Algonquin ends playoff drought but falls in Sweet 16

By Bill Gilman Senior Reporter

WESTBOROUGH – The Alqonquin Regional boys hockey team accomplished quite a bit in the 2022-23 season, including its first playoff win in five years. But the Titans’ season came to an end Saturday with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Wakefield.

Wakefield 3, Algonquin 2

The No. 7 Titans (14-52) struggled out of the gate against No. 10 Wakefield (13-72) and they found themselves down, 1-0, after the first period. Algonquin was finally able to gain some traction in the second period, on the strength of its power play. With their top line held in check throughout the game, the Titans got offense from an unlikely source when Jack Doolan scored just his third goal of the year, on the power play, at 5:26, with an assist from Jack Gulachenski.

With just over a minute to play in the second period, Algonquin tied the game, 2-2, on a goal by Dylan Beard, his fourth of the year. Wyatt Shea and Owen Cacciatore were credited with the assists.

With momentum and a raucous North Star crowd on its side, Algonquin looked poised to pull out a victory. But the Titans were never able to net the go-ahead goal. Instead, Wakefield found a way to beat Titans’ goalie Jack Stiles (22 saves) to claim the upset win and advance to the D2 quarterfinals.

Algonquin 4, Newtown South 0 The Titans beat Newton South 4-0 in the round of 32 March 1.

“This is great. We haven’t been beyond this point for a while,” said Algonquin Regional High School Hockey Coach Greg Cappello. “It’s awesome. We had the opportunity for two home games and now we’re going to play two home games, so you have to be excited.”

Algonquin’s last victory in the postseason came in 2018, a 4-1 win over Auburn in a Division 3 Central Sectional semifinal. The years since have seen Algonquin bounced in the first round three times and one season lost to the pandemic.

Senior Captain Andrew