ARLINGTON, Mass. — The Ed Burns High School Hockey Classic, deemed the Coffee Pot, began its three-round, two-division tournament on Sunday.
In the first installment of the tournament in its current format, 16 of the top public school teams in the state are vying for bragging rights. The only public school missing that should be playing is Belmont. The Marauders aren’t in the field due to a coaching and administrative change at the school when the tournament was being put together. The Peter Doherty Division was the top bracket with the top-eight ranked teams in the field of 16. The Walter Brinn Division hosted teams ranked ninth through 16.
Due to Saturday’s monstrous snowstorm, a few of the games were pushed back to Monday. Three of Sunday’s games took place at Ed Burns Arena. In the Peter Doherty Division, Hingham and Tewksbury held serve with wins over Winchester and Waltham, respectively. The lone Walter Brinn Division game at Ed Burns Arena saw Reading down Framingham. Arlington was set to host Marshfield on Monday in the last of the four quarterfinals in the Peter Doherty Division. At Chase Arena, Wellesley upset Braintree to advance to the Peter Doherty Division semifinals.
Sunday’s results
Peter Doherty Division
No. 4 Tewksbury 4, No. 5 Waltham 1
No. 2 Hingham 2, No. 7 Winchester 1 (OT)
No. 6 Wellesley 3, No. 3 Braintree 1
Walter Brinn Division
No. 12 Natick 3, No. 13 Walpole 2 (SO)
No. 11 Reading 4, No. 14 Framingham 1
Monday’s schedule
Peter Doherty Division
No. 1 Arlington vs. No. 8 Marshfield (6 p.m., Ed Burns Arena)
Walter Brinn Division
No. 9 Canton vs. No. 16 Burlington (5:30 p.m., Metropolis Rink)
No. 10 Franklin vs. No. 15 Weymouth (7:30 p.m., Pirelli Rink)
Connors’ four points propel Tewksbury
Senior defenseman Caden Connors scored two goals and added a pair of assists to help pace Tewksbury to a 4-1 win over Waltham in the first game of the day at Ed Burns Arena.
After a scoreless first period, Tewksbury started the scoring in the second period. Sophomore center Jeremy Insogna took a feed from Connors and went down the right wing. As he was closing in on Waltham goaltender Jack Perry, he roofed a wrist shot that beat the goaltender on his glove side, which was the short side.
Connors’ ability to get pucks up ice flourished once again on the second goal later in the same period. Connors sent a flip pass that found the stick of sophomore left wing Matthew Cooke, who slipped it past Perry for the 2-0 lead.
In the third period, Connors fired a wrist shot through traffic to give his team a 3-0 lead. Waltham cut the deficit back to two on a power play shortly thereafter. Senior defenseman Justin Cormier found junior right wing Kevin Dann for a tally. Connors iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final minutes of the third period.
Caden Connors
Tewksbury, 12/30/03, D, left shot, 6-2/190
Connors had two goals and two assists. Obviously, he’s able to move pucks up ice and has an above-average stick for this level. There’s very little else for Connors to prove at the MIAA level, as he’s now in his fourth season on the varsity for the Redmen. For him to take the next step to become a good junior or Division 3 college player, he’ll need to be able to take coaching and work on the fine details of the game. Showing more urgency, filling lanes, simplifying puck touches, and defensive positioning are all areas of his game that need work for him to take the next step after his MIAA career is over. Offensively, he’s one of the best I’ve seen at the MIAA level in 2021-22, but he’ll need to round out his game moving forward.
Justin Cormier
Waltham, 12/19/03, D, left shot, 6-1/165
Cormier jumped right off the ice at me when watching Waltham for the first time on Sunday. He showed good size, mobility, and a propensity for activating into the offense. His hockey sense needs some improvement, but he’d be a more than capable option for a prep school in search of a postgraduate defenseman who can move pucks north and jump into the offense.
Matt Cooke
Tewksbury, 1/1/06, LW, right shot, 5-11/150
Cooke has skill and a finishing touch that he showed on the game-winning goal Sunday. Cooke is a little different than his older brother, who is a more familiar name for MIAA followers. His skating is above average and he has solid offensive instincts. He has a knack for being around the puck and getting into scoring areas. Despite only scoring once Sunday, he had a good game.
Jason Cooke
Tewksbury, 2/20/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/185
Cooke was quiet on the score sheet Sunday. I’ve mentioned him a few times over the past two years in this space, so he was a player I was watching and paying attention to in the game against Waltham. He has a heavy shot and can get it off with pinpoint accuracy. Despite not scoring in this one, Tier 3 junior programs and prep schools with postgraduate students should be pursuing the senior for next season.
Nick Dicioccio
Tewksbury, 8/15/04, D, right shot, 6-0/160
Dicioccio obviously lives in the shadows of Connors when it comes to publicity. However, don’t sleep on the junior blueliner. He skated well, was strong physically, and defended well all game. He’s a player I want to watch more of, but he’s certainly got the potential to play Division 3 college hockey after another year of high school or prep and then junior hockey.
Ben O’Keefe
Tewksbury, 1/1/05, G, catches left, 6-2/170
O’Keefe made a couple of nice saves in this game. He has good size, moves well, and took up a good amount of the net. The junior is one of the better goaltenders I’ve seen in the MIAA this winter.
Drew Anderson
Waltham, 1/1/05, C, left shot, 5-11/175
Anderson centered the top line and played in all situations for the Hawks. He made a couple of plays and had a few chances that were either stopped or went just wide. A strong skater for this level, he’s a player to keep an eye on in terms of the MIAA level.
Rockets overpower Flyers
Despite the 1-1 tie after one period, it seemed as if Reading was in control for most of the second game at Ed Burns Arena. The Rockets advanced to the semifinals in the Walter Brinn Division with an easy 4-1 victory over Framingham.
Junior center Evan Pennucci, Reading’s captain, gave the Rockets a 1-0 lead on a feed from senior left wing Mike Dufton. Later in the period, Framingham evened the score on a strong individual effort from senior right wing Caleb Patrick.
From there, Reading completely took over. Senior right wing Jake Donovan scored on a nice passing sequence with senior defenseman Zach Micciche and Dufton getting credit for the assists. Later in the second period, Micciche scored on a nice setup from sophomore left wing Matt Fichera. Pennucci’s second goal of the game gave the Rockets their 4-1 cushion.
Evan Pennucci
Reading, 10/24/04, C, right shot, 5-10/175
Pennucci had a pair of goals and was around the puck all game. I’ve seen him for a few years now and know his potential, but this was the first game all season where I thought he met those expectations. Pennucci is crafty, skilled and is strong and confident with the puck on his stick.
Laz Giardina
Reading, 6/29/06, C, left shot, 6-4/181
Giardina has the most potential of anyone on the Reading team. A big center, he plays on the third line, but gets power play time. For Giardina to take the next step in his game, he’ll need to play a more simple, north-south game and play with purpose each shift. He shows flashes and got a few chances Sunday, but could be even better with proper coaching and refining small details of his game.
Cam Fahey
Reading, 1/1/06, RW, right shot, 5-9/140
Fahey made a couple of nice plays on Sunday, including a great pass on outlet from his position on the right wing in the first period. After receiving the breakout feed, he made a nice saucer pass to set up a two-on-one chance for his linemates. It ended up in a shot off the post, but it was a noticeable play.
Robbie Granara
Reading, 1/1/05, LW, left shot, 6-1/170
Granara didn’t have a point, but he has size and upside. He’s a player I’ve noticed since he was a freshman in 2019-20. I thought he played a very strong first period and created some chances for the Rockets.
Caleb Patrick
Framingham, 4/15/04, RW, right shot, 6-0/168
In my previous viewing of Framingham this season, there were other forwards who outperformed Patrick. On Sunday, Patrick had the biggest impact. He scored the goal, but he was around the puck more than any of his teammates and showed a high compete. His goal was on a nice deflection by putting himself in the dirty areas.
Zach Micciche
Reading, 1/1/04, D, right shot, 5-10/160
Micciche was around the play a lot in this game. He scored a goal and added an assist, but was impactful in the puck possession game for Reading. More of an offensive defenseman, Micciche could fill a role for a few prep schools looking for a postgraduate in 2022-23.
Mike Dufton
Reading, 1/1/04, LW, left shot, 5-7/145
Dufton had two assists in this game, one primary and one secondary. He’s on the smaller side, but he keeps his feet moving and was buzzing in this game.
Jack Kurzman
Framingham, 1/1/07, D, left shot, 6-2/145
Kurzman is intriguing, especially as an '07 freshman defenseman. He has good size and didn’t have a great game Sunday, but the potential is there based on this viewing and a previous one this winter.
Dominic Connerney
Framingham, 1/1/06, D, right shot, 5-11/150
Connerney is a player with some physical tools. He snaps off a strong pass and has above-average mobility. A young blueliner, he’s someone who could develop into a strong offensive defenseman at the MIAA level.
Davin Nichols
Framingham, 1/8/05, C, left shot, 5-11/175t
Nichols centered the top line for the Flyers and was on the ice for his team’s only goal. Similar to his linemate, Patrick, he brings energy and flies around looking to create havoc.
Harbormen squeak past Sachems
Hingham blew a 1-0 lead as time expired in regulation, but prevailed for a 2-1 win over Winchester in the final game played Sunday at Ed Burns Arena.
The Harbormen took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a nice transitional play. Senior right wing Connor Walsh gained the zone and ripped a hard, low wrist shot on net. The shot was stopped, but sophomore Travis Rugg did a good job of driving the net and poking home the rebound.
The score would stay that way until the final seconds of regulation. Winchester had pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker. With the prospects of overtime looking bleak, Danny Collins scored the equalizer right before the horn blew.
Playing four-on-four overtime, new to the MIAA in 2021-22, Hingham wouldn’t let victory be snatched away. Junior right wing Aidan Brazel used his size and length to protect the puck and fend off an opposing defender. Showing poise, he waited until the perfect opportunity to slide an area pass to junior left wing Billy Jacobus who buried it into the net.
Danny Collins
Winchester, 1/1/06, C, right shot, 5-10/155
Collins was the youngest impact player in this game. As he had in the previous three viewings of Winchester this winter, Collins used his skating and compete to hunt pucks and win races. He was credited with the late goal to force overtime. It was a wild scramble in front of the net, so it wasn’t easy to see what exactly happened. He plays in all situations and has a positive impact in all three zones.
Aidan Brazel
Hingham, 11/20/03, RW, right shot, 6-2/17
Brazel is the top offensive producer on the Harbormen and a player I’ve liked for a couple of seasons now. I didn’t think this was his best game, but he came through in the clutch. As mentioned above, Brazel used his size, length and puck protection skill to draw an opposing defender before dishing it off to a linemate on the game-winner in overtime. A power forward, Brazel is a very good MIAA player and has the potential to play in the EHL or USPHL after graduating in 2023.
Bobby Falvey
Hingham, 6/30/03, D, right shot, 6-2/178
Falvey was probably the best two-way defenseman I saw all day. He might not have had the offensive impact that Connors and Cormier had, but he is capable of producing in that regard. Falvey has good size and strength, and jumps into the offense. He plays hard and brings a mean streak in his own zone.
Travis Rugg
Hingham, 7/18/05, C, left shot, 6-1/163
Rugg has good size and strength, which helps him play to his identity as a power forward. Obviously, I like that he crashed the net and buried a rebound for Hingham’s only goal in regulation. Moreover, he played a strong north-south game and won battles all game. Without the benefit of rewatching on video, I’d be surprised if he wasn’t the leader in terms of forcing turnovers and winning 50/50 puck battles.
Ace Concannon
Hingham, 7/11/04, C, right shot, 5-10/170
Concannon didn’t do a lot to catch my eye in the first period or so of the game, but he grew on me as the game moved along. He showed that he was an honest, two-way forward. He made a couple of plays while coming off the wall during even strength and man-advantage opportunities.
Connor Walsh
Hingham, 9/3/03, RW, right shot, 5-8/155
Walsh had the rush into the zone and shot, which led to Rugg’s goal in regulation. He was on pucks a lot and made quite a few plays to generate shots on goal for linemates. Walsh used his defensemen as options on low to high passes. On the smaller side, he didn’t let that get in the way as he played bigger.
Charlie Even
Hingham, 2/15/05, D, right shot, 6-3/175
Even is a player I’ve seen for a few years now and like his strength and athleticism. He’s made nice strides over the past year or two. This was certainly my best viewing of him.
Luke Merian
Hingham, 1/1/04, G, catches left, 6-6/195
Merian’s size catches your attention right away. His save percentage stood at .885 entering the game, per the team’s line chart. He exceeded those numbers in this game and made a couple of nice glove saves, showing off his quick reflexes. His base leaves some holes at times, but he showed that he has the capability of going on a run for large stretches of time.
Billy Jacobus
Hingham, 7/2/05, LW, left shot, 5-7/142
Jacobus is certainly one of Hingham’s better offensive players, but didn’t do a lot in this game until the big overtime score. His quick release made sure there was no doubt about it when he blasted a shot past Winchester’s goalie in the extra session.
Liam Doherty
Winchester, 7/22/03, D, left shot, 6-2/195
Doherty is the second-best player on the Sachems behind Collins. The senior defenseman logs a ton of minutes, brings a physical element in the defensive zone and can jump into the offense. He pushes puck possession and would be a strong candidate for a prep school looking for a postgraduate defender in 2022-23.
Max Tong
Winchester, 9/13/05, LW, left shot, 5-11/155
Tong has the puck on his stick a good amount and has solid offensive instincts. For him to take the next step in his game, he’ll need to play with more tenacity and be willing to go into the high traffic areas and take physical contact.
