Printer Friendly Version - Big Week for the T-Birds Across the Board

Nick Vecchio scored the only goal of the game when the North Branford boys’ ice hockey team edged Cheshire by a 1-0 final on Jan. 20. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound

The North Branford boys’ ice hockey squad was victorious in both of its games last week to improve to 7-2 for the season. The Thunderbirds have now won their last five games in a row.

On Jan. 15, the T-Birds took on Masuk and won by a 6-3 score at The Rinks at Shelton. North Branford scored the first two goals of the game, but Masuk fought back to even the score. However, Sean McKee broke the tie by netting a goal that gave the Thunderbirds a 3-2 lead, and North Branford added two more goals to put the game away.

On Jan. 20, North Branford hosted Cheshire for a SCC/SWC Division II matchup and shut out the Rams by the final score of 1-0 at Northford Ice Pavilion. The two teams traded chances, but both goalies brought their A-game to keep it scoreless through the first two periods. About midway through the third period, Nick Vecchio broke the tie by scoring the game-winning goal on an assist from Nick Mancini. John Lovelace made 17 saves to record the shutout in goal for North Branford.

The T-Birds came away with a pair of victories on their home floor last week to improve to 7-2 this year.

On Jan. 16, North Branford topped Portland 47-43 in a tight game. The T-Birds took a 10-point advantage in the second quarter and then fended off Portland until the end. Jessie Kilburn led the charge with a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds for North Branford. Morgan Violette also scored 16 points in the win, while Angelina Ramada added six points.

North Branford then defeated Valley Regional in another close contest by the score of 50-49 on Jan. 19. The T-Birds built up a 35-21 lead through three quarters, allowing them to hold off Valley’s late charge and hang on to get the win. Killburn led North Branford with 19 points, and Violette had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Marie Zampano added eight points in the victory.

North Branford won two of its three games last week and improved its record to 7-4.

On Jan. 16, North Branford prevailed at Portland 60-38 in a dominating performance. The T-Birds outscored Portland 27-8 in the opening quarter and coasted to the victory. Brett Lequire led the way with 21 points, while Jake Haeckel and Matt Cosgrove scored 15 points apiece for the Thunderbirds.

The T-Birds visited Valley Regional on Jan. 18 and took a 59-36 loss. Sydney Franklin scored a team-high 12 points for North Branford. Sean Esposito and Haeckel each finished with eight points, and Lequire scored six points.

North Branford traveled to Westbrook on Jan. 20 and won by a 51-44 score. Westbrook held a 36-33 lead entering the fourth quarter, but North Branford stormed back with 18 points in the final frame to get the victory. Lequire scored a game-high 27 points, and Cosgrove netted 16 points for North Branford, with both players hitting four 3-pointers in the win.

Morgan Violette played two great games last week as the North Branford girls’ basketball squad posted a pair of victories to move to 7-2. Violette finished in double figures in both wins and contributed a double-double in one of them. Photo by Susan Lambert/The Sound