West Hartford’s Conard and Hall boys hockey teams met for the second time this season on Thursday, with the Red Wolves completing the sweep of their crosstown rivals with a 4-3 win.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Kei Caudle  

Thursday was a night full of tension between the two opposing West Hartford high schools, with friends and family filling in the stands at Veterans Memorial Rink.  

With both teams chanting, the game began with intense defense from either side. The puck was thrown onto the ice with Hall’s No. 34, Ben Putnam, attempting his first goal under 2 minutes into the game. After being swept across by Conard No. 15 Dylan Smith, Hall’s No. 6 Connor McHugh made another attempted goal for the Titans with an assist from No. 18 Charles DeBassio, only to be deflected by Conard goalie Chase Emery. This set the precedent for the match; these teams weren’t here to mess around; they both came for gold.  

Conard’s vibrant red whipped around the rink, with each player latched onto the puck. After a close call, Emery made an amazing save following a small collision within their neutral zone. Within the 11-minute mark, Conard’s No. 7, Nolan Reck scored the first goal of the game. The score was 1-0, urging Hall to race towards the other side.  

Putnam zoomed across the ice with various assists from McHugh, looking for an open opportunity and hoping to tie within the first period. This was not made easy, with Conard’s Smith giving Hall’s No. 11 Thomas Killelea a swift back check. Although there was no call, Hall didn’t fret, instead urging their players forward. Hall goalie Matthew Bonner blocked a close net goal, pushing it towards the target goal.  

Hall’s hard work paid off, with Putnam making an off-the-post goal with 5 minutes left in the first period. The horn blared as they skated around, celebrating the then-tied score of 1-1. Both teams wasted no time in resuming the heated rivalry, with No. 17 for Hall, Liam Flemming, taking a shot on goal, only to yet again be struck down byEmery. Bonner repaid the favor by blocking an open goal, dismantling Conard’s possible second goal, with tensions rising as the period inched towards a close.  

But Conard struck again, with No. 16 Bradan Gainey scoring the second goal for the Red Wolves, pushing them ahead 2-1. The cheers went silent as Conard grabbed the puck seconds after scoring, determined not to miss an opportunity. However, Bonner struck while the iron was hot and gripped the puck, saving Hall from dropping down another point.

After a somewhat tense tussle, with players from both teams scrambling forward, the game resumed, although the fire had been lit. Each team received a matching penalty for roughing with Conard No. 18 Henry Tamaccio and Hall No. 24 Sawyer Hollander, giving equal disadvantages.  

Period 2 started with rigorous play, with each player fighting for the puck. Charles Ganey was given a hooking penalty, leaving Hall short-handed. Shots were made left and right, with Bonner and Emery on guard in their nets. Flemming, after battling, earned a hand-pass whistle, pushing the face off towards Conard’s goal. The puck was quickly stolen from Hall’s grasp with a possible third Conard goal on the horizon, only to be dismantled with an icing penalty.  

Despite the struggle against Conard, McHugh scored a goal with an assist from Putnam and DeBassio, evening the score at 2-2. On a victory high, No. 21 Jordan Scher took the puck, attempting another goal for Hall. This, however, earned a penalty for Conard, putting Hall on the power play.  

The Titans failed to capitalize and instead, with 3 minutes left in the game, Tamaccio scored a short-handed goal for the Red Wolves, slipping the puck past Bonner, putting Conard ahead 3-2. This came after a streak of penalties, from too many men to roughing. As the minutes counted down, Hall was on their A-game, trying to score any possible goals. No. 9 Jack Croce was crowded by No. 3 Nathan Dubois, both trying to score. Their speed gave the audience whiplash, with Hall racing around.  

Nearly at the end of period 2, McHugh scored his second goal for Hall, tying the score at 3-3. The rink was filled with shouts of celebration after an intense period; both schools now anxiously striving for the winning point.  

The last period started with tension in the air, the score still tied 3-3. Putnam and McHugh both attempted shots, with Emery blocking each one. Killelea was hit with an early penalty, giving Conard a power play. 

Just like in period 2, there was a string of penalties. Conard No. 20 Gavin Mangini was sent to the box for high-sticking after a violent scramble for the puck. The anxiety was palpable as each team pressured the other’s goalie.  

No. 22 Benjamin Goldstein shot an intense wide shot, with the puck striking Emery in the mask. The team’s defense put out all the stops, with No. 4 Liam Alver ripping across the ice to save the puck from Hall. After a sliding net, the face-off was placed near Hall’s goal, with Hollander stealing the puck.  

In a devastating blow for Hall, No. 19 Zachary Orsey attempted to clear the puck, only to end up tossing it into the air. Conard No. 11, Ken Roche, with his quick judgment, knocked it forward with his glove, giving Tamaccio the opportunity to score his second goal for the Red Wolves, the score now 4-3.

With under 2 minutes left, a timeout was called by Hall in the hopes of evening out the score. Bonner was pulled in the effort to add to the offense.

Despite a great effort between both teams, with Hall’s defender No. 8, Dillon McDermott and Flemming working hard to keep the puck in range, the game ended with the 4-3 win for Conard, and the sea of crimson went wild.  

Conard, 9-7-0, will host Amity on Monday at home and on Thursday will travel to the Toscano Family Forum on the UConn campus to face the E.O. Smith-Tolland co-op team.

Next on tap for Hall, 9-5-1, is an away game at Enfield on Wednesday before returning home on Saturday to host Tri-Town.

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