Canton High boys hockey team rolls into Division 2 Elite Eight

After a later than usual start to the postseason due to the aftermath of the recent blizzard, the top-ranked and heavily favored Canton High boys ice hockey team showed virtually zero rust as they cruised into the MIAA Division 2 Elite Eight with back-to-back blowout victories over No. 32 Somerset-Berkley and No. 16 Hopkinton.

The top line of Joey Ryan, Andrew Gillis and Ryan Elrick have been a force for the Bulldogs. (Mike Tureski photo)

Perhaps even more than the 14-0 advantage in goals scored, the disparity in shot attempts told the tale, with the Bulldogs throwing nearly 100 pucks at the net across the two victories while their two opponents managed less than 10 combined.

“Despite the long layoff, our guys came out flying,” noted head coach Brian Shuman. “Both opposing goaltenders played well but we created plenty of chances and played well both offensively and defensively.”

While the Canton attack was relentless in both wins, Shuman felt the most impressive aspect of the Bulldogs’ performance was their team defense, with every player doing their part to limit the opponents’ chances. With that level of commitment, the hosts were able to utterly dominate possession in both games, and their puck movement was otherworldly, led by the top forward line of Joey Ryan, Andrew Gillis and Ryan Elrick.

“They’re not sneaking up on anybody, that’s for sure,” Shuman said of the star-studded trio. “Everybody knows about them and yet they’re still producing at a very high level.”

Elrick is in the midst of a truly monstrous offensive season, averaging well over two points per contest while piling up four more goals and a pair of assists in their first two playoff wins. Joey Ryan, who ranks third on the team in total points with 38, added two assists in each game, while Gillis tallied a goal and an assist versus Somerset-Berkley and assisted on another goal in the victory over Hopkinton.

Gillis himself has combined for nearly 30 points on the season; however, his impact can be felt well beyond the scoresheet. “He always seems to make the third play that’s critical, even if he doesn’t get credit for the assist,” Shuman said of the senior co-captain. “He just does all of these little things to create space for Ryan and Joey.”

These traits, according to the Canton coach, extend to the entire team, and that was certainly evident in their two most recent wins as they spread the puck around and shared the scoring load. In the opener against Somerset-Berkey, seven different Bulldogs found the back of the net, led by Elrick and Will Doucette with two goals apiece. Senior defenseman and co-captain Teddy Shuman paced the team in points (1g, 3a) and added to his team-leading assist total, while his partner on the blueline, sophomore Kellen Labanara, added a goal of his own to go with two assists.

Fellow sophomores Gavin O’Toole and Brayden Dickie also found the back of the net for Canton, and Cameron Guerschuny, Cullen O’Brien and Shane Kelleher each registered an assist.

Against Hopkinton, Elrick was the only multiple-goal scorer, while Labanara had another big game with a goal and an assist. O’Toole and Will Young also scored for the hosts, and Shuman, Guerschuny and James Howard had one assist apiece.

Sitting at 20-1-0 on the season, the Bulldogs now move on to the Elite Eight to take on No. 9 Walpole tonight in Framingham. The winner of that game will then advance to play either No. 4 Burlington or No. 12 Concord-Carlisle following the latter team’s big upset win over No. 5 Woburn.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Mar 5 2026. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.