VIDEO: Weymouth boys hockey celebrates big playoff upset vs. Archies
The 28th-seeded Wildcats stunned No. 5 Archies, 2-0, on Wednesday night in the first round of the Div. 1 state playoffs at Canton Sportsplex.
CANTON – In the final minute of the second period, Weymouth High sophomore winger Michael Curry was splattered into the boards in front of the Archbishop Williams bench, sending his helmet skittering across the ice.
It was a fitting snapshot of the night.
As Archies coach Chris Cunningham glumly noted later, hats off to the Wildcats.
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Seeking that elusive signature playoff victory, Weymouth finally found it Wednesday night in the form of a massive upset at Canton Sportsplex. Riding breakaway goals from second-liners Brody Dearden (first period) and Ryan Ferguson (third period), plus 28 saves from goalie Grady Salfity, the 28th-seeded Wildcats stunned No. 5 Archies, 2-0, in the first round of the Division 1 boys hockey playoffs.
Weymouth (10-11-1) advances to play at No. 12 Franklin (14-8) in the Round of 16.
It was the Wildcats’ first playoff win since the 2012-13 season when, as No. 14 seed, they upset No. 3 Braintree, 4-3 in OT, in the first round of old Division 1 South tournament. Weymouth had lost eight straight playoff games since then, including a 1-0 heartbreaker to Braintree in Round of 32 last season.
Those struggles are ancient history now, replaced by the memory of being greeted like conquering heroes by the Weymouth fans when they finally filed off the ice Wednesday night.
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“I’ve never made it past a first-round playoff game in my high school career and I’ve been on the team for four years,” a beaming Salfity said. “This is a huge accomplishment for the boys. Absolutely everyone in that locker room deserves this. Everyone wanted it so bad, and I’m so proud of everyone.”
“It’s huge,” agreed Dearden. “The boys are buzzing. No doubts from any of the boys. Everyone knew they were going to win. In that locker room no one had a doubt. It’s awesome, crazy.”
The Wildcats’ self-belief was high, despite a so-so regular season that included a 1-7 slump from Jan. 10 to Feb. 4 and a dud of a regular-season finale in the form of a 3-2 loss to Whitman-Hanson one week ago.
“It was a reality check, (a reminder) that no game is given, and you have to earn everything,”…
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