MIDDLETON – It was an emotional drought that the St. John’s Prep hockey team snapped in 2023 by claiming its first Pete Frates Winter Classic championship – the tournament it hosts in honor of its beloved alumnus – for the first time in eight years.

After falling in last year’s tournament championship game, it made sure that drought wouldn’t run to such a length this time.

Christian Coleman netted a one-timer with 5:58 to play Saturday night, giving the No. 3 Eagles (3-0-1) the game-winning goal they needed to outlast last year’s champion, No. 2 Pope Francis (4-2-1), en route to a 3-2 win in the tournament’s championship game at Essex Sports Center.

It was the final blow in a back-and-forth affair that saw St. John’s Prep narrowly lead in shots on goal (28-26), and twice had to bounce back from game-tying goals the Cardinals scored in the second and third periods.

“For an early season kind of test for us, I think the kids performed well today (and) did some things that we liked,” said St. John’s Prep head coach Kristian Hanson. “It’s always a challenge in this tournament. Our first game is so emotional against BC High (in the semifinals). … We put a lot into that first game, so sometimes it’s hard on Day 2 to come back and bring back that same type of energy. When you’re playing Pope Francis, if you don’t bring it, it’s going to be a long night for you. I credit the kids for coming back and being ready to go right from the start today.”

“We have three goals each season,” added senior Anthony Petruccelli, who assisted on Coleman’s game-winner. “This is the first, then it’s to win the Catholic Conference, then the state championship. So, it’s good to get one step forward.”

Hanson feels that the team is still trying to figure out a bit of its identity this early on – but it seems one thing the Eagles have been able to depend on is winning plays in the clutch so far.

JR Goldstein of St. John’s Prep, left, dishes off the pass under pressure from Quinn Woytowicz of Pope Francis. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

Twice Pope Francis battled back. Brandon Ward gave St. John’s Prep a 1-0 lead on a snipe out of the faceoff (Gavin Anderson assist) in the first, only for Wolfgang Zinger to pot the equalizer early in the second for the Cardinals. It didn’t take long for freshman Blake Ward (goal, assist) to finish off a beautiful pass from Andrew Macaulay for a 2-1 lead in that same frame, but a Pope Francis power play in the third period was finished off by Wes Asselin to knot the score at 2-2 with just 7:29 left.

Brennan Waters of St. John’s Prep jumps into the arms of Brandon Ward after he scored in the first period during a 3-2 win over Pope Francis. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

Not even two minutes later, though, Anthony Petruccelli’s setup to Christian Coleman for a one-timer from the right wing punctuated a gut-it-out win.

“What you love as a coach is,” Hanson said. “You don’t want to give up the tying goal in the third period, especially on a penalty with seven minutes to go, about. But what you do love is the way the bench reacts to it. We didn’t get deflated, we didn’t hang our heads. Our leadership core stayed positive, and we went back and took the lead. Ultimately, that’s what’s really important.”

Sophomore goalie Jesse Bernardinelli was a force in net for St. John’s Prep in the meantime, stonewalling several grade-A looks in front as part of a 24-save win.

“It was really hard (to limit Pope Francis to two goals),” Bernardinelli said. “They were a strong team. They knew what they were doing. I just held my ground and stayed strong.”

Hanson had much to say about how strong of a performance the sophomore had between the pipes, but quickly followed it with praise for guys that did the little things well to contribute to the win.

Petruccelli was the main example, earning the team’s Derek Hines helmet after the game.

“It’s definitely something bigger, I haven’t felt like this ever in hockey,” Petruccelli said. “It’s just a great honor, to get it in this game, especially.”

George Ramsey had 25 saves in net for Pope Francis.