Nauset Boys Hockey Rolls, Earns State Championship Rematch Vs. Marblehead

ORLEANS – Although the Nauset boys hockey team didn’t want to look too far ahead, there was one potential matchup that caught the Warriors’ attention when the Division 3 state tournament brackets were released. 

 Marblehead. In the quarterfinals. 

 After suffering a 1-0 loss to Marblehead in last year’s state championship, the top-seeded Warriors (21-0-1) will get another crack at the eighth-seeded Magicians (17-5-1) at 5 p.m. Thursday at Gallo Ice Arena with a trip to the state semifinals at stake. 

 Seniors Colin Ward and Logan Poulin and junior Jake Eldredge each tallied hat tricks to help Nauset cruise into the state quarterfinals following a dominant 9-0 victory over No. 16 Danvers in the Round of 16 on Saturday at Charles Moore Arena.

 “We didn’t want to look too far ahead — a lot could happen with the brackets — but now here we are, we’re going into the Elite Eight and Marblehead’s our next opponent,” Nauset coach Connor Brickley said. “It just adds a little more juice behind it, the fact we get to have a little revenge along the way to really prove to ourselves as a team that we’re extremely worthy of going after that state title.”

 Nauset has been the class of Division 3 since the start of the season, rolling through the regular season undefeated and owning the top spot in the division in every installment of the bi-weekly MIAA power rankings. 

 The Round of 16 victory capped off another season of flawless hockey at Charles Moore Arena. Nauset finished its home schedule with a perfect 12-0 record in front of a sellout crowd. The victory marked 25 straight home wins for the Warriors, who have been unbeaten in Orleans since suffering a 3-2 loss to Watertown/Wayland in the 2023 Elite Eight.

 “It definitely means a lot,” said Ward, a Chatham resident who eclipsed 100 career points with his hat trick. “We love playing here — it’s a great atmosphere and always loud fans.”

 “It just shows how lucky we are,” added senior defenseman Jack Martin, a Yarmouth resident. “We have such an amazing fan base and we’re truly thankful. We feed off the crowd’s energy.”

 The Warriors roll into the state championship rematch playing some of their best hockey of the season. The team outscored its first two postseason opponents 14-0 and has allowed just one goal in its last seven games. The last time Nauset allowed two goals in a game was Jan. 29, when the squad skated to a 4-2 victory over Falmouth at Charles Moore Arena. 

 Now the team has a chance to earn some revenge against the Magicians, who advanced to the quarterfinals following postseason victories over Blackstone Valley Tech (3-2) and Dracut (4-2).

 “They’re a great team,” Brickley said. “Obviously they got the best of us last year. It’s a great opportunity for us to go out there and get another win.”

 Martin said the Warriors are “looking forward to a rematch.”

 “We have a little revenge to get,” the senior said. “They’re going to be a good team, so we have to show up and play our best.”