CHS boys’ hockey cruises into postseason

Goalie Justin Slocum and the Bulldogs gave the fans plenty to cheer about in Tuesday night’s playoff opener at Metropolis Rink. (Mike Barucci photo)

Update: Senior Kevin O’Brien scored on a breakaway and sophomore goalie Justin Slocum dazzled in net as the No. 5 CHS boys’ ice hockey team blanked No. 4 Medway 2-0 in Saturday’s Division 2 south sectional quarterfinals matchup at Asiaf Rink in Brockton. The win improves Canton’s record to 14-4-4 and avenges a 3-2 loss to the Mustangs earlier this season. The Bulldogs now move on to the sectional semis to take on top-seeded Plymouth South (17-3-2) at a date and time to be announced.

***

Update: In their first home playoff game in recent memory, the CHS boys’ ice hockey team put on a stellar performance, defeating No. 12 Scituate 3-1 Tuesday night to advance to the Division 2 south sectional quarterfinals. Sophomore sensation Matt Lazaro led the way for the green and white with two goals in the win. The fifth-seeded Bulldogs will now face No. 4 Medway on Saturday, March 1, at Asiaf Rink in Brockton. (Click here for the D2 south tournament bracket.)

***

The newest fan shirt reads “Fight like a Bulldog,” and that is precisely what the CHS boys’ ice hockey team was planning to do against Scituate Tuesday night in the opening round of the Division 2 south sectional tournament.

While anything can happen come playoff time, Canton was among the hottest teams in the region going into the game, having won nine of its last 10, including a pair of statement wins last week against Lincoln-Sudbury and Coyle Cassidy following a 5-2 setback against Boston Latin on February 18.

“That was a big test for us,” said head coach Brian Shuman, referring to the aforementioned three games plus a 4-1 victory over North Quincy the week prior. “Those were four very good teams, and to come out of it 3-1 and finish with two big wins shows that we’ve made significant progress over the course of the season.”

All told, the defending Davenport Division champs finished with 12 wins and received the No. 5 overall seed. They also got a chance to open on home ice — a rarity in D2 south tournaments given the size of the bracket in most years and the frequency of first-round byes.

This year, however, the field has a robust 18 teams, and Canton arrives plenty battle-tested, with wins over No. 3 Medfield, No. 7 Milford, and No. 10 Oliver Ames, among others.

The two wins last week also came against tournament teams, including a talented Lincoln-Sudbury squad that nabbed the No. 4 seed in the D2 north bracket.

Despite playing their third game in as many days, the Bulldogs showed no signs of fatigue and actually never trailed in the contest, winning 3-2 behind goals from senior Kevin O’Brien, sophomore Matt Lazaro, and junior Brian Hagan.

A day later, Canton traveled to Taunton to play in the consolation game of the Joe Quinn Memorial Tournament, an annual two-day event hosted by Coyle Cassidy. Having already dropped the opener to eventual tournament champion Boston Latin, the Bulldogs were hoping to at least finish strong against a prospective playoff team — and they did just that, scoring three unanswered goals in the final period to knock off the hosts 4-2.

Senior captain Andrew Howlett had two of the final three goals to lead the Bulldogs, while Lazaro picked up his team-leading 21^st goal on a beautiful pass from Hagan. Senior Brendan Logan also had a goal in the win for the visitors.

As for this week’s playoff opener, the Bulldogs were due to face an unfamiliar Scituate team, albeit in the friendly confines of Metropolis Rink. The winner would go on to face either No. 4 Medway or No. 13 North Attleboro — two teams the Bulldogs have faced this season — sometime later this week.

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=24413