Skaters Take Aim At D-III Title

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s hockey team is hoping to build off last season’s success and create a memorable season in 2010-11.

How memorable? How about a conference and/or state championship?

Last winter, the Nighthawks went the farthest they’ve gone in the program’s history, reaching the Division III state tournament’s quarterfinals after a 13-6-1 season. “We definitely want to take it to the next step,” said Newtown Coach Paul Esposito, adding that the ultimate goal is to win the state’s pinnacle game at Yale University’s Ingalls Rink in March.

Esposito also believes his team should be in contention for a South-West Conference championship. “I think we have a very good chance of competing for an SWC title this year,” he said.

Tough competition is expected to come from the likes of co-ops Newington-Berlin and local nemesis Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury. At the D-III level, Esposito said, St Bernard, which was a D-II team a year ago, joins forces with Norwich Free Academy and Bacon Academy, and should be among the tough teams in the way of a title.

The Nighthawks enter into the regular campaign with plenty of confidence after having won the SWC Preseason Jamboree, topping New Fairfield-Immaculate, the Bethel-Brookfield-Danbury team, and Joel Barlow.

“I’m very optimistic — I’d say this is probably the most excited I’ve ever been, with the current roster we have,” Esposito said. “With the roster we have, we’re expecting to do some really good things — great kids overall; the whole dynamic of the team is probably the best I’ve had in ten years.”

Newtown will miss the contributions of some key graduates from last winter, including goaltender Dylan Deselin.

This year’s netminder, Michael Allwein, has plenty of experience, having split time between the posts with Deselin last winter.

The Nighthawks gained some new faces, including sophomore centerman Christian Blais, a transfer from D-I Notre Dame-Fairfield, and freshmen defenseman Owen Sandercox — both of whom Esposito is expecting big things from this campaign.

Blais jumps right into the first line center position and will be flanked by wingers Hunter Dolyak and Ted Benoit, who missed much of last season with an injury.

The second line comprises Parker Rodbell, Matt Vitti, and Evan Isaacs, who have plenty of experience together as linemates, the coach notes.

Newtown’s defense is led by Brett Klein, Alex Kelly, Tyler Hanley, Harmon Coffey, and Sandercox. The team’s captains are seniors Dolyak, Vitti, Benoit, Klein, and Kelly.

“It looks like we’re going to have a pretty good team this year,” Dolyak said.

Esposito said the team members see the ice well and have familiarity with one another from their youth hockey days.

Following Newtown’s December 15 season opener against the Staples-Weston-Shelton team (after The Bee sports section went to press), the Nighthawks will host Watertown-Pomperaug at Danbury Ice Arena on December 23.

“I think we’re going to have a very balanced team this year — defense, our goaltending. I think we have a great ability to score goals this year too,” Esposito said.