West Hartford’s Conard High School defeated the East Haven Co-op, 2-0 in the CIAC Division II boys hockey semifinal on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Savannah Cote. Photos by Scott Sulkazi

Conard continued its remarkable underdog run Tuesday night, shutting out the No. 2-ranked team 2-0 to punch its ticket to the state championship.

Taking down a top-seeded opponent is never easy, but doing so in shutout fashion made the victory even more impressive as the Red Wolves extended what has become one of the most surprising postseason runs in Division II.

All season long, Conard has played with something to prove.

They defending state champions, so they know what it takes to win, but after winning the Division III state championship the past two years the Red Wolves moving up a division. They struggled early in the current season, dropping their first three games, and with six of their eight losses coming by Jan. 21

The Red Wolves managed just one Division II win during the regular season (3-1 over Amity on Feb. 16) and entered the tournament seeded No. 11 with little outside expectation.

Despite that, the team has steadily built momentum, using disciplined play, timely scoring, and a strong belief in one another to advance through the bracket. Tuesday night was another example of that formula working to perfection.

At the center of Tuesday’s win over East Haven (17-2-1) was goaltender Chase Emery, who delivered a standout performance between the pipes. Emery turned aside all 23 shots he faced, earning a shutout in one of the biggest games of the season. Time and again, he came up with key saves to preserve the lead, especially during stretches where the opposing offense applied pressure. His composure and consistency anchored the Red Wolves defensively from start to finish.

Emery reflected on his performance after the game, saying, “It feels incredible to be able to shut the door and also to have a shot at the championship. I’ve had faith in my team the whole season, and to put my all on the ice and also see them doing the same is a great feeling.”

While Emery stood tall in net, he was supported by a committed defensive effort in front of him. Conard limited high-quality scoring chances, blocked shots, and maintained structure throughout the game, frustrating one of the top offenses in the division.

Offensively, Conard capitalized early and never looked back.

Just 6:23 into the opening period, Nate Dubois broke the scoreless tie, finishing a play set up by Andrew Nigro. The goal not only gave Conard a 1-0 lead but also injected the team with confidence and momentum that carried throughout the game.

For Dubois, the moment was especially meaningful. After missing much of the season due to injury, he returned only a few games before the regular season ended, making his impact on such a big stage even more significant.

He reflected on the goal and the team’s performance, saying, “It feels pretty great. It’s good to see our team’s hard work pay off, and to contribute in a big game like that is something special. It’s more about the team effort than just the goal, though. Being able to compete for another state championship is what we’re focused on.”

From there, Conard remained composed, protecting its one-goal lead through strong defensive play and timely saves. As the final seconds ticked away, Nicholas Alonzo sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal with just 20 seconds remaining, securing the 2-0 victory and sending the Red Wolves to the championship game.

With the win, Conard’s improbable season continues. Once overlooked, the Red Wolves now find themselves one victory away from a state title, proving that resilience, belief, and teamwork can carry a team further than anyone expected.

Conard will be back at the M&T Bank Arena on Friday, March 20 in the Division II championship, where they will face No. 4 seed Lyman Hall, which took down the No. 1 team, Cheshire, 4-1, in Tuesday’s nightcap.

It’s been quite the winning post-season for West Hartford hockey. The town actually has two teams playing for the boys hockey state championship. The Hall Titans will take the ice in the Division III championship game on Thursday night after defeating Enfield on Monday.

The Hall/Conard girls also reached the state championship this year, losing to top-seed Darien.

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