The 10th-seeded Hudson Hockey team is headed to the Final Four after scoring five unanswered goals to upset No. 2 Hanover, 5-2 in last night’s Division Four state quarterfinals.
They take on Dedham tomorrow, Saturday March 8, at 5:30 at the Tsongas Center Arena.
Hudson found themselves in trouble early in the game, falling behind 2-0 in the second period, but the team never gave up. That was until Timmy O’Malley, Owen Nanartowich, and Jordan Sousa scored five goals total which were left unanswered.
O’Malley stepped up with a hat trick, scoring three goals including an empty netter to seal the win, Nanartowich and Sousa with a goal of their own and an assist.
Not only did O’Malley have the hat trick, but he had four assists. “We are such a good team and we have good teamwork so when we play on the ice we just click in like that,” he said.
The game ended in dramatic fashion. O’Malley skated towards the open net with the puck, ready to score his third goal of the night. A Hanover player tried to slide in front of him to block the shot, but was unsuccessful. After that goal, Hudson was up 5 to 2 as the clock hit zero. The whole team erupted in celebration as they flew across the ice over to the Red Sea, jostling each other in a state of ecstatic jubilance.
As usual and in what has become a new tradition, the Red Sea young gentlemen took all their shirts off commemorating the glorious win. The team then posed for a photo with the Final Four banner, framed by the Red Sea behind them. After the picture, the team celebrated a bit more with the crowd, before they headed into the locker room for an inspiring speech by Coach Mike Nanartowich.
The team’s success this year comes from hard work and determination. “Hudson High Hockey is back. You can see the drive we have, the want to be great. You go down by two, and that just shows what this team is. We pushed harder than we ever did,” Nanartowich added.
This season has been transformative. Just three seasons ago, the Hawks were at the bottom, finishing with a 0-17 record. This year, it’s been different—the team has turned into a powerhouse. Big wins this season include an 8-2 victory over Northbridge and a dominant 9-1 win over Keefe Tech.
One of the standouts this season is sophomore captain Jordan Sousa— the leading point scorer in all Central Massachusetts— Sousa had a hat trick and an assist in the 5-1 win in the first round of the state playoffs over St. Paul II.
“ Our coach pushed us and we were prepared all week. We were hyped, our coaches were hyped and I was hyped, ” Sousa reflected on the win.
Back to the Hanover game, it wasn’t in the bag to come out victorious, but the Hawks turned it around.
“Obviously, we weren’t the best for a little while, but we’re back, and we’re back and ready to play,” Nanartowich said.
With the win over Hanover, Hudson now advances to the Final Four where they take on Dedham. The team is one win closer to their ultimate goal: playing for the state championship at TD Garden.
“This has been more than a dream. Senior year, you always expect things out of it. You expect to commit to a college, have some fun with your friends. You never expect this,” Nanartowich said.
