Hockey: Mounties Fall 5-2 in the State Championship

Mount St. Charles faced off against Bishop Hendricken in the third and deciding game of the 2012 State Championship Monday evening at Providence College. Hendricken took the first game of the series in overtime and the Mounties rallied, winning game two, 3-2, setting up a winner take all game for the Division I title. 

Hendricken was the aggressor from the drop of the puck, playing a physical brand of hockey and dictating play. Mount was able to withstand the early pressure and was able to kill off concurrent penalties, including a minute of 5-on-3 play. But sloppy puck moving in their own end would prove costly in the later stages of the opening period, as a turnover enabled Paul Filippone to net the first goal for the Hawks at 11:26 in the first period.

Mount was able respond less than a minute later, as Timothy Allen was the beneficiary of a centering pass from Steven Donahue, tying the score at 1-1. But the Mounties would make another mental error at 13:54, resulting in a breakaway for Paul Mitchell, who promptly beat Brian Larence glove side to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead, which held until the end of the period.

The Hawks took advantage of a 2-on-1 chance early in the second, as Filippone lit the lamp for the second time on the night, giving Hendricken a 3-1 advantage. 

Facing a daunting task, trailing by two goals to the top seed in Division I, the Mounties made another critical error. Hawks Captain James Finan took advantage of an errant pass from the Mounties in front of their own net, finding nylon to give Hendricken a commanding 4-1 lead halfway through the second period. 

"They had couple breakdowns and we were able to take advantage and score. We had some odd-man rushes early as well, which really gave us some momentum which was huge for us," Hendricken Coach James Creamer said.

To their credit, the Mounties did not quit and came back three minutes later to score on a slap shot from the point by Nicholas Bennett, bringing MSC back within two goals.

The Mounties would have their chances to further trim the Hawks' lead down the stretch, including a 5-on-3 man-advantage. But the Hendricken penalty kill was outstanding, shutting down MSC on the three separate power plays in the final twenty minutes of play.

"I think the best part about it was the mental approach of our guys. They didn't get down on themselves. They just went out there and did it," Creamer said. 

"We just didn't do it. I give them total credit. They played the 5-on-3 perfectly. They didn't give us any shots in the middle and confused us," MSC Coach David Belisle said.

The early defensive miscues coupled with struggles on the power play, were too much for the Mounties to overcome. MSC would go scoreless in the third period due to the stellar Hawks penalty kill and some brilliant goaltending from series MVP William Palmer. Matthew Creamer would tack on an empty netter, and Hendricken earned a 5-2 victory and the Division I state title.

"We have so much respect for the Belisles and their program. We're thrilled to win any state championship. But Mount is first class. They play the right way. So it means a little more to beat them, but it's because of the way they go about things," Creamer said.

Overall, it was a successful season for the Mounties. After scuffling in the early stages of the season, they won their final seven games of the regular season to finish with the second seed in the state tournament with a 13-5 record. Then Mount dropped their first game of the playoffs in overtime to LaSalle but were able to rally to win two straight, the second of which was in double overtime. The Mounties then dropped game one of the finals in overtime, but bounced back in game two to force a decisive third game.

"It was an incredible year of excitement. We won our tournament. We played at Fenway Park. We were down to LaSalle and ready to get knocked out, but we scored in the final minute and won in double overtime in our own building. And we battled this great team [Hendricken] tooth and nail, and we just ran out of gas. But it was an incredible year," Belisle said.

"I'm just as proud of this team as I've been of any team that I've coached. Not since '88 have I been in so many exciting hockey games in the playoffs. We just played six exciting playoff games, five of which ended with a one goal differential. So I cannot be more proud of my team, my staff, my father, and Mount St. Charles. I'm proud to be a Mountie today," said Mount Coach David Belisle.