BOSTON — When Canton senior defenseman Graidy Carr got the puck at the point with 1:25 to play in a tied game, two Tewksbury forwards went diving to block his shot.
Somehow, the puck got through and into Canton hockey history.
The shot was knocked down in the slot and bounced to Canton junior Cam Guerschuny, who slid the puck far side past the pad of Tewksbury sophomore goalie Cole Abruzi.
It gave No. 1 Canton a 2-1 lead, which the Bulldogs clung to over No. 2 Tewksbury for the final 1:22 to win the MIAA Division 2 boys hockey championship.
Things weren't looking Canton's way entering the third period.
With 1.2 seconds left in the second, Tewksbury star senior Tyler Bourgea stole the puck from Canton senior defenseman Teddy Shuman and dished a pass to linemate Kevin Andriolo, who rifled a one-timer past Canton goalie Matt Wright, sending the Redmen to the dressing room with a 1-0 lead.
But Canton eventually responded in the third period. And it started with Shuman.
The Canton senior made a smart hinge breakout pass to senior Joey Ryan, who sent it up to sophomore defenseman Kellen Labanara. He took it to the net and dished it to junior forward Ryan Elrick, who sniped it top corner with 11:48 to play in the third, tying the game, 1-1.
Canton improved to 20-1-0 with the championship win, while Tewksbury fell to 18-2-1.
READ MORE: Check out the full MIAA D2 boys bracket
Quick takeaways...
- Most expected this No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup to be full of goals, and it was the complete opposite. Rather than high-flying, run-and-gun scoring chances, both teams were stingy and defensive. Every hit was finished from puck drop, and both netminders kept their teams in the game.
- From where I was sitting, Carr's shot looked like it was definitely going to be blocked. But it somehow snuck through and into the scrum in the slot. It was an incredible heads-up play by Guerschuny to shovel it on net, catching Abruzi sliding the opposite direction. Guerschuny scored the goal of his life.
- Wright was sensational for Canton. Early in the first period, Tewksbury sophomore Jason Shreenan had a wide-open chance in front that Wright somehow stopped. He made multiple, in-tight saves on Bourgea, who pressed and pressed for a goal. Bourgea had a breakaway in the third period, but Wright somehow extended his right pad back and got all of it. Tewksbury sophomore forward Jack Ryan had two late chances alone at the top of the crease, and Wright made both stops.
- Canton upped its pressure in the second period, which was when Abruzi was at his best. He got across to rob Canton senior James Howard on a chance in front. Abruzi also dove back to stop Canton seniors Andrew Gillis and Joey Ryan by the post.
- These were the two best teams in Division 2. It was only fitting that they'd meet in the final, and it would be this much of a thriller.
- Impossible not to feel good for Canton head coach Brian Shuman, who won a state championship in his final time coaching his son, Teddy, who's a senior.
BOYS MIAA BRACKETS:Â Division 1Â |Â Division 2Â |Â Division 3Â |Â Division 4
