Bishop Stang’s Gouveia is the 2021-22 Men’s Hockey Player of the Year

Justin Gouveia has really come into his own this season as a senior left winger on Bishop Stang’s first line.

Gouveia finished with 27 goals and 21 assists to tie Dartmouth Super Teamer Damien Medeiros (34-14) for seventh place with 48 points in the state scoring race.

He also played a key role in the Spartans’ 26-game unbeaten streak (24-0-2) that dates back to last season and ended with a 5-0 loss to Dartmouth in the Spartan’s first round. Cup at Hetland Memorial Skating. Skating rink in New Bedford.

“Justin was our top scorer for the second season in a row and he was a catalyst during our unbeaten streak,” said Bishop Stang coach Ken Gouveia, who happens to be Justin’s father. “He had 35 goals and 30 assists during the streak and scored at least one point in all 26 games.”

The 2022 Standard-Times Boys’ Men’s Hockey Player of the Year, Gouveia teamed with senior center Jack Jedrey (12-22-34) and sophomore right wing Quinn Pine (20-21-41) for a total of 59 goals, 64 assists and 123 points. .

“Justin was part of a dynamic first line that featured three players who could move the puck and score,” Gouveia said. “He was a selfless player and he had the vision to make plays and create scoring chances for himself and his teammates.”

For Justin, who started skating at Hetland at the age of three, the final season was a dream come true and a great way to end his hockey career.

“My last two seasons have been memorable. I knew we had a good group of players,” said Gouveia, who is heading to UMass Boston to play baseball and major in business. “It was fun to get the chance to play with some buddies I grew up with and we made the most of it.”

After a junior season cut short by the pandemic, Gouveia returned ready to start again for his senior season.

“Our offense took off and we made up for lost time,” said Gouveia, who scored a school-record five shorthanded goals and led the Spartans with 131 shots on goal. “We got great goaltending from Matt (Dore) and Brayden (Bennett) and we were at our best when we moved the puck together. We knew how to play against each other and we were a fast line that loved going up and down the ice.”

Playing for his father was an experience he wouldn’t give up for anything in the world.

“It was a challenge at times, but he taught me a lot,” Gouveia said. “He emphasizes working hard and being a good teammate.”

For coach Gouveia, having the chance to see his son grow as a person and a player was priceless.

“He has really stepped up this season with his assists and his goals,” Gouveia said. “He’s one of the best and one of the fastest athletes we’ve had. He led the state in scoring most of the time and he scored the most points in a season since the brothers (Luc and Max) Saves I’ve coached my three kids since they were little and it’s been a great experience coaching your kids I’ve seen Justin come a long way and I’ve seen him become a confident player which was getting a little bit better every year. As a father and a coach, I couldn’t be prouder.”

ALL ABOUT JUSTIN GOUVEIA

WHY IT WAS SELECTED: Gouveia took a big step forward as a junior and continued that ascent as a senior. His skating skills, speed and quick clearance made him a scoring threat every time he touched the puck. Consistency, hard work and versatility were his three greatest strengths. He lived up to the big games and scored plenty of goals when it mattered.

KEY STATS: He has never missed a game in four seasons with the Spartans on course to finish with 93 career points on 50 goals and 43 assists.

MVP MOMENT: He scored a hat trick to help rally the Spartans to a 3-3 overtime draw in a Jan. 22 game against Nantucket at Hetland. All three goals came after the Whalers took a 3-0 lead with 5:10 left in the first period. At the time, the tie extended Stang’s unbeaten streak to 17-0-2 dating back to the 2021 season.

MIKE CAPPELLO, DARTMOUTH COACH: “Justin is a hard working player with a tough nose. He puts in effort every shift, he was dangerous on the power play and he was hard to defend with the puck. He had a knack for going to the net and was playing with an extra engine there.”

REMARKS: Gouveia joins hockey teammate/Super Teamer Seamus Marshall on the UMass Boston baseball team in the fall. Gouveia plays center and Marshall is pitcher. “Baseball is my first love,” Gouveia said. “It goes back to playing wiffle ball as a kid.” … Follows the Boston Red Sox, but his favorite player is Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels. …Coming from a family of athletes. His sister, Kelly, played field hockey at Dartmouth High School and Stonehill College, while his brother, Ryan, played hockey at Babson College and is now an assistant coach at Bishop Stang.