Latin rules the ice in City League

For the third straight year, Latin Academy and East Boston squared off for the City League boys' hockey title. And for the third straight year, the Dragons showed the league belongs to them, taking a 10-1 win yesterday at Northeastern's Matthews Arena.

It is the third straight title for Latin, which has outscored Eastie, 28-2, over the last three years.

''It goes in cycles, right now we're the hot team," said Latin Academy veteran coach Hank Quigg, who came back to coach the Dragons after one year of retirement.

The final score doesn't represent the competitive first period; the scoring didn't begin until 9:52. After a scramble in front of the East Boston net, Latin Academy sophomore Mike Phelan came up with a goal. East Boston responded at 10:20 with its only goal, from sophomore Joseph Mulcahy. But a Mitchell Gillis goal a minute later put Latin up, 2-1, to end the period.

''We weren't very happy," said Quigg about his team's first-period performance. ''We beat them twice this season so I think they thought they could just throw it in."

East Boston could muster only one period of competitive hockey against the Dragons. After a high sticking penalty gave Latin Academy a power play, resulting in another goal (by senior Nick Regan), the Dragons scored twice within one minute to take a 5-1 lead.

Latin got two more goals before the period ended (from senior Tom Sullivan and junior Jim Sweeney). Three goals in the third period ended the scoring deluge against an overmatched East Boston team.

''They've got all young kids on the team," said Quigg. ''But we're playing great."

Sullivan (one goal, two assists) was named the championship's Most Valuable Player.

''There are five other seniors on the team so it feels good to win [MVP]," said Sullivan. ''We've won [the championship] the past three years so it's not a big deal."

But Quigg thinks the MVP honor really meant a lot to Sullivan, who has been on the team since the eighth grade. ''He wrote an article in sixth grade saying he wanted to play hockey for Latin Academy, so for him to win that trophy, it's a big deal," he said.

When it comes to the City League, Latin Academy is hot. But the team's chances heading into the MIAA state tournament are not so clear. Latin Academy lost in the first round last year.

''Our kids are really confident," said Quigg. ''We'll play anybody, anytime, anywhere."