The Conard boys hockey team defeated Newington 6-1 in West Hartford on Wednesday night.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Savannah Cote. Photos by Savannah Cote and Scott Sulkazi

Conard’s offense came out strong, scoring three goals on Newington in the opening period to take early control of the game. The defense matched that intensity, recording multiple breakups throughout the period, including key plays from Ken Roche, Bradan Gainey, Liam Aluer, Jack Eisenberg, Riley O’Keefe, Parker Bastos, and Nick Alonzo.

The scoring opened with 8:26 remaining in the first period, when Alonzo found the net off assists from Bastos and Braden McCabe, marking Alonzo’s first career goal. Conard doubled its lead at the 3:27 mark, as Gavin Mangini scored with assists from Torin McGoldrick and Nolan Reck. The final goal of the period came with 2:55 left, when Eisenberg scored, assisted by Mangini and Roche.

Conard carried a 3-0 lead into the first intermission, establishing early momentum and setting the tone for the remainder of the game.

The Red Wolves continued to control play in the second period, highlighted by strong defensive effort and disciplined special teams. Defensive breakups were recorded by Roche, O’Keefe, Dylan Smith, and Reck, while Conard successfully killed off three penalties during the period.

The sustained offensive pressure paid off at the 12:26 mark, when Roche scored to extend the lead. The goal was assisted by Alonzo and Andrew Nigro, giving Conard a 4-0 advantage heading into the final period.

Conard carried that momentum into the third, turning in another strong period that included two successful penalty kills. Roche added his second goal of the game with 5:33 remaining, scoring a short-handed goal off an assist from Mangini. Just 26 seconds later, the Red Wolves struck again while short-handed, as Eisenberg scored with assists from CJ Bankoff and O’Keefe.

Newington’s lone goal came from Jack Guilmartin, assisted by Dylan Reynolds and Parker Rossi.

Conard, 2-3 after now winning its last two games, closed out the contest with a decisive 6-1 victory and will face its crosstown West Hartford rivals, the Hall Titans (3-1-1), on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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