The Bishop Hendricken hockey team continued its run of dominance, beating Burrillville 6-2 in the state championship on Sunday night at Schneider Arena to clinch its fourth straight title.

The underdog Broncos jumped ahead on a shorthanded goal midway through the first period, but it would be all Hendricken from there as the Hawks scored three unanswered goals to grab a 3-1 advantage early in the second period. Jack LaRose knotted the score less than a minute after the Burrillville goal, then Griffin Crain would give the Hawks the go-ahead score with just 2 seconds remaining in the first period. Aiden Craft made it 3-1 Hendricken early in the second.

“We weren’t (expecting) to go down early, but we were prepared for if we did. We had an answer, we didn’t panic and bounced back,” said LaRose.

Although Burrillville would find the back of the net once more to pull within a score heading into the third, Hendricken dominated the final 15 minutes to score three unanswered goals to run away with the victory.

Crain added another goal while Colton Simas and Kolby Kanelos each scored in the final four minutes to put the game away.

Crain, who also finished with a pair of assists, was named the game’s most valuable player.

“Just trusting each other and playing our game. The coaches put a system in every year and we trust that, give it our all and buy into it,” said Crain, who added that the team emphasized putting a pace on the Broncos in the final period. “Just keep playing our game, keep going, get our legs back and go hard. Bring the game to them.”

The Hawks entered the matchup with just one loss on its record, losing to Prout early in the regular season. Hendricken surged from there, going unbeaten and virtually untested the rest of the regular season. The Hawks edged rival La Salle in a 2-1 overtime thriller in the semis, setting up the matchup with Burrillville who upset Prout on the other side of the bracket.

The Hawks were named co-champions with Mount St. Charles in 2021 after COVID-19 ended the playoffs, then beat East Greenwich in 2022 and La Salle in 2023. LaRose enjoyed playing in front of different crowds over the years as the Hawks left no doubt who the state’s best club was in his career.

“It’s awesome because each time brought a different atmosphere, a different crowd. Burrillville, La Salle, East Greenwich, it was a different energy and it was a full house tonight. It was awesome,” said LaRose, who soaked in his final moments on the ice. “It’s awesome, these are my best friends and I love all of them. There’s no better way to go out. It’s my last hockey game ever, my last game with these guys, so it’s the cherry on top. The celebration was awesome, it’s everything we dreamed of and worked for.”

It was championship No. 10 overall for Hendricken, and Crain felt that maintaining the status quo was the key.

“We (trusted) each other coming into this game (and treated it) like it’s any other game. There’s not much pressure. Obviously the fans give it to you, but (we just come) out and trust each other and play our game,” Crain said.