Hawk Icemen Back On Winning Track

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s hockey team put together a four-game winning streak heading into a Friday, February 18, clash with the Bolton-Coventry-Lyman Memorial team.

The Nighthawks, after toppling Shepaug-Litchfield 6-1 on February 7, topped Masuk of Monroe 4-1 two days later, beat Joel Barlow of Redding 6-2 on February 12, and knocked off Housatonic-Northwestern 7-1 on February 14. The Nighthawks improved to 11-4 overall and appear to be in good shape for a No. 2 seed in the upcoming South-West Conference Division II Tournament behind the Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury team.

Newtown beat Masuk behind two goals by Evan Isaacs, and goals by Ted Benoit and Chris Erikson. Parker Rodbell had two assists, and Christian Blais and Tyler Hanley also helped set up goals.

In the win over Barlow, Newtown won fairly easily after getting by with a 4-3 win in the first matchup between the teams, on January 31. The Hawks turned a 2-2 tie through two periods into a 6-2 win. Blais scored twice and had an assist, and Benoit, Rodbell, Hanley, and Isaacs all lit the lamp. Mike Allwein made 22 saves in the effort. Newtown Coach Paul Esposito was particularly pleased with the play of Hanley, who had a two-point night with an assists to go along with his goal; Brandon Logel, who provided a great physical presence on the ice with eight body checks; and Brian Buchetto, who was a solid defender in the effort.

In the win over Housatonic-Northwestern, Brett Klein — in his second game back following a neck injury that sidelined him for a game — scored his first goal of the year. Blais scored twice, and Alex Kelly, Matt Vitti, Owen Sandercox, and Benoit all found the net.

The Nighthawks still have four games remaining, three of which are on the road, before the start of the playoffs, but they can already taste possible SWC tourney and Division III State Tournament success.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Isaacs said. “If we play hard, if we skate with consistency, our team will win.”

The Hawks look to keep up their winning ways down the stretch. Their next game is Friday, February 18 against te Bolton-Coventry-Lyman Memorial team. After a game against EO Smith-Tolland-Windham on February 21, the Hawks will hostGuilford on February 23 (7:40 pm at Danbury Ice Arena). NHS closes out the season February 26 against New Fairfield-Immaculate.

“It’s been a lot of fun — especially the winning. We’re playing the way we should be playing and it’s paying off,” Kelly said.

Prior to the Barlow game, Newtown captains Vitti, Kelly, Klein, and Benoit presented a $250 check made possible through fundraising efforts by the NHS hockey booster club to Barlow’s captains to give to the family of Rob Smuniewski, a Barlow senior who was killed in an accident involving an ATV and another vehicle in January.