No luck needed: CM wins 13th title
O'Brien, Knights deny Burlington
There was no more public school magic at the TD Banknorth Garden last night. Catholic Memorial saw to that with a 5-1 win over Burlington to capture its 13th Super 8 title.
Junior forward TJ O'Brien scored a hat trick, including a highlight-reel goal in the second period, for the Knights, the winningest program in the history of the tournament.
"This is bittersweet, because you are going to miss the kids," said Catholic Memorial coach Bill Hanson. "It was a tough year, physically and emotionally. I can't say enough about what they accomplished."
Dan Cornell, who had only 6 points all season, continued his stellar Super 8, scoring the game's first goal just over three minutes in. Cornell threw the puck at the net from the side wall - and Burlington goaltender Ben Irwin never saw it.
Just 53 seconds later, the Devils gave their very large red-clad fan section a reason to cheer when Peter Russo came in 2-on-1 with Joe Yeadon. Russo tried to find Yeadon at the top of the crease, but the pass hit a defender's stick and went into the net.
The Knights dominated the rest of the period, outshooting the Devils in the frame, 12-5. They turned that domination into a lead at 8:13 when O'Brien lifted a puck into the top corner on the short side.
Shane Walsh got an assist on the play, as did Derek Colucci, CM's top point getter, who played in his first game since breaking his jaw against Winchester March 1 in the opening game of the Super 8.
Colucci added to the lead after tipping in a great cross-ice feed from Walsh just 26 seconds into the second period.
"We took [Colucci] up to Harvard after his surgery," said Hanson. "Ted Donato helped us out and had his equipment guy make that face guard for Derek."
Though Burlington played CM much tougher in the second period, a great individual effort by O'Brien gave the Knights a near-insurmountable 4-1 lead at 8:40. O'Brien took the puck away from a Burlington defenseman at the blue line, skated in alone, faked to his backhand, and then went to the forehand to beat Irwin, flying through the air as he scored.
O'Brien would ice his own cake just 51 seconds into the final frame when he took a pass from Colucci and buried his shot for a 5-1 lead and the hat trick.
"Coach just told me to keep throwing it at the net," said O'Brien, who had a hat trick in the semifinal game against Malden Catholic as well. "I just shot from any angle and it paid off." 