MIDDLETON — The St. John’s Prep hockey team came out on Wednesday and did what it has done many times this season, striking first and riding the momentum to a victory as the Eagles took down Bridgewater-Raynham by a score of 4-1 in the regular-season finale at Essex Sports Center.
“It’s kind of been a hallmark of our team all year, and you love to jump out and score early like that,” said Prep coach Kristian Hanson. “I thought our energy level wasn’t quite where I’d like to see it, especially heading into the tournament, but I just chalk that up to it having been Senior Day on Monday and the guys playing an emotional game. Overall it was a good effort from us.”
Lynnfield native Tommy Sarni led the offensive attack with two goals, while linemate and fellow Lynnfield native Will Van Sicklin added one goal and one assist. Cam Umlah added the fourth goal for the Eagles, while Joe Melanson, Jimmy Ayers, Johnny Tighe and Lynnfield native Christian Rosa each had one assist. Goalie Luke Quinn only needed nine saves to pick up the victory in net.
The Eagles came out and pushed the pace from the very beginning, not allowing Bridgewater-Raynham to get into open space and controlling possession of the puck for much of the period. That possession came to fruition in the final five minutes of the frame, as Sarni took a pass from Van Sicklin and ripped a tough angle shot from the lower left circle that snuck under the crossbar and made it a 1-0 game.
The Prep was able to stretch out that lead in the second, as Van Sicklin scored a goal of his own less than two minutes into the period. Umlah added his goal six minutes later; then Bridgewater-Raynham was finally able to stem the tide with a goal from Zach Sinclair to make it 3-1.
But the Eagles quickly retook control of the game and capped things off a few minutes later, as Sarni cleaned up a loose puck in front of the net for his second goal of the game to make it 4-1.
Bridgewater-Raynham made a couple of runs at the net in the third period, but the Prep was able to turn them away each time. After a couple of power plays to help run out the clock, the Eagles skated home with the victory.
St. John’s Prep closes out the regular season at 17-3-0 and will likely remain as the No. 1-ranked team in Division 1 when the state tournament brackets are released this weekend.
“It’s a tough thing to be the No. 1 team in the state for the majority of the season, and I think we’ve seen that in the fact that we get every team’s best shot,” said Hanson. “But those are the things that make you a stronger team, and I think our league schedule and our non-conference schedule have helped prepare us for a run in the state tournament.”
