Title battles decided, pride shines through

Teams skate victory laps, absorb losses

Sunday was the final day of the high school hockey season. For the teams who outlasted everyone else on their way to the state finals, all the games, practices, strategy sessions, off-season work, and team dinners converged at TD Banknorth Garden. At the end, another chapter will be written in the lives of players, coaches, and parents, scripted for some with immense joy or with numb feelings. Here are scenes from the last day of the ride . . .

While the first of four finals was being decided, the Newburyport boys' team skated the Division 2 title around the Graf Rink on Low Street in Newburyport, for one final victory lap.

The previous Saturday's thrilling 4-3 overtime win over Canton at the Garden gave the Clippers their first state championship, and the team, its coaches, and the town lasting memories.

"It's an experience I wish every high school athlete could be a part of," said coach Paul Yameen. "The following we had, and response we had throughout the community was just fabulous. These kids have this for the rest of their lives."

The week after the title has been a blissful time in Newburyport. Yameen, a Lawrence native, described the packed house in the Park Lunch restaurant on Merrimac Street, with ex-Clippers tearfully asking to hold up the state title. The phone calls from the mayor and a state senator. Senior captains going to the middle schools with the trophy, seeing all the young faces who can't wait to wear the maroon-and-gold Clipper jerseys.

It was a roller-coaster ride that many players didn't want to end.

"I'll take something [senior forward] Colin Cusack said to me after the game to my grave," said Yameen. "He said to me, 'I love you Coach. As much fun as this has been, it's a sad day for me because I never want to take this jersey off.' I have a hard time even saying that now. It's very emotional. . . . I told him 'I know how tough it is to take the jersey off. But not too many guys can say they went out like you did - as a member of the first Newburyport hockey team to win a state championship.' "

Burlington High boys' coach Bob Conceison leans up against the wall outside the visiting NHL dressing room. His team is sitting silently inside. "I was disappointed with how we came out in the first period," he said after the Red Devils lost, 5-1, to Catholic Memorial in the Super 8 final. "I didn't know it we were nervous or in awe of the situation. I thought we could put together a period in the second and make a game of it."

Burlington was backed by hundreds of red-clad fans, but couldn't stop Catholic Memorial's high-end scoring talents or break through its lock-down defense.

"The mark of a good team is that they stop your opportunities and make opportunities for themselves," said Conceison. "I thought that was the story of the game."

Conceison knew that once the sting wore off, his team would appreciate its accomplishments. He said he would remember winning the Middlesex League first, then running the Super 8 gantlet on the way to the title game.

"No one expected this team to be here - nobody in the state, nobody in the league. It's going to take them a while to realize that, but they will eventually," he said. "It'll take them a while, but there aren't many teams who played their final game at the Garden. These guys have to be proud of it."

Down the hall, Catholic Memorial's Super 8 title celebration has cooled, and coach Bill Hanson has a hug and words for every player as they leave the locker room.

"School tomorrow," he reminds them.

The final buzzer has sounded on the ice, and it's quiet outside Shrewsbury's locker room at the Garden.

The room is tranquil, filled by navy hockey bags and a big paper sign on the wall, nearly 10 feet across, painted with the word "BELIEVE."

Then, tranquillity becomes joyful mayhem.

The Colonials, the fifth seed in the Division 3 Central tournament, come pouring down the hallway after they dispatched Shawsheen Tech, 3-2, and lifted their first state title in 10 years. The players romp around, hugging one another, shouting and pointing fingers to the sky.

Coach John Binkoski is beaming, his eyes nearly smiled shut. Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertanga is beaming, too.

"I've known John forever. We grew up together," Bertanga says, before he sees Binkoski approaching and grabs him, congratulating him heartily.

"It was a very emotional season," says Binkoski. "We sat in the coaches' room before practice one day and wondered if we were going to make the playoffs. We weren't playing well, we weren't practicing well."

He recounts his team's accomplishments, from sophomore Curtis Beals, a JV-player-turned-varsity-third-liner who had a goal and an assist in the final, to the play of senior captains Castan Sommer and Dave Comeau, to junior goalie Pat Coates, who allowed just four goals in the tournament.

Sommer, who scored the goal that put the Colonials up 3-1, is swarmed by reporters and television cameras.

His teammates have cameras of their own, shouting and taking pictures as he's interviewed.

"We love you Castan!" says one, as others load up handfuls of shaving cream, intending to wipe them on Sommer.

Then, a big cheer and clapping is heard as the prank is turned on Binkoski, who now wears a grin and a face covered in shaving cream.

Matt Porter can be reached at heymattporter@gmail.com.