Franklin boys hockey facing former goalie Cole Pouliot-Porter and Xaverian in Elite 8
FRANKLIN – A pair of black and yellow custom goalie pads caught Cole Pouliot-Porter's eye.
The Xaverian Brothers High School senior from Franklin was watching a beer league hockey game "somewhere in Foxborough or Franklin" when he was young and became enamored with the position. He started as a defenseman like his father, Kevin Porter, but stood in front of the net during cross-ice mite games and tried to stop the puck.
"I think the one who made me want to stick with it was my dad. He always wanted the best for me. He always drove me to practice and talked to me about hockey," Pouliot-Porter said. "Being a goalie is something I look forward to and still look forward to. It’s special being able to play such an important role. "
He takes the role seriously, waking up at 7:30 a.m. to make sure he's drinking enough water, watching goalie highlights – Nashville's Juuse Saros is a favorite – and training his mind and reflexes with the Sense Arena Virtual reality system. Puliot-Porter stretches and rolls out his muscles three times per day and skates for 10 minutes after every practice.
"It's always been a lifelong dream to make the NHL, but my biggest personal goal is to sit on a couch one day and think back to the days that I played hockey, and I want to know that I left everything on the table," he said. "I don't want to regret anything that I did, and I want to know that I was the hardest worker, and I never wanted to lose."
Pouliot-Porter and his No. 5 Xaverian Hawks haven't lost in their last nine games. After reaching the Division 1 state final a year ago, they're aiming for a return trip with a better result.
"We have the mentality that any game during the postseason can be our last, especially for the seniors, it could be some of our last hockey games ever," Pouliot-Porter said. "Everybody's working for each other, and nobody wants to see the seniors play their last hockey game any time soon. We've been going into games with a mindset of no regrets and leave everything on the ice. Play like it's your last game."
Xaverian will face No. 12 Franklin in the Division 1 quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Loring Arena in Framingham.
"It's going to be special"
In a different world, Pouliot-Porter would wear a powder blue Panther on his chest for that game instead of Xaverian's classic X. The senior used to. He was named the 2022 Hockomock League Goalie of the Year, backstopping the Panthers to the Sweet 16 as a sophomore. Franklin seniors Ben Paterson, Dylan McEvoy and Anthony Lampasona also played club hockey on the South Shore Kings with Pouliot-Porter.
"I think it's going to be very fun," Pouliot-Porter said. "These are guys I've grown up playing hockey with. It's going to be a special game to play against those guys. They're my hometown team. It's going to be special."
Pouliot-Porter started on the Mount St. Charles Academy team and spent time with the Neponset Valley River Rats before coming to Franklin High. He transferred to Xaverian for his junior season in order to improve academically and develop athletically.
"The coaching offered at Xaverian and the extra resources to develop my game was best suited for me," Pouliot-Porter said. "I still consider Franklin as family. Just because I went to a different school doesn't mean I didn't like the team or didn't find them special. It was just to develop my game and pursue my career."
"Hopefully we get a couple past him"
He blossomed into one of the state's best goaltenders, leading the Hawks to the state final. Pouliot-Porter was named a Catholic Conference All-Star after stopping 93.5 percent of the shots he faced and allowing just 1.96 goals per game.
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"He's a locked in goalie, never likes to mess around before games," McEvoy said. "He's always focus on the game, the next step ahead."
Pouliot-Porter's numbers have been nearly as impressive as a senior. He saves 91.57 percent of the shots he faces and allows 1.99 goals per game in 22 appearances. Xaverian and hasn't allowed multiple goals in the tournament yet.
"We love the challenge. They're a great team up and down," Franklin senior Logan Marchand said. "Hopefully we get a couple past him."
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There won't be animosity from the current Panthers toward their former netminder, just a desire to win and extend their season. Some still refer to him as the "Coletender," his nickname that he uses on social media.
"Him being from Franklin, it gives us a little edge, so it’ll be fun," Paterson said. "If I see the kid, I’ll talk to him. We’re friendly, we’re familiar, but on the ice there’s no friends."
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This is the matchup Franklin wanted before the brackets dropped. It seemed a possibility most of the season but became a reality when they both appeared in the same quadrant.
The Panthers won two games at home to reach the quarterfinals thanks to an upset by No. 28 Weymouth over No. 5 Archbishop Williams. If Franklin prevails, the Panthers will reach their first Final Four since 2016, when they won the state title.
"This is the No. 1 team we wanted to play. I’ve never played them in my high school career," Paterson said. "They always bring the energy, and they're a top team. You always want to knock off a top team."
Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Franklin hockey matched up with former goalie and Xaverian in Elite 8
