Printer Friendly Version - East Haven Youth Hockey Takes Two State Titles for First Time

The East Haven Youth Hockey Bantam B team won a state championship by a earning a victory versus Avon. Pictured are (front) Joseph Vocatura, Jeremy LaCroix, and Gennaro Pompano; (back) assistant coach Brian Perillo, Tania Cruz, Vanessa Irizarry, AJ Schroeter, Jon-Paul Garea, Dominick Perillo, and Head Coach Al Schroeter. Missing from the photo is Ryan Sheldon. Photo courtesy of Catherine Schroeter

Prior to this season, there had never been a year in which two East Haven Youth Hockey teams won the Connecticut Hockey Conference (CHC) State Division Championship trophy in the same season. East Haven’s Bantam B and Squirt A1 teams both accomplished that feat this winter, while overcoming some obstacles along the way.

The East Haven Bantam B (U-14) squad was short on players to start the season, but the parents, players, and Head Coach Al Schroeter decided to field the team anyway. The “Mighty BeeZ” journey began with the team typically fielding a squad of six skaters and one goalie. East Haven still went out and battled its way to a record of 16-6-5 throughout the year. The Bantam B team defeated Avon in the final of the CHC States Adam Division Tournament, capping off an unbeaten run in the postseason.

The athletes on the East Haven Bantam B team are Tania Cruz, assistant captain Jon-Paul Garea, Vanessa Irizarry, Jeremy LaCroix, Dominick Perillo, Gennaro Pompano, captain AJ Schroeter, Ryan Sheldon, and Joseph Vocatura. Head Coach Al Schroeter is assisted by Brian Perillo.

“In all may years of coaching, all I can say is this team played with team spirit, brotherhood and sisterhood, and unselfish teamwork that I have never seen before,” Head Coach Al Schroeter said. “They were playing for the name on the front of the jersey--not the back.”

The East Haven Squirt A1 (U-10) team topped the CHC Governors Division this season after winning by a 3-2 score in the final to clinch the title. The team was made up of a mixture of boys and girls who gutted their way through a 33-game schedule.

In the State Tournament, East Haven earned ties its first two games, before digging deep for an 8-4 victory in the semifinals to reach the championship game. After falling behind 4-0 in the second period, East Haven clawed its way back and took control of the game to get the victory.

The players on the East Haven Squirt A1 squad are Luca Angiollo, Ryan Bunnell, Tyler Carlson, Anthony Coppola, Matthew Coppola, Kate Epke, Hailey Farace, Dante Garea, Colin Letourneau, Vinny Mattei, Nicholas Perillo, Luca Scarpellino, Bennett Stanger, and Michael Verderame, Jr. East Haven’s Head Coach is Ed Mattei, Jr., and the assistant coaches are Eddie Angiollo, Ed Mattei, Sr., and Mark Meyerholz.

“The lesson these youth learned is that teamwork, determination, loyalty, and grit can accomplish almost anything, which is an important life lesson,” said East Haven Youth Hockey president Ray Marsico. “As president of any league, we hope hockey or any sport teaches our youth some lessons they can bring into their future. Congratulations to Bantam B and Squirt A for accomplishing such a great achievement. I’m proud to be president of a league with youth of this caliber.”

The East Haven Squirt A1 team rallied its way to a win in its state final game. Pictured are (front) Luca Scarpellino, Colin Letourneau, and Michael Verderame Jr.; (middle) Tyler Carlson, Vinny Mattei, Luca Angiollo, Anthony Coppola, and Kate Epke; (back) Matthew Coppola, assistant coach Eddie Angiollo, Hailey Farace, Head Coach Ed Mattei Jr., Ryan Bunnell, assistant coach Mark Meyerholz, Nicholas Perillo, assistant coach Ed Mattei Sr., Dante Garea, and Bennett Stanger. Photo courtesy of Catherine Schroeter