As players took the ice for the first overtime of a defensive marathon in the Div. 1 state final at TD Garden on Sunday afternoon, Pope Francis head coach Brian Foley thought defenseman Luke Latulippe looked “scared to death.”
Latulippe laughed it off and lightened up when Foley told him he thought the sophomore, who had one goal all year, would win it. But Foley wasn’t really kidding.
After many clutch saves and defensive breakups from both teams through two extra frames, Latulippe’s tally from the high slot less than two minutes into double overtime secured the state championship for the No. 7 Cardinals with a 2-1 thriller over No. 8 St. John’s of Shrewsbury.
Colin McCarthy (40 saves) was phenomenal for the Pioneers in their second straight Div. 1 state final appearance, but George Ramsey (28 saves) and Pope Francis executed enough for the program’s second state title in four years.
“I just laughed,” Latulippe said of the interaction with Foley. “I was just trying to get it to the net. I just couldn’t believe it went in. … I wouldn’t believe you if you told me this (would happen). I (had) one goal all year. I couldn’t believe my second would be here. Biggest spot of my life.”
Pope Francis’ Luke Latulippe celebrates his game-winning goal in double overtime in the Division 1 boys hockey state title game at TD Garden. (Jake Whiting/Boston Herald)
After three straight years of the Div. 1 boys state final coming down to game-winning goals in the last 30 seconds of regulation, Pope Francis and St. John’s took the drama to another level by extending a 1-1 game into the first overtime the Div. 1 state final has seen in the power rankings era.
McCarthy stood on his head for much of the final 25 minutes, staving off 17 shots through the third period and first overtime. He nearly continued his dominance by getting just enough of Liam Dolan’s shot on the rush from the top of the right circle early in double overtime. The puck trickled behind him but it was scooped out of danger, only for Whitaker Zinger to steal it in front and feed Latulippe for the game-winning wrister.
“You’re not going to beat (McCarthy) without a quality shot,” Foley said. “And that was a very accurate, great shot by (Latulippe). … He had such a phenomenal year. It was great to see him finish that.”
Senior Wolfie Zinger, who scored the other goal on a rebound in front early in the second period, admitted he thought it would be one of Pope Francis’ dynamic scorers to pot the winner in overtime. But he was just happy someone netted it to win the state title.
“Perfect way to go out,” Zinger said. “It’s unreal. Coach always says the feeling of euphoria is like the best feeling in the world. It is.”
Saint John’s goalie Colin McCarthy makes a save during the Division 1 boys hockey state title game at TD Garden against Pope Francis. (Jake Whiting/Boston Herald)
This was St. John’s’ ninth straight state tournament game decided by one goal, and its sixth in the stretch that went to at least overtime. Foley called that “the sign of a good hockey team,” before saying he felt the two were evenly matched.
There isn’t much to say heading into double overtime in a game with so much on the line, but Foley found the right motivation.
“We talked about the banner,” Foley said. “You’re either going to be champs or finalists, and that lives forever. They really took that to heart.”
Defenses showed out throughout, especially in the first overtime. Mason Thayer had an exceptional disruption on a Pioneers 2-on-1 that Foley praised afterward.
Losing for a second straight year in the state final is obviously disappointing for St. John’s, but head coach Michael Mead mostly feels proud of the group. Sahvy Andino tied up the game in the second, McCarthy stood on his head and the defense limited trouble otherwise.
Pope Francis’ Jack Allen splits between two St John’s players as he takes the puck up the ice in the Division 1 boys hockey state title game at TD Garden. (Jake Whiting/Boston Herald)
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