After 2024 State Championship Loss, Nauset Boys Hockey Hopes To Make History

Ever since the Nauset boys hockey team first started practicing at the end of November, the Warriors’ goal has been to seek redemption from last year’s 1-0 loss to Marblehead in the Division 3 state championship. 

 Finally, it’s time for Nauset to write a new postseason chapter.

The top-seeded Warriors roll into the state tournament as the favorites to hoist the Division 3 title after cruising through the regular season with an unbeaten 19-0-1 record. 

Nauset opens its postseason with a first-round matchup against No. 33 Middleboro (9-9-2) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Charles Moore Arena. 

“I think everyone is excited. I think everyone is ready to go,” said Nauset coach Connor Brickley. “It’s fun and exciting to play at our home rink — that’s what has kind of spearheaded this whole movement, being able to have these playoff games at home and having the whole community come to the games and rally around the team. 

“I expect it to be very full and very loud.”

Although Nauset dominated throughout the regular season, the Warriors have been at their best in recent weeks. The team posted a 5-0 record in its last five games after outscoring opponents 27-1 during the stretch. 

As much confidence as Brickley has in his players to generate offense, he knows the team’s identity begins at the defensive end in front of senior goaltenders Zach Coelho and Matthew Swanson.

“One of our big keys for the team structure has always been the same as our identity,” the coach said. “Ever since we took over, we’ve always established a pretty good structure within our defense, understanding how to break pressure and relieve pressure with our breakouts. We don’t spend a lot of time in our zone, and we’re also very active at the offensive blueline with our D.”

Brickley described junior Logan Miller as “an X-factor” for the defensemen at the offensive end and noted senior Jack Martin will be key when the Warriors find themselves in critical situations throughout the postseason. 

“Jack is definitely someone that’s going to be relied on heavily to shut down top lines or in any real key situation,” Brickley said. “His work ethic and his willingness to sacrifice his body for the team is contagious and really something you can’t teach.”

Senior Logan Poulin has been one of the Bay State’s most prolific scorers throughout his career, and junior Jake Eldredge has consistently added scoring depth. Bickley also praised senior Colin Ward for playing some of his best hockey late in the season.

“You could tell [Ward] was getting a little frustrated at the beginning of the season because shift-to-shift he was making a really big impact but the numbers statistically weren’t growing,” Brickley said. “In the second half of the season, both really caught up to each other.”

The road back to the TD Garden will look familiar to the Warriors. A potential state final rematch against eighth-seeded Marblehead could be in the cards for the quarterfinals, and the team appears to be on a collision course with fourth-seeded Scituate — which held Nauset to a pair of one-goal victories during the regular season — in the state semifinals.

“I don’t try to look too far ahead because a lot can happen, but it makes for some exciting games down the line,” Brickley said. “We have to make sure we take care of business one game at a time. I know our guys will be ready for the task regardless of who we play.”

Even though Brickley and the Warriors have already cemented themselves as one of the best teams in Nauset history, the coach said the team won’t be satisfied unless it achieves its ultimate goal of capturing the program’s first state title. 

“We have a lot of unfinished business,” the coach said. “As far as making history, that one big goal has always been to win a state championship.”