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04/06/2020 12:00 AMThe Hand boys’ ice hockey squad entered the 2019-’20 season with something to prove. After coming up one game short of reaching the Division III state final last year, the Tigers were bumped up to Division II this winter and wanted to demonstrate that they could be one of Connecticut’s top teams in that tier. Hand answered the bell by putting together its second-straight 18-win campaign, ultimately finishing with an overall record of 18-3-1.
Statistically speaking, Hand was dominant on every level this winter. The Tigers scored an average of 5.6 goals per game and allowed just 1.5 goals per contest, while notching six victories via shutout. After going 17-2-1 during the regular season, Hand competed in the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament and the Division II State Tournament.
Junior captain Tatum Fitzmaurice and fellow junior Joey DeAngelis led the Tigers on the ice as both players finished the season with 67 points. DeAngelis had 25 goals and 42 assists, while Fitzmaurice scored 30 goals to go with 37 assists on the year. Fitzmaurice wound up garnering All-Conference and All-State honors on behalf of Head Coach Brian Gonsalves’s squad.
“First and foremost, I think we really understood who we were as a team. We were an incredibly unselfish squad, and we were incredibly efficient every time we took the ice. It was all about executing this season, and I think we did a great job of that,” said Gonsalves. “I also think it says a lot about Tatum that he was willing to stick up for Joey not earning All-State or All-SCC accolades. Tatum firmly believed, as did all of the coaches, that Joey was just as deserving of those awards. Tatum is a great teammate for that.”
Junior goalkeeper Eric Dillner was another top performer for Hand throughout the season. Dillner allowed just 30 goals all year on his way to posting a goals-against average of 1.50, which was the best among Division II goalies in the state.
“Eric was a rock for us in net all season,” Gonsalves said. “Talk about a kid that knows how to get it done in big moments. Time and time again he made huge saves for us and kept us in games.”
Coach Gonsalves’s favorite memory of the campaign came when the Tigers went up against Mount St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island on Dec. 22. Hand pulled off a stunning 4-3 overtime victory and were the only team from Connecticut to defeat Mount St. Charles this year. Hand’s only two regular-season defeats were one-goal losses against Sheehan and Branford.
“That game really indicated to me and the boys that we knew what we were capable of,” said Gonsalves of beating Mount St. Charles. “This is a team that is a storied high school hockey program, and to go into their house and beat them in overtime, it gave us the confidence that we could beat any team we played this year.”
As well as Hand played, Gonsalves said that his club was never satisfied this season. Gonsalves felt that the Tigers commitment to excellence continually drove them to play their best.
“We were always hungry for more wins and always looking for ways to get better,” Gonsalves said. “I think that’s what separates the good teams from the great teams.”
After losing to North Haven on a shootout in the SCC/SWC semifinals, Hand posted a 7-0 shutout over Guilford in the first round of the Division II State Tournament to set up a rematch with North Haven in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, the rest of the tournament was canceled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Gonsalves said he was heartbroken that senior captain Brendan Ryan and fellow senior Holden Prestash didn’t get to finish their careers they way they wanted to. However, the coach wholeheartedly appreciates the contributions that the two seniors made in his program.
“I can’t say enough about those two guys,” Gonsalves said. “Brendan is a do everything the right way on the ice kind of guy. He was always in the right place. Holden was a huge team guy. He was positive and loud and always encouraged our younger guys to work hard. We are going to miss both of them.”
The Tigers will be looking to finish what they started this year when they hit the ice for the 2020-’21 campaign. Gonsalves said Hand will be hungrier than ever to take home the ultimate prize.
“It’s state championship or bust in my opinion,” said Gonsalves. “We have such a talented group of guys, and I know they all want this more than anything. We are going to come out next year with a huge chip on our shoulders and will do everything in our power to win a title.”
In addition to Fitzmaurice and DeAngelis, Hand saw several other athletes fill up the stat sheet this season. Junior Ethan Massey had 16 goals with 16 assists, while Ryan scored 10 goals and dished out 19 assists. Junior captain John Gagliardi posted six goals and 19 assists, junior Logan Massey had 13 goals with 12 assists, and fellow junior Teddy Licari scored four goals and dished out 19 assists. Sophomore Kevin Sandor scored four goals to go with 14 assists for the Tigers.