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03/31/2018 12:00 AMThe annual process of reconfiguring a lineup after key seniors graduate is integral for any successful high-school sports team. This year, the Guilford boys’ ice hockey team showed the rest of the state that it could once again put the right pieces in place and embark on another memorable postseason run.
Head Coach Ralph Russo’s squad finished the regular season on a seven-game win streak and posted a record of 17-3 to earn the top seed in the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament. In the tourney, Guilford defeated No. 4 seed Amity 6-3 in the semifinals and then dispatched No. 2 Watertown-Pomperaug by a 3-2 scores to capture its second straight conference crown.
As defending champions in the Division II State Tournament, the 3rd-seeded Indians defeated No. 14 seed E.O. Smith-Tolland 2-1 in overtime for the first round, upended No. 7 Glastonbury 6-3 in the quarterfinals, and then rallied for a 2-1 win over No. 2 Watertown-Pomperaug in the semis to seal their second consecutive berth in the state final. Unfortunately, Guilford took a 7-3 loss to Farmington Valley-Avon-Lewis Mills at Ingalls Rink on March 16, ending the team’s 12-game winning streak. Still, Guilford set a program record for victories in a season by one win with its overall record of 22-3 this year, while developing plenty of new standout players along the way.
“We always try to reach our highest level of competitiveness, which is hard each year, because you have new players,” said Coach Russo. “We had key returning players at the forward positions, but it was a work in progress at first, because we had to find the combinations that worked. We had questions marks on defense and in goal, but we had players that returned and played on a state-championship team. They also set the bar high for the younger guys. It was all a matter of trying to play more like a group to be effective, and what this group was able to accomplish was impressive.”
After taking a tough overtime loss to North Branford on Dec. 20, the Indians went on a pivotal road trip to Maine, where they claimed victory in both games they played against two out-of-state opponents. Coach Russo said that Guilford gained the confidence it needed for long haul by overcoming a few obstacles to grind out those two wins up north.
“The turning point of the season that was positive were those two games in Maine. We won the second game 6-5, and I was proud of how well they did on short rest and fighting through illness...We left their feeling we did something really good,” Russo said. “We came back and got another big win over West Haven, and I think it all put us in the right mindset to compete.”
Senior defenseman Joe Neleber and junior forward John DeLucia served as the Indians’ captains this season, while senior defenseman was Tom Cattaneo was an alternate captain. Guilford’s senior core also featured first-year starting goalkeeper Mete Yanbul, fellow goalie Will Boender, and forwards Lucas Napolitano and Luke Faulkner-Filosa. Coach Russo said that each of these players showed their teammates what it takes to become a top-tier squad.
“For Joe and Tom, it was great as a coach to see them over the course of four years grow in leadership and maturity,” Russo said. “The seniors did a great job of challenging their teammates and what it’s like to be competitive on a daily basis. Mete falls right in line with that. He knew the grind through soccer and brought it to hockey.”
Junior forward Jack Ring and DeLucia were both All-State First Team selections, Neleber made the Second Team, and all three athletes were additionally named to the All-SCC/SWC Division II First Team for Guilford this year. DeLucia was selected as the SCC/SWC Division II Player of the Year, plus Yanbul was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Conference Tournament. Assistant coach Bill Graves was chosen the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year, while Russo was honored by the CIAC with a Coach of the Year Award.
DeLucia and Ring also shared the Indians’ Most Valuable Player Award this season. DeLucia recorded 79 points and has a school-record 199 points for his high-school career, breaking the mark of 145 on Jan. 15. Ring tallied 85 points on the campaign and has a total of 156 points combined for the last two seasons. As a result of being Guilford’s leading point scorer, Ring won the team’s Rosa Award this year.
Neleber and Cattaneo both netted 22 points on the season and were selected as Guilford’s co-Defensive Players of the Year, while Cattaneo also won the Team Spirit Award. Napolitano and Boender were the two recipients of the Most Improved Player Award, while Yanbul and freshman forward Zach Woxland were the Indians’ Rookie of the Year honorees.
Even though his club didn’t come away with ultimate prize and repeat as state champions, Coach Russo said the Indians still have much to feel proud about when looking at their complete body of work this season. Looking ahead to next year, Russo wants his returning players to enjoy the game, while continuing to work hard, so Guilford can put another historic season in the books.
“I hope the players will be ready to come in, work hard, and set new milestones for the team,” said Russo. “Only so many players can play at one time, so I expect some competition for spots early on. I also want the players to work hard, but have fun.”
From the Sidelines
The Guilford boys’ ice hockey team’s varsity roster was comprised of senior captain Joe Neleber; senior alternate captain Tom Cattaneo; fellow seniors Will Boender, Lucas Napolitano, Luke Faulkner-Filosa, and Mete Yanbul; junior captain John DeLucia; fellow juniors James Petritz, Jack Ring, Jake Watrous, Mike Letourneau, Greg Litvyn, Xander Mason-Mann, and Liam Murphy; sophomores Jack Dacey and Alex Attruia; and freshmen Zach Sperry, Zach Woxland, and Ethan Bertrand. Indians’ Head Coach Ralph Russo was assisted by Bill Graves.
Guilford finished with a record of 9-1 in its SCC/SWC Division II games, marking the first year the Indians won conference titles for both the regular season and the tournament.
In the regular season, Guilford defeated Trinity Catholic (10-5 and 10-1), Yarmouth, Maine (3-2); Cape Elizabeth, Maine (6-5); West Haven (8-3), New Milford (9-4), Branford (4-2), East Haven-Old Lyme-Old Saybrook-East Hampton (6-2), Newtown (8-4), Housatonic-Northwestern-Wamogo (8-3), Amity (5-3), Watertown-Pomperaug (2-1), Hand (7-3 and 8-4), North Haven (4-3 in OT), Cheshire (4-1), and Milford (8-3). Guilford’s losses came against North Branford (4-3 in OT), Hamden (7-4), and New Fairfield-Immaculate (5-1).