Vineyard boys varsity hockey ended their season on home ice Tuesday in dramatic fashion, losing in overtime to rival Nantucket in the second round of the MIAA state tournament.
The final score was 2-1.
“This year has been so special for all of us, I don’t think anyone has ever experienced a year where we’ve been so close with the team, and we all love each other and are there for each other,” senior captain and goalie Graham Stearns said after the game.
The game had been rescheduled from Sunday and the Martha’s Vineyard Arena was packed with a sold-out crowd of students, parents and hockey enthusiasts.
The 11th-seeded Whalers and sixth-seeded Vineyarders had played twice already this season, with one win apiece.
When the puck dropped Tuesday, both teams came out on the attack with constant shots on goal on both ends of the ice.
Nantucket drew a power play that put the Vineyard on the defensive, but the first period ended scoreless.
At the start of the second period, the Vineyard was still short one player, but Stearns stood his ground, fiercely protecting the net. The crowd erupted when sophomore Liam Conley netted the first goal with an assist from senior Jake Scott.
Near the end of second period, Nantucket answered with a goal to tie the game 1-1.
The third period saw more aggressive play on both sides, but no score and the game went into overtime.
Halfway through the first overtime, Nantucket scored, and the Vineyard dream season for boys ice hockey was over.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Stearns was sanguine.
“This year, I think we’ve made an unbreakable bond between all the guys. It’s more than this game to us,” he said. “It’s been a huge part of all of our lives.”
Parents reflected a similar upbeat sentiment.
“They played for their team and each other; this is a true hockey family,” said Mollee Lewis, president of the Vineyard hockey boosters.
Dardy Slavin, who coaches Peewee hockey, agreed.
“It’s so exciting for these younger kids to see the rivalry between the Vineyard and Nantucket, especially in playoff time, and it’s cool to see that tradition continue year after year,” she said.
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