BOSTON — Perched on the TD Backyard residence bench with the Billerica devoted on its toes behind him, Jim Egan watched Nolan Dawson and Danny Viscione — the Indians’ two finest gamers — race down the ice in double extra time in Sunday’s Div. 2 state championship recreation in opposition to Canton.
He had a intestine feeling the sequence would end in victory.
And when he noticed Dawson’s shot sail into the netting with 4:38 to play, he hoisted his arms above his head to sign the pulsating 3-2 victory.
Already anxiously standing, the Billerica followers lining the decrease bowl on Causeway Avenue erupted. Half of the Indians darted to Dawson to rejoice his heroics, whereas the opposite half bolted for the Billerica pupil part to greet netminder Steve MacIntosh.
They had been the sights and sounds of a proud hockey city claiming a state title for the primary time since 1977.
On the successful play, Viscione carried the puck down left wing. Simply after cross the blue line, he floated a go to his proper which Dawson skated into. Calmly skating with the puck, Dawson despatched a wrist shot into the correct nook of the online for the winner.
“I stated, ‘There go our two finest gamers on a two-on-one. So, this could possibly be it proper right here.’ And it was,” Egan stated after the thrilling 3-2 victory.
Dawson, who additionally assisted on Viscione’s first of two tallies, stated his purpose and the state title haven’t sunk in but.
“It’s simply insane,” Dawson stated. “It’s actually insane. I liked it — liked each second of it.”
It’s been a very long time coming for a Billerica hockey neighborhood with no state championship since a three-year run from 1975-77. However the top-seeded Indians (23-1-1) had all of the elements essential to make historical past.
MacIntosh made 38 saves forward of the second extra time interval, whereas Viscione’s game-tying purpose with 2:28 left within the third was his fortieth purpose of the winter. Billerica overcame two defects on Sunday to down No. 2 Canton (23-2-1) — attribute for an Indians crew which pulled out an extra time thriller in opposition to Tewksbury in a state semifinal on the Tsongas Middle in Lowell.
The method was there. However it got here all the way down to placing it collectively beneath the intense lights at TD Backyard, a duty Viscione embraced.
“I knew our greatest gamers needed to be our greatest gamers,” he stated. “I knew I needed to step up for our crew and for our city.”
Viscione wreaked havoc on the ice all recreation, ignited by his first tying purpose within the second interval after Canton nursed a 1-0 lead into the center body due to a power-play purpose by Travis Thomas with 2:38 left within the first interval.
He uncorked a blast from the highest of the correct circle to knot the sport at one, blasting a one-timer from Dawson that deflected off the highest bar and in.
“We simply know the place one another are each single time,” Viscione stated. “We don’t even have to speak — we simply know the place we’re.”
Canton practically retook its result in begin the third, however MacIntosh flashed the leather-based as Teddy Shuman tried a backhander on a Billerica energy play.
Egan stated MacIntosh “simply did the identical actual factor” he did in his 27-save outing in opposition to Tewksbury.
“He gave us extra life,” Egan stated. “He gave us an opportunity to win this recreation.”
Ryan Elrick supplied Canton with a 2-1 lead with 2:56 left within the third, however Viscione responded 28 seconds later to knot the sport at two.
Canton outshot Billerica, 7-5, within the four-on-four extra time, however the Indians had sufficient left within the tank to pot the game-winner within the three-on-three double extra time.
“We had a lot help all through the entire week preparing for this recreation, and we noticed it within the crowd,” Viscione stated. “They had been loud, and we will’t thank them sufficient. We are able to’t thank this city sufficient, and we’re so pleased to get it completed for them.”
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