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Boston Globe
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Nauset boys' hockey turns tide, history, by rallying in third period to beat Medfield, win Division 3
Four goals in the final 15 minutes by the first line of senior captain Logan Poulin, senior assistant captain Colin Ward, and junior Jake Eldredge powered top-seeded Nauset to a 4-1 win over No. 2 Medfield in the Division 3 championship at TD Garden. It's the first title in program history for the Warriors (24–0-1). 'It's great for the community,' said Poulin. 'We have a great community behind us and we were lucky enough to pull it off for them. It's a lot more than just ourselves.' After his empty net goal, Nauset captain Logan Poulin (34) knows the Warriors have locked up their first state championship. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Just 49 seconds into the third period, Poulin knocked in a rebound from Eldredge, but it was immediately waved off due to goaltender interference. Advertisement That lit a fire under the Warriors. From there, they were off to the races. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Just under three minutes later, Poulin backhanded Ward's chance over the right pad to tie the game at 3:43. After 5+ scoreless period at TD Garden between last year and this year, Nauset's Logan Poulin tallies one to tie the game 1-1. Pouring backhanded in a rebound at 3:43 mark of 3rd period. — Brendan Kurie (@BrendanKurie) 'I was lucky enough to elevate that puck and get us going,' said Poulin. 'We didn't look back from there.' With 6:48 left, Jake Eldredge gained the zone, adjusted his angle, and beat Medfield goaltender Charlie Duggan to the near post for the eventual winner. Nauset junior Jake Eldredge takes the puck through the neutral zone and snipes a glove-side goal from the circle to put — Brendan Kurie (@BrendanKurie) 'It's the best feeling in the world seeing that go in,' said Eldredge. A pair of empty net goals sealed the win. Ward finished with a goal and two assists and Logan Poulin increased his line to an incredible 53-32–85 for the season. 'It's really easy when you're playing with two of the top guys in the state,' said Poulin. 'They make me a lot better.' Nauset goalie Zach Coelho makes a save despite the pressure from Medfield's Joseph Nee in the second period in Sunday's Division 2 state final. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Senior captain Zach Coelho dazzled with 25 saves, tuning out the world and providing a steady presence as the last line of defense. 'I had that Tim Thomas mentality,' said Coelho. Senior captain Joey Nee put the Warriors ahead in the second period and Duggan made 32 saves. Nauset was the only team this season to best the Warriors (22-2-1). Joseph Nee gathers a loose puck and flicks it in for a 1-0 lead with 7:34 left in 2nd period. — Brendan Kurie (@BrendanKurie) 'I think them being here last year was the difference in that third period,' said Medfield coach Jon Jepson, who guided the team to the Garden in his first season. Advertisement As the last undefeated team in the state, Nauset's team of destiny that galvanized the community could have unfurled after scoring 132 goals prior to the third period. Instead, they parlayed their mentality into hardware. 'We knew that we had what it takes,' said Ward. 'We needed to work hard and keep that same mentality that we've had all year.' Nauset gathers together on the ice after the Warriors historic victory at TD Garden. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Nauset 4, Medfield 1 at TD Garden, Boston Medfield (22-2-1) 0 1 0 — 1 Nauset (24-0-1) 0 0 4 — 4 1, M, Joey Nee 7:26. 2, N, Logan Poulin (Colin Ward) 3:43. 3, N, Jake Eldridge 8:12. 4, N, Colin Ward (Jake Eldridge) 12:53 (en). 5, N, Logan Poulin (Colin Ward) 14:15 (en). Saves: M, Charlie Duggan, 31; N, Zach Coelho, 25. Nauset's Sam Mayhew (left) clears the puck out of his zone despite the harassment from Medfield's Luke Dickson in the pivotal third period Sunday. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Nauset's Colin Ward (8) battles to control the puck despite the riding defense of Medfield's Brayden Kane (15) during the Division 2 state final. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Medfield's Matthew Dickson (left) goes for a ride after a big hit from Nauset's Oscar Escher. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Cam Kerry can be reached at
Boston Globe
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
It just matters more: MIAA boys' hockey has taken a hit, but playing for your community? ‘You can't beat it.'
An associate's degree in junior hockey is nearly required to play in college. The speed and physicality of the college game favors those who are more developed in not just their game, but their body. Read more from this project: | Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up It's what makes players such as Logan Poulin uncommon. Advertisement Poulin never envisioned playing for Nauset Regional High School. He spent his freshman year traveling three hours a day from his hometown of 2,500 in North Truro to Hingham to skate for the Boston Advantage U15 AAA, then was recruited to play hockey and lacrosse at Milton Academy. It lasted a week. Two-plus years later, Poulin is committed to play lacrosse at the University of Vermont. He had the opportunity to play on the TD Garden ice last season, 'I couldn't have asked for it any other way,' said Poulin. 'I've had a great experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world.' In an age where many leave the MIAA for other opportunities, he did the opposite. 'He's a pretty prime example of a kid that's been lighting up in public high school hockey since he stepped foot into the thing,' said Nauset coach Connor Brickley, a former NHL player. 'Not one coach has called, emailed, or anything expressing any said interest, even at the Division 3 level.' Advertisement Nauset's Logan Poulin (center) hopes to lead his squad back to the MIAA championships at TD Garden later this month. Kylie Cooper for The Boston Globe That's because college coaches are filling their rosters from the excess of players in junior and club hockey. Scouting at elite games is a lot more effective than hopping from high school barn to high school barn. The diluted pool of players trickles down to the MIAA. Last year, Barnstable graduated 11 players and lost six more to prep school or other opportunities. Wellesley lost nine to prep school. They aren't outliers. It's a vicious cycle. 'There's a lot of options out there,' said Catholic Memorial coach Larry Rooney. 'I don't know if I'd say watered down, but it's definitely spread the talent out.' The number of co-op teams reached an all-time high, with 51 out of 179 total teams in the 2024-25 season. (In 2001-02, there were 215 teams and 36 co-ops, according to the MIAA.) The remaining smaller schools continue to give it their best shot. Latin Academy, one of two remaining Boston City League teams, fielded just 17 players. Several schools, short on numbers, dress middle schoolers. 'There are a lot of town programs that are on life support,' said Duxbury coach Mike Flaherty. 'There's a lot of programs that aren't around anymore. It's crazy.' And it's too bad. The MIAA playoffs are a transcendent experience. Upsets. Overtime. Fans overflowing to the lobby. Kids playing for the front of their jersey, as opposed to the back. Herb Brooks would be proud. 'It's harder to play in an Arlington-Reading game than a [Boston Jr.] Eagles-[Cape Cod] Whalers game with a bunch of Division 1 commits on the ice,' said Arlington coach John Messuri. 'The intensity and pride in Arlington-Reading is way higher. You don't have that intensity and pride [in club hockey].' Advertisement Winchester fans celebrate Luke Sardone (right) after he scored the game-winner to advance his team in the state playoffs in 2024. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Teams endeavoring to poach top talent tout their coaching. Many MIAA coaches are former college players with deeply embedded roots in the community. More important to them than an errant breakout pass is the development of the young men in their locker room. 'We have a lot of great coaches that care about their kids, that care about their development,' said St. John's Prep coach Kristian Hanson. 'What an amazing collection of high school coaches that are doing it the right way and developing that kid on and off the ice.' Just as the landscape has changed, so have the players. The prevalence of skills camps increases the on-ice capabilities of the players, who are widely considered better across the board than ever. The speed, skating ability, and shooting dwarfs their predecessors. What falls short is hockey IQ. Many skaters play on half-season fall teams, which are less focused on ingraining the finer points of the game compared to how many opponents one can dangle. Team-based concepts are neglected. Many MIAA coaches have the arduous task of undoing tasks learned over the fall. 'The focus is on the skills, but if I had the answer, you could bottle it and make a ton of money,' quipped Hingham coach Tony Messina. Coaches also have needed to adapt their approach around social media's presence in the game, with players yearning to create a highlight that will impress their friends. Players ingest the game in short-form video, prioritizing watching highlights over the Bruins or World Juniors. Advertisement 'I wouldn't say that's a lost art, but a lot of kids don't watch hockey as religiously as they used to,' said Marshfield coach Dan Connolly. Now, most video sessions are short and focus on what was done well, as opposed to what wasn't. The era of giving tongue lashings for mistakes, on the bench or in the locker room, is long gone. 'We're all doing more video, because that's how kids understand things now,' said Xaverian coach Dave Spinale. 'They're so screen-heavy … When you show them something on video, it rings true.' Sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. A whopping 18,851 fans paid to see the MIAA championships on Causeway Street last year, filing past Bobby Orr's bronze replica to cheer on their hometown heroes. MIAA hockey possesses an indelible history in the Commonwealth, a fabric that unites communities. It's the same it has always been: If a player is talented enough to play in The Show, it's nothing more than a development league before moving on to other opportunities. It's just that fewer talented players are even throwing on the hometown jerseys. That doesn't mean the on-ice product is lacking. 'To see all of your guys get fired up, your parents in the crowd, it's the best feeling,' said Archbishop Williams junior Brody Kabilian, who netted a hat trick in the Bishops' 6-1 first-round win over Needham. 'You can't beat it.' Most importantly? The players care. So do the fans in the stands. 'You're playing with your town, with your community, with your best friends,' said Messina. 'There's nothing better than that.' Cam Kerry can be reached at
