D-S/Weston hockey soaks in the moment of first state championship at TD Garden

BOSTON - Andrew Goldstein tried to keep his eyes on the ice.

Not easy when you're staring at the spoked B at center ice with your skates in the Boston Bruins' home crease.

The Dover-Sherbon/Weston senior captain led the Raiders out onto the ice at TD Garden for Saturday's Division 4 state final, the first trip for the program, which formed as a co-op in 2018. Neither Dover-Sherborn or Weston had been there independently, either. Weston played for a North sectional title in 2007, while the D-S played for a South championship in 1986.

The Raiders allowed the game's first goal with 5 minutes, 5 seconds remaining in the first period. The bright lights reflecting off the pure white resurfaced ice got to them, especially playing Hanover, who has made six trips since 2014. Eventually their eyes adjusted, and D-S/Weston poured in five unanswered goals over 30 minutes, 30 seconds during the final two periods of a 5-1 victory that cemented the team's first state championship.

"It's crazy for both these schools to never win a state championship is amazing," D-S/Weston coach Alex Marlow said. "It's all them. They bought into everything. They came ready to work."

Even with that large of a lead, Goldstein did his best to concentrate on the game until the final horn sounded. It wasn't easy wit the Bruins' six Stanley Cup banners hanging over his head and the Celtics' 18 in his field of vision.

"For the most part I tried to stay focused. At one point I took a quick look around just to take it all in," Goldstein said. "I made sure that once the game was over just to soak it all in one last time because it's a memory I'll cherish forever."

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D-S/Weston coach Alex Marlow told his team to take in the stage both before and after the game, regardless of the outcome. He received the advice from Norwell coach Jim Casagrande and Hopkinton coach Scott Hayes, both of whom led teams to the Garden a season ago.

"Take a look at your fans. Look at everyone who showed up," Marlow said.

Marlow followed the advice himself. He went to find his wife Jordan and kids after the game in part to thank her for taking care of their two toddlers and a seven-month old for the four months of the season.

All of those fans saw a historic performance. Only one team can be the first to win a state championship. This group holds a particularly special place for Marlow because they were freshman the year he took over the program in 2020.

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"It means everything. I wouldn't have wanted to do it with any other group. We battled throughout four years through thick and thin, good years, bad years, good games, bad games," Goldstein said. "We found it today. We put it all together, and we came out on top."

D-S/Weston lost in the Sweet 16 each of the past two seasons. The Raiders were 9-13 a year ago. They ended the year on a nine-game winning streak.

"It's so special. It's definitely a four-year process. I remember coming in as a freshman to this team," senior defender Sawyer Garzone said. "We did pretty well, but nothing like this."

By definition, nothing else can be like this. Other D-S/Weston teams can win state championships. They'll never be the first.

Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.