MIAA D2 State Tournament – Boys Hockey Semi-Final; #1 Tewksbury vs #6 Duxbury (Loring Arena)
Dicioccio delivers for Tewksbury in double overtime, 4-3
Framingham, Massachusetts– Nick Dicioccio tallied his second of the game in double overtime to send Tewksbury to the Division 2 Boys Final this weekend at the Garden. Unbelievable hockey game that had both teams ringing iron, goaltending, big hits, individual efforts and plenty of heart.
The Redmen punched their ticket on the power play with 43.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime after going on a five-minute power play. Duxbury was whistled for the boarding major with 4:20 left. Tewksbury peppered junior goaltender Sam Mazanec for over three minutes, but he stood on his head to keep the score level. Mazanec was a big reason the Dragons were even in overtime with save after save, many of the difficult variety.
Tewksbury took an early 2-0 lead in the first period with goals by sophomores Matthew Clarke and Jeremy Insogna. Duxbury cut the lead in half when Aiden Harrington snapped one from the top of the left circle. Dicioccio got his first of two early in the middle frame, but junior Brendan Bonner answered by ringing one off the crossbar and in on the powerplay.
The third started a little sloppy, with neither team able to create much offense or space. Tewksbury locked up the neutral zone, making Duxbury work for every shot. Tewksbury was whistled for a hook with under a minute remaining in regulation, and the Dragons wasted no time evening the score at three and sending it to overtime, thanks to senior Dan Bird.
In the first overtime, Duxbury had the better of the offensive chances, but Tewksbury’s Ben O’Keefe was solid. Mazanec was equally great. O’Keefe foiled a breakaway, and two other scoring chances to set the stage for overtime magic by Dicioccio. The right shot walked in from the point and beat Mazanec glove side to send the red, white and blue faithful home happy. Next stop for Tewksbury is the Garden where they will face the winner of the Gloucester/Canton game tonight. Final 2OT: Tewksbury 4 Duxbury 3
Three ⭐’s
⭐ D Nick Dicioccio, Tewksbury
⭐⭐ G Sam Mazanec, Duxbury
⭐⭐⭐ D Caden Connors, Tewksbury
