WEST SPRINGFIELD – " Too close for comfort ."

That is how Pope Francis boys’ hockey coach Brian Foley described Thursday’s game, as Rocco DeLuca scored one of his game-high two goals to help Natick make it a one-possession deficit with 8:04 left in regulation.

Though the Red Hawks called timeout in the 49th minute, Grady Flynn was soon called for tripping to ensure the Cardinals their fifth power-play attempt. And that proved vital, as Pope Francis held on for an eventual 3-2 season-opening win against Natick at Olympia Ice Center.

Mason Thayer (one), Whitaker Zinger (one), and Gabe Kolodjay (one), each scored for the Cardinals, while Wolfgang Zinger (one), Quinn Woytowicz (one), and Cole Hrapchak (one) also posted one assist each to help Pope Francis improve to 1-0.

Despite four sep

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