The Conard boys hockey team hosted Amity on Monday night at Veterans Memorial Rink in West Hartford in a game that was also a fundraiser for a local nonprofit.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Savannah Cote. Photos by Savannah Cote an Scott Sulkazi

Monday night was about more than hockey.

The matchup at Veterans Memorial Ice Rink served as a charity game benefiting the Shoulder Check Foundation, an organization founded in 2023 with a simple but powerful mission: remind people to check in on one another every single day. The foundation was created in honor of Hayden Thorsen, a Connecticut native who tragically lost his mental health battle in 2022.

With that purpose in the air, the Conard Red Wolves delivered a performance worthy of the moment.

Conard, ranked 12th in Division II, stunned No. 9-ranked Amity with a 3-1 victory, fueled by relentless defense, timely scoring, and a monumental effort in net from Chase Emery.

The Red Wolves wasted no time setting the tone. Just 22 seconds into the opening period, Henry Tamaccio found the back of the net unassisted, igniting the home crowd and giving Conard an immediate 1-0 advantage.

After the early strike, both teams locked in defensively. The remainder of the first period – and much of the second – was defined by physical play and disciplined structure. Emery was under constant pressure but stood tall, turning away shot after shot to preserve the lead.

Conard broke through again late in the second period. With 3:40 remaining, Andrew Nigro buried a goal off a setup from Torin McGoldrick, extending the Red Wolves’ lead to 2-0 and shifting momentum firmly in their favor.

Amity refused to go quietly. With 9:47 left in the third period, Kaiden Reynolds capitalized on a power play opportunity, scoring off an assist from Jackson Heyn to cut the deficit to 2-1 and inject life back into the contest.

From there, it was Emery’s game.

The Red Wolves’ netminder delivered a remarkable 47-save performance, absorbing sustained offensive pressure and shutting the door in the final minutes. When Amity pulled its goalie for the extra attacker, Tamaccio sealed the night with an empty-net goal – his second of the game – with 34 seconds remaining, clinching the 3-1 upset.

On a night dedicated to checking in and showing up for one another, Conard showed up in every way possible.

They played for a cause.

They played for each other.

And they walked away with a statement win.

Conard has three more games left in the regular season – away at the Toscano Family Ice Forum on Thursday against the E.O. Smith-Tolland co-op, back home at Veterans on Wednesday, Feb. 25 to host the Terriers, and on Saturday, Feb. 28 vs. Glastonbury at Trinity College.

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