Ice Ages

Winthrop makes historic return to Garden

By Cary Shuman

Playing at a championship-caliber level on what has been an incredible post-season run, the Winthrop High School boys hockey team has advanced to the Division 4 state championship Sunday at 9 a.m. at the TD Garden.

Coach Dale Dunbar’s Vikings moved to history’s doorstep with thorough, end-to-end victories over No. 4-seed Littleton (4-0) and No. 1-seed Stoneham (5-1).

Only a red-hot and senior-led Dedham High team stands in the way of Winthrop High School capturing the school’s first state title since the 1976 season (see related story on Dedham).

Senior goaltender Michael Donahue’s performances are a major factor in the team still playing hockey in mid-March.

“Michael’s is seeing it right now – he’s dialed in, and he’s focused, that’s what you want obviously from your goaltender at this time of year,” said Dunbar.

Winthrop’s offense clicks

in nine-goal outburst

Senior captain Phil Boncore had two goals for the Vikings, the first on an assist by linemate Joe Pumphret, and the second on an assist by Paul Ferrara, as Winthrop skated past a Littleton team before a capacity crowd at Loring Arena in Framingham.

Dom Spinale, assisted by Nick Romano and Luke Githinji, made it 2-0 in the second period. The line of Joe Pumphret (1 goal, 2 assists), Phil Boncore, and Mike Holgersen produced the third goal, with Pumpret, he of the triple-OT heroics, getting the lamplighter.

Benefiting from another tremendous show of support from its student body, the Winthrop hockey team took down No. 1-seed Stoneham in rather stunning fashion.

The schools have become good football rivals, with Stoneham enjoying a slight edge, but the key hockey battle – with a berth in the state finals at stake – went to Winthrop in a landslide.

Displaying a tough-to-contain combination of superior speed and stickhandling, Holgersen gave Winthrop the early edge. Holgersen’s persistence paid off with a power play goal, assisted by linemate Boncore.

Sophomore Joe Pumphret made it 2-0 after one period, assisted by Nikita Rossi.

Boncore started the second period with a power play goal, assisted by Paul Ferrara. Stoneham closed the gap to 3-1 and its fans tried to energize their team. But just 22 seconds later, Boncore struck again for his second goal of the period, assisted by Ferrara and Pumphret.

Nick Romano all but punched Winthrop’s invitation to the state championship game with his goal, assisted by Ferrara.

And now, a season that begin with high hopes in November, moves on to Boston for a game on the biggest stage there is in high school sports.

Staying focused on the prize

Dale Dunbar said the focus is only on the present and Sunday’s showdown versus Dedham.

“You know what happens when you start going over history, you forget about the present. I’m not living in the past. All that matters is Sunday. We have three periods of hockey left to play and they have to be our best three,” said Dunbar. “We’re sticking to our structure and our discipline. As long as we do that, we’ll have an opportunity to win.”

Norris was part of last trip to Garden

Assistant coach Mike Norris was a member of the last Winthrop High hockey team that made it to the Boston Garden.

“Our 1981 team played at the Garden, recalled Norris this week. “We drew a first-round bye, beat Billerica, 5-1, but lost to Acton-Boxboro (6-2). That was my senior year. It seems like a lifetime ago, but I remember the experience like it was yesterday.”

Acton-Boxboro was led by goaltender Tom Barrasso, who won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bob Sweeney, who later played for the Boston Bruins, and Allen Borbeau, who went on to star at Harvard University.