St. John's Tops Woburn in OT, 4-3, on Farrow's Goal

One of the more memorable quotes delivered by the colorful Yogi Berra was “It's just like deja vu all over again.” St. John's Prep hockey coach Kris Hanson experienced a bit of deja vu when Woburn's junior sniper Casey Shea tied Saturday's Division 1A round-robin game at 3-all on a splendid goal with 6:41 remaining in the third period.

“When I was playing at St. John's as a junior, we played Woburn here in the tournament and lost 4-3 in overtime,” said Hanson, who can cherish this memory thanks to junior goalie David Letarte and senior winger Jon Farrow (two goals, assist).

Letarte (16 saves) stoned Shea with a marvelous right pad save at 2:18 of OT and Farrow banged home his own rebound four minutes later as the Eagles emerged with the 4-3 OT decision at Merrimack College's Lawler Arena, joining B.C. High, Weymouth and Malden Catholic as Day One winners.

Hanson and his staff knew Woburn to be a far better team than its 6-0 loss to St. John's in mid-February would suggest.

“I hated the fact that we beat them 6-0. It was not our best game but Woburn is the Middlesex League champion and they came here to win today. I've always felt that, in any tournament, it's important to get that first win and then you can settle down. We battled and we're happy to be 1-0,” Hanson said.

In the OT, Shea – who scored all five Woburn goals in a play-in win against Springfield Cathedral – streaked down the left side, cut to the slot, then fired across his body, attempting to beat Letarte back to the short side. However, Letarte extended his right pad for the save of the game.

“I thought David played great – that was a tremendous save. Shea was the best player on the ice today,” Hanson said.

Farrow's game-winner was set up by Colin Blackwell's elusiveness along the left wall. Blackwell avoided two Tanners and swept a backhand pass to Farrow in the slot. Woburn goalie Cam McGlashing (26 saves) nullified the first shot but the rebound squirted right back to Farrow, who poked in the winner after having been checked to the ice.

“I saw the first opportunity and their kid made a nice save. Then I saw the rebound and was just hoping we would get a chance to get it in,” Hanson said.

Woburn (18-4-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead at 5:32 of the first period when junior Dan Holland wheeled unchecked from behind the St. John's goal, turned and sniped a wrist shot over Letarte's glove.

The Eagles countered with two goals 1:33 apart to grab a 2-1 lead. On the first, freshman Shane Eiserman chugged up the left side and feathered a pass to Blackwell in the slot for a one-handed re-direct past McGlashing. On the second, junior Sam Kurker caught McGlashing anticipating pass and snapped home a shot from the right dot.

When Farrow scored just 44 seconds into the second period, it appeared the Eagles were ready to roll. The Tanners, though, refused to buckle as Alex Holland pulled them to within 3-2 with a goal from the right circle at 2:39 of the period.

With 6:41 remaining in regulation, Shea accepted Alex Holland's long indirect pass off the right wall, wiggled past a St. John's defenseman, angled to the slot and pulled the puck around Letarte for a backhand finish to the far corner.

Hanson praised the gritty work of the third line of Ryan Palmer, Devin Murray and Matt MacDonald, matched against the Hollands and Shea for most of the game.

“I thought our third line did a really good job. I'm proud of how they battled because that first line is as good as any in the state,” Hanson said.

Bracket play continues for both teams Wednesday night at Merrimack. St. John's faces Needham and Woburn meets B.C. High at times to be determined. B.C. High shut out Needham Saturday, 2-0.