Waltham High School's Boys Hockey Team

WALTHAM, Mass. -- It is the ultimate thrill, winning your final game on the same ice where the Bruins skate, surrounded by friends and teammates. The Waltham High School hockey team will never forget St. Patrick's Day of 2002.

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"To a high school kid, it's everything you want, especially around here," goalie Pat Watson said. "You see the Bruins play, you see the big schools like Boston University play. You just live that. And when they come out on top, win the championship, it's just too sweet to even say."

Waltham High had never won a state championship in hockey. In this year's Division I tourney, the school was seeded seventh. The Hawks clawed their way to the title game with Springfield Cathedral.

Waltham jumped to a 2-0 lead and played in the manner that had carried them in the postseason. Buoyed by senior leadership and solid goaltending, the team hung on after it was tied at 2 goals apiece. It was on to overtime.

The elusive state title was up for grabs when Waltham junior Mike Aiello ended it and set off a celebration that hasn't stopped.

"I wanted it, wanted it bad, to put the game away," Aiello said. "If I was the one to do it, that'd be great, and I did.

"I was behind the net, so I saw the puck go right over the goalie's glove, and I saw it hit the back of the net," captain Joe LaCava said. "It was great."

A new chapter in Waltham sports history was written.

"This has been a long time since we've had a school championship in this town in youth hockey on up," coach John Maguire said. "It's been a crazy time."

"Everybody in the community, they've all been supportive;" captain D.J. Aucoin said. "We're on cloud nine right now, and I don't think we're ever going to come down.

High 5, a weekly look at a Massachusetts high school athlete, is in its 17th year of providing Channel 5 viewers an in-depth look at one of the Bay State's finest. Check here every week to see who Mike Lynch picks to win this week's award.