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02/26/2022 11:00 PMThe East Haven co-op boys’ ice hockey team has seen the ups and downs of high school hockey this winter. After starting the season by winning 9 of their first 10 games, the Yellowjackets were unable to secure another victory in their next six contests, but that all changed when the team turned in an excellent effort to defeat the Eastern CT Eagles last week.
East Haven notched a 5-1 road win over the Eastern CT Eagles at RoseGarden Ice Arena in Norwich on Feb. 23. The Yellowjackets went on to take a 4-1 loss versus Hand in a road game at Northford Ice Pavilion on Feb. 26 to put their record at 10-7-1 with two contests left in the regular season.
In his 35th season as head coach, Lou Pane now has 455 career victories with the Easties. However, this isn’t just another season for Coach Pane’s club. The 2022 campaign marks East Haven’s first full season since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the landscape of high school sports two years ago.
Pane had never experienced anything like this in all of his years as a coach, but he’s relieved that his players got back on the ice and are playing a complete season this year.
“We’re putting our program back on the map,” Pane said. “Just to let everybody know we’re a team to fear when you play us.”
Led their senior captains—defenseman Michael Robert of East Haven, goalkeeper Ethan Roach of East Haven, and forward Parker Sprankle of Old Lyme—the Yellowjackets are gearing up to compete in the Division II State Tournament following the conclusion of the regular season.
After starting hot and then going through a bit of a rough patch against formidable competition, Coach Pane felt pleased to see his team get back in the win column with last week’s win over the Eagles. East Haven had taken defeats against Amity, Sheehan, Lyman Hall, Guilford, and North Haven prior to that matchup.
“Those are difficult games to win,” said Pane. “And unfortunately, we had a losing streak.”
The Yellowjackets suffered a setback when Valley Regional junior Dylan Ingram, one of the top-four defensemen on the squad, suffered an injury earlier this year. However, Coach Pane’s club has seen other players, such as sophomore Robert Testa of East Haven, step up and contribute valuable minutes in Ingram’s absence.
“It’s important that a player improves and makes himself better, as well as the team,” Pane said. “With those improvements, it’s making our team more complete and better.”
After scoring just three goals between their previous two games, the Yellowjackets’ offense exploded for five goals when they faced off against the Eastern CT Eagles last week. Freshman forward Gennaro Pompano of East Haven, the team’s leading scorer, netted a pair of goals and also had an assist in the win. Pompano got the proceedings started by scoring an unassisted goal to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead in the first period.
In the second period, East Haven went up 2-0 when East Hampton junior Evan Giovanelli scored from East Haven freshman Cameron LaCroix. After the Eagles got on the board, the Yellowjackets scored two more times in during the second stanza to take a 4-1 lead into the third. Sprankle from a goal from Pompano, followed by a goal from East Hampton junior Alec Berg on an assist by Giovanelli.
East Haven solidified the victory when Pompano lit the lamp for an unassisted goal and a 5-1 advantage during third period. Roach made 32 saves for the Yellowjackets in the game, stopping all 21 shots that he faced in the final frame. With all three forward lines hitting the scoresheet by the end of the game, Coach Pane was happy to see the Yellowjackets put together a well-rounded performance from start to finish in the contest.
Pane has never been concerned about his team’s work ethic. Even when the club was going through some struggles, East Haven still managed a 4-4 tie against E.O. Smith-Tolland in a game where the Yellowjackets were down 3-0 entering the third period. Pane said that it’s not only important to bring a strong work ethic to the ice during the regular season, but also in the postseason, where the effort needs to be perfect.
“Work toward your potential. Give 100 percent at all times,” said Pane. “As a player, you have to work hard. What you put into it is what you get out of it.”
East Haven’s victory over the Eagles was a breath of fresh air that helped the Yellowjackets return to their winning ways. After losing a few close games, the Easties got back on track and are now looking forward to playing in states for the first time in two years. With five seniors entering the home stretch of their tenure, Coach Pane wants to them finish their high school careers on a triumphant note and then use what they’ve learned to succeed in their lives beyond the ice.
“You take that 14 year-old or 18 year-old, make him from a young man to a man, and prepare him for the game of life,” Pane said. “There’s life outside of hockey. They perform with self-discipline, respect for others, and the values they need.”
Three days after defeating the Eagles, East Haven lost a 4-1 contest against Hand to close out last week’s action. Pompano scored from Robert to give East Haven a 1-0 lead early in the second period, but the Tigers tied the score with a goal later in the frame and then scored three goals during the third period to get the victory. Roach made 27 saves for the Yellowjackets.
The East Haven co-op boys’ ice hockey roster team’s roster features senior captains Ethan Roach (East Haven), Michael Robert (East Haven), and Parker Sprankle (Old Lyme); fellow seniors Josh Berg (East Hampton) and Ryan Sheldon (East Haven); juniors Alan Schroeter (East Haven), Nicholas Ruggiero (East Hampton), Tyler Weinzimmer (Morgan), Giuseppe Monaco (East Haven), Joseph Vocatura (East Haven), Matt Penn (East Hampton), Jon-Paul Garea (East Haven), Evan Giovanelli (East Hampton), and Dylan Ingram (Valley Regional); sophomores Robert Testa (East Haven), Michael Savo (East Haven), William Fleischer (Valley Regional), Josh Salvati (East Haven), Griffin McGlinchey (Old Lyme), John D’Albero (East Haven), and Dominic Perillo (East Haven); as well as freshmen Christopher Anderson (Old Lyme), Ben Frazier (Old Lyme), Dilan Robert (East Haven), Cameron LaCroix (East Haven), Gennaro Pompano (East Haven), and William Demetriades (East Haven).