Beverly boys hockey captures Division 2 state crown

BOSTON – The only thing missing from the resume of the Beverly boys hockey team over the last few seasons was a state championship. Thanks to a talented senior class, and a friendly bounce of the puck, the Panthers finally will bring home a title to the Garden City.Connor Irving?s goal 2:13 into the third period proved to be the winner as netminder Tim Birarelli turned aside a flurry of Medfield shots in the final moments to seal a 2-1 victory and the program?s first Division 2 state championship.?Connor has done it for us all year long,” Beverly coach Bob Gilligan said. “He is such a pleasure to coach and he has such a huge heart.”The Panthers (22-1-1) were pushed to the brink by a Medfield team that outshot them 24-16 but couldn?t dent the brick wall that was Birarelli.Medfield swarmed around the Beverly net over the final moments but couldn?t get anything past the talented senior.?Timmy had a heck of a game,” Gilligan said. “What a way for him to finish out his career, here in this building and winning a state title.”Beverly broke the ice early in the second on a power play. Defenseman Matt Hamor worked his way in front and was able to redirect Nick Albano?s left point shot past Dan Graham at 2:25 for a 1-0 lead.That margin lasted all of :22 as Medfield tied the game when Justin Hirschfeld picked up a loose puck at the top of the crease and flipped it over a fallen Birarelli.The Warriors nearly took the lead in the final moments of the second but Birarelli stopped Matt Dressens? 2-on-1 bid to preserve the tie.The Panthers then got the bounce they needed when the program?s all-time leading scorer fired a puck in the direction of linemate Jesse MacLaughlin but it hit off the stick of defenseman Rob Treiber and trickled past Graham for what turned out to be the game-winner.?It wasn?t one of our prettier efforts but the boys hung tough,” Gilligan said. “They had us hemmed in quite a bit in the third period but we played very disciplined. This is a special group.”