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03/04/2017 11:00 PMSource Sports Writer
In its first conference final appearance, the Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug (LH/H-K/C) ice hockey team not only gained a measure of revenge from the previous postseason, but also gained a big measure of respect around the league by pushing its opponent to the limit.
The Trojans entered the SCC/SWC Division III Tournament as the top seed and first faced off against No. 4 Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury (B-B-D)—the same squad that had eliminated LH/H-K/C from last winter’s conference draw—and prevailed 3-2 in overtime to advance to play No. 3 seed Newtown in the final. The first period was fast paced with three goals scored as Newtown took a 2-1 lead that held up until the final minute of regulation. With 41 seconds to play, the Trojans tied the game on a goal by sophomore forward Kyle Roberts, forcing an overtime shootout session that Newtown won 2-0 to claim a 3-2 win and the SCC/SWC DIII title.
Despite the defeat, Trojans’ Head Coach Rich Minnix said that he’s plenty pleased with his team, which fought off the injury bug all season long on its way to reaching the conference final.
“It’s been a crazy year. We didn’t have Hunter Boileau until our 12th game due to an upper body injury, so we had to look to guys like Kyle Roberts, Scott Bradley, and Matt Pettit to contribute to scoring. And then seven games into the year, we lose Chris Blanchard, an All-State player from last year, to a broken wrist,” said Coach Minnix. “It shows a lot about this team that we all came together. This game was the first time all year we had the entire team healthy and together.”
Senior goalkeeper Finley VanHouten made 18 saves for the Trojans, who outshot the Nighthawks 42-17. Senior captain Hunter Boileau scored the other goal for LH/H-K/C.
“We woke up in the second period and put everything to the net. We just couldn’t solve their goalkeeper,” Minnix said. “We took shot after shot to the net and their netminder just closed it up on rebound after rebound.”
Newtown (14-7-1) struck first on a power play score from Cole Bepko just 4:12 into the contest. The Trojans (11-11) then struck back when Boileau evened the score at 1-1 at the 10:45 mark of the opening period. Twenty-three seconds later, David Brestovansky netted a goal with a man-advantage to give Newtown a 2-1 lead.
“They started things on a power play following a penalty by us and then capitalized on it,” said Minnix. “Hunter then tied it up on a nice open ice goal, but then they again capitalized on another penalty by us to go ahead.”
Following a scoreless second period, LH/H-K/C looked to be headed toward a loss before Roberts tied the game with 41 seconds remaining. The Trojans had pulled VanHouten for an extra attacker with 1:10 left, and Roberts followed by sending a laser past the Newtown netminder on a breakaway. Roberts then had a good luck at a potential game-winning goal with 11 seconds to go, but his shot rolled just past the post.
“The last goal was pretty crazy. We pulled Finley and, then with an open net, they hit the right side of the post on a shot,” Minnix said. “Hunter then made a hit, took the puck, and fed it to Kyle in the open ice. He scored the goal and that was the loudest I’ve heard our fans all year.”
The title was ultimately decided by a shootout. Newtown led 1-0 after three rounds and then scored again to secure the victory.
Two days before the championship game, the Trojans played B-B-D in the semifinals at Milford Ice Pavilion and claimed a 3-2 overtime victory. LH/H-K/C trailed 1-0 and 2-1, but rallied on both occasions to even the contest. The Trojans’ first two goals came from Boileau, who later assisted freshman forward Matthew Pettit for the winner in OT.
“The whole team was talking about how B-B-D beat us in the conference semis last year and wanting to get them back,” said Minnix. “B-B-D is a great team and well-coached. It was a fun, back-and-forth game and we were able to get that game-winning goal in overtime.”
The Trojans are the No. 5 seed in the Division III State Tournament and are hosting No. 12 B-B-D (6-15) in a rematch at Northford Ice Pavilion on Monday, March 6 at 6 p.m. Three straight victories would put the Trojans in their first state final at Ingalls Rink in New Haven on Saturday, March 18.
“We have to take it game by game and we don’t like to look ahead,” Minnix said. “We now just beat B-B-D, so now they come to our place and will also be looking for revenge. Division III is wide open, so we aren’t looking past the first round.”
From the Sidelines
The members of the Trojans who go to Haddam-Killingworth are senior captain Markus Trahan, senior Jack O’Brien, junior Jared Sullivan, sophomore Travis Watrous, and freshmen Sam Trahan and Mike O’Toole.
Hunter Boileau earned All-SWC/SCC Division III First Team honors, plus Chris Blanchard and Scott Bradley made the Second Team this season.
The Trojans finished 10-10 on the regular season this year and went 5-1 in SWC/SCC Division III to win the regular season title.
The quarterfinals of the Division III State Tournament take place on Thursday, March 9. The semifinals take place on Tuesday, March 14 at either 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. at Ingalls Rink in New Haven. The final takes place at that same venue on Saturday, March 18 at 10 a.m.