Charlie Breitrose
Watertown’s boys hockey team converges on goalie Jason Hughes after we made the game-winning save in the shootout against Shawsheen Tech.
BILLERICA – Watertown faced a tough test in the Div. 3 North Section boys hockey semifinal with two of its top-line players sporting 100 degree fevers, but the pair scored big goals when the game was on the line.
Following a back and forth game that ended 4-4 after two overtimes, Watertown won the 2-1 in a shootout over Shawsheen Tech at the Chelmsford Forum in Billerica.
Raiders head coach Mike Hayes is used to dealing with a small roster, but his team limped into the Div. 3 North Section semifinal against Shawsheen Tech with seniors Tyler Poulin and Mike Giordano both suffering fevers.
“We were playing on one leg really,” Hayes said. “They pulled it together, hydrated, and we played as a unit and that’s the biggest thing.”
The game got off to a good start for Watertown, when senior Tyler Gardiner scored just 1:22 into the game.
Watertown looked sluggish in the second period, but Hayes said they would not go down quietly. Shawsheen tied up the game moments after killing off a Watertown penalty early in the second, and then went ahead with 6:34 left in the second period.
“Instead of quitting, we came in, we said we’re going out as a family, we’re going to play together and that’s what we did,” Hayes said.
The Raiders came out with new energy in third period and struck twice within less than a minute to take a 3-2 lead. Tim Connors tied the score with with a power play goal, then Poulin struck moments later, with 11:32 left in the third.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown senior Tyler Gardiner celebrates after scoring in first period of the North Section semifinal against Shawsheen.
The lead, however, did not last long. Shawseen’s Jason Colletti scored a power play goal, and then 1:35 later Sean Collins put the Rams ahead with 6:18 left.
Hayes said the Rams were a tough test for Watertown.
“Shawsheen is a hell of a team,” Hayes said. “They played unbelievable.”
As the clock ran down, the Raiders could not get one past Shawsheen goalie Jack Stone. The Rams played a physical game, hitting the Raiders several teams, but they took it a step too far late in the third. Shawsheen’s Collins was called for a 4-minute major penalty for boarding with 5:07 left in the game.
Gardiner tied the game on an harmless looking shot from the point with 1:46 left in the third. The puck slid along the ice at a moderate pace, went by a few players and tucked into the back of the goal past the Shawsheen goalie, who did not appear to see it.
The game headed to overtime, and both teams had some good opportunities, but the goalies were up to the task. Tied after one overtime, the second overtime was a 4-on-4 affair, which again ended scoreless.
Hayes had no problem putting his two sick players on the ice for the best of five shootout. Poulin went first, deked the goalie and scored. Then Watertown goalie Jason Hughes stopped Shawsheen’s Griffin Blanch.
Giordano stepped up next and was tripped by the Shawsheen goalie, but was able to put the puck past him to give Watertown a 2-0 advantage. The goalies then dominated, stopping the next four shot – two on each side.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown senior goalie Jason Hughes makes a save against Shawsheen in the North Section semifinal at Chelmsford Forum.
Shawsheen’s Colletti kept the Rams’ hopes alive by scoring in the fourth round of the shootout. The next time up, Hughes was up to the task and he blocked Shawsheen’s Collins to win the game for the Raiders.
“Everday we practice the shootout,” Hayes said. “Once we got the goalie to move and he dropped … we did that a couple times,” Hayes said. “And Jason was unbelievable (in goal).”
The Raiders’ lockerroom was joyous after the victory.
“The resiliency of these guys, to keep fighting, keep fighting together, you saw it out there,” Hayes said. “From the goalie all the way out to the coaches, to the guys running back and forth filling the water bottles.”
Watertown faces a familiar tournament foe next – Wayland. The teams have faced off the last two years, with the Raiders winning last year in the section semifinal, and Wayland winning in the 2014 section semi.
The Div. 3 North Section final will be played Monday at 7 p.m. at Woburn’s O’Brien Rink.