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Prep ends season with a Super 8 win over Hingham

Sunday, March, 09 By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

LOWELL | They came here for one reason: to win their final game.

Naturally, the St. John's Prep hockey team went into the Super 8 tournament intent on winning the whole thing. Never did they imagine they'd be playing a virtually meaningless contest on the final day of the first round.

But if they had to play it, the Eagles were intent on winning it.

"It's a good way to end the season | and for us seniors, our high school careers," Prep goaltender Eric Clifford said after his team knocked off Hingham, 4-2, yesterday afternoon at the Tsongas Arena.

"We wished it had meant something (i.e., advancing in the state playoffs), but it was still important to us to end with a win."

Prep senior Christian Cowles admitted it was "nice to go out there, relax and have fun." That was because both the Eagles and Harbormen had lost each of their first two Super 8 games and were ineligible to move on, no matter the outcome of their game.

At the same time, this was no leisurely Sunday afternoon skate. Beating the very same team that the Eagles had lost their season opener to in Hingham was, if not the ultimate way to end their season, at least satisfactory.

"It was our last game representing St. John's Prep, and we wanted to win it," said Cowles, who may very likely end up playing Division 1 college hockey down the road. For now, he's deciding on which of two New England prep school hockey powers he'll play a post-graduate year at: either Avon Old Farms or South Kent, both located in Connecticut.

"There was obviously something missing, because I felt we had the talent to win the Super 8 and we didn't. Still, to win your last game is a good way to end your career."

Cowles and his two linemates, center Danny Haugh and right wing Colin Prior, had fun and accomplished their mission by going out as winners. The Eagles' first line trio combined for all 11 points yesterday, with Prior scoring two goals (one shorthanded) and Cowles and Haugh notching one each.

From the game's opening shift | when Haugh jammed home a Cowles rebound past Hingham goaltender Nate Eagan at the 23-second mark | the Prep's three leading scorers led that way.

"To go out there and do what we did shows that we belong here in the Super 8. And we do," said Prior. "It was nice to get some payback against Hingham, too."

Prior finished with two goals and two assists, while Cowles scored once and assisted on the other three. Haugh, who had a goal and two helpers, might as well have been credited with a third assist on Prior's shorthanded strike; it was his interference call that led to the Prep (13-7-2) being a man down.

"I told (Prior and Cowles) they should have come by the penalty box and high-fived me," Haugh laughed.

Clifford, the senior from Salem who admitted he was "excited" to get his first-ever Super 8 start, was up to the task, stopping 29 of 31 shots.

Speaking about his first year behind the bench at his alma mater, head coach Kristian Hanson said he and his coaching staff, as well as the players, had come a long way since the first day of tryouts.

"I didn't even know their names then," Hanson said. "(The coaches) had to learn new names and faces and pick a team based on what we saw. The players had to learn new systems and adjustments, so there was definitely a feeling-out period on both sides. Plus, they had lost their top scorer, most of their big defensemen and some real good role players up front, so a lot of new guys were being asked to step into key roles right away.

"I'm happy with today's result, but not the overall (tournament) results," added Hanson. "But I don't want to call this a lost season by any stretch. We had a great regular season, beat (defending Super 8 champ) B.C. High twice, finished tied for second in the (Catholic) Conference and had a six-game win streak to end the regular season. The guys did a really nice job, maybe even overachieved a bit during the season."

Prior gave his team the lead for good at 8:12 of the first period, taking a pretty cross ice pass from Cowles and one-timing home. Four-and-a-half minutes later, Cowles curled off the half boards and uncorked a shot between the top of the circles that beat Eagan cleanly low stick side. After each goal, the applause from the small crowd on hand was sincere yet quiet | almost polite.

On the Prep's final goal of the season, Cowles broke out 2-on-1 with Prior on his right side and a Hingham defenseman draped all over him. Cowles muscled his way into the zone, got Eagan to slide over to his side and fed Prior with a perfect pass, which he converted.

Cowles finished the year with 23 goals and 18 assists for 41 points and ended his career with a neat 44-44-88 line. Haugh (8 goals, 21 assists) and Prior (14-14-28) were right behind him on the scoring chart.

This contest also provided a chance for the future Eagles | the young players who will be back next season | to show what they can do on the big stage. That's why a line comprised of sophomores Garrett Campbell and Derek Mason, as well as speedy freshman Colin Blackwell, saw some quality ice time.

"Those are the guys we'll be counting on to replace the Cowles', Haughs and Priors," said Hanson.

With 15 seniors wearing Prep jerseys for the final time yesterday, next year's team will have a decidedly different look. A new varsity goaltender is needed, so are some defensemen to help returnees Nick Riccio, Ed Estey and Jeremy Hynes.

In addition to the aforementioned forwards, players such as Eric Danilchuk, Justin DiRienzo, Jon Sokolski and Derek Dubois will be asked to pick up the slack offensively.

The departing seniors, meanwhile, will remember the good times that transpired over the last three-and-a-half months | and beyond.

"We're great friends. I couldn't have asked to play with a better group of guys," said Haugh. "There's six of us | me, Colin, Christian, Cliffy, (forward) Steve DiCarlo and (goalie Kyle) Pettoruto | who have played here together for the last four years; we're like brothers.

"I really think we had a great season. It may not seem that way now, but we'll always remember the good times that we had most of all."