Video: Hingham's Mulkerrin and Dzavec score the winning goal over Braintree
Hingham's Conal Mulkerin and Paul Dzavec netted in their Sweet Sixteen Division I matchup vs. Braintree.
STONEHAM — Beating the odds-on favorite in the MIAA state tournament takes an effort like no other.
Sometimes this is not enough.
Hingham High Head Boys Hockey Coach Tony Messina spent a significant amount of time with his team in the Stoneham Arena locker room following a 3-0 loss to top-seeded St. John's. John's Prep is in the Elite Eight on Thursday night. When the long-serving coach appeared, he stood against the wall behind the visitor's bench and captured the moment.
“I'm not sure how we could have played better, to be honest,” Messina said. “That's what I told (the team).” harsh.”
No. 8 Hingham trailed 1-0 all evening, until SJP's Johnny Tingey and Jake Vanna scored empty-goals in the final minute that swelled the final margin.
“I thought it was a battle all the way through, a one-goal game the whole time which really hurt,” senior Travis Rugg said. “It was a great game in the end, to be honest, even though it hurts now.” Because it was a tough battle against a great team. Very happy to share these final moments with Hingham on this ice.
St. Louis qualifies. John's Prep, which has the No. 1 seed for the third straight year, to play No. 4 Xaverian in the Final Four on Sunday (time/location TBD).
“We were one step away from making this match completely different,” Messina said. “We had times when we had some good shots and some opportunities but we couldn't capitalize on them.”
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Hingham fell behind early when SJP's Mason Luciano scored the Eagles' first goal off a rebound off the backboards at the 12:54 mark: “It was kind of devastating the way it was,” Messina said. “Ready to go, with the wind cramping our sails a little.”
Shot totals were close the rest of the way, as chances at the net for Hingham's standouts (Rogge, Paul Dzavec, Cam McKenna) were shut down by SJP standout goaltender AJ Farese, a first for the Harbormen as the only shutouts the team had suffered all year.
“Obviously I'm very proud of everyone's effort. They gave everything,” Messina said. (St. John's Prep) is a really fast team. He is obviously very talented. Every rush down the ice, you hold your breath but we did a good job of staying with them.
Hingham won the first game against St. John's Prep, 3-2, on December 16, the Harbormen's second game of the campaign. Messina admitted that both teams were “kind of rusty” in that match played nearly three months ago. Rogge, the senior captain, missed one of the seven games he missed due to a rib injury he suffered in the summer.
“In that game, we had several chances and we scored from them. We took the lead, which was very useful,” Messina said. delusion [St. John’s Prep] It wasn't as well oiled as it is now. We were lucky in that match. “I would love to change the games,” he said with a laugh, “but, seriously, it would be hard for anyone to keep up. They have to be the favorites.”
Hingham finished 15-8-2 — overall a “huge success,” by Messina’s measure.
Rogge, Dzavec, winger Michael Garrity, winger Brady Gannon, center Nick Foran, center Wilson Fox, defenseman Jack Rakauskas and center Mason Lemieux complete the group of eight seniors.
“I liked the way we came together as a team this year,” Messina said. “This senior class did it.”
“It was the most fun of my life. I'll enjoy it forever, always remember it,” Rogge said. “I'm sad to leave, but I'm excited to see where the team goes next year.”