Believe it or not, this past Thursday marked the 20th anniversary of Gloucester High boys hockey’s incredible Division 2 state championship victory.
The year was 2006, and the Fishermen’s deep and talented roster skated to a wildly impressive and memorable tournament run, culminating in the program’s third ever state title (the other two coming in 1993 and 1998). The final triumph — a narrow 2-1 overtime decision — came at TD Garden against a previously undefeated Coyle & Cassidy team, one that hadn’t allowed a single goal in the South Sectional bracket.
Then first-year head coach Don Lowe led a GHS team with three stellar lines that year, including five 20-point scorers and a flock of defenseman that held things down with regularity.
Senior Derek DeCoste led the way in goals for the season, playing alongside gifted sophomores Andrew Fulford and Zak Borowski on the first line. The latter two would ultimately finish their careers as 100-point scorers.
Captain Mike MacFarland, Tom Salah (another 100-point scorer) and freshman Josh Salah, Tom’s younger brother, made up another line. Senior Kyle Barry, junior Cam Scola and freshman Brett Biondo comprised the third line and didn’t miss a beat.
Defensively, senior Mike Borowski, a hard-hitting, do-it-all blue-liner, rarely came off the ice and delivered time and time again. Fellow senior Andrew Shoemaker, junior Brian Doyle and freshman Paul Russo all played key roles defensively as well.
Then there was star goalie Eric Schlichte, a junior that enjoyed a breakout campaign between the posts as a first-time starter.
He came up with some massive performances throughout his team’s playoff journey.
It was unquestionably a special group that had gradually moved their way up the Cape Ann Youth hockey ranks in town, building unmatched chemistry that certainly paid dividends once they reached the high school varsity level. The team went 17-3 during the regular season, beating teams both in and outside the Northeastern Conference.
Come tourney time, the Fishermen handled Wilmington (3-1) in Round 1 before miraculously securing four straight wins by a single goal. That included a 2-1 decision over Andover in the North sectional quarterfinals, a 3-2 decision over North Reading in the semis, and an instant classic, double overtime victory over St. Mary’s in the North title tilt.
Tom Salah ultimately scored the game-winner in the state championship win over Coyle & Cassidy.
Every game had fans on the edge of their seat, with nothing coming easy for Lowe’s group until they hoisted the trophy. It was a city wide celebration, to say the least.
Salute to the 2006 Gloucester Fishermen boys hockey team.