The Conard boys hockey team hosted the Staples/Norwalk/Brien McMahon co-op on Monday night at Veterans Memorial Skating Rink in West Hartford.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

Conard vs. Staples / Norwalk / Brien McMahon co-op. CIAC Division III state tournament first round. March 10, 2025. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

Conard scored a goal in each period in their opening game of the CIAC Division III boys hockey tournament on Monday night at Veterans Memorial Skating Rink in West Hartford, as the No. 3 seed Red Wolves earned a spot in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 defeat of the team known as “Stormac” – a co-op team of the Fairfield County high schoolers from Staples, Norwalk, and Brien McMahon that was a No. 14 seed in the tournament.

Conard, which won the 2024 championship with a win over the Bethel/Brookfield/Danbury/Immaculate co-op, is hoping for a repeat.

The Red Wolves got on the board first, with a goal by Brady Narus, assisted by Ken Roach, at 8:20 in the first period.

At 5:39 in the first, Berkeley Johnson, with the assist by Shane Powers, got the puck by Conard goalie Brendan Murphy, and the period ended in a 1-1 tie.

Conard vs. Staples / Norwalk / Brien McMahon co-op. CIAC Division III state tournament first round. March 10, 2025. Courtesy photo

With 3:51 left in the second period, Conard grabbed a rebound and freshman Nathan Dubois found the back of the net, assisted by Torin McGoldrick, putting the Red Wolves ahead 2-1 as the teams headed to the locker rooms for the final break.

Stormac continued to press, but Murphy made some key saves in the third period, keeping the slim lead.

The insurance goal – an empty-netter by McGoldrick after Stormac pulled their goalie – came with just 1.4 seconds left in the game, as the bench and crowd erupted in celebration.

Conard vs. Staples / Norwalk / Brien McMahon co-op. CIAC Division III state tournament first round. March 10, 2025. Courtesy photo

At the end of the game, Conard was awaiting the results of the first-round game between Masuk and the Enfield/East Granby/Stafford contest to learn their opponent for the quarterfinals. Conard will travel to the Patsy DiLungo Ice Rink in East Haven on Thursday, March 13 to take on Masuk, which won 3-2 in overtime. That game begins at 7:30 p.m.

Conard celebrates the first round win over Staples / Norwalk / Brien McMahon in the CIAC Division III state tournament on March 10, 2025. Courtesy photo

Conard vs. Staples / Norwalk / Brien McMahon co-op. CIAC Division III state tournament first round. March 10, 2025. Courtesy photo

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