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02/23/2018 11:00 PMThe Guilford boys’ ice hockey team has a knack for peaking during prime-time in the postseason, and Head Coach Ralph Russo’s squad appears to be following that trend once again this winter. The defending conference and state champion Indians recently wrapped up a 17-3 regular season by winning their last seven games and are charging into the playoff fray.
Guilford closed the 2017-’18 regular season with a grueling test of playing three games in four days—including contests on back-to-back days—but the Indians were true to the task. First, the Indians knocked off Cheshire 4-1 at Wesleyan University on Feb. 21. The very next day, they turned around to post eight goals against another SCC/SWC Division II opponent in Milford in an 8-3 home win at DiLungo Rink. Finally, on Feb. 24, Guilford was home to face rival Hand on Senior Day and prevailed 8-4 to finish the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and with 17 victories overall.
Next up for Guilford is the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament. The Indians, who went 9-1 in division play to finish atop the standings and earn the top seed, will play a semifinal on Thursday, March 1 at Bennett Rink in West Haven. The final is also at Bennett Rink and will take place on Saturday, March 3 at 4 p.m. The three other teams in the tournament besides Guilford are North Branford, Watertown-Pomperaug, and Amity. Last year, the Indians defeated East Haven in overtime to take the title.
“I see a determined group of guys that love to compete. We knew we could get the top seed if we won out in our league games, and our players know the importance of league games, and they want to repeat as league champs,” Coach Russo said. “I was happy we were able to play on back-to-back days earlier in the season, so we could get our feet wet doing that. In practices, we do competitive drills each day, and it gets them ready to compete in games every day.”
In last week’s lopsided win against Milford, junior co-captain forward John DeLucia notched a hat trick, while junior line-mate Jack Ring had a six-point effort behind two goals and four assists for the Indians. Also notching goals were junior forward Jake Watrous, sophomore forward Jack Dacey, and freshman forward Zach Sperry. Additional helpers on scores went to senior defenseman Tom Cattaneo and Dacey. Guilford outshot Milford 32-21 as senior netminders Mete Yanbul and Will Boender combined to get the victory in net by making 14 saves and five saves, respectively.
Previously, in the victory versus Cheshire, the Indians built a 3-0 lead after the first period behind two goals from DeLucia and a goal by Ring. After a Rams’ goal in the middle stanza, Guilford responded when Dacey scored a goal. Assists in the win went to freshman forward Zach Woxland, along with two apiece from Cattaneo and senior co-captain defenseman Joe Neleber. Guilford also prevailed in the shots-on-goal battle, 35-25, with Yanbul making 24 saves.
Closing out the week against Hand, Ring racked up a hat trick, while DeLucia and Watrous each found the back of the net twice for the Indians. Neleber added a goal to help Guilford close out the regular-season with an excellent record of 17-3.
Coach Russo praised Guilford’s top line of Dacey, DeLucia, and Ring, along with his veteran defenders, for their ability to get the competitive juices flowing among everyone on the roster.
“Those guys are really competitive and challenge each other,” Coach Russo said. “They are creative and support each other. The tempo is there with them. They expect success and get it. They got a taste of success last year and want it again this year.”
During the previous week’s action, the Indians carved out a character-building comeback against North Haven by earning a 4-3 overtime victory in a SCC/SWC Division II game on Feb. 17. Guilford trailed 3-0 in the second period, but then rallied back by scoring three goals in that frame to tie up. DeLucia later scored his second goal of the game to win it at the 7:21 mark of the overtime.
“They showed that they had no quit in them and will keep playing, but we learned that if you aren’t playing fundamental hockey, the game can get away from you,” said Russo. “North Haven played great, and it was a big test for us, and the guys saw that between the periods. John had a big goal for us, and the win was a good moment for them.”
Following the Conference Tournament, Guilford will look to defend its Division II State Tournament title as the No. 2 seed and begins with the bracket with a first-round game on Tuesday, March 6 at home. Coach Russo and the Indians know that this will be a postseason full of both fresh and familiar foes. Russo said that Guilford will take things at a piecemeal pace as the team strives to play deep into March and take home two more titles.
“[Beginning this week], it will be about being ready for the playoffs, and we now have two more seasons with the Conference and State tournaments,” said Coach Russo. “In the Conference Tournament, we have to be ready for team and the adjustments they’ve made to us since the first meeting. After that, then it will be about states. We are taking things one day at a time.”
From the Sidelines
The Division II State Tournament quarterfinals will take place on Friday, March 9. The semifinals are on Monday, March 12, and final takes place on Friday, March 16 at 7 p.m. Both games will played at Ingalls Rink in New Haven.
Last week’s games against Cheshire and Milford games marked the third time season where the Indians played contests on consecutive days, and they are 6-0 in those scenarios. Guilford defeated Yarmouth, Maine and Cape Elizabeth, Maine on Dec. 27 and 28, and then defeated Watertown-Pomperaug and Hand on Feb. 9 and 10, respectively.