With the MIAA season over, New England Hockey Journal takes a look at some juniors and seniors who had notable performances in the playoffs.
St. John’s Prep captured the title over Xaverian Brothers in Division 1, and one of the things that distinguished both teams all season was the production they got from their upper-class contingent. Whether it was Tommy Sarni and the Blaeser brothers — Pierce and Cole on the Eagles — or the Hawks’ forward-defense combination of Jack Silva and Aiden Rodriguez, the two Division 1 powers relied on a balance of older players blended with youth to find success.
Having seen a mixture of games in the various rounds of MIAA postseason, here is an all-championship day team consisting of seniors and juniors.
Offense
Tommy Sarni, senior
St. John’s Prep, 5/16/03, RW, left shot, 6-1/185
NCAA commit: Providence (lacrosse)
The Lynnfield, Mass., native saved his best for the biggest two games of the year. In overtime against BC High, after getting a 6-on-5 goal with 52 seconds left to tie it, Sarni was the one who made the play behind the net to capitalize on a turnover by BC High’s Cormac Joyce and zipped a pass in front to Christian Rosa for the winning strike. He then followed that up with four goals and five points in the championship victory over Xaverian. He scored the first goal of the game off a lightning release that sent the puck up under the crossbar. Sarni might be headed to college on a lacrosse scholarship, but he’s a heck of a hockey player with his willingness to use his size and natural feel for creating offense.
Cole Blaeser, junior
St. John’s Prep, 4/6/05, LW, left shot, 6-0/175
Both Blaeser brothers were among the top forwards for a deep and talented Eagles team all season, but we’ll give the nod to the younger of the Boxford, Mass., dynamic duo. Cole Blaeser impressed with his ability to consistently make on-target passes and play with pace. He tallied a goal in the championship game, showing a willingness to get to the net. He took a centering feed from his older brother, Pierce, wasting no time with an extra move or dangle, and shot through the wickets before goaltender Brendan Flanagan could react. He came through with his team down, tying the game in the second period and giving SJP the momentum they needed to seize control.
Marcus Chrisafideis, senior
Marlboro, 6/9/04, LW, left shot, 5-7/145
Like Sarni, Chrisafideis had an excellent semifinal to set the stage for the D3 championship game. Although his Panthers came up short against Hanover, the senior captain showcased his sublime shot/release combo and scored his team’s second goal by picking the puck cleanly off the end wall, starting one way behind the net, then reversing direction and stuffing the puck into the back of the net just inside the post. He played big and brought his best, giving Marlboro a chance in the decisive contest.
Jack Silva, senior
Xaverian, 6/14/03, RW, right shot, 6-2/180
Although known more for his finishing skills, Silva impressed with his passing and unselfish play in the championship game. He skated hard, moved his feet and was an effective two-way presence in the biggest game of the season. Although the Hawks lost the lead in the second period, he did his part to infuse tempo and offensive skill for his team. The Catholic Conference MVP would rather have the Division 1 championship, but it was a terrific season for the East Bridgewater, Mass., native.
Defense
Aiden Rodriguez, senior
Xaverian, 10/28/03, D, right shot, 6-1/165
With his good size, length and physicality, Rodriguez stood out despite a score that seemed out of synch for how close a battle it was. From Braintree, he's a leader and logged a lot of efficient minutes, defending well and getting pucks up the ice effectively.
Caden Connors, senior
Tewskbury, 12/30/03, D, left shot, 6-2/190
Offensively, they didn’t come any better on the back end with a championship on the line than Connors in the Division 2 title game against Canton. He assisted on the first goal by rushing the puck to the Canton net and generating a rebound that teammate Matthew Cooke cashed in on. Then he scored the winning tally by slipping through multiple Bulldogs players. He lost his balance but put the puck into the back of the net as he fell. His play away from the puck and defensive habits need addressing, as he has room to improve his pace and positioning. However, in the most important game of the year, he made it all happen with the puck on his stick.
Goaltender
Ben O’Keefe, junior
Tewksbury, 1/1/05, G, catches left, 6-2/170
Showed off impressive size and athleticism, keeping a powerful Canton offense in check. He tracked pucks, moved laterally with smoothness and didn’t waste a lot of motion in his crease. With his solid fundamentals and natural physical attributes, he looks like he could play at higher levels if his development continues trending positively.
Honorable mention
Pierce Blaeser, C; St. John’s Prep, senior
Robbie Hanna, RW; Hanover, senior
Caleb Richardson, C; Sandwich. senior
Braden O’Hara, LW; Xaverian. senior
Eamon Kelly, RW; Canton, senior
Anthony Venezia, RW; Watertown, junior
Nolan Dion, D; Xaverian, senior
Brennen Pecararo, F/D; Canton, senior (played D in championship game vs. Tewksbury)
Nick Dicioccio, D; Tewksbury, junior
Payton Palladino, G; St. John’s Prep, senior
Liam Monahan, G; Hanover, junior
