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01/17/2023 12:07 PMThe Hand boys’ ice hockey team has already logged several miles on the road in the infancy phases of its 2022-’23 season, and the Tigers are ready to put the pedal to the metal toward the path to hoisting postseason gold in March.
Last season, the Tigers finished the regular season with a 9-11 record to qualify for both conference and state postseason play. First, in the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament, Hand was the fourth seed and took a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Lyman Hall in the bracket’s opening round. Next, in the Division II State Tournament, the 8th-seeded Tigers first dispatched No. 9 Westhill-Stamford by a 4-3 final in the first round before bowing out to top-ranked North Haven in the quarterfinals, 2-1, to finish with an overall mark of 10-13.
Thus far this season, the Tigers skated to a 3-2-1 showing through the first full week of January. Then in a game against Amity on Jan. 11, Hand took a 4-1 road defeat at Bennett Rink in West Haven to now sit at 3-3-1.
Head Coach Brian Gonsalves remarked that while Hand had tested its mettle against foes not from the Nutmeg State early on, it was to season themselves as they get into the meat of the matter with conference play.
“Things are coming together really well,” said Gonsalves, whose club kicked off its campaign by facing Rhode Island schools of Moses Brown, Prout, Portsmouth, and Rogers-Middletown-Rocky Hill. “We set up the schedule with out-of-state games early to get us ready for the heart of the schedule. We are currently the No. 4 seed in the Division II rankings. I am excited about the mindset of this group in order to get better to accomplish their goals. The energy and intensity has been there; now it is about executing.”
The Tigers are captained by a senior trio of forwards in Ryan Pfaff, Kevin Rich, and Spiro Maniatis. The three forwards, who are also linemates, have provided sparks in the point-production department this winter. Pfaff holds six goals and five assists for 11 total points, plus Rich has racked up six scores within his seven points, and Maniatis has assisted on five lamplighters.
“All three of them bring incredible leadership to the team this year,” Coach Gonsalves said. “They went through a lot with our coaches in the offseason about how to be positive leaders. Each guy brings their own piece. They bring a lot of heart and energy, and they lead by example.”
Delving deeper into the senior class, Hand holds platooning netminders sharing time between the pipes in Alex Lumpkin and Ethan Hajdasz. Gonsalves communicated that while the two may be competing for ice time, he is proud of the fact that they are even closer brothers away from the rink. They are joined on the defensive front by senior defenseman Charlie Wira.
“Each of them bring a different style to the game,” said Gonsalves on the goalies. “But they are really close friends; they drive to practice together. It is great to see two guys battling for a spot yet having each other’s support. Charlie is a good, solid defenseman back there, but he is a good offensive threat whenever he touches the puck.”
The underclass also boasts a great depth of talent for the Tigers. While a defenseman, Jimmy DeAngelis, has opened up on offense, with six points in the team’s first six contests, plus junior forward Trip Rizzo has added a balanced output of three goals and three assists. Sophomore winger Matt Gervais (three helpers on the campaign) has taken charge as one of Hand’s workhorses.
“Jimmy is a rock on defense. He was a forward as a freshman, so to become a top-notch defenseman is a credit to him,” Gonsalves remarked. “Trip had a game-winning goal against South Windsor, and he’s been a rock for our second line with his energy and focus. Matt has worked his tail off since the beginning of the year. He sets the example of what hard work looks like.”
The game against the Spartans was the first of Hand’s ten games that count in the SCC/SWC standings. The Tigers will also look to bolster their rankings and status in the state’s focus by tangling with Division I competitor Greenwich. However, Gonsalves’ group is taking a piecemeal approach and staying in the moment.
“Amity was our first big test as an in-conference game counting towards our league. Playing against a team like Greenwich is a good chance to grab experience versus a D1 team,” said Gonsalves. “From there, we take it game by game. We are not looking too far ahead. We are just taking it one game at a time.”
The top target for the Tigers is attaining something they have not grasped since 2014 in the form of a state crown. Based on the fire and focus on the ice and added determination shown away from it, Hand is ready and willing to hold its first state championship in nine years and third overall.
“Our main goal is to win the state title,” Coach Gonsalves said. “The boys are on a mission, and they believe we can accomplish great things. I believe this group can do that. It is just about executing something different in practice daily. We take on one skill a day; we approach it and go after it. The boys also want to hold themselves to very high standards.”
The Tigers’ full program roster is made up of seniors in Pfaff, Rich, Maniatis, Lumpkin, Wira, Hajdasz; juniors of John Orlando, Ian Lehman, Alexander Osterman, Owen Scarice, Rizzo, DeAngelis; sophomores in Nick Lyons, Jay Pinover, Benjamin Lind, Gervais, Anthony Albino, Ethan Bencivengo, Charles Wood; and freshmen of Patrick Coulis, Alex Khacherian, and Gavin Scarice.
Gonsalves is back for his fifth season as Hand’s head coach. He is assisted by coaches Nick Sczerbinski, Justin Gilloran, and Derek Snetro.