BOSTON — As "Shippin' up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys blared over the TD Garden speakers, Billerica got set for a defensive zone draw with just under five minutes left in double overtime. Canton looked to be on the attack.
Things were different once the puck dropped.
Billerica junior forward Ryan Johnson tied up Canton junior forward James Howard on the draw. Billerica senior defenseman Nolan Dawson then chipped the puck through to Billerica senior forward Daniel Viscione.
Viscione and Dawson took it the other way for a 2-on-1. Viscione sifted a pass across to Dawson at the perfect time. Dawson did the rest, slipping a shot through Canton senior goalie Connor Geoghan, lifting Billerica to a 3-2 double-overtime win for the MIAA Division 2 boys title, its first since 1977.
It capped off a season in which Billerica only lost once. Canton, on the other hand, had its 21-game winning streak snapped on Sunday.
The teams traded goals in the third period that caused massive momentum swings.
With under 3:50 to play in regulation, Canton senior forward Travis Thomas fed sophomore forward Ryan Elrick to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. That didn't last long, as 22 seconds later, Billerica senior defenseman John Burns' shot was blocked and went to Viscione. The Billerica captain wired a shot past Geoghan, knotting the game at 2-2.
The scoring started late in the first period when Canton converted on a power play. Thomas got open in the slot and finished a feed from junior forward Joey Ryan, giving the Bulldogs the first lead.
GIRLS BRACKETS:Â Division 1Â |Â Division 2
Billerica responded with a power play goal of its own early in the second period when Viscione rifled a one-timer past Geoghan.
Let's dive into some takeaways.
1. This will be remembered as the Daniel Viscione Game. The senior forward was dynamite. He brought his team back from deficits twice. His first goal was a bullet, beating Geoghan up high on a one-timer from the top of the circle. The second was also a missile that he caught and released in a split second. He drove play all game and used his physicality and compete to fend off multiple defenders. He drew two penalties late in the third period, including one that had a power play bleed into the first overtime. And then, of course, there was his game-winning assist. It was a fitting end for the senior who finished with 40 goals and 59 points.
2. There was a scary moment for Billerica as senior goalie Stephen MacIntosh robbed Canton junior defenseman Teddy Shuman on a shorthanded breakaway. As MacIntosh reached up with the glove and made the save, he was slow to get up and took some time getting to his feet. He looked hurt in the moments after but never allowed a goal again. MacIntosh was strong throughout. Right before that save on Shuman, he denied Canton senior forward Huck McCready of a shorthanded breakaway.
3. Geoghan was also good on Sunday. He'd probably like the second goal back, but he made some huge stops in tight on Billerica forwards. He stoned Johnson of a prime chance midway through the third period and minutes before the game-winning goal, Geoghan stopped Johnson on a breakaway.
4. The work of the Elrick, Thomas and Ryan line was impressive. Ryan showed outstanding patience to wait for Thomas to get open and feed him a perfect pass on the first goal. With the second lamplighter, Thomas hustled and snagged the puck from Billerica's defense, turned and found Elrick in front who finished it. The trio constantly created chances for themselves throughout the game and were their team's best offensive players.
BOYS BRACKETS:Â Division 1Â |Â Division 2Â |Â Division 3Â |Â Division 4
5. What a season for Dawson. He finished with 36 points and his 36th was the championship game-winning goal. That's hard to beat.
