bid by CM’s junior Dom Walecka (26 saves) in the waning seconds.

CM forced St. John’s wide and outside throughout, yielding few quality scoring bids. The Eagles finished 3-3-4.

Xaverian 3 Malden Catholic 1

At the Canton Icehouse, the regular-season champion Hawks jumped on the Lancers in the opening minute and applied unyielding pressure throughout, generated by an aggressive forecheck.

Braden O’Hara
Xaverian

Sophomore Joe DiMartino scored the first of his two goals 24 seconds into the game, converting junior Braden O’Hara’s feed. MC freshman Owen Keefe countered from the left point to tie it at 2:54 but O’Hara scored what stood as the GWG from the mid-slot at 4:35. Precision passing from senior Pat Hart at the mid-blue line to O’Hara on the left wall to DiMartino resulted in a wrister for the sophomore’s second tally later in the period.

Xaverian tilted the ice throughout the second half, generating lopsided edges in possession and territorial advantage but were held off the board by MC’s senior keeper Brady Roux. The Lancers finished 3-7-2.

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Kevin Doyle

Kevin joined HNIB in 1990 and is a Senior Writer and Director of the Northern New England and Mass/R.I. High School Division camps. A veteran editor/writer of 40 years in the print and digital mediums, he has edited and produced original content and coordinated production for local and global publications and websites. He holds degrees from Merrimack College and Boston University and won multiple industry awards as Sports Editor of The Daily News of Newburyport and News Editor of The Amesbury News. He is the 2016 recipient of the North Shore Lifetime Commitment From the Community award presented by Moynihan Lumber and a 2017 Newburyport High School Wall of Fame inductee. He resides with his family in Portsmouth, NH. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @kdoyle40

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