Freshmen Propel NHS Skaters To OT Win In Bounce-Back Effort

By Andy Hutchison

Facing the prospects of its fifth straight loss, the Newtown High School hockey team clawed from behind to force overtime and eventually defeat Masuk 4-3 at Danbury Ice Arena on January 24.

Freshman Ted Benoit knotted the score in the third period and fellow first-year high schooler Dave Landau netted the winning goal.

“Both are really good skaters, they’re both really experienced to say the least,” said NHS Coach Paul Esposito, who previously coached Benoit and Landau at the youth level. “They both came through.”

The Nighthawks improved to 4-6 overall and 1-2 in South-West Conference play. Newtown entered play this week in fifth place in the SWC Division II standings and in the hunt for a playoff spot, awarded to the top four teams.

The Hawks are four wins away from qualifying for the D-III state playoffs and now four points out of the SWC playoff picture.

“It was essential. It was a crucial point for us in the SWC,” Esposito said of the win.

The Hawks still have to face three of the four teams ahead of them — the Watertown-Pomperaug co-op, New Milford, and Joel Barlow.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Esposito said.

Newtown would like to build off of this win. Although the Hawks started slowly (falling behind 2-0 after one period of play), the team put forth a solid effort to fight back. “We’ve been harping on finishing in all aspects of the game,” from body checks and scoring chances, Esposito said.

In the win over Masuk (3-5, 0-3 in the SWC), Newtown did a good job of finishing in those areas.

“I think it was a big morale boost for the kids,” Esposito said.

Landau’s goal was set up by another freshman — Josh Branchflower — along with senior captain Christian Beitel. Landau and Beitel set up Benoit’s goal. Esposito moved Landau up from his defensive position to skate as a forward. Landau has two game-winning goals this season, one from original his defensive position. Beitel and junior Sean Kennedy also scored in the OT thriller.

The younger players have stepped up and not only contributed, but been difference-makers and that trend will have to continue. Junior Ryan Lasher, a key defender, leaves a void having been suspended for the remainder of the season because of attending a party in which there was reported to have been underage drinking, breaking a school board policy.

“That’s a big loss for us,” Esposito said.

This win snapped a tough stretch in which Newtown lost an overtime game and, most recently, suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury tri-team on January 21 to fall three games under .500 after a solid 3-2 start to the campaign.

In the loss to the Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury team, which is now 7-2 (3-1 in the SWC and in first among the seven D-II teams), Newtown sustained pressure deep in the opponents’ end of the ice in late-game attempts to come back.

Beitel was denied on several chances and worked well to generate some offense along with Mark Poeltl and Branchflower.

“Our opportunities are there — we just need to capitalize on our opportunities. We’re in every game. We just need to finish it off,” recently appointed senior assistant captain Poeltl said.

In their next game, the comeback against Masuk, Poeltl and company did just that. The Hawks hope to carry their momentum to a victory their next tilt.

Wednesday’s scheduled game at Sheehan was put on hold until Thursday (after The Bee went to press) because of snow and ice. It’s the third time Newtown has had to adjust its game schedule because of Mother Nature.

The Hawks will host Watertown-Pomperaug on February 4 and take on New Milford on February 7. Newtown has ten remaining chances to earn those four wins and qualify for states.

“We have a great team. We can beat all of these teams,” Branchflower said.

NOTE: Charter Communications will carry several Nighthawks’ games on Channel 21, beginning with the Bethel-Brookfield-Danbury game on February 9, on Mondays at 9 pm. The Masuk game may be seen on February 16.