This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
01/24/2018 11:00 PMMatt Twarowski started playing hockey at a young age and quickly found his niche on the ice. Matt stepped into the goaltender’s position on the youth level, and he’s been holding things down in the crease ever since. Now a senior at East Haven, Matt is the starting goalie for the Yellowjackets’ boys’ ice hockey squad this season.
“My first year, I was a skater and a forward, but halfway through the season, it was my turn [to play goalie], because we had goalie equipment that rotated through the locker room. I got the opportunity, so I took it,” says Matt. “Once I put the pads on, I never took them off.”
Matt likes how his team relies on him to turn aside the opposition’s offerings. He feels that he thrives under pressure while trying to keep the puck out of his net.
“I like the pressure,” Matt says. “I like having everyone rely on me as that last line of defense. I just enjoy everything about it in general.”
After playing one game in his freshman year, Matt burst on to the varsity scene by starting the majority of East Haven’s games as a sophomore. Matt says he received a lot of support from one of the Easties’ best defensemen that season.
“[Freshman year] was kind of my adjustment time, but as a sophomore, I was the only goalie,” says Matt. “We had a good defenseman that year. Joe D’Albero was a tremendous help, and I don’t think I’d be able to do it without him. I think once I got used to it, I had more fun playing high school hockey. I wanted to be on the ice every day, getting better and working harder.”
Last winter, Matt split time in goal with Logan Hamilton, who wound up getting the nod to play in the postseason. However, Matt wasn’t frustrated by the situation and cheered on his fellow keeper.
“Goaltenders are always best friends. It was never me versus him. You just go out there, get on the ice, and make the best of every situation. I was always ready to support him, but also always ready to go in at any moment,” says Matt. “Me and Logan got along very well. Last season, was one of the best bonds I ever had with anyone playing goalie. We had a lot in common, and we both loved hockey more than anything. When you have two guys with that much in common, it’s tough to break us apart.”
With Hamilton opting to play junior hockey, Matt has the net all to himself once again this year, and is excited for the opportunity to showcase his abilities. Matt has started every game and has a solid goals-against average of 2.875.
“It definitely makes me want to step on the ice and prove everyone that might’ve doubted me after last year wrong. I can do the same thing, just as well as Logan,” says Matt. “It’s all me now, and I have to do as well as I can to help my team be the best that we can be.”
Matt was named one of East Haven’s captains prior to this season. He viewed the honor as a huge accomplishment since Head Coach Lou Pane rarely names goalies as team captains.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard my name get called. It was a moment of pride. I worked the last three years and got to know my senior year I’d be leading a team,” says Matt. “I lead by example. I have the ability to keep our team in the game when it’s close to give our team a chance to win every game.”
Coach Pane says that Matt has been stellar in goal and is playing with confidence this season. Matt and the Easties have won four of their last five games.
“In the last five games, he’s been challenged, but is squaring up really well. That’s the biggest part of his game, which tells me his confidence level has really increased, because he’s coming above the crease area,” says Pane. “When you do that and square up, you’re taking away a lot of the net, so a lot of these teams, once he squares up, are shooting right into him. Because of his positional play, he’s been outstanding and a major reason why we’ve won four of five.”
The fact that the Yellowjackets are starting to find their stride has Matt amped up for the remainder of the campaign. Matt says that he likes the makeup of the 2018 Easties.
“I love it. It’s fun to lead a team. Everyone is starting to believe in each other, so we have to continue moving forward and not look back,” Matt says. We continue getting better every day in practice and keep working hard. That’s how our team wins games: We work hard, and we don’t quit. I love that about our team.”