By Cary Shuman
If any town knows the magnitude of scoring one quite important goal in a rather big situation, it’s Winthrop.
Right, Mike?
Here are the most clutch goal scorers for Winthrop heading into a quarterfinal clash with Littleton:
Boncore stepping it up in postseason
Phil Boncore, Winthrop’s man for 11 varsity seasons so far, is used to long road trips. As a linebacker for the football Vikings, Boncore’s last playoff game was in Abington in a very old stadium (even though there was a brand new stadium next to the high school).
Last season’s hockey season ended in faraway Bourne in the state semifinals, a tough 2-1 loss in a shootout. This season, Boncore, an NEC All-Star who netted two goals in the win over Apponoquet, is hoping for a fantastic finish at nearby TD Garden in Boston.
Boncore said he has enjoyed playing two home games in front of capacity crowds at Larsen Rink.
“It’s been very exciting, our hometown crowd is behind us – they wanted to win as much as we do,” said Boncore. “We had great efforts from our defense, our goalie, the forwards, everyone.”
Boncore is optimistic about the quarterfinal game against Littleton. Boncore traveled to Groton Sunday to watch Littleton’s 3-2 victory over Boston Latin Academy in overtime Sunday.
“We just have to keep playing our game, doing what we do, keep putting the puck in the net, and playing a lot of defense,” said Boncore. “As Coach Dunbar says, defense wins championships.”
“I want nothing more than a state title,” said Boncore. “I just want to win a state championship for this town. We all want it.”
Hometown hero:
Aidan Survilas
He’s the new hometown hero, as teammate Phil Boncore says about how they were greeting and congratulating Aidan Survilas at Winthrop High School Monday, two days after his game-winning goal versus Norwell.
“Aidan took the game over and it was exciting,” said Boncore.
Aidan’s winning goal was a picture of coolness under pressure as he and senior Mike Holgersen seemed to be playing a suspended-in-time, two-way passing game near the point.
“I got the puck up top, passed it to my teammate Holgie. He passed it back and I saw a seam and just shot it,” explained Survilas. “The guy who stepped up to me had a misstep. I had a lane and found the back of the net.”
Survilas credited a double-screen in front of the net orchestrated by Phil Boncore and Joe Pumphret.
“They screened and took the goalie’s eyes away, and that’s the reason the goal went in,” said Survilas.
“I just want to keep the season going,” he added. “I think we have the team to win it all, but we’ll play one game at a time.”
Aidan is the grandson of well-known Winthrop resident Barbara Survilas, who was at Larsen Rink Saturday for the hometown hero’s biggest goal of his career.
Holgersen in the
middle of it all
Mike Holgersen scored the all-important tying goal in Saturday’s game against Norwell. But it’s his pass to Aidan Survilas that showed the exemplary leadership and unmistakable poise of the senior captain.
“I peeked up and saw a Norwell player right in front of me,” recalled Holgersen. “I saw a player stumbling down across the ice, so I passed the puck back to Aidan and he was able to get a shot off with some screens, and it went in.”
Holgersen was asked whether his goal, with the potential end of the Vikings’ season and his high school hockey career a scant two minutes away, was the biggest goal he’s scored in his career.
“Because of the circumstances, senior year and the season could end, I would say, yes, it was my best goal,” Holgersen said candidly.
Holgersen described the goal, stating, “The puck went out front. I saw it on Jo Jo Pumphret’s stick and I took it from him. I looked up and couldn’t really see much of the net and I just shot it, and somehow it went in.” (How’s that for Holgie Humbleness, sports fans?)
Holgersen made it a point to applaud the Vikings’ defense. “Mikey [goaltender Mike Donahue] has been great. He keeps us in every single game, and the defense has been helping him out. He’s been a big part of our success.”
Holgersen was selected to the NEC All-Conference team. “It’s awesome, but the road’s not done. I want to finish it off with a state title,” he concluded.
Pumphret’s ‘triple’
OT goal was huge
It’s one of the most important goals in recent Viking hockey history, but Joe Pumphret is looking ahead to today’s Elite 8 showdown with Littleton.
Pumphret scored the winning goal in triple overtime to end No. 28-seeded Apponoquet’s upset hopes.
“The goalie just passed it out, and my stick was on the ice and I just sent it right back at him,” said Pumphret.
He was confident someone would step up and make a play.
“I knew the season was on the line in overtime, but I really thought we were going to win,” said Pumphret.
What has been the key to the Vikings’ successful season and post-season damatics?
“We all try to play hard and together,” said Pumphret. “It’s nice to be in the Elite 8, but we’re trying to get to the Garden and win it all.”
He knows that the Winthrop coaches will have the team well-prepared for Littleton and beyond.
“They’re great coaches. Our structure is amazing and we work on everything we have to do, and we’re always ready for every game,” said Pumphret.