BOSTON — Monday night's matchup between the top two public schools in MIAA Division 1 boys hockey lived up to the hype.
It came right down to the wire.
The winner came with 7:19 left in the game when Arlington forward Nolan Russell threw the puck to the front of the net and JP Messuri stuffed it past Hingham goalie Mike Karo. Hingham head coach Tony Messina argued that Messuri pushed Karo's pad in, which resulted in the goal, but to no avail.
Arlington never gave up the lead, winning 2-1.
Ironically enough, the game started out high-scoring. Arlington forward Sean Patterson opened the scoring with his first career goal less than four minutes into the game.
Hingham responded midway through the period when forward Conal Mulkerrin sniped one over Arlington goalie John Snider.
Arlington improved to 5-2-0 with the win, while Hingham suffered its first loss, falling to 6-1-0.
For a 2-1 game, there was a lot to take away. Let's dive in.
1. While Arlington won, neither team is better than the other
Each team had spurts. Hingham put Arlington on the ropes in the back half of the first period, while Arlington dominated the beginning of the third. These teams traded blows all night...and it was rather even.
Both Snider and Karo were outstanding in net. Hingham hit a few posts, but Snider came up with some big saves. Karo tracked pucks well and was great on high-danger chances. Messuri's winner may have been from him pushing Karo's pad into the net. I didn't have a great angle on it, and neither did the two referees.
Each team had one advantage. Arlington's top line was the best line in the game, while Hingham was a bit deeper.
The Spy Ponders will likely jump past Hingham in the rankings. But if these two teams were to play a seven-game series, it would be a coin flip.
2. Give it up for JP Messuri, Nolan Russell and Cam Petrillo
They were the best line in the game and contributed both goals.
Patterson's goal was all from a high IQ play from Messuri. The pesky '08 faked like he was going for a chance, stopped short and intercepted a Hingham breakout pass. He dished it to Patterson for the tally.
The second was all Russell and Messuri working down low and having no issue getting to the high-danger areas. Whether or not Messuri pushed Karo's pad in, he still scored.
Petrillo worked well off Messuri and Russell. He drove the net hard, aided in the cycle down low and was always a threat around the net. He was caught going a bit too hard, decking Karo when the Hingham netminder went to play the puck behind his own net.
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Arlington will go as far as its top line takes it this season.
3. Hingham's top line isn't to be slept on
Messina's top trio of Colin Lasch, Cam McKenna and Mulkerrin had their chances.
Mulkerrin has a missile. His goal was a perfect snipe, beating Snider by a hair up high. Minutes later, Mulkerrin did the same play, using his speed to get to the outside of Arlington's defender and ringing the crossbar over Snider's glove. Late in the second, Mulkerrin almost scored again, but Snider got a piece of it with his glove.
McKenna put one off the crossbar late in the first period off a face-off and almost scored with seconds left on a shot from the high slot. He was a big help in pinning Arlington in its own zone.
And last, but certainly not least, Lasch showcased great puck skills low in Arlington's zone. He protected pucks well and had nice hands to get around defenders.
4. Kurt Beck is a great No. 1 defenseman for Arlington
This was the best showing I've seen for Beck. He was aggressive, stepping up in the neutral zone to shut rushes down and intercept passes. He jumped into the offensive rush quite a bit, too. The best example of that came late in the first period when he took it himself and slid it to his brother, Drew, who was driving the net.
Beck almost scored early in the second period when he took a one-timer on his strong side, but Karo got a piece of it and it trickled wide.
In front of his own net, Beck was tough on opposing forwards and used his size (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) to box out. He typically made smart passes coming out of his own zone, too.
5. Props to Hingham defenders Colman Donohue and Andrew Palek
Palek and Donohue were Hingham's most impactful defensemen on Monday night.
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Palek was hard to miss. He used his good stick to break up a potential Arlington breakaway early in the first period. Later in the frame, he stepped up and laid a nice hit on Messuri.
Palek also showcased an offensive side, as he rushed the puck himself, toe-dragged a defender and got a shot off from the top of the circle.
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Donohue stood out for his skating. So far this season, he's one of the purest skaters I've seen. He has an effortless stride and good speed. He used that to push the pace and close in on Arlington forwards. A great example of this came late in the game when he lined up Drew Beck along the boards and impeded the path of the big forward.
6. A great cause
Monday's game was played in honor of Catherine Malatesta, who died of Epithelioid Sarcoma in 2015 at just 16 years old. The Arlington, Mass., native lived an impressive life. In high school, she taught CCD, was president of student council, captained the field hockey team, rowed crew, sang in the madrigals and was in various high school plays, according to her website.
The Catherine Malatesta game tonight at Warrior Ice Arena was a great success. Thank you to everyone for the hospitality and for attending. It was a great game, with Arlington, defeating Hingham, 2-1. @AHS_SpyPonders @JohnMessuri @T_Mulherin @cohenshockey @EvanMarinofsky pic.twitter.com/bkCKZxU6i6
— Robert Chalmers (@IvanIvanlvan) January 7, 2025
I would encourage everyone to check out her story and the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation here.
