In their past two tournament runs, the Pioneers have secured eight wins in consecutive trips to the Division 1 championship at TD Garden. Five required at least one overtime session, most recently a 3-2 double-overtime semifinal victory against No. 4 Arlington.
Last year, three wins came in overtime or beyond. This season has been more of the same, as eighth-seeded St. John’s (14-8-1) embraced its cardiac ways to win a pair of double OT thrillers.
“Two completely different teams, but it’s still the same goal,” said junior goaltender Colin McCarthy. “We just keep rolling and no matter what, we never give up.”
In the first round, sophomore sensation Nico Santella netted the double-overtime winner, surviving a scare from No. 25 Acton-Boxborough. Santella delivered again a round later, as his mark with 42.2 remaining ousted No. 9 BC High.
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In the quarterfinals, the 5-foot-3-inch Santella delivered a third-period hat trick to bounce top-seeded Catholic Memorial, as the Pioneers rallied from a 2-1 deficit.
In the latest act, the Pioneers received a double-overtime winner from senior defenseman Kevin Bisson. St. John’s entered the third period with a two-goal cushion, but Arlington showed immense heart to battle back and force an extra session.
The Pioneers wouldn’t be denied on their quest back to TD Garden, however.
“They just believe in each other,” said St. John’s coach Michael Mead. “A lot of teams would have quit.”
Matthew McGinty scored shorthanded during the second period of St. John’s Shrewsbury’d 3-2 double-overtime win over Arlington in the MIAA Division 1 boys’ hockey semifinals on Sunday at Chelmsford Forum.Winslow Townson for The Boston Globe
Bisson plays on the first line defensive pairing, to the right of his younger brother, Ryder. Their father, Kevin, won a state title in 1999 playing for Mead and coached on his staff for several years.
“To see him go out and score the OT winner to send us to the Garden, it just means everything to me,” said Ryder. “I’m so proud to say that’s my brother.”
So how does this keep happening? The secret lies in the details.
Mead’s stoic demeanor permeates throughout the team, never getting overly emotional, even in the tensest moments. In practice leading up to the tournament, all scenarios play out – five-on-five, four-on-four, three-on-three, an extra skater with the goaltender pulled, and even shootouts.
“The team that is prepared for that usually finds success,” said Mead.
It’s heart-pumping hockey. If you want to see a thriller, watch a St. John’s game in March.
Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.
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