BOURNE — Hanover’s boys hockey team has emerged as one of the Commonwealth’s most successful programs over the last decade. Despite a shaky start this season, the Hawks find themselves once again on the verge of greatness after Sunday.
Sophomore Cameron Melone registered a pair of goals, and sniped the game-ending goal in double overtime, as sixth-seeded Hanover clinched its latest trip to the Div. 4 championship with an epic 4-3 victory over Stoneham at Gallo Arena.
“We started off fast, but (Stoneham is) a great club,” said Hanover coach Johnny Abban. “A great club. We knew it was going to be a battle. We knew that they weren’t going to give up. Hats off to them. They competed until the last second there.”
It only took 2:00 for Hanover (15-9-0) to strike, as Melone potted his first goal of the contest to make it 1-0. Just 2:42 later, Henry Phillips netted a goal himself, before Joseph Galvin picked the top-corner of the cage with 4:50 left in the opening period. In an instant, Hanover had a commanding 3-0 lead.
Yet, the Spartans (11-12-1) were finally able to break through with 6:33 to go in the second period, as a shot by Jack Sullivan whistled through traffic to cut it to 3-1.
Then, lightning struck twice for the Spartans to start the third, as sophomore Mike Taranto buried consecutive goals in quick succession. In a stunning twist, Stoneham had rallied all the way back to even things at 3-all with 10:54 left in regulation.
Some teams might wilt under the pressure. The Hawks chose to buckle down in their own end, as the game extended into a double overtime session.
With the two squads skating three-on-three, Melone picked a skater’s pocket to set up a breakaway. At that point, the only thing standing between the sophomore and his team from a trip to the Garden was the opposing goaltender. He slipped a shot home for the clincher, and the Hawks stormed the ice.
“I saw the opportunity when the kid cut to the middle,” Melone said. “I just took advantage of that. Poked at it, went on the breakaway, and finished the job.”
It was Abban’s 200th career coaching victory with Hanover.
The Hawks will now look to keep their unique championship run going next week when they play Dover-Sherborn for the Div. 4 crown on St. Patrick’s Day.
“Our team, we’ve come together in probably the last three weeks,” Abban said. “Really put it together. We’ll go into next Sunday, and give it a shot. Proud of the kids. They didn’t give up. Like I said, it could have been hairy there when they tied it up, went to overtime. This is what it’s all about this time of year – high school sports.”
Still drenched from a Gatorade bath after the game, the longtime mentor needed a second to catch his breath as the locker room echoed in celebration behind him.
“Every two years we like to make it a tradition to go back to the Garden,” joked Abban. “Starting in 2014, we went (then), 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024. I guess the even numbers work for us.”
