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The Winchester High School Red & Black boys hockey team (14-10, 11th seed) is now in the Elite 8 of the Division 1 state tournament after beating Shrewsbury (10-11, 22nd seed) and Belmont (16-7-1, sixth seed) in the first two rounds.
In the Round of 32 game against the Shrewsbury Colonials at Woburn’s O’Brien Rink on Feb. 25, the Winchester boys upended the Central Massachusetts school, 4-1.
Senior captain Jonathan Garmey and junior Caiden Brady powered the attack with two goals apiece. Senior captain Chris McCarthy led the team in assists with two. Senior captain Thomas Casey, junior Axel Osborn, sophomore Max Vozella and Brady setup one goal apiece. Graham Emerick helped secure the win with critical stops between the pipes.
“The first tournament game is always the hardest,” said Coach Gino Khachadourian. “Every team wants to win and move on, so we knew we were going to get Shrewsbury’s best effort. They had a talented group, but we were able to withstand their pressure early on. We then got better as the game went on, and were able to capitalize on our offensive chances to take the lead.
“The third period was not our best,” added Khachadourian. “We took too many penalties, but we were able to neutralize their power play, before getting back to even strength. Our defensive structure and goaltending were excellent in keeping Shrewsbury off the scoreboard (after scoring one).”
It was then onto the Sweet 16 game against Belmont, a familiar Middlesex League foe, at Watertown’s Ryan Arena on March 2.
The Marauders defeated the Red & Black twice in the regular season by scores of 4-1 and 3-1. But when it counted the most in the postseason, Winchester got its revenge in a classic game that took three overtimes, before the visitors were able to eliminate their Middlesex League nemesis, 2-1.
McCarthy and Brady scored the goals. The assists were handed out to Casey, McCarthy and Osborn. Emerick, not showing any nerves, did his job to extend the game beyond regulation to put his teammates in a position to eventually win it.
“There’s no other way to describe this game other than calling it an Instant Classic,” said Khachadourian, “featuring two league rivals competing and leaving it all on the line for a spot in the Elite 8. I thought we controlled a large portion of the game generating quality offensive chances, while making key defensive plays. Our transition game was quick and effective, and we were also able to establish a consistent forecheck.
“Killing off a penalty to start overtime was a huge momentum boost, because it allowed us to get back to even strength,” added Khachadourian. “The rest of overtime was an all-out battle of the goalies. Credit both goaltenders, who were outstanding to keep the game tied.
“I’m proud of the way our guys battled, and fortunately for us we were able to come away with the win to move on. I think this game goes to show just how good the Middlesex League is, and how any team can win on any given night. The two best words I said to my team after a win like this was ‘practice tomorrow.’ We are playing some really good hockey right now, and at this point of the season you have to play your best.”
The Red & Black will be going up against St. John’s of Shrewsbury (10-12), the 14th seed, tonight (March 6) at the Chelmsford Forum, starting at 7:20 p.m. in an Elite 8 game (formerly the state sectional final before the power rankings) that will award the winner with a state trophy and an Elite 8 championship banner, before moving on to the state semifinals.
A total of 33 teams started the Division 1 state tournament, and now Winchester is one of only eight remaining clubs still alive for the state championship.
