CHELMSFORD — Andover had already made history, earning its first Super 8 berth in program history in a year that could have been derailed by controversy.
Unfortunately for the Golden Warriors, there would be no storybook end to that run.
After a few Andover chances in overtime were stopped, St. John’s Shrewsbury raced up ice and scored to take a 3-2 victory in the Super 8 loser’s bracket.
“I think the kids left it all on the ice,” said Golden Warriors coach Chris Kuchar. “We had our chances down the stretch. We had a few really good chances in overtime. It’s so tough to end this way.”
The loss eliminates No. 5 Andover (13-7-2) from the Super 8. No. 8 St. John’s Shrewsbury continues in the loser’s bracket, to take on the loser of Monday’s game between No. 2 Boston College High School and No. 3 St. John’s Prep.
“A lot of the kids are hurting right now,” said Kuchar. “We’re all hurting. But with the things that we have gone through this year, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Each time the Golden Warriors took the lead, Shrewsbury was quick to respond.
Andover went up 1-0 midway through the first quarter. Senior Caeden Dillman took a pass inside the blueline and blasted the puck over the goalie’s blocker for his eighth goal of the year. But just over three minutes later, the Pioneers scored to tie the game.
Michael Reilly gave the Warriors the lead back 1:33 into the third, skating out in front and flipping a shot into the goal. But this time, Shrewsbury needed just 24 seconds to tie it up again.
“They’re a good hockey team,” said Kuchar. “We knew we were facing a tough team. They made it hard for us to get the puck in the net. We had a few chances in the 4 on 4 (overtime), and they got their sticks in the way.”
Andover had a few golden chances in overtime. But one shot skidded just wide of the post, and two others were saved to keep Shrewsbury alive. Then, with 1:30 left in the first OT, the Pioneers scored the winner.
Golden Warriors goalie Cole Chingris once again starred. He finished with 26 saves, his two best coming in overtime. First, he sprawled out to knock a puck away with his left leg. Then, a minute later, he made a huge glove save in traffic.
“I can’t say enough about how our goalie played,” said Kuchar. “He played his heart out. Cole gave us the opportunity to be here, and he played his heart out until the end.
“We would have loved to move on. But with how this year played out, my kids showed amazing character and resilience. They just kept on fighting. It shows not just their hockey ability, but their character as men. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
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Boys Ice Hockey, 03/04/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
LOWELL — With the game on the line in the opening minute of overtime, Cole Chingris turned in yet another brilliant save. The Andover goalie stretched his left leg as far as he would go, kicking the puck away from the net and keeping his team alive.
But No. 4 Hingham was able to regain possession, worked it around and scored 0:55 into overtime to beat the No. 5 Golden Warriors 2-1 in the first round of the Super 8 tournament.
“I thought we started off slow, then made some changes in the second period that allowed us to climb back in,” said Andover coach Chris Kuchar. “We showed tonight that we can play with any team in Massachusetts. We just didn’t get the breaks.”
The Golden Warriors (13-6-2) now move into the Super 8 losers bracket. They will next face the loser of No. 1 Central Catholic and No. 8 St. John’s Shrewsbury, who play on Thursday at the Tsongas Center (7:30 p.m.)
Andover and the loser will face off on Sunday at the Chelmsford Forum in Billerica (time TBA). The loser of that game will be eliminated from the tournament.
“We will come to practice on Thursday and we’re going to work hard,” said Kuchar. “And we will prepare for our next opponent. If we come out and play better early on Sunday I think we have a good shot. But it’s do-or-die on Sunday.”
Playing in the first Super 8 game in program history, Andover came out slow, and fell behind 1-0 after one period.
After that first goal, however, Warriors goalie Chingris (37 saves) began to take over the game.
The netminder turned in a huge glove save midway through the second. Then, in the final moments of the period, he stopped a puck in traffic that looked destined for the goal.
“Cole was outstanding,” said Kuchar. “He played so well. He has done that all year. He put us in position to make the Super 8, and he delivered again.”
Andover finally broke through 2:26 into the third. Freshman Shane Lachance took a pass and fired a shot that just dribbled through the pads of the Hingham goalie to make it 1-1. Assists went to Jack Keeler and Steve Ingram.
“That whole line played great,” said Kuchar. “They were out for a long stretch in the second and really swung momentum. They earned their shifts and did it again tonight.”
From there, Chingris continued to shine. After going to his stomach to make one save, he was able to reach up with his glove to make a highlight-reel stop. Then with 6:23 left in regulation, he reached back with his glove to block a backhand.
“We couldn’t get to the front of the net like we wanted to because of Andover’s defense,” said Hingham coach Tony Messina. “They are a great team with a great goalie. They are very hard to score on. We are happy to get out of there with a win.”
After a few more huge stops by Chingris, Hingham was able to break through less than a minute into overtime. The Harbormen will next play the winner of Central Catholic and St. John’s Shrewsbury on Monday.
“I’m proud of our effort,” said Kuchar. “That’s a big, strong Hingham team there that put us on our heels a little bit. We have to perform now, because the loser goes home starting Sunday. And we are going to do our best to keep playing.”
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/28/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Caeden Dillman had the natural hat trick in the first period and Andover continued to play some of the best hockey in the state with a 3-1 win over St. John's of Shrewsbury, which fell to 12-6-3. Dillman scored just 23 seconds in and had two in four minutes.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/20/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Andover's boys hockey team won its second straight 2-0 game against a top team since head coach Chris Kuchar returned to the team, defeating defending Super 8 champ Arlington to improve to 11-5-2. Matt Belluche and Caeden Dillman scored for the Warriors and Cole Gingras had 25 saves.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/19/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Freshman Sam Murray scored his first career goal and Andover earned a huge 2-0 win over Waltham, the No, 9-ranked team in the state. Fellow freshman Steve Ingram scored the other goal and Cole Chingris made 21 saves to blank a Hawks team that beat Central Catholic on Feb. 8.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/17/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
SALEM - Rebounding from its first loss of the season two nights
earlier, Central Catholic not only got back on track Saturday evening,
but also showed the weapons that have the Raiders ranked tops in the
state.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/10/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Cole Chingris made 21 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as Andover blanked Billerica 4-0.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 01/31/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
It was a memorable day for John Waccome. The senior forward netted his first varsity goal to help Andover earn a victory over Boston Latin.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 01/15/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Defenseman Jake Lachance scored two goals to lead Andover to a season-opening 5-0 victory over Acton-Boxboro. In his first varsity start, Cole Chingris needed to make just six saves for the shutout.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 12/14/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
