Wilmington Faces Off Against Winthrop for North Title

Blue collar. Defense first. Standout goalie.

If you’re trying to figure out why the Winthrop boys hockey team looks familiar, it’s because you’ve seen them all year long if you’ve followed Wilmington on its run to the North Division 2 final.

When the two teams hit the Tsongas Center ice on Monday at 6 p.m. with an appearance in the state championship game on the line, the Wildcats know they’re in for a battle.

“They’re a lot like us,” said Steve Scanlon. “I think of all the teams that we have faced so far, they mirror us more than anyone. So it’s going to be an interesting match up.”

On their path to the title game, Winthrop is yet to allow a goal. The Wildcats meanwhile, have let up just three goals total in their wins over , top seed and .

Winthrop does have the star factor. Wilmington's opponent has a coaching staff that includes Mike Eruzione, one of the signature players on the 1980 Olympic winning U.S. hockey team. And at one of the practices leading up to Monday night’s game, Winthrop had a visit from Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque.

For Wilmington, one of the keys to a deep playoff run has been the chemistry developed by the players on and off the ice.

“This is the best time,” said junior defenseman Brian Pickett. “We just realize that no matter what the outcome, we’re close to the end. We’ve grown as a team, and as friends too.”

The latter portion of that statement is key, according to Scanlon. Earlier in the season, the coach worried that his players were fighting individual play. There were several galvanizing moments in the locker room that changed that.

But as the campaign wore on, the atmosphere around the team began to stabilize.

“We had some turning points, and there was one time when I let them have it over a situation where we were all snipping about a play or two after a game,” said Scanlon. “When we started to go for the league title, things started getting better. In the tournament one or two kids won’t win it for you. You have to have the whole group, and to this point we have.”

Following their semifinal win over North Andover last Wednesday, the Wildcats took a day off from practice and then went through a practice in sweatpants before getting back to the normal routine leading up to a game.

According to senior captain Dalton Rolli, the early tempo of Monday’s game will go a long way in determining who will play at TD Garden in the Division 2 championship.

“It’s an honor to be playing on a stage this high,” said Rolli. “We’ve been working hard all year. The game itself will be a well-played game. It’ll be about who comes out faster, and who’s ready to play.”

Scanlon agreed, and said the first five minutes of the tilt will be critical. said games can get out of hand quickly, as evident in Winthrop’s 6-0 semifinal win over Saugus, a team that blew the Wildcats out of the North semifinal last season.

In the latest in a string of crunch time game for Wilmington, Scanlon said the biggest factor for his players in keeping a level head will be the player next to them.

“When you can look to your left, look to your right and say ‘that kid is as important as I am,’ you’ve arrived,” said Scanlon. “There’s no stopping you.”

The Wildcats will find out just how true that is on Monday night at 6 p.m. inside the Tsongas Center in Lowell.