Concord fell short of its goal of defending the Division I hockey title in overtime. A year after beating Bishop Guertin in four overtimes, the Cardinals returned the favor and won, 1-0.

No. 1 Concord (19-1) faced Bishop Guertin in yet another chapter of the storied rivalry on Saturday. Since 1996, the two teams faced each other six times in the Division I Hockey State Championship and 30 years later, they were set up for a seventh rematch.

“It was just a really good hockey game by two really good teams. I’m disappointed, you know, you want to win,” Concord Head Coach Dunc Walsh said after the loss. “Our kids played hard and played the right way.”

The No. 3 Cardinals (15-5) found Concord’s lone weak spot earlier in the season to blemish the nearly perfect record. Concord won the first encounter, 4-3, and then on Feb. 4, BG won at home, 4-2, and became the only team to score four goals on the Tide this season.

In last year’s final, Concord pulled out a big win after four overtime periods to beat Bishop Guertin, 2-1, but that was all in the past. What mattered was getting the win in 2026.

Nolan Walsh nearly netted one with just 20 seconds remaining, but Bishop Guertin sophomore goalie Nico Scaparotti saved it with a big stick poke. After the third period, the teams headed into the locker rooms to prepare for yet another overtime period with the score tied 0-0.

It was once again anyone’s championship to win. Concord played its strongest hockey with Chad LaRiviere, Tyler Morin, Brayden Beauregard and Rhys Craigue all shooting on target, but none found a way through.

“I don’t think there’s really a difference. I think just last year went our way, we got the bounce,” LaRiviere said. “This year, they got the bounce.”

Concord sophomore forward Rhys Craigue (3) nearly scored a wrap-around goal in overtime against Bishop Guertin, but it was saved by goalie Nico Scaparotti. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip

The first period was an even affair as both teams traded blows and finished even on shots.

Bishop Guertin sophomore defenseman Cam Auger was called for a slashing minor after five minutes of play, but Concord couldn’t find a way to capitalize, only shooting on target once.

The Cardinals penalty kill was strong, they hit hard on the boards, and sent multiple pucks the other way with active pokes.

The Cardinals made their presence known on defense and hindered Concord’s ability to play out of their own zone. Multiple BG breakaways came close to generating dangerous shots, but none seriously scared the Tide or its fans.

The imperative to be physical and not let Tide players get behind the defensive line cost BG. Just 49 seconds into the second period, senior Owen Murphy brought down Tyler Mayo on a breakaway and was given a minor penalty. Concord, again, did not have a strong power play.

Coach Walsh remembered last year’s championship when BG had two power plays in overtime, didn’t capitalize and ultimately lost. He credited them for defending well.

“I got nothing bad to say about our team, kids played hard and they gave it everything they had,” he said.

Concord freshman forward Griffin Blaine (11) hit by Cardinal sophomore defenseman Cam Auger in the D-I boys’ hockey championship. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip

Sophomore goalie Carter Heise faced significantly more pressure in the second period and was forced to make saves low from up close and saves with his glove and stick higher up from the long shots.

The score remained tied at 0-0 with BG edging the Tide in shots on goal (16-12) and the game was a similar stalemate to last year’s in many ways.

The goalies kept cool and made clutch saves down the stretch. The line switches were precise and neither team had mismatches during the tight affair.

As the clock wound down in the third period, both sides of the arena grew increasingly quiet, anxiously awaiting a breakthrough.

Cardinal senior forward Jordan O’Hearn broke away on a long pass by senior Cam Vallancourt halfway through the overtime period and finished strong. Heise got a piece of it, but it trickled in.

Cardinals Head Coach Gary Bishop said he held his breath all day. Finally, he could breathe easy. He told his team to shoot relentlessly until they scored and it worked. It was redeeming.

“They were beside themselves, the kids that were here last year. You guys want to know how that felt? Let us tell you how that felt,” he said about the emotions of winning it after last year’s defeat.

When Bishop Guertin scored, their side of the stands erupted in the same way Concord’s did a year ago.

Senior captain Tyler Morin said they knew it would be a challenge, but they were proud of the work the team put in throughout the season. He hoped the young guys use the loss to fuel them.

“They’re going to come out strong. I got faith in them,” he said. “It’s a privilege putting on the Tide uniform, and all these boys gotta cherish it.”

Another chapter in the rivalry is written, with more to come.

The Concord Crimson Tide suffered a crushing overtime defeat, 1-0, to fierce rivals, Bishop Guertin, in the 2026 D-I boys’ hockey championship. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip