Cumberland blanks PSW to take home D-II boys' hockey crown

Knights fall to Clippers in third-and-deciding game of title series

By Mathew Galvao
Posted 3/19/19

PROVIDENCE — The Cumberland High School boys’ hockey team took home its second Division II championship in five seasons after shutting out the Providence Country Day-St. Ray’s-Wheeler, 1-0, in …

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Cumberland blanks PSW to take home D-II boys' hockey crown

Knights fall to Clippers in third-and-deciding game of title series

Posted

PROVIDENCE — The Cumberland High School boys’ hockey team took home its second Division II championship in five seasons after shutting out the Providence Country Day-St. Ray’s-Wheeler, 1-0, in the third and final game of the title series Monday night, March 18, at Brown University’s Meehan Auditorium.

Cumberland's Domenic Rousseau scored what proved the game’s lone goal with 10:38 remaining in the second period when he tipped a shot from the point through PSW keeper and city resident Jeff Pimental for his first goal of the series. Pimental, who made 122 stops in the series, finished the night with 32 saves. Cumberland’s Jack Byrne, his counterpart in the Clippers’ net, posted the shutout on 21 saves.

“It couldn’t have been much closer. Two very different teams, the way we play. Obviously very evenly matched. It came right down to the end,” said PSW head coach Kevin Sullivan. “We almost put one in right at the end. I’m so proud of my guys.”

PSW got a prime offensive chance early when Cameron Yee shot a puck from the slot that went wide on the blocker side of Cumberland’keeper Byrne. The Clippers had a chance just two minutes later as Jake McMillen drove back door tipping a shot that hit the right pad of Pimental keeping the game scoreless.

In the final stages of the middle frame, PSW's Bennett Hicks nearly tied things up at one as he wristed a shot from the slot that was stopped by Byrne to keep Cumberland up 1-0 heading into the intermission.

PSW had two power play opportunities in the middle part of the third period as Cumberland went off for cross-checking and then tripping right after. The Clippers, however, killed off both penalties keeping the score 1-0 in favor of Cumberland.

With 5:38 to go in the game, PSW found themselves on the power play again as Cumberland’s Nicholas Badeau was assessed a five-minute major penalty for hitting from behind. PSW’s Hicks nearly tied the game when he fired a wrister from the slot that was saved by Bryrne. Cumberland killed the man advantage leaving PSW with just 38 seconds to try and tie the game.

“It wasn’t the way we drew it up. They were pressuring us a lot and we didn’t handle it all that well,” Sullivan said on his teams failed power play late in the game. “Credit to them. We certainly had an opportunity late in the game and we couldn’t capitalize. Again, credit to them.”

In the last 10 seconds of the game, PSW sent a flurry of shots towards Byrne that were all stopped as time ran out and Cumberland took home the D-II crown.

It’s been a pretty successful year for PSW as the locals finished third in the D-II regular season standings, swept Lincoln High then beat second seeded Ponaganset in three games to reach the final before falling to Cumberland. The Knights finished their winter with a 17-7 record in league games and handed Cumberland its lone loss of the year in the final. The Clippers finished with a 22-1 mark. Coach Sullivan explained that this group has been one of the most special he’s coached.

“I’ve been coaching a long time and this is the best team I have ever had,” Sullivan explained. “They’re just great kids, great hockey players. They have awesome attitudes and just never give up. I’m just sad it didn’t work out for them.

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