Wildcats Make It Two Straight Boys Hockey Titles

The Wilmington High School boys hockey team had so much fun winning at TD Garden last year, they figured they’d do it again.

Thanks to a 4-0 victory over Franklin on Sunday afternoon, the Wildcats sealed a second straight Division 2 state championship win.

“Last year, it took a lot longer to set in,” said junior Cody McGowan, who scored the first goal of the game on a breakaway with 1:27 remaining in the first period. “This year, we’re already feeling it. We’re on cloud nine.”

While the game ended up another lopsided notch in Wilmington’s belt, it could have been different if not for the goaltending of junior Drew Foley. With 8:43 to go before the first intermission, a bad bounce put the puck on a Franklin stick with a wide-open net just feet in front of the shooter.

The Panther skater rifled the shot towards the empty net. A roar went through the Franklin student section, thinking the now three-time state runner ups were ahead 1-0. Instead, Foley snatched it out of the air, waited for the whistle and casually flipped the puck out of his glove, having made a highlight reel save.

“I thought it was in to be honest,” said head coach Steve Scanlon. “Then next thing I know (Foley) is waving it around like he had it the whole time. He’s been a rock for us the whole year. We can have bad lulls in the game, and he’s there to save us.”

Foley lightheartedly said he wishes he could take full credit for the spectacular save.

“All I saw was the kid shoot it and I just waved my glove at it. More luck than skill,” said Foley with a smile. “It gave us a boost of confidence, and a few minutes later we put one in the back of the net.”

After McGowan’s goal, the game remained 1-0 until the third period. With 12:34 to go in the final period, Brendan McDonough put home a low angle rebound to make the score 2-0. Jake Rogers added a goal with just over five minutes to play, and Luke Foley added the final dagger when he stuffed in a rebound of his own.

The game was the final one in Division 2 for the two-time champions. Scanlon confirmed after the game that Wilmington lost its appeal and will be forced to move up to Division 1 next year.

While a key group of seniors will graduate this year, a core of returning players will be eligible next year as the Wildcats hope for a three-peat.

“It’s amazing. One of the best feelings in the world,” said McDonough, a junior. “Hopefully we can win it again next year.”

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