Jr Colonials Pee Wees Win

The Western Connecticut Jr Colonials Pee Wee A hockey team hit the road this past Saturday and notched yet another win, defeating the South Windsor Knights 3-1. Although not their most impressive offensive outing of the season, the Jr Colonials did enough, scoring once in each period. Newtown goaltender Patrick McLoughlin had a very sharp game, making numerous acrobatic saves and turning aside 23 South Windsor shots. Steven Almeida, seeing double duty on defense and offense, opened up the scoring in the first period when he lit the lamp on a goal scored off of a shot by Newtowner Owen Sandercox.

The Jr Colonials got a big boost from forward Frank Haklits, who made an auspicious return to the lineup after two weeks on the sidelines with an upper respiratory infection. Haklits showed remarkable stamina and determination throughout the game and was rewarded in the second period when he roofed a backhanded shot into the Knights’ goal. Almeida and Newtown forward Cooper McLean assisted the tally. In the third period, the Knights connected on a power play goal to cut the lead to 2-1. The Knights continued to apply pressure to the Jr Colonials, until Newtown forward Justin Corsello intercepted an attempted breakout pass by the Knights at the South Windsor blue line and kept the puck in the offensive zone. Steven Almeida then gathered the puck and sent a hard snap shot toward the goal, where Newtown forward Heydan Savoia was perfectly positioned for the tip-in goal.

The goal proved to be a back-breaker for the Knights and McLoughlin shut the door to seal the 3-1 win. The Jr Colonials’ Connecticut Hockey Conference record now stands at an impressive 16-5-1 heading into the final two CHC regular season games. The Jr Colonials need to win both games this weekend against the Wonderland Wizards and the East Haven Hornets in hopes of getting optimal playoff position for the CHC postseason in March.