This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/17/2019 12:00 AMFor the first time in its history, the Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug (LH/H-K/C) ice hockey squad can call itself a state champion. The team achieved that feat in emphatic fashion by earning a convincing win against its biggest rival in the title game.
The 2nd-seeded Trojans advanced to their first Division III State Tournament final to take on No. 4 seed Sheehan at Ingalls Rink on March 14. Sheehan had defeated the Trojans during the regular season, but the rematch played out much differently, as LH/H-K/C posted a 6-2 victory to claim its first state crown in program history. The club finished its season with an overall record of 18-7.
“Our team really came together and played so well for each other and wanted to prove to everyone that we were truly capable of winning a state title,” senior captain Kyle Roberts said. “To beat our crosstown rivals added even more significance. They are our rivals, but we know that a Lyman Hall versus Sheehan state final either won’t happen again or won’t happen for a very long time. So, our team knew it was an historical night, and we wanted to make sure we came out on top.”
Sophomore goalie Andrew Sacco made 32 saves for the Trojans, who were outshot 34-27 by Sheehan (19-6-1). Junior captain Matt Pettit, sophomore Aidan Weir, and Roberts each scored two goals in the victory. Freshman Jack Roberts had two assists, while senior captain Kyle Roberts, junior Mike O’Toole, and Pettit contributed one assist apiece.
“Winning the program’s first state title is an amazing feeling. Being from H-K, I wouldn’t be in this position without the co-op team we have,” said O’Toole, whose team reached the state final by rallying for a 4-3 win versus Newington in the semis. “Not only did we bring Lyman Hall the title, but also H-K and Coginchaug. It’s a first for all three schools, and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with any other people than those on this team. And to beat Sheehan makes it that much better. I might be from H-K, but I can still feel the Wallingford rivalry both on and off the ice.”
Pettit tipped home a goal to give LH/H-K/C a 1-0 lead with 10:27 to go in the opening period. After the Trojans were called for a penalty, Sheehan tied the game by scoring on the power play with 3:07 left in the first.
With 10:49 to play in the second period, Pettit netted his second goal to give LH/H-K/C the lead for good. Weir later scored on the power play to make it 3-1 with 4:44 remaining. Roberts found the back of the net with 2:59 left in the second to give Head Coach Rich Minnix’s squad a 4-1 advantage.
“I played for Lyman Hall from [2001 to 2005]. We made it to the semifinals once. To be able to come back to coach here and win its first state championship means everything to me,” said Minnix. “This team had one goal in mind when we started the season and that was to win a state title.”
With the Trojans up by three entering the third period, Weir scored another power-play goal to increase the lead to 5-1 with 10:13 remaining in the game. Sheehan grabbed a goal just 12 seconds later, but Roberts solidified the victory by scoring his second goal to make it 6-2 with 3:56 to play. LH/H-K/C rode out the clock and walked off the ice with its first state title after defeating a Sheehan team that had won the SCC/SWC Division III Tournament a few weeks ago.
“A conference championship would’ve been nice, but when we lost in the conference semis, we were able to move forward and start game-planning for the first round of states,” Coach Minnix said. “The biggest thing we learned about Sheehan is that they can score in bunches. They are a hungry team that is well-coached. We knew if we were going to beat them, we needed to win in transition, as their defense was inexperienced this year after losing a good core last year.”
LH/H-K/C punched its ticket to the Division III final by recording a 4-3 win versus No. 3 seed Newington in the semifinals at Ingalls Rink on March 11. After LH/H-K/C built a 2-0 lead on goals from Pettit and junior TJ Arduini, the Indians (17-6) scored three straight goals to go up 3-2. However, the Trojans tied it on a goal by Pettit, after which O’Toole netted the game-winner with 1:14 remaining. Sacco made 20 saves to help LH/H-K/C take another step forward in its historic season.
“We had a career 100-point scorer in Matt Pettit and 200-point scorer in Kyle Roberts,” said Minnix. “Oh, and we won the school’s first state title. All in all, it’s a year I’ll never forget.”
From the Sidelines
The Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug boys’ ice hockey team’s roster is comprised of senior captains Conner Satton, Kyle Roberts, and Ryan Niemiec; senior Travis Watrous; junior captain Matt Pettit; juniors Matt Smith, Zach Hines, Thomas Isleib, TJ Arduini, Connor Chordas, Jack Lyon, and Michael O’Toole; sophomores Josiah Martinez, John Baldyga, Thomas Ralston, Aidan Weir, Ryan Brockett, Kevin Stoddard, George DiNapoli, Andrew Sacco, and Brendan Reddington; and freshmen Jack Roberts and Dylan Cirino. Watrous, Hines, O’Toole, and DiNapoli are the H-K students on the squad.
Head Coach Rich Minnix is assisted by David Sagnella and Ray Lilley.
The Trojans finished with a record of 14-6 for the regular season, earning wins versus North Haven (5-4), Hand (7-2), Staples (4-1), Westhill-Stamford (6-4), New Milford (4-3 in OT), Milford (8-1), Bethel-Brookfield-Danbury (3-0), Newtown (8-1), Amity (4-3), Joel Barlow-Weston-Abbott Tech (7-5), and East Haven (4-1). LH/H-K/C took two losses to Branford (5-3 and 8-5) and lost once against Cheshire (3-2), North Branford (5-4), Watertown-Pomperaug (2-1), and Sheehan (5-1).
In the SCC/SWC Division III Tournament, the Trojans dropped a 6-2 decision versus Joel Barlow-Weston-Abbott Tech in the semifinals. In the Division III State Tournament, they defeated No. 15 seed Masuk by a 6-1 score in the first round and then earned a 6-0 victory versus No. 7 New Milford in the quarterfinals.