Canton girls, boys hockey both fall just short in Division 2 state championship games

BOSTON – That unfinished business will remain somewhat unfinished for now.

But at least the Bulldogs, both girls and boys, got their title shots this time.

Canton High School's dream of leaving TD Garden with two hockey state championships didn't come true on Sunday as the Bulldogs lost in both the girls and boys Division 2 state finals. The girls succumbed in overtime to Algonquin, 2-1, and the boys followed them onto the ice with a 3-1 loss to Tewksbury.

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Both Canton teams had to share their respective Division 2 crowns at the end of the 2019-20 season when the pandemic forced the MIAA to cancel the full slate of championship games. After a 2020-21 winter in which no playoffs were staged, both Bulldogs teams were laser-focused this season on returning to the Garden to win outright titles.

They came oh-so-close, but sophomore Mallory Farrell ended the girls' bid on a solo move with 1:58 left in 4-on-4 OT, and the boys were done in by a pair of goals from defenseman Caden Connors, including the clincher into an empty net with 61 seconds remaining.

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A downer ending, to be sure, but finally setting foot on Garden ice after all this time was a victory in itself for both programs.

"Give me this any day of the week," Canton boys coach Brian Shuman said. "To be here and give these kids the chance to play in this wonderful place, this amazing venue, it's just great to be back playing postseason sports – basketball and hockey in particular these last couple of days. There's nothing like it.

"It wasn't the results we wanted for the Canton boys and girls, but I think I speak on behalf of the whole Canton hockey community when I say that it's pretty remarkable that we're both here. It's a testament to the many, many people who make the Canton youth program run and the high school programs as well."

Girls coach Dennis Aldrich seconded that emotion.

"It's always tough (to lose)," he said. "You're always going to look at this as a crash ending here, but there's so much these kids have done this year to get to this point, it's just incredible."

The boys, seeded third in their tournament, finished 22-3-1 and had two impressive win streaks snapped. They had won 22 straight this season after an 0-2-1 start. And they had won 13 straight playoff games since losing in the 2018 Division 2 South semifinals to eventual state champ Plymouth South. The playoff win streak included the legendary 2019 state title (the Bulldogs were 25-0-1 that season), the run to the abandoned 2020 final and the first four playoff games this winter.

The girls, seeded ninth, checked in at 18-7. Canton lost back-to-back state finals in 2017 and 2018, got to the second round in 2019 and then shared the 2020 crown before making a spirited run to this year's showcase game.

"To have them play (so well) back in 2020 and not be able to get here (was disappointing)," said Aldrich, whose 2019-20 team was 19-1-4. "I was smiling as soon as the whistle went in the Natick game (the state semifinals) because the girls were finally going to get to experience this ... because it was cut short (in 2020). They had earned the right to be there. It just didn't happen.

"Certainly the icing on the cake (would have been to win today). To be able to finish off (with a state title) would have been unreal, especially since our boys are playing right behind us. Canton is such an over-the-top hockey town, and the support from all our parents and the town youth hockey (program) has been great. ... We wanted it for all of them. We had three teams of U10, U12 and U14 at our practice yesterday cheering us on. It means a lot (to the town). I'm very proud to be part of the program."

DURAND STOOD TALL

The girls' season ended when Farrell worked her OT magic yet again. The 10th-seeded Tomahawks (19-3-2) won their last three playoff games in OT with Farrell netting two of the winners. She also had both goals in a second-round 2-0 win over Westwood.

"I gotta thank my team," she said. "They've been putting passes right on my stick. I couldn't have done it without them."

Farrell didn't need much help on the winning goal, though. She took off down the right wing, got around a defender, cut through the crease and finished into an open net.

"I knew I had to keep going, keep skating," Farrell said. "Legs were tired but we were playing a helluva game so I knew I had to keep going. I just pulled the goalie out and saw a wide-open net, so that's how that went."

"I saw a gear in Mallory that we hadn't seen all game," Aldrich said. "She went down the wall and we had a couple of tired defensemen; they did what they could. Tip your cap (to her). That's a great move by a really young, good hockey player."

With not much offense to speak of – junior defenseman Maya Battista had staked Canton to a 1-0 lead in the first period – the Bulldogs were hoping that standout junior goalie Carolyn Durand could steal them a win. She was almost up to the task, but Bryn Domolky scored midway through the third period to knot it up, setting the stage for Farrell.

Durand missed the first four games of the season with a broken ankle as the Bulldogs started 1-3. Once she got back they went 17-4 and allowed only 23 goals over 21 games.

"She brings so much," Aldrich said. "We just love her to death. She's taking (the loss) the hardest right now, but she's the reason that we're here."

SLOW START WAS COSTLY

In a 6-3 semifinal win over Gloucester, the Canton boys had scored four goals in the first 4:21. Tewksbury (22-2) turned the tables as Matthew Cooke and Connors staked the No. 1 seed to a 2-0 lead in the first period.

A.J. Thomas gave Canton some life with 7:13 remaining in the third with a wrister from the slot for his sixth goal of the postseason.

"He's got such a quick shot and he's really talented around the net – poised and able to really do things that other people can't do," Shuman said. "He slows the game down when he's near the net and I think that's why he's had so many goals for us this year."

Canton freshman goalie Colin Davis had a strong game, but Tewksbury's Ben O'Keefe stole the show with some big saves, including a dazzling, point-blank glove stop against Brian Middleton in the second period.

O'Keefe watched from the stands in 2019 as Canton rolled over Tewksbury, 6-2, in the state final. Seven Tewksbury seniors were on that team and coach Derek Doherty said revenge was on their minds.

"This season wasn't going to be complete unless we won this game tonight," he said. "And that was it."

WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR

While the Canton girls will have to replace standout seniors such as defenseman Allie McCabe and forwards Payton McDonough and Tess Khoury, the boys also will be missing some big pieces next winter, including co-captains Eamon Kelly and Sean Connolly.

"This class, they've been through a hell of a lot," Shuman noted. "When they were freshmen I don't think they (could imagine) what they'd have to go through. Last season you could see something special emerging during that COVID-shortened year because they built that bond that helped them get here.

"Even though they weren't here the last time we made it (to the Garden), they still showed some grit and resilience and just a real love for each other that got us to this point."

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Canton girls, boys hockey teams fall in Div. 2 state finals at Garden