Hingham punches ticket to Patriot Cup final

BOURNE — It isn’t too common to see two schools that play in the same league for most sports go years, or especially decades, without a meeting.

Under unique circumstances, however, Hingham’s boys hockey program joined the Patriot League in 2021 after playing as an independent for nearly 20 years. To nobody’s surprise, the Harbormen have continued their winning ways. In one of the most violent games imaginable, Hingham punched its ticket to the Patriot Cup finals, knocking off Scituate in a 5-2 finish at Gallo Ice Arena on Wednesday.

“I think we have a lot of talent on this team,” said Hingham coach Tony Messina. “Sometimes we get taken off our game, but I think coming into this game tonight, we knew they were going to be physical. We had prepared for it. We stressed being composed with the puck, and being smart with it. Maybe that’s what led to (this result).”

Despite controlling the tempo early, Hingham (13-1) quickly found itself trailing, as Scituate freshman James Sullivan fired a shot from the slot off the left post and into the twine, as the Sailors (11-2) seized a 1-0 lead with 10:11 remaining in the opening period.

However, when physical play becomes a factor, penalties usually follow. Shortly after the Sailors were whistled for elbowing, Hingham would convert on the power play, as sophomore Aidan Brazel ripped a shot off the crossbar and in, knotting the score at 1-all with 6:41 remaining in the stanza. Moments later, Bobby Falvey tallied a goal, as the Harbormen took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

While the Sailors looked to wear things down with their hard-hitting style of play, the Harbormen continued to roll with the punches.

With three minutes to play in the second period, Evan Corbett scored his ninth goal of the season for Hingham, collecting a cross-ice pass from Paul Forbes, before taking a hack at the puck and knocking it home to make it 3-1.

“They were a good team,” Corbett said of Scituate. “But we knew we were better. We knew if we kept the pace up, played faster, that they couldn’t keep up with us.”

Forbes would add a goal on a beautiful wraparound with 10:21 to play, before Corbett buried his second with 2:39 left in regulation to seal the win. Corbett also had an assist to his credit.

Dylan McDonald added a goal for Scituate in the effort, while Cole Coyne recorded 25 saves for the Sailors.

The Harbormen will now face an opponent in the finals they know almost too well, one which also joined the Patriot League to start 2021. That would be Marshfield, which defeated Hanover, 2-1, to advance a few hours earlier.

“Ironic (isn’t it)?” Messina chuckled. “We know those guys so well. It’s a funny setup, but we expect their best game of the year on Friday night.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/37otTne