Boys’ hockey wins finale in OT, hosts round one on Wednesday

JOE RAFFA (18) scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give Lynnfield a 4-3 win and their school record 18^th victory of the season on Feb. 22 against Gloucester. The Pioneers earned the No. 2 seed in the D3 bracket and will host No. 31 Foxboro on Wednesday, 8 p.m. at McVann-O’Keefe Rink. (File Photo)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

GLOUCESTER — In their regular-season finale on Feb. 22, the Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team edged host Gloucester, 4-3, in overtime at Talbot Rink.

With that non-league win, Lynnfield finished the year at 18-1-1. The Fishermen, who the Pioneers beat 4-2 back on Dec. 31  in the first meeting, ended up at 12-7-1.

“To win 18 games in a regular season is very nice,” said Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner. “I think that the 18 wins in a regular-season is a school record – and to do it in overtime as well – I am very proud.”

Joe Raffa was the hero in this game scoring the game-winning goal 1:09 into overtime. Jack Carpenter and Aidan Norton both got credit for the assist.

The Fishermen scored first in the opening period as Jackson Harkes scored 5:10 in. Carpenter tied the game up 3:45 in the second with a backhander that went through the five-hole.  Lucas Cook and Jarret Scoppettuolo both assisted.

Gloucester took the lead a few moments later on the power play as Brent Cunningham lit the lamp at the 7:35 mark.

Carpenter then tied the game again scoring with 27 seconds left in the second assisted by Tim Sullivan and Norton.

The Fishermen, however, went to the second intermission leading by one as they scored with only 9.2 seconds left in the period as Cunningham notched his second goal of the evening.

In the third, Sullivan tipped home Lucas Cook’s shot to tie the game with 3:59 remaining to set up Raffa’s overtime heroics.

Pioneer goalie Dan McSweeney made 15 saves to end the year at 18-1-1 as the Pioneers outshot the Fishermen 32-18.

Last Saturday, the seeds for the MIAA Division 3 state tournament came out.

The Pioneers’ first playoff game will be on March 1 at 8 p.m. as they welcome Foxboro to the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.

Lynnfield is the 2nd seed while Foxboro is the 31^st seed.

“I have seen them play and they should give us a push,” said Gardner.

Foxboro beat Easthampton, 7-1, in the preliminary round on Monday as they will enter the game at 8-12-1.

If the Pioneers can win that game, they will host the winner of the Methuen- Bedford game on March 4 at noon in the Round of 16.