NHS Skaters Conclude Tough Season With Another Heartbreaking Defeat

By Jake Burg

DANBURY — If there was one game symbolic of the entire Newtown High School ice hockey team’s season, it was its last. The 6-5 overtime loss against Housatonic Regional showcased the Nighthawks’ tendency to be on the wrong side of close match-ups. In fact, ten of the team’s 18 games were decided by 2 goals or less. In the last week of the season, the locals’ final two games resulted in crushing overtime loses. The Hawks finished with a record of 5-13 and missed the state playoffs.

“It was a tough season because we had to get used to some changes, but everyone worked hard during the year,” said senior captain Francis Oggeri.

Before their match-up against Housatonic Regional at Danbury Ice Arena on February 27, Newtown celebrated their seniors: Max Beitel, Braden Conlan, Kyle DiNicola, Peter Griffiths, Bryan Mesko, Graham Moller, Oggeri and Matt Wright. All of the seniors helped contribute to the growing Newtown hockey program.

Emotions were running high before the game, and Newtown came out with all they had. The starting lineup consisted of all seniors, and the combination worked out well early for the Nighthawks.

Only 32 seconds into the period Griffiths and Wright assisted to Oggeri for a 1-0 lead. Only a minute later, Oggeri and Wright notched their second points of the night by assisting Rob Brautigam’s goal.

Newtown worked hard to set the pace, and did a great job early on. Oggeri soon scored his second goal of the night, and inched closer to the school’s record for total points only five minutes into the first period. The breakaway goal put Newtown up 3-0.

Housatonic Regional countered with a breakaway goal of its own to cut the lead to 3-1 late in the period.

DiNicola performed well in the net throughout the game, especially in the first and second periods. And as the second period got underway, Newtown continued with the momentum in its favor. With a little under 11 minutes to play, junior Christian Beitel scored off of a hard slap shot. The shorthanded goal put the Hawks up 4-1.

The rest of the second period went in Newtown’s favor, and the Hawks appeared poised to end their season on a high note.

Then came the third period. Throughout the season, the third period has caused trouble for Newtown, and in their last game of the season was no different. Only 41 seconds into the period Housatonic scored to close the gap to 4-2.

Newtown’s defense responded, as both Conlan and Max Beitel performed well. Still, in a crucial point of the game Newtown’s defense simply couldn’t hold. The Hawks were skating two men down and Housatonic took full advantage of the power play, scoring to narrow the lead, 4-3.

Newtown countered with a goal of its own, as Oggeri and Conlan assisted Christian Beitel for his second goal of the night. Unfortunately for the locals, Housatonic refused to give up, and with 2:23 remaining, it cut the Newtown lead to one goal.

With a little over one minute left, a Housatonic struck again and sent the game to overtime. In sudden death, the Nighthawks failed to capitalize on a power play, which came back to haunt them. Housatonic scored late in the extra period to finish off the win.

The disappointing loss reinforced just how close the Nighthawks came to success this year. If their last two games, both overtime losses, had been wins instead, the Hawks would be skating in the Division III state playoffs.

“This year was a challenge, coming into a schedule I didn’t put together, but I did the best I could with it,” said NHS Head Coach Paul Esposito.

One of the highlights of the year was Oggeri’s chase for the school record for total points held by Sean LaPorta. Oggeri came close, finishing third overall in the school’s ranks, five points behind LaPorta.

“Francis Oggeri is without a doubt one of the best hockey players a coach could ask for,” Esposito said. “Effort-wise he always gave 100 percent on the ice.”

Aside from the captain, the Hawks had plenty of reasons to be proud. All of the seniors contributed and worked to develop a strong foundation for years to come for Newtown High School ice hockey.

It was a growing season for the‘Hawks. A key player for next year, Christian Beitel, said, “Getting to know the coaches was a huge part of the learning curve. Everyone had fun playing hockey and we played well against a lot of good teams. Also, the seniors this year did a great job setting us up for success in the future, and the entire team is thankful for that.”

Despite the low moments, the Hawks held their fair share of exciting times. For coach Esposito the best moment was, “Watching Kyle DiNicola get the win over Masuk in the heated rematch, hands down.”

Esposito is confident about the future of the program.

 “We will have a solid senior class with Christian Beitel, Rocco Guaragno, and Mitch Bloomberg. I am also expecting close to 35 to 40 kids to try out next season which is good to see. Overall, I’m very optimistic about next season.”