Warriors Set to Battle in State Title Game

The Wakefield High boys hockey team has taken down every top seed in the Div. 1 North sectional on its way to the championship. 

The Warriors won all their games in upset fashion, beating second-seeded Reading 1-0 in the quarterfinals, followed by a 4-3 shootout win over No. 3 Billerica and then put the icing on the cake with a 4-3 win over No. 1 St. Mary’s of Lynn to take the Div. 1 North title. 

Now Wakefield will need to keep that momentum going as it heads to the TD Garden for the Div. 1 state title game against Marshfield (14-3-5), the third seed and Div. 1 South champion. 

“It’s a good feeling,” said Wakefield head coach Derek Edgerly. “These kids have just played unbelievable these last two or three weeks and it’s just a great run. I knew with hard work we could get into the tournament. Did I think we were going to go this far? Absolutely not. It takes more than just talent. It’s a lot of luck, but these kids this year have just been playing great.”

With a full week to prepare for Sunday’s game, Edgerly said his team has been playing lights out in practice. 

“I took Sunday and Monday off and went back to practice on Tuesday and it was the fastest practice I’ve ever seen,” said Edgerly. “I don’t even know if they touched the puck, they were flying.”

But while the Warriors have been able to keep their intensity heading into Sunday, Edgerly said they’ve also been able to keep thinks a little light. 

“(Wednesday’s) practice was right on the money again and today we’re going hard for an hour and half and then take it easy (on Friday) and Saturday,” said Edgerly. “Practices have been good, upbeat and a lot of fooling around. I like that, I like these kids to stay nice and loose.”

After scouting Marshfield in its 4-1 win over top-seeded Springfield Cathedral in the championship game, Edgerly is expecting a hybrid team made up of some of the best aspects of the squads Wakefield has taken down so far in the tournament. 

“I was down there the other night watching them against Springfield Cathedral,” said Edgerly. “They’re big like Billerica and they have a lot of speed like St. Mary’s. It’s going to take a battle. Either way it’s going to be a public school champion at Div. 1 which I think is just a great accomplishment for public schools.”

With talented starters like John Sartell, Pat McCarthy, Adam Giancola and Nakia Brown leading the way, Edgerly has been getting contributions from up and down the roster all season long.  

“All of a sudden I get guys like Kyle Leone scoring a hat trick,” said Edgerly. “Andrew Finocchio, who was a fourth line player in his first year playing varsity hockey, is playing the second line now. My third line with Joe McCarthy in the middle, Tyler McDonald on the left and Mike Delano on the right are playing unbelievable. They’re shutting lines down.”

But while it seems like a different player has stepped in every game this season, there has been one constant throughout, goalie Joe Cerulo. Cerulo has allowed just six goals in the tournament and held the high-powered Reading Rockets scoreless in the quarterfinals. 

“I think (Cerulo) has been playing the best in the Middlesex League,” said Edgerly. “He’s just a kid that’s big and plays his game great. He’s a standup goaltender... and stands up like (New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur.) He doesn’t play the French style which a lot of goalies today do. He plays that standup style. He’s old school... he looks like someone back in the 70’s.”

Wakefield and Marshfield will face off on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the TD Garden in Boston.