MC’s depth overwhelms Hingham, 8-1

NO. ANDOVER – The team that would be king staged a coup at Merrimack College’s Lawler Arena Tuesday night as pre-tournament favorite Malden Catholic bludgeoned defending champion Hingham, 8-1, in a Division 1A round-robin game.Malden Catholic (18-2-2) now has control of Bracket One with a 2-0 mark while Hingham (13-7-4) fell to 0-2 and, in all likelihood, saw any chance of securing a spot in the semifinals disappear under an avalanche of Lancer goals.While Massachusetts hockey fans have paid close attention to the dizzying exploits of MC’s first line all season, this was a night for the second line and its considerable talents. Senior Garrett White (four goals, assist), sophomore Mike Iovanna (two goals, two assists) and junior Nick Roberto (four assists) exploded for 12 points. All things considered, it was a quiet evening for the first group of Mike Vecchione (two assists), Ryan Fitzgerald (goal) and Brendan Collier (goal).”They can do that when they’re moving the puck,” said MC coach Chris Serino. “Everyone says we’re a one-line team and we’re not. That’s our 1A line and they’d be the top line on most other teams. They made great decisions and (Garrett White) is a great shooter. That line did a great job.”Junior James Gordon flipped home a backhander just 2:52 into the game, giving Hingham a 1-0 lead and setting off a celebration that White quieted 50 seconds later. Roberto won a faceoff at the left dot directly to White, whose blast from the top of the circle broke off Hingham goalie Derek McInnis’s glove, tying it at 1-1.The pair replicated that goal at 4:17 of the second period when White buried another faceoff setup from Roberto for what proved to be the game-winner. That set off a trademark MC scoring frenzy as Fitzgerald and Iovanna scored 1:18 apart to extend the Lancers’ advantage to 4-1 with 8:22 left in the period.White completed his hat trick with 3:53 left in the period. Exiting the penalty box, he accepted Roberto’s feed, maneuvered past two Harbormen defenders and cut left for a backhand finish past McInnis. Roberto swelled the lead to 6-1 with 35 seconds left in the period. MC dominated the final period, tacking on power play goals by Collier and White.Prior to the game, a moment of silence was held in memory of former Reading High coach Peter Doherty, who died Sunday. Doherty’s Rockets became the first public school team to win the 1A in 2008.