Cougars Strike Early, But MC Takes Super 8 Crown

Austin Prep dealt a body blow to Malden Catholic early in a heavyweight boys hockey battle on Sunday night at TD Garden. But in the end, it was the Lancers who dealt the devestating blows to the Cougars as Malden Catholic went on to win a third straight Division 1A championship.

Nolan Vesey put home a goal 14 seconds into the Super 8 title game, but the Lancers struck back before the period was over and eventually captured a 3-1 edge.

With 26.5 seconds left in the third period, Cam Russo found the back of the net to give Austin Prep a flicker of hope. The Cougars never got another shot on net, and were elimianted with a 3-2 loss.

"A lot of emotions scoring a goal real quick. Sometimes I really am not in love with that. I'd rather let the game play out a little bit ... But obviously you'll take goals whenever you can get them," said head coach Louis Finocchiaro. "What we talked about in the locker room was to make sure the feeling what it was like today, and to get back next year and win it. That's our goal."