The building where Dionne played his minor hockey as a child growing up in the Granite State was the setting for an inspiring coda for a hockey career that will give way to lacrosse when Dionne gives up the ice for grass at Duke University next season on a full athletic scholarship.

The seventh-seeded Winged Beavers needed stellar goaltending to run the table in the Stuart/Corkery tournament, beating No. 3 seed Gunnery on the road, then stunning the more talented Noble & Greenough in the semifinal game on Friday, before slowly putting a stranglehold on Northfield Mount Hermon’s title hopes in the championship match.

I caught up to the jubliant senior as he skated around the ice with his teammates, moments after he’d stopped all but one NMH shot in a 4-1 victory to secure Avon’s eighth prep title in 29 years under legendary head coach John Gardner (South Windsor,  Conn.).

“There’s no way to describe that feeling,” he replied when asked what it meant to finish his hockey career in such a spectacular way in the very place where it all began for him as a Salem Saint. “Even to be in New Hampshire where I was born, especially this rink…it’s insane. I couldn’t be happier.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Dionne this season, and Gardner said after the game that when Avon was stalled amidst a 5-5-1 start in mid-January, he approached his senior goaltender and impressed upon him the importance of Dionne’s role in taking the team to the top.

“He and I had a little heart-to-heart,” Gardner said just moments after leaving his team on the ice to continue their victory celebration. “I told him, you’re a great athlete, you’re a great goalie– show it. And he stepped up and did it.”

Against Nobles, nursing a 3-2 lead, Dionne made two brilliant saves in close to keep his opponent at bay. Moments later, Mike Pereira (West Haven, Conn.) scored to make it a 4-2 game, highlighting that ever important maxim of goaltending that says: it isn’t how you make the save, but when you do it that matters more.

Although Dionne would surrender two quick goals to start the third period, he slammed the door the rest of the way to keep it a 4-4 game until Mark Naclerio (Milford, Conn.) broke the deadlock with just 1:27 remaining. Dionne then had to weather a furious assault by Nobles to preserve the win.

That game, considered by more than one NHL scout in attendance to be the best prep game all year, served as Dionne’s springboard to an even better performance in the final.

He won’t be an NHL goalie, and given that he’s turned to lacrosse, Dionne won’t even likely be a minor league netminder taking long bus rides. But on this day, everything came together for him in a place he has always called home.

First up at 10:30 am will be the Piatelli/Simmons (small school) matchup between Kimball Union Academy (Meriden, N.H.) and Dexter School (Brookline, Mass.), backstopped by impressive Quebec native Martin Ouellette in net. Rated 86th overall in the Feb. issue of Red Line Report, Ouellette helped himself with an excellent outing against Tilton, winning 2-1 and holding the fort against a furious surge in the waning seconds after giving up a late goal. He’s a prototype Quebec netminder: a big (6-1), athletic and very solid, fundamentally sound butterfly goalie.

Dexter boasts perhaps the best New England player for the 2012 NHL draft, forward Cam Darcy (South Boston, Mass.), who registered a hat trick in a 4-0 victory over Hebron Academy yesterday, lived up to the pre-tournament buzz on him.

The Martin/Earl game is next at 1:00 p.m. with Choate taking on Berkshire. The Wild Boars will be without the services of super-skilled 2011 NHL draft prospect Philippe Hudon, who was suspended this week for academic-related matters. It’s a big blow not only for the team, but for Hudon himself, who deprived himself of a chance to raise his draft profile entering next season with all the pro scouts in attendance.

The Stuart/Corkery (big school) game between Avon Old Farms and Northfield-Mt. Hermon at 3:30 p.m. could be anticlimactic, as the AOF-Noble & Greenough contest Friday night, a 5-4 win for the Winged Beavers, was as uptempo, exciting and dramatic a game as any you will see at this level. Avon’s goal with 1:27 left in the game broke a tie after Nobles scored two quick ones early in the third to pull even.

West Haven. Conn. native and Avon winger Mike Pereira is out to continue to elevate his draft stock. He was the 77th-ranked North American skater on the NHL Central Scouting midterm list, and had an outstanding semifinal game along with teammate Mark Naclerio (Milford, Conn.), who netted the winning goal. Josh Dionne (Merrimack, N.H.) was also sensational in net for Avon, making several brilliant saves that had the building buzzing.

If Avon wins today, it will be the school’s eighth NEPSIHA title and another jewel added to coach John Gardner’s legacy as the league’s greatest coach. If NMH wins, it would be only the first school other than Avon or Salisbury to win the championship since Deerfield Academy did it in 2003.

Of course, a cynic might look at the numerous breakaways the Leafs had tonight, all stopped by Tim Thomas (to include his going 3-for-3 during the shootout) and say that the Bruins were lucky to get the win, but after all of the recent roster turmoil, resulting in Brian Burke’s (Providence, R.I.) almost total gutting of his team’s forward corps, there won’t be many wins in the offing for Toronto with 19 games left in a season to forget.

Tonight, it was Jean-Sebastien Giguere who stole his team a point, but when  you consider that after Phil Kessel’s 21 goals, the next best goal getter on that team is Nikolai Kulemin with 11, you begin to appreciate how much worse Toronto’s offense is than everyone else’s…to include Boston. Viktor Stalberg got his third of the season, and Bozak his fourth.

Kessel might have had a hat trick were it not for Thomas’s heroics between Boston’s pipes.

“Yeah, he did,” quipped Leafs coach Ron Wilson (Riverside, R.I.) when asked if Thomas had Kessel’s number tonight. “He had Phil’s [Kessel] number. (Nikolai) Kulemin’s number, (Fredrik) Sjostrom’s number, anybody’s number just about. The only way we scored was shots he didn’t have a chance on.”

Wilson thought his team played well enough to win, but the inability to solve Thomas was the big difference.

“Yeah, I couldn’t ask more from the guys,” he said. “We had some great chances; three or four breakaways. I tip my hat to Tim  Thomas, he made some huge saves for them.”

And so the refrain could very well go for the Leafs during the rest of the 2009-10 campaign. Between Alexei Ponikarovsky (19) and Lee Stempniak (14), Burke sent away 33 goals from his lineup, leaving unproven rookies like Bozak, Stalberg and Luca Caputi (who assisted on the Bozak goal for his first point as a Leaf) to help carry the offensive load.

Giguere and the rest of the Toronto defense will keep learning how difficult it is to build leads and win games when you can’t put the puck in the net.

Afterward, Seidenberg met the Boston media for the first time.

“I don’t know– I was waiting for anybody to call, so at the end it didn’t really surprise me once they traded (Derek Morris) away I got a hint that it might be Boston, so I’m really happy.”

Seidenberg made it clear that his job is to focus on helping keep the puck out of the net, something he’s done effectively this season even if his numbers are down from where they were a year ago when he established a career-high in points with 30 in 70 games. This season, he has 2 markers and 23 points in 62 contests.

“All I can do is worry about my own game; play defense,” he said. “I guess play solid defensively and everything else goes from there.”

He wasn’t surprised by the news he’d been traded, saying that when he arrived yesterday for the morning skate (for last night’s game against Philadelphia), he was pulled into coach Peter DeBoer’s office and told that something was in the works.

“I knew I was going to get traded but I didn’t know where,” he said. “An hour later I got the call from (Panthers GM) Randy Sexton and he told me it was Boston.”

He then did what every player who’s been traded has: he went home, ate lunch, packed his belongings and then hopped on a 7 pm flight to Boston.

Seidenberg said that other than Mark Recchi, with whom he played in Philadelphia earlier in his career, he doesn’t know many of his new teammates, but it’s a safe bet that he and Marco Sturm will be seen together often over the last 21 games of this season and possibly beyond.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said in his press conference yesterday that Seidenberg could see some time partnered with Zdeno Chara, an opportunity the newest Bruin is excited about.

“It will be great,” Seidenberg said. “He’s an unbelievable defenseman. Big– so I think it definitely makes it easier to be partnered up with a guy like that. I can’t wait.”

Visnovsky, 33, had 10 goals and 33 points in 52 contests with the last-place Oilers. The undersized but skilled blue liner has been an effective power play presence throughout his NHL career, which began after he was the 118th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Draft out of the top Slovakian pro league.

Pothier, who missed most of the 2008-09 season due to post-concussion syndrome stemming from a devastating hit by Milan Lucic in March, 2008, was a standout puckmoving defenseman at RPI who signed with the Atlanta Thrashers after being undrafted and carved a niche for himself in the NHL. After a stint in Ottawa, he became a veteran presence on the Capitals in 2006. Pothier has four goals and 11 points in 41 games this season.

Corvo is an effective two-way defender who was having an injury-riddled 2009-10 campaign after posting  14 goals and 38 points for the ‘Canes in 81 games last season. In just 34 games this year, Corvo has four goals and 12 points, but makes a deep Capitals blueline corps even more dangerous.

Washington also reacquired former Bruin Milan Jurcina from Columbus for an undisclosed draft pick. Jurcina, who was part of the trade that also sent captain Chris Clark (South Windsor, Conn.) to the Blue Jackets for Jason Chimera earlier this season, is back to add size and depth to the Capitals blue line.

Now, embattled GM Brian Lawton and head coach Rick Tocchet are reportedly feuding over Lawton’s decision to fire assistant coach Wes Walz and replace him with Jim Johnson.

Tocchet, who played for the Bruins for parts of two seasons in 1996 and 97, contended the Tampa Tribune in a recent story that Walz, a 1989 draft pick of the B’s who spent the 1990-91 and 1991-92 campaigns bouncing between Boston and their Maine Mariners AHL affiliate, was let go without his knowledge.

Walz’s biggest splash as a Bruin came during the 1989-90 season, when he was an emergency callup during Boston’s western Canada road trip and he scored a nice two-on-one goal on Mike Vernon of the Calgary Flames from a Bobby Carpenter feed. The highly productive Lethbridge Hurricane never had the expected impact in Boston and Harry Sinden traded him to Philadelphia with Garry Galley for Gord Murphy (and minor leaguer Brian Dobbin.)

Lawton, whose contract expires this summer, alleges that the situation was out in the open and that Tocchet was informed.

Tocchet and Walz are close. Lawton and Johnson are close. Now, the GM’s guy has a job and the coach’s guy doesn’t. The coach feels like his authority and credibility has been usurped, and having a ticked off Tocchet can’t be a good thing for those who remember him being a feared and respected fighter during his career.

Sounds like a lot of drama, and the new owner, Jeff Vinik may have a lot more on his mind than the performance of his on-ice product.

Lawton, by the way, had a cup of coffee with the Bruins in February, 1990, when he was briefly acquired and then released after eight games of scoreless hockey wearing the spoked B and No. 29.  He’s much more famous for being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 draft out of Mount St. Charles Academy ahead of Hall of Famers Pat Lafontaine, Steve Yzerman and Cam Neely.  Lawton’s NHL playing career never approached that of a legion of players taken after him, to include Tocchet, who went 121st overall to the Flyers that year.

As an aside, Tampa’s other assistant coach is Adam Oates, giving the ‘Bolts a decidedly thick Beantown flavor. How much longer that management and coaching team remains in place, however, is anyone’s guess.

Joe Colborne’s Denver University Pioneers won the WCHA’s MacNaughton Cup as the top team in the conference, and will face Colorado College in the first round of the playoffs.

Also, Jordan Caron’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are one of the contenders for the QMJHL crown. Caron posted a four-point night against Val-d’Or last night on the strength of two goals, two assists in a 7-1 pasting of Max Sauve’s club (who played sans Sauve yet again). Although you want to see his final major junior season conclude with an extended run through the postseason, the Providence Bruins could no doubt use his size and scoring ability on the wing to finish out the regular campaign and hopefully be in the playoffs to utilize him if the Huskies are eliminated early.

Also of note, 2007 top draft pick Zach Hamill was named the Providence Bruins’ Player of the Month for March, after posting his best totals for a single month since turning pro in the spring of ‘08. The former eighth overall has struggled to live up to expectations, but demonstrated some live chemistry with his former Everett Silvertips (WHL) teammate (and former Dallas Stars 2004 third-rounder) John Lammers, who was brought into Providence from the ECHL and has really clicked with Hamill. In 11 games, Hamill scored 3 goals, added 10 helpers for 13 points and was a +10.

Here are the stat lines of New England Hockey Journal’s top-15 Boston Bruins prospects as of 1 March.

1. Joe Colborne,  C; Denver (NCAA)

GP- 32   G- 19   A- 17    PTS- 36   PIM- 22

2. Jordan Caron, RW; Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

Rimouski GP- 20   G- 9   A- 11   PTS- 20  PIM- 8

Rouyn-Noranda GP- 19  G- 14  A- 16   PTS- 30   PIM- 14

Total            GP- 39   G- 23   A- 27   PTS- 50  PIM- 22

3. Brad Marchand, LW; Providence (AHL)

GP- 32   G- 13   A- 18   PTS- 31   PIM- 47

4. Max Sauve, C; Val-d’Or (QMJHL)

GP- 23   G- 12   A- 21   PTS- 33   PIM- 22

5. Yuri Alexandrov, D; Cherepovets Severstal (KHL)

GP- 53   G- 5   A- 14   PTS- 19   PIM- 44

6. Zach Hamill, C; Providence (AHL)

GP- 57   G- 12   A- 25   PTS- 37   PIM- 16

7. Jamie Arniel, C; Providence (AHL)

GP- 59   G- 11   A- 14   PTS- 25   PIM- 14

8. Ryan Button, D; Prince Albert (WHL)

GP- 60   G- 5   A- 23    PTS- 28   PIM- 46

9. Mikko Lehtonen, RW; Providence (AHL)

GP- 60   G- 21   A-25   PTS- 46   PIM- 43

10. Adam McQuaid, D; Providence (AHL)

GP- 31   G- 3   A-7   PTS- 10   PIM- 66

11. Tommy Cross, D; Boston College (NCAA)

GP- 28   G- 4   A- 4   PTS- 8   PIM- 26

12. Andrew Bodnarchuk, D; Providence (AHL)

GP- 60   G- 3   A-10   PTS- 13   PIM- 45

13. Jeff LoVecchio, LW; Providence (AHL)

GP- 46   G- 13   A- 6   PTS- 19   PIM- 30

14. Yannick Riendeau, RW; Providence (AHL)

GP- 8   G- 0  A- 2   PTS- 2   PIM- 4

15. Alexander Fallstrom, RW; Harvard (NCAA)

GP- 29   G- 4   A- 8   PTS- 12   PIM- 21

Caron is a good candidate to play for Providence when his Quebec League season finishes, but the bad news is that the Huskies could go deep in the playoffs and possibly win the league championship. The longer his team stays alive, the less likely he’ll be able to get some valuable AHL experience. By virtue of being a November ‘90 birthdate, Caron will be eligible to spend the entire 10-11 campaign in Providence assuming Boston signs him to an entry-level contract first.

“Caron had a slow start because of that (collarbone) injury, but he’s really found his game with the Huskies,” said an NHL scout who covers the QMJHL recently. “I still think he needs to improve his first few steps, but he’s using his size, strength and shot to make an impact offensively in every game.”

Fellow B’s prospect and Val-d’Or centerman Max Sauve, out since late November with a broken ankle, missed his 34th straight game, and may not play again this year according to one report.

“The ankle’s obviously worse than originally thought,” the scout said. “Which is especially impactful on Sauve because speed is such a big part of his game. He may have to reload and wait for next year, but it’s obviously got to be frustrating for everyone involved from the player to his junior team to the Bruins.”

The 20-year-old (he shares the same birthday as Joe Colborne- Jan. 30)second-round pick from the ‘08 draft (45th overall) signed an entry-level contract with Boston shortly before the injury.

Sent down on Feb. 14 after missing several weeks with an undisclosed wrist injury, Riendeau scored a pair of goals and three points in as many games with Boston’s ECHL affiliate.

That he’s been able to play through the injury is good news for Providence, as his offensive ability should provide a spark.

Like Mark Recchi, Riendeau is especially dangerous with the man advantage. His 16 power play goals in the playoffs (19 games) set a QMJHL record last year en route to a remarkable 29 goals and 52 points, tied with Mario Lemieux for second-best totals of all time behind Simon Gamache (56 points). For his efforts, Riendeau received the Guy Lafleur Trophy as QMJHL playoff MVP in leading his Drummondville Voltigeurs to the league championship and a Memorial Cup berth.

In six games in the AHL this season, Riendeau has registered an assist.