SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- It was a celebration at Pope Francis Preparatory School on Tuesday, after the Cardinals won the Division 1 Hockey State Championship last weekend. The school held a rally in their gym right before the day ended to honor the team’s dominant season.

This comes after the Cardinals edged out the Saint John’s Pioneers 2-1 in a double-overtime thriller. This is their second state title, as they also took home the trophy back in 2023.

Western Mass News caught up with Senior Captain Matteo Cuccovia, who explains what it felt like to lift another trophy in front of his classmates. “It’s an honor to be able to stand in front of them and be a champion, like for them to recognize us. We represent our school. We represent the alumni, they’re proud of us in every situation,” he explained.

In addition to lifting the hardware in front of the student body, each player was awarded a State Champion gold medal, and of course, everybody was given a heartwarming speech from Head Coach Brian Foley.

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