Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Watertown’s “Own” Boston Gold Kings Start Title Defense with a Wild Win

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The Boston Gold Kings play hockey in the Power Play Senior Hockey League (PPSHL). The Gold Kings also happen to make Watertown their home, playing their home games at the John A.Ryan Arena. The Gold Kings have worked hard to make a footprint in the community the past few years, making appearances at Faire on the Square, for example. And the Gold King’s sponsor list includes many Watertown businesses. The Power Play Senior Hockey League, Northeast Region, added a fifth team for the 2025 season, adding Hudson Valley to go along with Salem, Holyoke, Norfolk, and the Gold Kings. In the ’24 playoffs, the Gold Kings swept Holyoke in the semis did the same to top-seed Salem in the finals. On Saturday night, Boston and Holyoke got the ’25 season started, and it was a wild ride indeed, with the Gold Kings prevailing 7-6 on a game-winner with 1:20 to go in regulation. Now the PPSHL plays three 20 minute periods, just like pro leagues. It’s a full-checking league, and even fighting is allowed. Four officials suit up as further evidence of the seriousness of the competition. Rosters are made up of professionals, as in professionals in other aspects of life, and who love the sport of hockey and want to continue playing in something more competitive than a Tuesday night league that skates for an hour at 10 p.m., fully equipped with cold pucks and cold ones in the cooler.

Sports

Gold Kings Hockey Hosting Exhibition Game, Free Admission

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The champions return to the ice in Watertown on Sept. 27 for an exhibition game against the Salem Sasquatch. Admission is free for the game, which begins at 8:35 p.m.

Last season, the Gold Kings clinched the Power Play Senior Hockey League title at John A. Ryan Arena last April. The team fought back to complete a 5-4 come from behind victory over Salem in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals. The semi-pro team heads into its third season in 2025-26.

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Oktoberfest, Puppet Show, Armenian BBQ, Hockey & Forest Bathing

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It’s looking like a sunny and entertaining weekend in town! The slower summer weekends are past, and our event venues are definitely in the eventing mood. I’m sorry to tell you that the New England AcroFest is sold out (Give that a search if you haven’t heard of it.), but there is more enjoyment to be had. Why wait for October to celebrate Oktoberfest? The Mighty Squirrel Brewery will be at it all weekend, including a stein holding competition on Friday evening and an oompah band on Saturday afternoon.

Sports

Gold Kings Hockey Teams Lifts Trophy, Cliched First Title in Watertown With Comeback Win

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The Boston Gold Kings celebrate scoring in Game 2 of the PPSHL Finals. The Gold Kings won the game 5-4 against Salem. (Photo by John Merritt)

Two goals in the third period capped a dream playoff run by the Boston Gold Kings, who won Game 2 of the finals 5-4 over the Salem Sasquatch and clinched the team’s first title in its second year of existence. The Gold Kings lifted the Power Play Senior Hockey League (PPSHL) trophy on home ice at the John A. Ryan Arena on March 29. The semi pro team now seeks to keep improving and hopes to see the league add more competition, said Cameron Labrecque, the Gold Kings’ General Manager & Director of Hockey Operations.

Sports

Gold Kings Win First Game of PPSHL Final, Can Clinch Championship at Ryan Arena

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The Boston Gold Kings need to win one more game to capture the PPSHL Championship after beating the Salem Sasquatch 5-2 on Saturday. The semi-pro team, which plays its home games at John A. Ryan Arena in Watertown, hosts game 2 of the finals against the Sasquatch on Saturday, March 29 at 8:10 p.m. If game 3 is necessary, the teams will play on April 5 at 7 p.m. in Salem, New Hampshire. The Gold Kings finished the regular season in third place in the Power Play Senior Hockey League, with a record of 8-9-1. The team dropped the first game of the semifinal series to the No. 2 sed Holyoke Papermen on March 1, but the Papermen had to forfeit the game after it was discovered they used an ineligible player.

Sports

WHS Sports: 2 Wrestlers Headed to New Englands, Boys Hockey Battles Triton in Round of 16

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Watertown senior Tessa Master is heading back to the New England Championships after finishing third at the All-State Wrestling Meet. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown’s wrestlers made more history this week as two athletes placed at All-States and will move on to the New England Championships. The Watertown-Wayland boys hockey team skated in a close game at Triton in the Round of 16 of the State Tournament. Wrestling

For the first time, two Watertown wrestlers will compete at the New England Wrestling Championships, and for the first time a Raider will be in the boys’ bracket. On Saturday, Watertown’s Tessa Master finished third at the All-State Wrestling Meet in Methuen.

Sports

Watertown Hockey Wins Double Overtime Thriller in State Tournament

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The Watertown-Wayland hockey team celebrates a 4-3 double overtime victory over Pembroke in the MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

For a moment, the Watertown-Wayland boys hockey team’s season ended Wednesday at John A. Ryan Arena, but then the sudden death tally by Pembroke was ruled “no goal” by the referees. The Raiders used their new lease on life to score the winner in the 4-3 double overtime and propel the team to the Round of 16 of the MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament.

Sports

Watertown Boys & Girls Basketball, Boys Hockey Will Host Tournament Games

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Senior Will Carty and the Raiders will host a first-round State Tournament game this week. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The MIAA released the 2025 winter State Tournament brackets, and three Watertown teams — boys basketball, girls basketball, and boys hockey — will host first round games this week. Boys Hockey

Charlie BreitroseWatertown senior Shane Desmond (left) and the Raiders will skate in the State Tournament on Wednesday at Ryan Arena. Here he and Alec Banosian play in the 2023 Tournament. First up will be boys hockey, which got the 12th seed in the MIAA Div.