DANVERS — In the first three years of the state’s power ranking system for determining playoff seedings, the St. John’s Prep hockey team has been the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 tournament all three seasons, going 13-1 with a pair of state championships.
But following Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over Franklin to conclude the regular season, the Eagles are hoping they can wear their blue road uniforms once, or not twice, for the upcoming contest.
“That’ll mean we’ve reached the state semifinals or title game again,” said head coach Kristian Hanson, whose defending state champions are likely to be either the No. 2 or 3 seed when the playoff pairings are officially announced Saturday at 10 a.m.
The defending state champions will be looking for their third Division 1 crown in the last four seasons when they begin the playoffs next week at the Essex Sports Center, likely on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
With a lot of new varsity faces this winter, the Eagles struggled out of the gate with a 2-3 start. But they went 13-2 the remainder of the regular season and won nine of their last 10 while capturing back-to-back Catholic Conference titles for the first time ever.
Historically St. John’s Prep has been a better team over the second half of their season, which once again has proven true.
“It took time for the team to develop and find chemistry, and we did that,” said Hanson. I’m certainly happy with their resiliency and the effort they’ve put in to attain the record they have.
“But as I said to the boys (postgame), the first chapter is now closed. The focus needs to be raised a level, the intensity, the compete. The state tournament is a different animal, and you have to be ready to go. If you’re not, your season ends. There are no do-overs.”
Wednesday’s Senior Day victory was workmanlike and efficient for the Eagles, who scored twice in the last four-and-a-half minutes to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission, then held the visiting Panthers (10-10-2) to just three shots over the final 15 minutes while tacking on two insurance markers of their own.
Brandon Ward, who finished the day with four points, converted a feed from captain J.R. Goldstein eight seconds into a power play to give St. John’s Prep a 2-1 lead. Sam Croke then wired a shot up top from down the right wing boards and underneath the Prep’s banners at ESC with 31 seconds before the second period ended, making it 3-1.
Two defensemen got into the scoring column for the locals in the third period as junior Brennan Waters popped in a rebound, and sophomore Ryan Doherty notched his first varsity goal with 32 seconds remaining.
Captain Ryan DeLucia had scored the Eagles’ first goal, tipping Ward’s shot in 4:45 into the contest. Senior goalie A.J. Farese picked up his 10th win of the season after turning aside 20 shots.
Hanson harkened back to a New Year’s Day overtime home loss to Reading that left his team at 2-3, and said the ensuing six-game road trip that followed, with the Prep going 5-1, was a huge turning point for the 2024-25 squad.
“Our team had to find an identity and pick a direction. Fortunately, our captains (Mason Luciano, DeLucia and Goldstein) and leaders picked everyone up and showed them the way,” Hanson said. “We knew the path, but we can’t clear it for them as coaches. They needed to figure out how to get through it on their own.”
St. John’s Prep 5, Franklin 1
at Essex Sports Center, Middleton
Franklin 0 1 0 1 St. John’s Prep 1 2 2 5 First period; SJP, Ryan DeLucia (Brandon Ward), 4:45.
Second period: F, Liam Lewandowski (Thomas Quinn), 3:30; SJP, Ward (J.R. Goldstein, Sam Croke), ppg, 10:28; SJP, Croke (DeLucia, Ward), 14:29.
Third period: SJP, Brennan Waters (Andrew Macaulay, Ward), 7:28; SJP, Ryan Doherty (Braden Hurley, Mason Luciano), 14:28.
Saves: F, Jack O’Connor 31; SJP, A.J. Farese 20.
Records: SJP, 15-5; F, 10-10-2.