March 17, 2026

Pope Francis boys hockey lay claim to State D1 Championship title

REGIONAL
By Steve Kiltonic

Pope Francis boys hockey celebrate their State D1 title, the second in 4 years. (Photo courtesy Pope Francis Prep)

BOSTON – The No. 7 Pope Francis boys hockey team won its second D-1 state title in four years March 15 with a heart-stopping, 2-1, double overtime thriller over No. 8 St. John’s of Shrewsbury at the TD Garden. The game was scoreless after one period, but in the second senior Wolfgang Zinger scored in close off a rebound from senior Luke Latulippe to give Pope Francis the early 1-0 lead. Two minutes later, St. John’s Sahvy Aldino shot from long-range in the neutral zone and when the puck ricocheted off the bottom of the crossbar into the net, it was tied at 1-1.

The Cardinals, who beat the Pioneers in the regular season, 3-2, in overtime, battled St. John’s into the third period. Pope outshot the Pioneers, 12-5, but St. John’s goalie Colin McCarthy was sensational stopping numerous shots, 38 in all for the game, to foil the Cardinal chances for the lead. Junior George Ramsey was equally outstanding in net for the Cardinals with 24 game saves.

It was deadlocked 1-1 after three periods before heading into a four-on-four sudden death overtime. Ramsey stopped six St. John’s shots to keep it even. In the second overtime, head coach Brian Foley, in his 22^nd year as head coach of the Cardinals, selected a three-on-three line comprised of Dolan, sophomore Luke Latulippe and sophomore Whitaker Zinger.

It would prove to be the winner when Dolan made a run up the right side, fired a slap shot which McCarthy initially stopped. Zinger picked up the loose puck in front of the net and kicked it back to a trailing Latulippe who slammed it into the net for the game-winner. Latulippe, who scored one goal all year, was the unlikely hero as Pope emptied its bench and the large and vocal group of Cardinal fans in attendance erupted.

Pope Francis reclaimed the state title which it first won in 2023 beating Xaverian, 3-2. Senior Matteo Cuccovia is the only returning Cardinal player to have started on that championship team and now is the only Pope player with two state crowns.

Photo courtesy Pope Francis Prep

“It’s everything I ever wanted – to play at the TD Garden for a second time and come in as a champion and end as a champion,” said Cuccovia.

This third time was a charm for the Cardinals as they lost two previous state title games in overtime. 

The 19-5-3 Pope Francis finished the season on a seven-game win streak while 15-10-1 St. John’s suffered its first overtime playoff loss after two victories, including a win over No. 1 Catholic Memorial,  This is their second straight loss in the finals.
  
A celebration for the coaches and team will take place next Tuesday, March 24, at the school.

(Watch Real to Reel March 28 for  story on this remarkable season for the Cardinals)