The Larry Vieira era of West Haven Youth Hockey began on a high note at Bennett Rink on Saturday, with the new coach’s Squirt A team defeating the Green Dragons of Hamden, 11-0.
In West Haven Youth Hockey’s “Opening Faceoff” kickoff event of the 2019-20 season, the Blue Devils shut down their archrival from the drop of the puck, dominating in all phases of the game and serving up a scoring smorgasbord, led by forward Aedan Guarino’s four goals and one assist.
Kyle Guarino, Andrew Grillo and Brooklynn Maher anchored a stingy Westies defense that allowed a mere three shots on standout goalie Alex Werle.
The Blue Devils also received strong contributions from Grady Shulte (2 goals, 3 assists), Cameren Lipford (2 goals, 1 assist), Gavin Coady (1 goal), Kyle Guarino (1 goal) and Michael D’aiuto (1 goal).
On Sunday, Vieira’s upstart Squirt A team bolstered its opening weekend record, defeating Darien A1 7-5 in a hard-fought contest at Stamford Twin Rinks.
The Blue Devils came out of the gate firing on all cylinders and played well during the game, with Lipford scoring four goals and Werle making 23 saves to lead the team.
Forward Ryan Walsh put West Haven on the scoreboard first with his first goal of the season. Coady and Aedan Guarino added goals before Lipford’s empty-netter in the closing minute sealed the victory for the Blue Devils.
Later on Sunday, the Squirt A team was handed its first loss of the season by Kent A at Bennett Rink.
The West Haven Pee Wee A hockey team opened the season with a pair of home games at Edward L. Bennett Rink this weekend. The Blue Devils faced two strong teams and lost twice- 9-4 to Hamden A and 8-0 to Darien A.
On Saturday, West Haven celebrated “Opening Faceoff” with the traditional set of games against Hamden. In Pee Wee A action, the first period was tightly contested. Hamden struck first with a short-handed goal midway through the period. Matthew Kelly tied the contest when he fired in the puck with Connor Moriarty and Christopher Consorte earning assists. Hamden scored on the power play in the final minute for a 2-1 lead after one period.
Down 3-1 in the second period, Brady Price fed Ronnie Mastroni, who ripped a wrist shot off the goalie and in to make it a one-goal game again. Hamden scored the next three and led 6-2 at the second intermission.
Hamden led 9-2 in the third before Price scored two short-handed goals for the Westies. The first was a breakaway goal and the second was a steal and backhand shot through the five-hole.
Greg Galasso started in goal for West Haven and recorded 13 saves. Jacob Silva notched seven saves in relief.
On Sunday morning, the Westies hosted Darien and played a spirited opening period for the second straight day. Darien led 1-0 at the first intermission as Silva was sharp with twelve saves.
Darien pulled away for an 8-0 win. Silva finished with 20 saves while Galasso recorded 15 saves in the second half of the contest.
The West Haven Pee Wee B travel hockey team got off to a great start in its opening weekend of play. On Saturday, the Westies took part in the “Opening Faceoff” festivities against rival Hamden and posted a 7-1 victory.
Hamden went up 1-0 late in the first period with a screened shot that went high over goaltender Oliver Sawitzy’s shoulder.
Eddie Thomas IV opened the scoring shortly after Hamden got on the board. Thomas took the puck on a face off in the defensive end and took it the length of the ice to the back of the net.
The Westies scored two more goals in the first period as Julianna Gonzalez netted the puck after a combination of passes from Dan Lavallee and Nolan Fortier. On the same shift, Gonzalez and Fortier returned the favor and found Lavalle’s stick and put the Westies up 3-1 at the end of the first period.
Early in the second period, Sean Luxeder’s neutral ice pass to Dylan Ginsberg was dished off to a quick skating Thomas, who netted the only second period goal of the game.
The defensive pairings of Heather Fonda and Luxeder, along with Grace Douglas and Jack Francis played key roles in keeping Hamden scoreless for the second and third periods. The third period was all Westies as both Thomas and Dan Lavallee found the back of the net to each record hat tricks. Tyler McColgan and Nolan Fortier helped in assisting both players’ goals.
On Sunday, the Westies were back in action with an early morning home game at Bennett Rink against the RiverHawks of Shelton and posted a 4-2 win.
The Westies came out strong with a goal in the first minute of play. Thomas took a puck to his backhand and showed he can score from both sides of the blade. Luxeder found the back of the net with a wrist shot from center ice, and quick skating and puck movement between Thomas and McColgan led to a goal by Gonzalez. The goal by Gonzalez ended up being the game winner.
The Riverhawks came out quick in the second period scoring back to back goals making it 3-2. Within a minute after the RiverHawks scored two goals, McColgan’s pass found Thomas’ stick to score the final goal of the game and give the Westies a two-goal lead going in to the third period.
Penalties found the Westies on their heels early in the third period. Between Oliver Sawitzy’s quick glove and hard work by forwards J.J. Hall, Lucas Iversen and Rafi Treat winning key puck battles along the boards and moving the puck out of the defensive end forcing the RiverHawks to regroup, the Westies dug deep in the neutral zone to hold on to the lead throughout a third period battle.
The West Haven Bantam A travel hockey team opened the season with a win and a tie. The Westies won the season opener 5-0 against Hamden, before playing to a 3-3 tie against Yale 06 AA.
The Westies opened the season against Hamden as part of the “Opening Faceoff” weekend. Behind the line of Cam Delvecchio, Colin Deane and Cade Simone, the Westies led 3-0 after one period and never looked back.
Delvecchio led the West Haven offense with two goals and two assists, Deane had a pair of goals and an assist, while Simone finished with a goal and an assist.
Deane started the scoring just 12 seconds into the contest off assists from Delvecchio and Simone. A great effort by Simone increased the lead to 2-0 with 7:52 remaining in the first, before Deane set up Delvecchio 57 seconds later for a 3-0 advantage.
With the West Haven defense of Sean Bosworth, Dave Brown, Craig Wezenski, Josh Gyolai. Haygen Axelrod and Jason Alling locking down the Green Dragons, and goaltender Brendan Smith turning aside several tough shots early, the Westies took a three-goal lead to the second.
Deane increased the lead to 4-0 off an assist from Delvecchio with 7.6 seconds remaining in the middle period, before Bosworth assisted on Delvecchio’s second tally of the contest with 5:12 remaining. Bryan Hong played well in goal as he helped seal the combined shutout.
West Haven improved to 1-0-1 with a 3-3 tie against Yale Sunday afternoon at the Northford Ice Pavilion. Bosworth led the way with a goal and an assist, including the tying goal off an assist from Gabe Mongelli with 5:52 left in the third period.
West Haven opened the scoring with 2:25 remaining in the opening period when Simone scored a short-handed tally off assists from Delvecchio and Bosworth.
Yale evened the contest 25 seconds later on the power play, before Dante Hardt scored a power play goal off an assist from Kyle Droney with 1:41 left in the opening period. Yale scored twice in the second period to take a 3-2 lead, before Bosworth’s late heroics pulled West Haven even.
Smith again was solid in goal, coming up with several big saves.
Mickey Dowd, Jayden Spreyer, Matt Stevens, Will Gianquinto, Chris Adkins, and Michael Madera all played well on the weekend for the Westies.
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