FRAMINGHAM — Controlling play for the majority of the final two periods against the section’s top seed is something the Essex Tech hockey team will talk about long after they’ve graduated high school.
The Hawks certainly did that in this Division 3 state quarterfinal at Loring Arena, putting heavy pressure on top seeded Hanover over the final 30 minutes. But while they rallied to tie the contest once, in the end they ultimately came up one tally short.
As a result, Essex Tech’s season came to an end with a 4-3 defeat. It was the third time in the last four years that it reached the quarterfinal round before being ousted.
“I feel like we’ve had a lot of success, reaching the Elite Eight three times in the last four years, but just never able to get over that hump,” said senior captain and blueliner Cam Casey, who had a power play goal in the second period. He’ll graduate as the school’s all-time leading scorer for a defenseman with 17 goals, 54 assists and 71 points.
“It’s like an Elite Eight curse, to be honest.”
Finishing at 13-8-2 under first-year head coach Ryan Sheehan and his staff, the Hawks outshot Hanover, 34-19. Casey hit the far post four-and-a-half minutes into the third period, and several good scoring bids late with goalie Teagan Moreau pulled for an extra skater also had a chance to knot things up. But it was not to be.
The 10 seniors for Essex Tech won seven playoff games in their four years, more than any other class in program history. Combined under former head coach Mark Leonard (3 seasons) and this winter with Sheehan, the Hawks went 64-22-6.
“The guys did what we as coaches coaches thought they’d do. The transition was seamless,” said Sheehan. “They accepted us and bought into what we were selling right away. They played in a lot of big hockey games last year, too, which helped us this season.”
It was somehow fitting that all three Essex Tech goals Thursday night came off the sticks of 12th graders.
Trailing 2-0 after one period, the Hawks desperately needed to score first in the middle stanza and did, thanks to Casey. Just seconds into night’s only power play, the 17-year-old rearguard gathered up the rebound of a Jake Swencki rebound that caromed off the pads of Hanover goalie Ryan McArdle (31 saves). Casey, located between the circles, made a quick move before burying a wrister for his seventh goal of 2025-26.
“We knew he was a freshman goalie and had to test him with shots,” said Casey, who finished as Essex Tech’s leading scorer with 33 points. “The puck came out onto my stick, I made a little move and used their defenseman as a screen before shooting.”
Converted defenseman Chase Ruberti — who ironically was moved from forward to the back end when Casey got hurt in a game midway through the season — then made it 2-2 five minutes later with a rocket of a one-timer from the high slot. His 12th goal came on a feed from captain Teddy Tsoutsouris.
Hanover, which won the fifth of its five state titles back in 2002, had allowed just one goal in its two previous playoff wins before Essex Tech put home two in a span of 5 minutes and 13 seconds.
“We’ve been in tight games all season, so the guys were somewhat comfortable with it,” said Sheehan. “They play with poise in those situations.”
But Hanover took the lead back just 13 seconds later as senior captain Cam Melone notched the second of his three goals, batting home a Luke Munroe pass to put the home team back up by one after 30 minutes.
His third goal, with 6:19 to play, increased Hanover’s lead to 4-2.
But Essex Tech refused to pack it in. Just 33 seconds later Swencki backhanded a soft shot high into the Hanover cage, with linemate Liam Foti and Ruberti assisting, making it 4-3.
The Hawks kept pressing for the tying tally, but time ran out after a stuff-in attempt at the left post was thwarted by McArdle.
“We never felt like we were going to lose this game,” said the 17-year-old Casey. “That’s our team; we never quit.”
Hanover 4, Essex Tech 3
Division 3 playoff quarterfinals
at Loring Arena, Framingham
Essex Tech 0 2 1 | 3
Hanover 2 1 1 | 4
First period: H, Ryan Kisiel (Cam Melone), 5:01; H, Melone (Connor Hines, Ryan Foley), 8:37.
Second period: ET, Cam Casey (Jake Swencki), ppg, 5:33; ET, Chase Ruberti (Teddy Tsoutsouris), 10:46; H, Melone (Luke Munroe), 11:59.
Third period: ET, Melone (Hines, Kisiel), 8:41; ET, Swencki (Liam Foti, Ruberti), 9:14.
Saves: ET, Teagan Moreau 15; H, Ryan McArdle 31.
Records: ET, 13-8-2; H, 19-2-2.
Contact Phil Stacey
@PhilStacey_SN