Conard goalie Blake Ittleson was honored in a pre-game ceremony at Veterans Memorial Rink in West Hartford.

By Paul Palmer. Photos by Paul Palmer and Craig Rosenberg

On a night that started with an emotional award ceremony, the Conard Red Wolves gave their fans everything they were looking for in a 7-2 win over the Titans Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Rink.

Before the opening faceoff, Conard senior goalie Blake Ittleson was presented with the Luke Roux Memorial Award – a scholarship in memory of former West Hartford Youth Hockey League and Farmington General’s player Luke Roux, who was killed by a drunk driver just days after his high school graduation in June of 2022.

The award is given to the former WHYL player who “demonstrates Luke’s characteristics of humility, kindness, discipline, consistency and work ethic.” It is given by the Luke Roux Memorial Fund, which was founded by Luke’s parents, Carri and Steve, to help spread awareness for DUI prevention.

“Luke was very unique in his kindness and willingness to do whatever the team needs,” said Carri Roux. By coincidence, Luke’s father Steve coached Ittleson’s older brother, Evan, in the WHYL. “We are thankful to honor someone like Blake and to be able to spread our message.

“It means a lot to me,” said Ittleson of receiving the award, which was presented Wednesday night by last year’s recipient, Gavin McGowan. “I’ve talked with a lot of his Generals teammates and they all say what an awesome kid he was.”

In addition to raising awareness, hockey games are serving as fundraisers for the Foundation. Next Wednesday, the 2nd Annual Luke Roux Memorial Game will be played at Avon Old Farms where Luke played his high school hockey.

In front of a full house of students, parents, and former Hall and Conard players, the Red Wolves struck first when Braden Gainey scored on an assist from Julien Schneider just under seven minutes in. Conard – which boasts 10 seniors on its roster, compared to Hall which lost 12 seniors to graduation – was having the better of play and senior Aidan Emery scored the first of his two goals. Off a draw in the Hall defensive zone, Emery managed to score from the left side of Matthew Bonner’s cage. But the Titans struck back 1:16 later when Zach Gerken’s long range wrister floated over Ittleson’s blocker to make it 2-1.

Then came a 17-second period of play that tipped the game completely in Conard’s favor. It started just 23 seconds after the Hall goal, when Dylan Smith circled behind the Hall net and fired a pass to Tyler West as he skated into the open space in the middle of the ice. He let go a shot that Bonner had little chance on and it was a  3-1.

Before the student section had the chance to sit back down, Brady Narus made it a three-goal lead when his forehand from in tight beat Bonner low to the blocker side.

“We have a talented group of kids,” said Conard coach Jason Olson. “They have a lot of skill and we have to put that into the team scope rather than the individual.”

Conard is actually one of the favorites to win its conference this year and possibly make another run at the state title. They are powered by the strong defense that Ittleson anchors, and his d-men consistently close down the shooting lanes in front of him.

Seeing Ittleson win the Roux Award, Olson praised the goalie for his work on and off the ice. “He’s a great kid that just does everything right. He is a leader without the ‘C’ on his chest.”

Hall coach Colin O’Connor knew that it was going to be a tough slog with his very young team but said he was proud of what he saw. “I thought we played better than them at some points,” he said. “We hung with them and they and their goalie are viewed as one of the best.”

For much of the second period, it was a bit of pond hockey with neither team taking control, and both spending a lot of time just dumping and chasing the puck. Bonner was called on to make a big kick save on Nick Paolitto’s low shot and then again with :02 left on a penalty kill.

Just under halfway into the second, Hall got its game moving in the right direction and the Titans were rewarded when Owen Campbell scored off a Declan Stone assist. It started as a 2-on-1, and when the initial shot went wide, Stone chased it down, came around the net and found Campbell in front to make it 4-2.

“We had some good offensive zone pressure and got our chances,” said O’Connor of the Titans. The two sides started trading penalties, including a set of matchings, which slowed the flow of action. Both goalies did have to come up with some solid saves to keep it a two-goal game, but Conard once again pulled off some late period magic to increase its lead.

With just under a minute to go, Conard cleared the puck from its zone towards center ice. It was tipped into the Hall zone, avoiding the icing call, and bounced towards Bonner. He was able to clear the puck into the far corner, but Emery applied the pressure and with 48 seconds to go, banged in the unassisted goal.

Ittleson was challenged early and  often in the third, knocking away one shot with a poke check, and another with his blocker in quick succession. With 7:59 to play, Conard used some strong passing to set up its sixth goal of the game. Rune Moyer took an entry pass a drew the lone Hall defender wide, and Narus came flying into the void and converted Moyer’s pass into a Red Wolves’ goal.

Schneider closed out the game’s scoring with just over 3:30 to go in the third when he came off the boards and scored on the short side.

Fittingly, the game’s final highlights came from the player honored before the puck drop. With just over 90 seconds to play, Hall turned up the heat and Ittleson made a series of saves, capping them with a glove for show save off a low shot that brought the Conard student section to its feet.  “We played a little shaky in the first,” Ittleson said after the game. “But we got back to how we play.”

For both coaches, the early season head-to-head showdown between crosstown rivals gave them a lot of positives and a few things to work on.

“Our focus is growth,” said Hall’s O’Connor. “We have to learn from our mistakes and grow from them. Late in the season we hope to make the moves we need.”

On the other bench, Olson put things into perspective – noting that his team is 4-0 (one win came on a forfeit), but there is a lot of hockey yet to be played. “We’re in a good spot. We’ve had a lot of highs and lows but I am happy where we are.”

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