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03/08/2019 11:00 PMThe Hand boys’ ice hockey squad is going back to the state semifinals for the first time since the Tigers captured the state crown in 2014. Hand advanced to the semis of the Division III State Tournament by posting shutouts over the Norwich Free Academy co-op team (7-0) and Newtown (5-0) in the first two rounds of the bracket last week. Hand, which has an overall record of 18-4-1, will face Sheehan in the Division III semis at Ingalls Rink on Monday, March 11.
With his club one win away from the state final, first-year Head Coach Brian Gonsalves commended the Tigers for staying laser focused since the start of the campaign and then bringing that fire to the ice in postseason play.
“The boys have done a great job with setting up the expectations this year since day one. We’re halfway there now, and it’s great to see them have that mentality and focus to win on their own,” said Gonsalves. “We’re looking forward to taking this great program to [Ingalls Rink].”
The top-seeded Tigers started off states by hosting the 16th-seeded Norwich Free Academy co-op squad, also known as the Redhawks, for a first-round game at on March 4. Hand outshot the Redhawks by a lopsided 45-10 margin on its way to a 7-0 shutout at Northford Ice Pavilion. Senior captain Michael McKeon and sophomore Joey DeAngelis both scored two goals for the Tigers, who saw sophomore Eric Dillner make 10 saves to get the shutout in net. Senior captain Ian Rice, junior Brendan Ryan, and sophomore Logan Massey had two assists apiece in the victory. McKeon, Rice, and Ryan each had one assist, as did sophomores Dominic Montesi, Josh Ruotolo, and Teddy Licari, and freshman James Barber.
“The boys have had just such great camaraderie and togetherness,” Coach Gonsalves said. “They just have fun playing varsity high school hockey and have bought into it since day one. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”
On March 7, Hand punched its ticket to the state semis by notching a 5-0 shutout versus No. 5 seed Newtown in a quarterfinal game at Bennett Rink in West Haven. Once again, the Tigers dominated in the shots-on-goal department by putting 50 shots on net to Newtown’s seven. DeAngelis, sophomore Ethan Massey, freshman Kevin Sandor, Tatum Fitzmaurice, and junior Alex Spina found the back of the net for Hand in the win. Griffin Fitzmaurice and Tatum both dished out two assists, while senior Brett Leckey, McKeon, DeAngelis, and Barber all had one assist. Dillner stopped seven shots to get another shutout and help the Tigers advance to the semifinal round.
Hand will take on No. 4 seed Sheehan (18-5-1) in the Division III semifinals at Ingalls Rink on Monday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m. This will be the third meeting between the teams this year. Hand defeated Sheehan by a 5-3 score during the regular season, before taking a 2-1 defeat to the Titans in the semifinals of the SCC/SWC Division III Tournament on Feb. 27.
“Not using this as an excuse, but the conference semifinal was our fourth game in five days. So, things caught up on us a bit, but after the loss, it allowed us to refocus,” said Gonsalves. “We knew our end game was to get to [Ingalls].”
With a victory in the semis, Hand would play the winner of No. 2 seed Lyman Hall/H-K/Coginchaug (16-7) and No. 3 Newington (17-5) in the Division III state final at Ingalls Rink at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14.
From the Sidelines
The Hand boys’ ice hockey team set a single-season program record for victories by finishing with 16 wins during the regular season.
In the regular season, Hand claimed wins over Shepaug-Litchfield-Nonnewaug-Thomaston (4-1), Guilford (5-4), Milford (4-1), North Haven (5-1), Masuk (6-2), the Eastern CT Eagles (4-2), North Branford (4-1), Trinity Catholic (5-1), Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe (8-2), Amity (7-3), Watertown-Pomperaug (2-1), Joel Barlow-Weston-Abbott Tech (8-4), Masuk (4-0), New Milford (3-2), Sheehan (5-3), and Newtown (6-2).
The Tigers’ regular-season losses came against Lyman Hall/H-K/Coginchaug (7-2), Guilford (8-6), and Branford (5-2). They also earned a 6-6 tie versus Bethel-Brookfield-Danbury.