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Branford Skates its Way to Another Excellent Campaign

The Branford boys’ ice hockey team once again demonstrated why it’s one of Connecticut’s elite Division II programs this winter. Although the Hornets didn’t get a chance to defend their state championship, they still enjoyed a wealth of success throughout the 2019-’20 campaign. Head Coach Jim DiNapoli’s squad won its second-straight division title and then claimed the SCC/SWC Division II crown for the second year in a row on its way to finishing with an exceptional record of 20-2-1.

“I’m pleased with our season. We accomplished all the goals that we could,” Coach DiNapoli said. “Like last season, we set goals to win the SCC and state championships, and we were in the middle of a run to repeat those goals. We just got cut short.”

Branford won its first three games of the season before taking a 4-2 loss to Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug. The Hornets responded by going 9-0-1 in their next 10 contests, winning most of those games by lopsided margins, and then capping off the stretch with a 2-1 victory over the Lyman Hall co-op.

Branford dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Wethersfield-Middletown-Rocky Hill-Pomperaug in its next game, but that was the last loss the Hornets took on the year. Branford closed out the regular season by winning its last four matchups for a record of 17-2-1, including a 4-3 victory versus Hand that clinched the team’s second-consecutive division title with a mark of 9-0 in the SCC/SWC Division II standings.

The Hornets were the top seed in the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament and started off the draw with a 7-0 win against the East Haven co-op in the semifinals. That victory sent Branford back to the championship game, where the Hornets edged out North Haven by a 1-0 score to maintain their perch atop the conference.

“It was nice to repeat that feat. I don’t know if we truly appreciated it at the time, because we were looking to repeat in the State Tournament, and winning SCCs was just a stepping stone to take care of before states,” said DiNapoli. “As we sit back and reflect, we’re all just delighted that we were able to achieve one of the goals that we set for ourselves. We just didn’t get a chance to take a crack at the last goal, the ultimate goal.”

Branford opened up the Division II State Tournament as the No. 1 seed and earned a 5-2 first-round victory versus South Windsor before the tournament was canceled. The Hornets would have faced Glastonbury in a rematch of last year’s championship game in the quarterfinals.

Even though Branford’s seniors didn’t go out the way they wanted to, Coach DiNapoli wants them to appreciate what they’ve accomplished throughout the past few seasons. It’s a special class of athletes for DiNapoli, who became the Hornets’ head coach when the current seniors were freshmen four years ago. Since that time, Branford has posted a combined record of 65-21-6 during a run that featured back-to-back conference championships, along with the second state title in program history last year.

“I will always remember this senior class. I think that they may very well be the best class, top to bottom, to ever come through Branford, with all due respect to a lot of other teams, especially the 2015 team [which won the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament],” DiNapoli said. “It’s a group of players that really likes each other, bonded together, and has wonderful chemistry. I’m really just proud of the group as a whole.”

The eight athletes in Branford’s senior class were forward Spencer Engstrom, who served as the Hornets’ captain; along with fellow forwards Jack Manware, Zach Jones, Blake Kustra, and Bennett Gentile; and defensemen Max Manware, Chris Donadio, and Jake Rivera.

Jack Manware centered Branford’s top line that included Engstrom and junior Daniel Farricielli at the wings. Manware made the All-SCC/SWC Division II First Team and the All-State First Team on behalf of the Hornets. Engstrom secured a spot on the All-SCC/SWC Division II Second Team and the All-State Second Team. Manware scored 20 goals and had 31 assists on the year for Branford. Engstrom had 12 goals with 33 assists, while Farricielli posted 22 goals and 12 assists.

Jones and Kustra played on Branford’s second line that was centered by freshman Matt Morgan. Jones had 10 goals with 20 assists, Kustra netted 12 goals and dished out 13 assists, and Morgan had 10 goals with 10 assists. Junior Sawyer Moriarty typically centered the Hornets’ third line.

As Branford was scoring goals in droves all season, the team’s defense proved just as formidable this season. Max Manware and Rivera teamed up as one of the Hornets’ top defensive pairings, while Donadio and junior Billy Linder joined forces to form another dominant duo. Donadio, who had two goals with 19 assists, earned All-SCC/SWC First Team and All-State First Team accolades for his excellent play on defense. Linder scored three goals to go with 14 assists this season.

Of course, no defense is complete without a quality goalkeeper standing tall between the pipes. Junior Jared Yakimoff turned in an exceptional effort in his third year as Branford’s starting goalie on his way to making the All-SCC/SWC Division II Second Team. Yakimoff, who was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament, finished the year with 20 victories, six shutouts, and a 1.60 goals-against average.

In addition to Yakimoff, Farricielli, Linder, and Moriarty, Branford’s junior class also featured forwards Declan Ross and Connor Erickson, plus defenseman Finn Thompson.

The two athletes in the Hornets’ sophomore corps were Wes Raymond, who played both forward and defense, and forward Dominic Viscuso.

Branford also featured several freshmen on its varsity roster. Along with Morgan, the members of the Hornets’ freshman class were fellow forwards Colin Deane, Mike Farricielli, Jack Linder, Mike Linder, and Nick Michaud, defenseman Sean Bosworth, and goalie Jeremy LaCroix.

This season marked DiNapoli’s fourth year as Branford’s head coach and his seventh campaign with the program. The Hornets’ assistant coaches are Zach Boorman and Chris Annino.

As Coach DiNapoli looks ahead to next season, he realizes that Branford will have a much different look with such a talented class of seniors graduating. However, DiNapoli said that there are plenty of hungry athletes who will be ready to hit the ice and try to continue Branford’s tradition of being one of the top squads in the state.

“We’re losing a lot, and it will be quite a challenge next year, but we still have a good nucleus of guys coming back. They’ve been chomping at the bit to get more ice time, and they will get that opportunity next year,” said DiNapoli. “We want the kids to go out and compete hard every day, while representing Branford with class. Everyone has to be ready to go as we look to continue that culture that we’ve established.”