WHS boys hockey awaits final seeding, foe in state tourney
The Winthrop High boys hockey team, which was scheduled to wrap up its regular season last night (Wednesday) with a contest against Essex Tech, is set to embark on the defense of its Division 4 State Championship.
Coach Dale Dunbar and his crew were awaiting the announcement of their final seeding and first-round opponent in the upcoming Division 4 State Tourney, which is expected on Saturday.
As of Tuesday morning, the Vikings, who stand at 11-6-2 on the season, were ranked fifth in the D-4 power ratings as of Tuesday morning and (if the current seedings hold through the end of the week) would meet 28th-ranked Dennis Yarmouth in their Round of 32 contest.
The Vikings had a mixed week in their three games last week. Last Wednesday, they came up short to Northeastern Conference (NEC) North rival Gloucester, 3-1, in a battle for first place in the NEC North.
The Fishermen struck first, lighting the lamp just 15 seconds after the opening face-off, and then made it 2-0 with another marker in the second period. However, Viking Nick Romano found the back of the Gloucester net before the period ended to leave matters at 2-1 entering the final 15 minutes with the 2026 NEC title on the line.
Winthrop had plenty of chances to notch the equalizer (a tie would have left the Vikings ahead of Gloucester by a point), but the Fishermen scored an insurance goal with about 5:00 to go to seal the win and move ahead of the Vikings and earn their first NEC crown in 20 years.
This past Saturday, Winthrop battled to a 3-3 deadlock with NEC foe Beverly. The contest was highlighted by Senior Day festivities at which the members of the team from the Class of 2026, Nick Romano, Tomas Babine, Bert Kline, Steve Calla, and Louk Belghiti, were recognized for their contributions to the WHS boys hockey program.
In addition, the legendary 1976 state champion team, which won the Division 1 state title before a capacity crowd in the old Boston Garden, was recognized upon the 50th anniversary of their achievement.
The contest was a fast and physical one. Winthrop took a 2-1 lead after the opening period on goals by Dom Spinale (assisted by Romano and Joe Pumphret) and Mike D’Ambrosio.
The teams traded goals in the middle stanza with Spinale lighting the lamp for the Vikings, assisted by Romano and Tomas Babine. That set the stage for a dramatic third period that saw the visiting Panthers score the equalizer with about two minutes to go, sending the game into overtime.
The Vikings dominated the OT session (as they did the entire game, outshooting Beverly by a wide 43-17 margin) and had a power play, but could not find the back of the Panther net.
This past Monday, the Vikings got back on the winning track with a 3-0 win over a strong Northeast Regional team, which is ranked 23rd in D-4. After a scoreless opening two periods in which the Vikings carried the play, but were thwarted by the Northeast goalie (who made 29 saves in the first 30 minutes), Pumphret finally broke through, assisted by Spinale and Babine.
Romano (assisted by Pumphret and Babine) made it 2-0 a few minutes later and Babine scored on a power play (assisted by Spinale and Romano) for the 3-0 finale.
Viking goalie Jim Lyman recorded the shutout, stopping 21 shots on goal.
Senior Night for girls hockey tonight
The Winthrop High girls hockey team will wrap up its regular season this evening (Thursday) when the Lady Vikings host Boston Latin. The opening face-off is set for 6:10 at Larsen Rink.
The evening will be highlighted by traditional Senior Night festivities at which the team’s seven members of the WHS Class of 2026, Tegan Pereira, Avalina Coffey, Reese Ferrara, Chloe Couture, Avery Shea, Stella Pelletier, and Riley Towse, will be recognized for their contributions to the Lady Viking hockey program.
Winthrop absorbed a pair of losses last week. In a 3-1 setback at Boston Latin last Monday, Winthrop jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Amelia Serino. The Lady Vikings had many opportunities to expand their advantage, but couldn’t reach the back of the Latin net thanks to some excellent play by the Lady Wolfpack goalie.
Injuries to key Lady Vikings Avalina Coffey and Abby Githinji allowed Latin to tie the game and then forge ahead on a shorthanded goal, setting the stage for an empty-netter for the 3-1 finale.
“This was a good game, but it just did not go our way,” said WHS coach Anthony Martucci.
Two nights later, the Lady Vikings dropped a 7-1 decision at Beverly in a battle for first place that decided the 2026 Northeastern Hockey League title.
“All the credit goes to Beverly, who played a great game,” said Martucci., whose squad had nipped the Lady Panthers, 1-0, in their first meeting this season. “They took away the middle of the ice and backchecked relentlessly all game.”
After a scoreless first period, Winthrop grabbed a 1-0 lead on a goal by Amelia Serino midway through the second.
However, Beverly came right back with a goal to tie and then scored at the end of the period to take a 2-1 lead entering the third period.
The third period started off with the teams exchanging scoring chances, but Winthrop took a few penalties and Beverly capitalized. After two more Winthrop penalties, Beverly put the game out of reach when they added two more of their four power play goals.
Winthrop suffered the loss of starting goalie Riley Towse, who had to be taken out of the game with a lower body injury late in the third period.
“Beverly wanted it badly,” noted Martucci. “They played like it, and they earned it. We had trouble controlling their first line. They just had too much speed, and power for us on this night. We will take this one and learn from it. It was a tough loss, and it hurt to lose the conference.”
After tonight’s contest, the Lady Vikings, who now stand at 9-4-3 and are ranked 25th in the Division 1 MIAA power ratings, will await the announcement of their seeding and first-round opponent in the D-1 State Tournament.
Owen Harty competes at D-5 State Meet
Freshman Owen Harty was the lone Winthrop athlete to carry the Viking colors at this past weekend’s MIAA Division 5 State Track and Field Meet that was held at The Track at New Balance in Brighton.
Owen competed in the 1000 meter event at the meet — for which a qualifying time is required — and finished in a clocking of 2:55.35, which was good for 25th place in the competition, which featured the top D-5 track and field performers from across Massachusetts.
Cappuccio shines for BU at meet
Former Winthrop High track standout Nicholas Cappuccio finished in sixth place in the finals of the 60 meter dash at this past weekend’s David Hemery Valentine Weekend Invitational Meet at Boston University.
Nicholas, a freshman at B.U. who holds the WHS school records in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and who was a divisional state champion in the 100m, 200m, and the long jump, sprinted to a personal record time of 6.92 to rank among the top performers for the Terriers at the meet.
Nick also competed in the 200m dash at the meet and finished in 14th place in a clocking of 21.68.
WHS boys basketball awaits tourney seeding
The Winthrop High boys basketball team, which was scheduled to wrap up its regular season yesterday (Wednesday) with a contest at non-league opponent Ipswich, was awaiting word of its final seeding and opening round opponent in the upcoming MIAA Division 4 basketball tournament.
The Vikings, who dropped contests to Beverly (76-35) and Arlington Catholic (59-44) last week and whose record stood at 5-14 entering yesterday’s season finale, were ranked 22rd in the D-4 power ratings.
If the present rankings hold steady through the end of this week, coach Quinton Dale and his crew will host a preliminary-round contest in the tourney. If the Vikings win their prelim, they would advance to the Round of 32 and meet the 11th seed, which, ironically, is Ipswich.
WHS girls hoop wraps up season
The Winthrop High girls basketball team concluded its season with a 56-44 loss at Manchester Essex this past Monday.
The Lady Vikings, who finished their season with a 7-13 record, were ranked 35th in the MIAA’s Division 4 power ratings as of this past Tuesday, leaving them just on the cusp of tourney-qualification, which requires either a ranking in the top-32 or a .500 record.
Whether the Lady Vikings are able to move up into the top-32 will be made known this Friday when the final rankings are published on the MIAA website.