BILLERICA – St. John’s of Shrewsbury boys hockey head coach G. Michael Mead says star senior Daniel Menyalkin is a humble, team-first player who hates the limelight.
He didn’t do a very good job staying out of it Thursday night.
Menyalkin’s highlight-reel goal with 2:07 left in overtime propelled the 14th-seeded Pioneers (11-12) to a 4-3 Div. 1 state quarterfinal win over No. 11 Winchester in a rowdy Chelmsford Forum, clinching their spot in the state semifinals for the first time since 2020.
It was only possible after Brady Chenevert helped Ryder Bisson’s shot from the point deflect into the net to rally from a goal down with 40 seconds left in regulation, perfectly embodying St. John’s’ resilience this year.
The Pioneers, without an injured Menyalkin for much of it, went 1-9 over their last 10 regular season games.
Now, they’re set to play No. 7 Arlington for a trip to TD Garden.
“That was our season in one game,” Mead said. “We had our ups and our downs. And then, like we (didn’t) right now, we didn’t quit. We didn’t quit. We got that tying goal pulling the goalie, and then we get into overtime, and the kid that’s been out and missed six games comes up and gets the biggest goal of the season for us so far. Hopefully he’ll have a couple more in him.”
“We had a rough end of the season, but I thought a big thing for us is we just kept believing,” Menyalkin added. “All the kids on the team just love hockey, love each other. I think when you have that in the locker room, we’re going to go far with that. … We just kept going and like I said, that’s the theme of the year.”
Mead said entering the postseason that his team, with a healthy Menyalkin, could win the state championship. Against a highly-motivated, underestimated Winchester group (14-11) riding the emotional high of proving doubters wrong, the Pioneers showed why.
Junior Caiden Brady (goal, two assists) gave the Red and Black a 3-2 lead with 4:38 left to play, and sophomore goalie Graham Emerick (36 saves) was in a groove against heavy pressure for much of the game. With its backs against the wall, St. John’s responded in the final minute to force overtime.
Sophomore goalie Colin McCarthy (17 saves) was clutch with three saves from there. And once Menyalkin created the space to turn the corner for a bid at the near post, he roofed it over Emerick.
“(This is) No. 1 (in all-time hockey moments),” Menyalkin said. “Not even close.”
“It pretty much sums up his career here for us,” Mead added. “He’s a four-year varsity player, he’s led by example. … He just put us on his back and carried us. I can’t say enough about him.”
McCarthy is now 3-0 in his career as a starter, promoted from junior varsity at the end of the regular season. He’s only allowed six goals so far and has been key.
“He’s played well, he’s seeing pucks,” Mead said. “He’s not playing perfect, but he’s playing well enough to win. He’s keeping us in the game and that’s all you can ask for in a coach.”
“We have so much confidence in him,” Menyalkin added. “He’s so good. We have full confidence in him.”
Saint John’s took the first lead of the game on a goal from Dom Reidy, but an epic back-and-forth began once Chris McCarthy tied the score about four minutes later. Johnny Garmey gave Winchester the lead early in the second, and Caleb Keyes tied it back up early in the third.