Wildcats Seek History in Division 2 Title Tilt

Wilmington players have talked about “The Road to the Garden” since day one of the hockey season. On Sunday, they’ll finally arrive at their destination.

The only obstacle threatening to keep the Wildcats from returning home with a state championship trophy is Franklin, which plays in its second straight Division 2 title tilt.

“It was wonderful to win (the North Division 2 final), but there’s still a big one out there that we have on our minds,” said Scanlon. “We’ve tried to focus on refocusing this week.”

Though no Wilmington players have championship experience at TD Garden, Scanlon has been through the game before. He’s coaching his second championship game, and said he knows now what to look out for to keep his team grounded on the big stage.

From the moment the team arrives, it’s unlike anything they’ve experienced in their young playing careers. There is a staff member assigned to the team all day and the locker room is packed with top of the line electronics.

Game conditions are different as well. Scanlon said the temperature at ice level is so warm that cramping can become an issue. To combat this, the team preached hydration early in the week to be prepared.

“Just the excitement of going on that ice, and looking up to see everything around you, it’s tough not to get caught up in it,” said Scanlon. “That hurt us last time. The kids were very starstruck by the treatment we got there, and all of the amenities of The Garden. You can’t forget that you’re there to play a game.”

Though he hasn’t played a varsity game at TD Garden, has skated on the venue’s ice. During the NHL lockout, Siegel was among a group to rent the facility and for a recreational game.

While the reward is much higher on Sunday, Siegel said he believes he’ll be less prone to butterflies because of the experience.

“Once you start playing, you might as well be playing at Ristuccia Arena because you’re zoned in,” said Siegel. “You get out there and you’re starstruck, but you flip the switch and instantly don’t pay attention to the crowd.”

Wilmington earned its spot in the game thanks to a balanced attack throughout the lineup. One of the , who said the team is clicking on all cylinders heading into the game.

“We’re all feeling good. We’re feeling confident, playing good as a team, and everyone is really sticking together,” said Owens. “It would be huge to come out with a win.”

Dalton Rolli’s in the is a big reason the Wildcats advanced to play on Sunday.

The senior captain scored with just over two minutes to play against Winthrop to snap a 2-2 tie and propel the team to the state championship

“It’s going to be hard not to be a prisoner of the moment,” said Rolli. “We’ll get everything out during warm ups and embrace the moment then, not so much much during the game. We want to have the Division 2 title. We’ve been working for it since day one. Now that the day has approached, we have to go out playing harden than we every have, and not worry so much about what’s going on around us.”

In the , Scanlon has made postseason trips an annual tradition. But the team has yet to break through with the first hockey title in school history.

The Wildcats hope to change that when puck drops at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

“We’ve had a long tradition of hockey here. It would really be a feather in our cap, a culmination of all the years of hard work,” said Scanlon. “It would be off the charts for us.”