The Newtown-New Fairfield high school icemen were back in play with games on back-to-back nights, at Masuk of Monroe (in Shelton) on December 27 and home vs Branford at Danbury Ice Arena on December 28.

These were two worthy opponents and the Nighthawks spilt the games, dropping their first of the year 4-2 to defending state champion Masuk but rallying for a huge 3-2 overtime win over Branford.

The co-op is currently perched atop the Division III state standings in CIAC play. The clash with Masuk was competitive. On a night in which the Panthers raised the championship banner and honored last year’s group it was the Hawks who struck first on a rip from the point by senior captain Ashton Albert. The goal was set up by Alex Schmidt after Schmidt and Jared Ku worked the puck out of the corner on the goal line.

Shortly thereafter it appeared the Nighthawks really would have Masuk back on its heels, but the Hawks were robbed of a goal by Luca Moura that clearly netted top shelf but ricocheted out and the refs ruled a no goal, Newtown coaches said. Unfortunately for the Hawks, there is no replay in high school ice hockey as the video evidence proved the puck was in. This was a bit deflating to the visitors and a few moments later the game was tied as Masuk got in tight and snapped one over goaltender Max Browne from low in the circle.

The second period saw Masuk take control with their first line getting the team’s second and third goals of the night both on tic-tac-toe back door goals catching the Hawk defenseman a half step slow. Schmidt, however, answered after Ku and Jack Meade worked the puck low on a rush into the Masuk end and found Schmidt as the third forward in who wasted no time depositing the puck in the back of the net.

Newtown-New Fairfield kept it close but finally gave up a power play goal in the last five minutes of the contest and, although they pushed hard, were unable to mount a comeback and left with the first defeat of the season following four straight wins.

Browne was tested with good quality shots throughout and played well, making 13 saves in the contest. The Hawks were unable to generate much on the offensive end in the game and get another chance in a rematch later this season.

With a quick turnaround, the Nighthawks stepped back on the ice the following day to take on an always-solid Branford team that plays at the D-II level. A sluggish and poorly-played first period resulted in a 1-1 tie at the break as Branford struck first with a quick snap off an in-zone faceoff that eluded goalie Garrett McCollam.

Once the boys began to find their stride it was the same combo from the night prior with Meade showing great puck patience and waiting out a fallen Branford goaltender to pop the puck up and over from in tight. The play developed with solid corner work again from Ku and Schmidt who picked up assists on the bang-bang play. Shots in the period were even at nine per team.

The second period saw the Hawks begin to gain zone time and opportunity only to be turned back time and time again by a hot goalie in the Branford net. Branford capitalized on the power play when a shot from the middle of the high slot snuck past the outstretched pad of McCollam and the period ended with a 2-1 lead for Branford.

The third period was more of the same with the NNF crew dominating the shots and zone time but being stymied at every opportunity as the Branford netminder did a great job of eating the puck and stopping play. With the game time getting short and the Hawks pressing Branford picked up a loose puck and went in one-on-one with McCollam, who came up big turning the breakaway aside.

NNF countered quickly as Meade had a breakaway of his own that was also stuffed by the Branford backstop. The excitement of the play energized the group and after a timeout with just over 1:33 left to play the Hawks were not to be denied. With the empty net and a sixth attacker on the ice, the Hawks controlled the flow of the game and after several icings and repeated faceoffs to the left and right of the Branford net the equalizer finally came. Luca Moura pounced on a rebound in front and hammered home the tying goal with a mere 15 seconds remaining in the contest and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. The play was perfectly set up as Schmidt won a clean draw to Meade, who used a quick release and low shot to finally fool the Branford netminder.

The game headed to a sudden-death eight-minute overtime period that saw the homestanding Hawks have to kill off a power play in the first few minutes. Branford continued to press the Hawk net with traffic and got off a shot and followed with two rebounds but McCollam, who recorded 20 saves in the game, held his position. Quinn Harris retrieved the loose puck in the corner and chipped up the middle of the ice to a streaking Ryan Anderson who went wide and under the Branford defender on a semi break and cut hard to the net pounding a shot into a sprawling Branford goalie. As Anderson slammed on the brakes at the front of the net while being checked he got a stick on his own rebound and watched as the puck trickled into the net. The exhausted senior was quickly mobbed by his ecstatic teammates. A well-deserved and hard-fought team victory for the group that enjoyed a few days off before resuming in the New Year.

Coach Paul Esposito is very pleased with the group mentality and work effort and feels that there is plenty of growth forthcoming with a bit more attention to detail and consistent execution as they progress. “It’s a good tight knit group with a family mentality,” Esposito said.