Hawk Skaters Carry Six-Game Winning Streak Into Playoffs

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s hockey team may have heated up at just the right time. The Nighthawks ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak to carry a 13-6-1 record into the Division III State Playoffs (the seedings and matchups for which will be announced online at www.casciac.org on March 6).

The Nighthawks not only carry winning ways into the postseason, but they have most recently found ways to win in dramatic fashion — pulling off an overtime triumph and a third-period comeback in their last two contests.

Newtown, in a February 24 game in Shelton, overcame the host Gaels for a 4-3 win in overtime, then concluded the regular campaign with a 6-3 win over Fitch-East Lyme at Danbury Ice Arena on February 27. Newtown trailed in the third period before seizing control against Fitch-East Lyme.

In the win over Shelton, Brett Klein scored the decisive goal on a setup by Evan Isaacs and Hunter Dolyak. Newtown got regulation net-finders from David Landau, who had two tallies, and Rob Norling. Klein and Josh Branchflower had assists in the win.

Against Fitch-East Lyme, the Nighthawks found themselves in a 3-2 hole in third period, but struck for four straight goals. Newtown’s Alex Kelly and Ted Benoit, limited to eight games because of injuries, made their first goals of the season timely as the Nighthawks came from behind to keep their winning streak alive.

Landau again had two goals, one of which was unassisted, and another assisted by Norling. Landau finished the regular season with a team-best 21 goals. Dolyak and Klein also scored and Kelly had an assist in the win. Dolyak, Kelly and Klein all scored in a four-minute span to turn a one-goal deficit into a 5-3 lead before Benoit sealed the win.

Although Landau led the Hawks in scoring, several other NHS skaters were big contributors on the score sheets this campaign. Klein had 13 goals and Branchflower and Isaacs both scored eight times. Isaacs added 14 assists, Dolyak 13, and Branchflower 10. Norling, in only eight games after sitting out the start of the season due to high school transfer rules after making the switch from Immaculate High of Danbury, registered eight assists. Landau also had eight helpers and Kelly, Parker Rodbell, and Matt Vitti all had seven assists. Rodbell also had six goals during the season.

The Nighthawks entered this week of practice not knowing which team they will be facing in the state tournament, but the Hawks did bring confidence to the practice ice.

“We’re pretty excited. We think we can go pretty deep into the playoffs and we’ll see how it goes,” Norling said. “We’re going to take it one game at a time.”

To succeed, Newtown will have to put together three periods of solid hockey in each game — something Coach Paul Esposito has stressed throughout the campaign.

“We’re going to have to work hard in the next couple of practices,” Dolyak said of the importance of preparing for the start of the playoffs.