Never mind the opponent - Newtown High School's boys' hockey team had a challenging start to the campaign even before taking the ice for the season opener, on Saturday afternoon.

The team bus wouldn't start, leaving the Nighthawks in the Newtown High School parking lot for a crucial hour which otherwise would have been used for warmups and pregame preparations.

Newtown arrived at Milford Ice Pavilion less than a half hour before puck drop, and ultimately fell 4-2 to the Milford co-op program.

Players were still suiting up during warmups, adding a little pressure, especially on the varsity team's many newcomers.

"So we were kind of rushing and didn't get to go over everything. It was a very stressful pregame for your first game," Newtown Coach Paul Esposito said.

Nonetheless, the Hawks and Milford were scoreless through one period of play. Milford score three goals in less than five minutes midway through the middle stanza and never looked back.

The Nighthawks fell behind 4-0 early in the third before a pair of freshmen made their first varsity games memorable with goals.

Phil Makris and Eli Kirby both lit the lamp.

Returnees who played significant roles in Newtown's conference championship run a year ago helped make both net-finders possible. Makris was assisted by Devin Marsh and David Brestovansky, and Kirby was set up by Jack Hanley.

Makris did a great job of showing patience with the puck and skating it with possession throughout the game.

Kirby was denied on a breakaway; Milford goaltender Derek Ouellette made 23 saves.

Ouellette had some early-game penalty kill stops, including a doorstep opportunity by senior team newcomer Carl Bianco on the powerplay, to maintain a 1-0 lead at the time.

Newtown goaltender Justin Halmose stopped 25 shots as Milford finished the game with a 29-25 shots on goal advantage.

"Overall, I was happy with a lot of stuff I saw there," Esposito said.

Take away the Milford flurry of goals in the second period and Newtown was at worst even with its on ice counterparts.

"The bookends of the game were good. Just one of those days," Esposito said.

The coach said he would like to see Newtown improve in its defensive zone.

"We've definitely got to do a much better job in front of our net," said Esposito, specifying that his team needs to clear both the puck and opposing players away from the goal area.

Newtown will visit North Haven, at Northford Ice Pavilion, on Wednesday, December 20, at 6:15 pm. The Hawks host Massachusetts team Mt Everett, at Danbury Ice Arena, on Friday, December 22, starting at 5:30 pm.

Never mind the opponent - Newtown High School's boys' hockey team had a challenging start to the campaign even before taking the ice for the season opener, on Saturday afternoon.

The team bus wouldn't start, leaving the Nighthawks in the Newtown High School parking lot for a crucial hour which otherwise would have been used for warmups and pregame preparations.

Newtown arrived at Milford Ice Pavilion less than a half hour before puck drop, and ultimately fell 4-2 to the Milford co-op program.

Players were still suiting up during warmups, adding a little pressure, especially on the varsity team's many newcomers.

"So we were kind of rushing and didn't get to go over everything. It was a very stressful pregame for your first game," Newtown Coach Paul Esposito said.

Nonetheless, the Hawks and Milford were scoreless through one period of play. Milford score three goals in less than five minutes midway through the middle stanza and never looked back.

The Nighthawks fell behind 4-0 early in the third before a pair of freshmen made their first varsity games memorable with goals.

Phil Makris and Eli Kirby both lit the lamp.

"It's nice to see," Esposito said of the newcomers stepping up and contributing off the bat.

Returnees who played significant roles in Newtown's conference championship run a year ago helped make both net-finders possible. Makris was assisted by Devin Marsh and David Brestovansky, and Kirby was set up by Jack Hanley.

Makris did a great job of showing patience with the puck and skating it with possession throughout the game.

Kirby was denied on a breakaway; Milford goaltender Derek Ouellette made 23 saves.

Ouellette had some early-game penalty kill stops, including a doorstep opportunity by senior team newcomer Carl Bianco on the powerplay, to maintain a 1-0 lead at the time.

Newtown goaltender Justin Halmose stopped 25 shots as Milford finished the game with a 29-25 shots on goal advantage.

"Overall, I was happy with a lot of stuff I saw there," Esposito said. "The bookends of the game were good. Just one of those days."

The coach said he would like to see Newtown improve in its defensive zone.

"We've definitely got to do a much better job in front of our net," said Esposito, specifying that his team needs to clear both the puck and opposing players away from the goal area.

Newtown will visit North Haven, at Northford Ice Pavilion, on Wednesday, December 20, at 6:15 pm. The Hawks host Massachusetts team Mt Everett, at Danbury Ice Arena, on Friday, December 22, starting at 5:30 pm.