BOSTON – Freshman Michael Munroe scored two goals and added two assists to pace Hanover to the 2022 MIAA Division 3 State Championship on Sunday at the TD Garden.
Linemates Robert Hanna and Max DaSilva scored twice and once, respectively, to account for all the team’s scoring en route to a 5-3 win over Marlboro, a team that hadn’t lost a game in regulation all season.
Senior left wing Marcus Chrisafideis had a goal and an assist in the losing effort for Marlboro. Also scoring for the Panthers were defenseman Luc Masse and center Mark Evangelous. While the result wasn’t what Mike O’Brien’s team was hoping for, it was still a season to remember for the Panthers.
Sunday’s crowning achievement was the fifth state championship in school history for the Hawks. Jonny Abban’s program was named co-champion in 2020 and had previously won in 2016, 2001 and 1997.
Scoring summary
HHS 1-0: Munroe made a pretty play on zone entry, feeding it to a linemate for a golden opportunity. It didn’t connect, but Hanna fed Munroe in the slot who hit pay dirt moments later.
HHS 2-0: The roles were reversed on the second goal, a similar scoring sequence to the first. Munroe gave a beautiful backhand pass from below the goal line out front to Hanna, who banged it home.
MHS 1-2: Masse scored on a nice end-to-end rush, finishing on a forehand.
MHS 2-2: After receiving a pass from Collin Tunnera, Chrisafideis took the puck out front and tried to jam it in. The first shot was stopped, but he kept at it and poked home the rebound.
HHS 3-2: The highlight reel goal of the day came from Munroe. He came down the wing, cut into the middle, protecting the puck from a defender and roofed it without breaking stride.
MHS 3-3: Evangelous scored on a two-on-one rush. Chrisafideis was coming down the right wing. He waited out a defender who went down to take away the passing lane. Showing patience, he held off until the diving defender slid past then sent it right to Evangelous for an easy goal.
HHS 4-3: DaSilva scored the game-winning goal from his back after finding a puck in a scrum in front of the net. It was a power play goal assisted by Munroe.
HHS 5-3: Hanna put the icing on the cake with an empty net goal.
Five prospects
Mikey Munroe
Hanover, 7/6/07, LW, left shot, 5-7/135
Munroe was the best player on the ice by a million miles. Even as a smaller freshman going up against older and bigger players, he was dominant. His skating, skill and hockey sense all shined through. What he did with the puck was obvious to anyone watching. However, he was equally strong away from the puck. He had a couple of good reads and backchecks to break up plays and force turnovers in the neutral zone and in his own end. Simply put, Munroe is a legit NCAA Division 1 prospect with a bright future.
Marcus Chrisafideis
Marlboro, 6/9/04, LW, left shot, 5-7/140
Chrisafideis was the next best player in the game. Obviously, he’s older than Munroe by three years, but he was slick and crafty. He’s quick and can shoot it hard. Prep schools looking for a PG and NCDC or EHL teams should be considering him for next year.
Luc Masse
Marlboro, 4/15/06, D, right shot, 5-10/155
Masse had the nice end-to-end rush to show off his skill, but I’ve liked his size in this game and the last one at Tsongas. He does some good things at both ends. As a youngster in high school hockey, he’s a player with some upside and should be watched.
Robert Hanna
Hanover, 1/1/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/155
Hanna had a couple of goals and dished out at least one helper. He has good size and had a hard shot. He was in the right place at the right time, which is an acquired skill. He’s a player that could PG at the right prep school next year.
Thao Lanagan
Hanover, 1/26/04, D, left shot, 5-9/140
Lanagan is a mobile puck-moving defenseman who made strong outlet passes. He skated with his head up and had good gaps.
Hanover lines
Munroe - DaSilva - Hanna
Cataldo - Brown - Patch
Lines - MacDermott - Joy
Radzik - Coutts - Baldwin
Lanagan - Lee
Richards - Faherty
Curtis - Watson
Monahan
Marlboro lines
Chrisafideis - Evangelous - Lind
Daly - Skillings - Giansanti
Lacroix - Deckers - 19
Miele - Tunnera
Guenard - Masse
Esteves
