Steve Santanello became the ninth player in Swampscott High hockey history to hit the 100-point mark Saturday in a 9-1 road win against Everett Allied Veterans Rink.
Santanello, a senior, scored three goals and added two assists in the win.
“It was my first hat-trick of the year,” said Santanello. “It (reaching 100 points) is definitely exciting. But even cooler is that we qualified for the tournament with the win — the fourth time in my four years here. So it was a good day.”
Last year, the Big Blue were seeded first in Division 3 North, but fell right away to eventual sectional champion Lowell.
‘It’s been our goal all season to get into the playoffs,” he said. “In the three years I’ve been here, we haven’t got past the first round.
“Tournament hockey is much different,” he said. “It’s more intense, faster and more physical.”
Santanello now joins his father Dan in that exclusive club, as the elder Santanello racked up over 100 points in the mid-1970s with the Big Blue.
Dom Codispoti added three goals and one assist in the win for Swampscott, while Thomas O’Keefe and Casey Williamson each had one goal and one assist. Tim Farley had one goal, while Jack Poska, Tyler Seller and Zach Elwell each had one assist.
The win continues a streak of incredibly strong play for Swampscott. After tying Lynn back on Jan. 24, the Big Blue have gone 3-0 and outscored their opponents 22-2.
Now at 8-4-5 on the year, it’s all about playing for seeding now. The Big Blue will host Cohasset at Rockett Arena in Salem on Wednesday.