The West Haven Squirt A travel hockey team advanced to the quarterfinals of the CHC Tier 4 state championship, but were eliminated in a 4-0 loss to Western Major on Saturday night at the Newington Ice Arena. The Blue Devils complete the season with an overall record of 31-19-5.
The Westies went 3-0 in pool play but due to tiebreakers they were the third seed going to the cross-over round. In the quarterfinal game, the Blue Devils controlled the opening period and outshot Western, 12-3, but could not find the back of the net. The game was scoreless until midway through the second period before Western began to pull away.
West Haven was strong throughout the playoffs. The Westies opened play on Thursday night in Newington with a 6-2 win over South Windsor. Sean Studley opened the scoring for the Blue Devils when he knocked in a rebound of Ethan Kelly’s shot just 37 seconds into the game. South Windsor tied the contest, but the Westies regained the lead when Cameren Lipford dove and tipped the puck to Kelly who centered to Studley who jammed in a one-timer.
The Westies made it 3-1 in the third period when Jonathan Charbonneau’s point shot was deflected by Studley over to Lipford. Lipford slammed home the loose puck. One minute later, Studley blocked a clearance pass to Lipford, who fired over the goalie’s shoulder.
Ethan Kelly then weaved through traffic and went the length of the ice to deposit one for the Westies. Studley capped the scoring and earned a hat trick when he skated from his own defensive zone and buried a wrist shot off the far post with just two seconds remaining. Maddex LaFountain made 18 saves, including a couple breakaway stops, in net for the Westies.
In game two on Friday night the Westies knocked off New Canaan, 5-4. West Haven went down 2-0 early, but came roaring back later in the first period. Ethan Kelly came flying out of the penalty box, stole a pass, and scored with a wrist shot to make it 2-1. With 1:14 left in the period, Studley netted a wrist shot with Lipford and Kelly assisting. With nine seconds remaining, Studley tipped a pass to Kelly who slammed it home and gave West Haven the lead.
In the second period, Ethan Kelly drove the puck to the net and fed Studley for a tap in on the doorstep and a 4-2 lead. New Canaan scored, but West Haven made it 5-3 when Ryan Pniewski took a point shot that Studley redirected to Kelly in the slot. Kelly spun and fired a wrist shot through the five-hole.
New Canaan made it 5-4 early in the third period, but the West Haven defense, led by Leo Mazuroski, Matthew Kelly, Charbonneau and Pniewski, made the score hold up. LaFountain was solid and finished with 23 saves.
On Saturday morning, the Westies beat the Wonderland Wizards, 4-1, to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Gavin Coady got West Haven on the board when he won a puck in the defensive zone and carried it along the boards. Coady knocked a pass to Ethan Kelly who skated in and scored.
The game remained 1-0 into the third period when Kelly passed from behind the net to Lipford in the slot for a wrist shot and a two-goal lead.
The Wizards made it 2-1 and pressured the Blue Devils, but West Haven got strong shifts from Zach Melchiore, Rafi Treat, Aedan Guarino and Lucas Iversen to stay in front. Studley then won a loose puck, skated around a defender, and buried a rising wrist shot to make it 3-1 with just 1:39 on the clock. Studley iced it with an empty net goal for the 4-1 final score. LaFountain made 21 saves in the win.