Tringale excels for Lawrence in N.E. Prep tournament

If forward Devin Tringale of Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts wasn't on the radar of those NHL scouts prior to the New England Prep School Ice Hockey Association tournament, he is now.

The 5-foot-11 3/4, 195-pound left wing, ranked No. 98 on NHL Central Scouting's list of 2012 draft-eligible North American skaters, scored the overtime winner in the tournament semifinals on Friday before connecting for the eventual game-winner in the championship contest on Sunday at the IceCenter in Salem, N.H.

It marked the first time the fourth-seeded Spartans, who defeated top-seeded Salisbury in the semifinal and then No. 2 seeded Noble & Greenough in the final, celebrated a state championship.

"This is quite an achievement for our boys and we're all very proud of them," Lawrence athletic director Kevin Potter told the media.

Tringale, who is bound for Harvard, scored the decisive goal with 18 seconds left in the second period against Noble & Greenough (Mass.) en route to a 3-2 championship verdict. He also assisted Tyler Whitney's goal a little over two minutes earlier to pull Lawrence into a 2-2 tie.

"It's crazy," Tringale, the team's captain, told ESPNBoston.com following the victory. "We got the coach with the bucket of water. We're all on top of the world right now. On top of New England."

In the semifinal on Friday, Tringale's second goal of the game at 3:29 of overtime stunned favored Salisbury (Conn.), 3-2. According to the U.S. Hockey Report, Tringale's dramatic winner came while driving down the right side before firing a puck between the inside of the post and the left pad of the Salisbury goalie.

"Devin is a very hard-working, aggressive and physical player," Central Scouting's Gary Eggleston told NHL.com. "He is a tenacious forechecker, and plays a physical game in all zones. He creates offense from his physical play, knocking opponents off the puck, and making a play. He's a very good passer and playmaker and possesses a very good shot. He can score goals in traffic or from outside."

In the large school division, Berkshire (Mass.) scored a 3-2 overtime decision over St. Sebastians's School (Mass.) to capture the championship on a goal by Brendan McGovern. In the small schools division, Nick Roberto's overtime goal gave Kimball Union Academy (N.H.) a 3-2 overtime victory over Holderness School (N.H.).

According to Eggleston, Central Scouting's top-rated scholastic prospect, Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves of Kent School (Conn.), played well in a 5-3 loss to St. Sebastian's in the large school semifinal round. Nieves, who is rated No. 31 on Central Scouting's list of North Americans, will now join the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League. He will attend the University of Michigan in the fall.

Additionally, No. 60 Brian Hart of Phillips Exeter (N.H.) produced two assists in a loss to Noble & Greenough on Friday.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale