Best playoffs start in decade
After press time: Melrose falls to Medfield 2-0 (March 6)
Melrose boy’s hockey advances to Elite 8
Published March 7, 2025
By JENNIFER GENTILE
SAUGUS—Kasabuski Arena in Saugus has been THE place to be during the last week, and perhaps the rink hasn’t seen such excitement in years. This after the No. 7 seed Melrose High boy’s varsity hockey team steamrolled over competition as hosts of the Round 1 and Round 2 MIAA Div. 3 playoff games, including a gripping 3-2 overtime win over Holliston/Ashland to kick things off on Wednesday, Feb. 26, courtesy of a winning goal from Melrose junior Jack Feeney.
Just two days later, Melrose hosted Shawsheen Tech in Sweet 16 play and skated off to a 3-1 win, which punched their ticket to the Elite 8. At press time, Melrose was poised to play #2 Medfield at O’Brien Rink in Woburn on Thursday, March 6 at 5:00 p.m. The winner of that game will receive the Div. 3 Final Four trophy and advance to state semifinals with a chance to get to the Div. 3 state championship game.
For Melrose head coach Joe Ciccarello it’s been simply a thrill ride. “There’s nothing like playing this kind of hockey in front of your hometown. These have been the most exciting games to witness. This is HockeyTown USA at it’s best,” he said.
It’s been over ten years since Melrose has advanced so far in playoffs, and it’s rather unheard of to enjoy both wins at home. Both games last week were packed, standing room only crowds.
“It was absolutely incredible to play in front of your city in a packed arena. It’s a memory that I will have forever,” says senior captain Matt Fuccione. For the goalie, the road has been a long one for the team. “This journey has been filled with ups and downs. Starting for a 1-19-1 team during my freshman year to going to the Elite 8 is amazing.”
Fuccione was simply a beast in Melrose’s 3-1 win over Shawsheen with over 30 saves. He simply stood on his head for Melrose. “We go as far as Foosh takes us,” says coach Ciccarello. “He’s our captain, was a freshman starting goalie. He’s been doing this for so long and has lots of tournament experience. That’s what we are seeing out there.”
For senior Quinn Haggerty, the noise alone at Kasabsuki was an instant advantage. “Playing in front of all your friends and playing for your hometown is something I’ll never forget. The support is special.”
Shawsheen (15-3-2) came into the next round as a tougher team. “They were strong,” says coach Ciccarello. “Your typical tough tech school. They played with a strong senior group. We played better against them than Holliston, and we needed to.”
Melrose senior forward Justin D’Antona noted the momentum swing after their OT win, when they faced Shawsheen. “We definitely got the momentum we needed going into the game,” he said. “And the students in the stands fueled everyone on the bench as we rode an electric win.”
Teammate Haggerty agrees. “Against Holliston, we were a next shift mentality, doing our part and giving everything left in the tank.”
Melrose’s Ray Willis IV scored in the first against Shawsheen with 2:39 left in the first on a breakaway to put Melrose up 1-0. The freshman phenom has had two post season goals. D’Antona scored in the second with 6:53 left to put Melrose up 2-0 before he knocked in an empty netter for a final 3-1 win, a thrilling last home game for the team and their electric fan base. Melrose will play in neutral territory for the remainder of their playoff run.
Coach Ciccarello offered high praise to the team’s leading scorer D’Antona. “Justin has had a dynamic year. He didn’t achieve all he wanted last season so he turned it around in the offseason. Working hard, out there every day in the gym. He put the time in and it’s incredible watching it to fruition for him. He’s had an explosive senior year.”
Teammate Jack Feeney scored the winning goal against Holliston/Ashland in the team’s playoff opener, a 3-2 OT thriller. Feeney hit the pay maker with 2 seconds left in a power play against a tougher-than-advertised Holliston/Ashland (7-11-2). Says his coach, “Quinn [Haggerty] had a clean faceoff and it went right to Feeney. It’s one of their favorite plays and it really paid off. It was a great shot.”
Melrose and Holliston/Ashland had swapped points, with Melrose scoring first on a Ray Willis goal (assist by Declan McLean) in the first. Panther Oliver Lareau tied it up with 15 seconds left in the first. In the 2nd Melrose’s Brendan Doyle found an open D’Antona with 2:00 left in the period for a top shelf goal that put Melrose up, 2-1. But the Panther’s Lareau would tie things up again with just less than a minute to go in the third to force overtime.
Going into the 4th period, coach Ciccarello had no doubt of the outcome. “I told them going into overtime, ‘Look this is our 5th overtime this season.’ It’s old hat and no stranger to us,” he said. “That said, Holliston was a good team of seniors who didn’t want to see their seasons to end. Their coach after the game said it was the best game [Holliston] had played this year. That’s when you throw the records out of the window.”
Melrose’s defensive unit, led in part by Aiden Ryan, Andrew Giuliano, Nick Burke, Brendan Doyle, and Griffin Brady have been heroic all year. “Our defense has held us together all season,” says their coach. “I’m proud of the work they’ve done. They don’t get nervous. They’re not out there getting the numbers but they know exactly what they’re doing.”
If this team has given anything back to Melrose High it’s the creation of a legion of believers. Ask any fan who pounds on the plexiglass at Kasabuski Arena if they like their chances from here out, that answer will be yes. After all, it was only last year that Melrose forced No. 3 seed Scituate to overtime in playoffs, despite being a No. 30 seed. This year, they entered a favorite in the playoffs at #7.
Yet, Melrose has their toughest work ahead when they battle #2 seed Medfield. As they study film and scout, they are optimistic and pragmatic at the same time. “Medfield is a strong team and will be tough to break,” says Justin D’Antona. “It will take an extra sense of urgency to come out on top. We’ll be fueled by the fans in attendance. It will feel like a home game environment.”
Notes coach Ciccarello, “We know we’re the underdog. But I had one player say to me, ‘We’re going to shock them’ and I told them, ‘No. When we win, it’s not going to be shocking, it’s because we play in the toughest division in the state.’ And any Middlesex Liberty team is just as good—or better—than any team in this playoff bracket.”
The Elite 8 puck drops this Thursday evening, March 6, at 5:00 p.m. at O’Brien Rink in Woburn. Should Melrose advance past Medfield, they will compete in Final Four play at a time and place TBD with a strong likelihood of weekend action. Fans are encouraged to visit our social media pages at the MIAA website www.miaa.net for up to date game information.