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Just Short
Westies fall to North Branford in season opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 12, 2023) - The 2023-2024 season did not start the way the West Haven boys hockey team would have liked. Despite controlling play for a large part of the third period, West Haven could not get the equalizer and fell to North Branford 5-3 at the Northford Ice Pavilion Tuesday evening.
Jayden Spreyer led the offense with two goals and an assist, Mike Madera had one goal and one assist, and Thomas Porto added two assists in the loss. Javed Ullah made 18 saves in the loss.
Trailing 4-3, the Westies poured it on in the third period, but could not get the equalizer. A Madera to Spreyer set up was denied in front with 8:36 to go, before a rebound shot by Marcus Burrows was turned away from in close with seven minutes remaining.
Brady Price had a chance to tie the game with 6:05 remaining, but his shot rang off the post, before Porto was denied 45 seconds later. After failing to cash in during the final five minutes, West Haven watched as North Branford’s C.J. Sherwood completed his hat trick with an empty net goal with 24 seconds remaining to seal the opening day loss for the Westies.
West Haven jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a power play goal 6:27 into the contest when Spreyer scored off a feed from Porto. Sherwood evened the game with a length of the ice rush 1:14 later.
The Westies took a 2-1 lead just 1:04 into the second when Madera found Spreyer on a 2-on-1 break, but Sherwood again answered with the equalizer 2:23 later.
Spreyer, Madera and Porto teamed up again for a 3-2 lead as Spreyer’s shot was blocked, but Porto picked up the loose puck and fed Madera in front for the go-ahead goal with 8:07 to go in the middle period.
The lead was again short-lived as North Branford evened the game 55 seconds later, then took a 4-3 lead with a goal off a scramble in front on the power play with five minutes to go in the second.
In the Win Column
Westies top North Haven in home opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 16, 2023) - The West Haven hockey team is in the win column. Behind three goals from Thomas Porto, two assists from Mike Madera, and 30 saves from Javed Ullah, West Haven topped North Haven 4-2 Saturday afternoon in the homer opener at Bennett Rink for the Westies.
“It is nice to get in the win column,” West Haven acting coach Mike Violano said after filling in for Steve Harris who was out ill. “It was a good win at home. We made our shifts count today.”
Ullah came up big in goal, especially in the first period when he turned aside 11 North Haven shots. While the West Haven goaltender was doing his part, the Westies took a 1-0 lead just 1:52 into the contest when Porto scored off assists from Madera and Jayden Spreyer.
The trio continued to put the pressure on and nearly extended the advantage twice in the final 5:20 of the opening period, a Spreyer to Madera set up on a 2-on-1 was turned aside with a pad save by North Haven goalie Jack Keaney, and a Madera to Spreyer set up in the final two seconds was also denied.
After Keaney made a pair of stellar saves two minutes into the second, Brady Price set up Josh Rodrigue in front for a 2-0 advantage with 9:19 left in the middle period.
Ullah kept the two-goal lead with two saves in front, before Marcus Burrows fed Porto on a 2-on-1 short-handed break for a 3-1 lead with 3:50 to play in the middle period.
“I thought he played well in net,” Violano said of Ullah. “He made some big saves for us today.”
Bryce Mastriano scored the first of his two goals 6:13 into the third, but order was restored when Porto completed his hat trick off assists from Madera and Haygen Axelrod 1:21 later.
“He had a great game,” Violano said of Porto. “That line really distributes the puck well.”
Mastriano capped the scoring with 19.1 seconds remaining in the game.
Not to Be
Westies fall to Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 20, 2023) - After picking up its first victory of the season, the West Haven boys hockey team was looking to start a winning streak. The Westies will have to wait for that.
Spotting Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe three goals, West Haven’s rally fell short in a 3-2 loss at Martire Arena in Fairfield Wednesday evening. With the loss, West Haven fell to 1-2 on the year.
West Haven had its share of opportunities in the game, but could not convert. Those missed chances hurt in the end.
Trailing 3-0, the Westies put the pressure on and finally got on the scoreboard when Mike Madera took a pass from Jayden Spreyer and scored from the slot with 10:03 remaining in the game.
West Haven did not convert again until Spreyer scored with 25.5 seconds remaining, but, despite a last-ditch attempt in the final seconds, West Haven fell 3-2.
Marcus Burrows and Haygen Axelrod were denied one minute apart in the middle of the first period, before Burrows was again turned aside in the final five minutes of the period.
West Haven had golden opportunities to score in the second, but a Madera shot off a 2-on-1 break hit off the post and wide two minutes in, before Thomas Porto was denied on a breakaway with a blocker save one minute later.
Fairfield took a 1-0 lead with 7:02 to go in the second, before West Haven again looked poised to tie the game when Madera was turned aside in front as well as Spreyer’s rebound with six minutes remaining in the middle period.
Trailing 2-0, the Westies started strong in the third, but Madera’s shot rang off the post, sending Fairfield down the ice the other way, and Ryan Tymon converted for a 3-0 lead just 31 seconds into the third.
Special Teams
Westies top Hand 6-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 23, 2023) - The West Haven boys hockey team got back to the .500 mark with a 6-1 victory over Hand-Madison Saturday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink. On the day the Westies honored the 1994 state championship team, Mike Madera led the way with three goals, Jayden Spreyer had two goals and an assist, and Javed Ullah made 23 saves.
West Haven controlled the game with three power play goals, while also adding two short-handed tallies.
Trailing 1-0, West Haven evened the game at one when Madera scored on a rebound of a JJ Alling shot for a power play goal 1:57 into the third.
“Once we got the first goal, I think we settled down,” West Haven coach Steve Harris said. “I felt like the pressure was lifted. We knew the next goal was huge.”
The Westies had great scoring opportunities in the middle period, but a shot from the circle by Alling was denied, as was a shot from in close by Sean Bush with 7:20 to go in the period.
West Haven took the lead for good with another power play goal with 3:03 left in the second as Madera scored in front off assists from Spreyer and Thomas Porto. Spreyer then completely stole the momentum when his short-handed breakaway goal gave West Haven a 3-1 advantage with 19.8 seconds left in the second.
“Our special teams have been on fire,” Harris said. “They have been working great. We work on them a lot in practice. They work hard and they grind.”
Madera completed his hat trick just six seconds into the third period when he roofed a shot off the faceoff for another short-handed goal and a 4-1 lead.
“That line works great together,” Harris said. “They communicate with each other. It is nice to see them working together.”
The Westies put the game away in the final 3:28 of the game when Spreyer scored off an assist from Haygen Axelrod, and Alling scored off assists from Brandon Doody and J.J. McGlone with 1:42 remaining in the game.
Opening Victory
Westies win St. Dominic opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 27, 2023) - The West Haven boys hockey team opened the Saint Dominic Academy Christmas Classic with a 5-1 victory at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn, Maine Wednesday evening. With the victory, the Westies improved to 3-2 on the year.
Jayden Spreyer and Mike Madera each scored twice, Yousaf Ullah had two assists, and Javed Ullah finished with 26 saves in the victory.
The Westies got on the board first and took the lead for good when Haygen Axelrod took a pass from Yousaf Ullah and scored from the point with 4:31 gone by in the game. After both teams had quality scoring chances, Madera deflected in J.J. Alling’s point shot for a 2-0 advantage with 2:29 remaining in the opening period.
West Haven continued the pressure in the second period with quality scoring chances by Marcus Burrows and Josh Rodrigue.
Spreyer then increased the lead to 3-0 with a one-timer off a pass from Yousaf Ullah on the power play with 6:42 remaining in the middle period. Spreyer picked up his own rebound for a 4-0 lead with 21.7 seconds to go in the middle period.
Madera iced the game 3:36 into the third when he knocked in a loose puck for a 5-0 advantage.
Javed Ullah was stellar in goal, coming 1:23 away from a shutout.
Westies top St. Dominic
Advance to tournament championship
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 28, 2023) - The West Haven boys hockey team advanced to the championship game of the St. Dominic Academy Christmas Classic with a 5-2 victory over St. Dominic Thursday evening. With the victory, the Westies improved to 4-2 on the year.
Mike Madera led the way with three goals and an assist, Thomas Porto had three assists, Marcus Burrows had two assists, and Jayden Spreyer and Brady Price each finished with a goal and an assist in the win. Javed Ullah made 17 saves for the Westies.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead just 2:24 into the contest when Spreyer fed Madera on a 2-on-1 break with Porto also picking up an assist on the play.
After St. Dominic evened the game with 2:38 remaining in the opening period, Price gave the lead back to West Haven for good when he scored off assists from Rodrigue and Burrows with 1:53 remaining in the opening period.
West Haven increased the lead to 3-1 six minutes into the second period when Madera banked a shot in from the side of the net, with assists going to Jason Alling and Porto.
Javed Ullah then came up big, stopping a pair of shots in close, then a 3-on-1 break less than a minute later. Ullah’s saves allowed West Haven to regroup and Madera scored off the faceoff on the power play with 1:29 left in the second for a 4-1 lead.
St. Dominic cut West Haven’s lead to 4-2 with 2:43 left in the game, but Spreyer iced the contest with a goal with 1:08 remaining.
Westies fall to Lewiston
Late goals costly in tournament final
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 29, 2023) - The West Haven hockey team fell just short in its attempt to win the St. Dominic Christmas Classic tournament championship in Maine this week. Despite a valiant effort in goal by Javed Ullah with 44 saves, Lewiston, Maine scored twice in the final 6:49 of the contest to defeat West Haven 2-1 at the Norway Savings Bank Arena.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the game with 8:51 remaining as Mike Madera knocked in a rebound of a Thomas Porto shot.
Lewiston came right back and scored on the power play 2:02 later, then got the eventual winner with 2:44 remaining.
The third period rally by Lewiston negated a strong effort by the Westies throughout the contest as Lewiston goalie Gabe Pomerleau made several stellar saves throughout, including a nice stop on Porto 40 seconds into the game, before stopping Jayden Spreyer five minutes in.
Pomerleau came up big again later in the period, denying Leo Mazuroski from the slot, Yousaf Ullah from the right faceoff circle, Spreyer again in front in a six-minute span.
The second period was more of the same from Pomerleau as he denied Yousaf Ullah and the rebound by Madera 10 seconds in, before stopping Madera with a glove save one minute later.
After Javed Ullah stopped a handful of quality shots to start the second, West Haven had another golden opportunity, but Brady Price hit the post on a breakaway with 4:10 remaining in the middle period.
Cheshire nips Westies
Late goal hurts Westies in loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 2, 2024) - Fresh off a strong performance at the Saint Dominic Christmas Classic in Maine, the West Haven hockey team was looking to continue that play when it returned to in state action. That never materialized.
Despite battling back from three deficits, the Westies could not pull ahead and fell 5-3 to Cheshire in Hamden Tuesday evening.
Trailing just 1:03 into the contest when Cheshire scored on a breakaway, the Westies needed just 1:05 to respond when Jayden Spreyer found Mike Madera and Madera evened the game at one.
The Rams took the lead 1:06 after Madera’s tally, but the Westies continued to pressure. Thomas Porto was stopped in front 4:30 in, Zack Fonda was denied off the wing 1:30 later, and Marcus Burrows shot over the net on an odd-man rush with 5:50 to go in the opening period.
Spreyer evened the game at two with 5:35 remaining in the opening period off an assist from Yousaf Ullah, and the Westies had two chances before the period ended to take the lead, but shots by Price in front were turned aside as the Westies trailed 3-2 entering the third.
After failing to capitalize on a two-man advantage to start the period, Madera scored with the man advantage on a rebound in front off assists from Spreyer and Price.
Special teams would be the difference in the game as Cheshire scored with six seconds left on a power play to take the lead for good with 4:40 remaining in the contest.
Madera finished with two goals and Spreyer had a goal and an assist in the loss.
Westies fall to East Haven
Missed opportunities hurt WH in loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 10, 2024) - The West Haven boys hockey team knew it was going to be a tough task to snap its two-game losing streak when it faced undefeated East Haven. Despite a valiant effort, the Westies fell to the Yellow Jackets 3-2 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven Wednesday evening.
With the game even at two, East Haven’s Mike Savo scored with 1:48 gone by in the third period to give East Haven a 3-2 lead. West Haven threw everything it had at East Haven in the final minutes, but the Westies could not get the equalizer.
Brady Price and Jayden Spreyer were denied in succession with eight minutes remaining, before Mike Madera and Thomas Porto were turned aside with three minutes to go. The Westies had a power play with 1:28 to go in the game, but they could not find the back of the net.
Trailing 1-0 in the opening period, the Westies pressured, but a backhander in front by Marcus Burrows was turned aside with 8:24 to go, Madera’s shot from the wing was sticked aside, Spreyer was denied in front, and a Burrows to Josh Rodrigue set up in front with 3:25 to go was also denied.
The Westies finally got the equalizer when Madera blocked a shot and rifled a shot home off a breakaway with 2:45 to go in the opening period.
The lead did not last long as John D’Albero scored seven seconds later to send East Haven to the intermission with a 2-1 lead.
The Westies had chances to tie the game in the second, but Madera was turned aside on a partial breakaway one minute in and Rodrigue was topped two minutes later.
Haygen Axelrod then helped set up the equalizer. Axelrod’s shot from the slot was turned aside, but the puck went to Rodrigue who banked in a shot for the equalizer with 9:11 left in the second.
Westies top Hand
Madera, Spreyer lead WH to 6-3 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 12, 2024) - The West Haven boys hockey team inched closer to qualifying for the state tournament with a 6-3 victory over Hand Friday evening at the Northford Ice Pavilion. With the victory, West Haven improved to 5-5 on the year.
Mike Madera led the way with four goals and one assist, Jayden Spreyer had one goal and four assists, and Thomas Porto added an assist as the line combined for 11 points on the night.
Sean Bush also scored for the Westies, Yousaf Ullah and Jason Alling had assists, and Javed Ullah made 37 saves in the win.
The Westies needed just 2:03 to take the lead in the contest as Spreyer found Madera streaking down the left wing and Madera fired a shot in for a quick 1-0 lead.
After Hand evened the game 2:59 later, West Haven needed less than three minutes to take the lead for good as Madera took the puck off the boards and broke in for a goal with 7:03 left in the opening period.
West Haven’s Porto had two golden opportunities to increase the lead, but he was denied on a breakaway with five minutes to go in the period, and his rebound of a shot was also denied 15 seconds later.
Madera recorded his third hat trick of the season just 21 seconds into a West Haven power play and 4:17 into the second when he took a pass from Spreyer and one-timed a shot home for a 3-1 lead.
Hand had the better of the play the remainder of the period and a shot which deflected off a pair of West Haven sticks and in gave Hand life entering the third.
Spreyer gave West Haven breathing room when he took a pass from Madera and rifled a shot off the post and in 3:05 into the third. After Theo Diakomis was denied in front, Bush scored his first varsity goal when he deflected in a shot by Alling with 10:10 to go.
Leading 5-3, West Haven iced the game with 1:13 to go as Madera picked up a loose puck in the West Haven end, skated to center ice, and fired into an empty net for the 6-3 win.
Westies defeat Guilford
Four different scorers lead WH to 4-1 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 20, 2024) - Looking to qualify for the postseason, the West Haven hockey team inched a step closer with a 4-1 victory over Guilford Saturday evening in East Haven.
Javed Ullah made 25 saves and the Westies received goals from Thomas Porto, Mike Madera, Brody DiNuzzo and Yousaf Ullah in the win. Madera and DiNuzzo each had a goal and an assist in the victory.
The Westies wasted no time setting the tone of the game as Porto scored off his own rebound just 2:50 into the contest. West Haven, which held a 16-2 shot advantage in the opening period, kept pouring it on as Haygen Axelrod had two solid scoring opportunities, and Jayden Spreyer and Josh Rodrigue were both denied from the right wing.
Madera then gave the Westies a 2-0 lead as he took a pass from DiNuzzo and scored with 2:15 remaining in the opening period.
West Haven continued to put the pressure on in the middle period, but the Westies could not capitalize. Brady Price was denied off the left wing 30 seconds in, JJ Alling was stopped in the slot 1:17 in, and DiNuzzo and the rebound by Spreyer were stopped with 5:45 left in the period.
Holding on to a 2-1 lead, the Westies got some breathing room when DiNuzzo scored his first goal as a Westie in front off assists from Spreyer and Madera with 8:16 remaining.
West Haven then had to kill a full 5-on-3 Guilford power play with 5:49 remaining and never let the Grizzlies get going.
Yousaf Ullah sealed the contest with an empty net goal with 1:21 remaining in the game.
Three in a Row
WH improves to 7-5 with 4-2 win over Lyman Hall
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 24, 2024) - The West Haven boys hockey is one game away from qualifying for the state tournament. Behind one goal and an assist apiece from Brody DiNuzzo, Yousaf Ullah, and Mike Madera, two assists from Jayden Spreyer, and 25 saves from Javed Ullah, West Haven topped Lyman Hall 4-2 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink Wednesday evening.
The win was West Haven’s third in a row and helped West Haven improve to 7-5 on the year.
The first period was evenly matched with West Haven holding a 10-9 shot advantage. The Westies had solid scoring opportunities, but they fell behind 1-0 with 2:01 remaining in the opening period.
The deficit was a short one as DiNuzzo scored on a one-timer in front off assists from Spreyer and Yousaf Ullah on the power play with 1:08 remaining in the period.
The Westies took the lead for good with three goals in the second period. Jason Alling put the Westies on top 2-1 after Madera and Brady Price were stopped on an odd-man rush. Madera then sent a pass to Alling, who scored from the point 1:28 into the second.
West Haven then used its special teams to secure the win. Yousaf Ullah scored West Haven’s second power play goal of the game off an assist from DiNuzzo 2:50 into the second, before the penalty killing unit came up big.
Coming up with a big defensive play, the Westies capitalized when Spreyer fed Madera on a 2-on-1 break and Madera scored a short-handed goal 1:51 later for a 4-1 lead.
The Westies had chances to increase the margin, but Justin Bruno was denied from the slot with 1:40 left in the second, Price was stopped with a pad save 35 seconds later, and Spreyer was denied from the slot in the final seconds.
Hamden tops Westies
Westies fall to Green Dragons 4-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 31, 2024) - Looking to clinch a bid to the postseason and inch closer to a berth in the Southern Connecticut Conference tournament, the West Haven hockey team knew it was going to be in for a tough match against rival Hamden.
Hamden made sure it was going to be tougher for the Westies to qualify as the Green Dragons turned in a dominant performance to defeat West Haven 4-1 in Hamden Wednesday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven fell to 7-6 on the year.
Despite early opportunities in the game, West Haven could not convert as Brody DiNuzzo was stopped twice in front two minutes apart.
A West Haven turnover then proved costly as Gio DeStefanis fed Joe Seaman in front for the first of his two goals and a 1-0 Hamden lead. The Westies had an opportunity to even the game four minutes later, but Mike Madera was denied by Hamden goaltender Brody Sargolini off the left wing.
The Green Dragons then turned another West Haven turnover into an odd-man rush, and DeStefanis beat West Haven goaltender Javed Ullah for a 2-0 lead with 5:08 left in the opening period.
The Westies controlled play to start the second, but again could not get anything by Sargolini as Madera and Brady Price were denied in front one minute apart. West Haven finally converted when Justin Bruno scored an unassisted goal, but Hamden scored less than a minute later on Seaman’s second of the game for a 3-1 lead.
West Haven continued to pressure, but a Jayden Spreyer shot in front went wide with 3:55 left in the second, before Bruno hit the post later in the third.
Postseason Bound
Westies top Glastonbury 4-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 3, 2024) - The West Haven boys hockey team is headed to the postseason. Behind 28 saves from Javed Ullah, two goals from Thomas Porto, and a goal and an assist from Mike Madera, West Haven topped Glastonbury 4-0 Saturday afternoon at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven.
With the victory, the Westies improved to 8-6 on the season.
After a scoreless first period, the Westies took control of the contest with three goals in the middle period. Porto gave West Haven a 1-0 lead just seconds after a West Haven power play expired when he scored in front off assists from Madera and Leo Mazuroski 42 seconds into the period.
West Haven held a 34-28 shot advantage in the game and had plenty of scoring opportunities in the second period. Haygen Axelrod was denied from the point 2:38 in, Justin Bruno was turned aside from the slot 4:35 in, and Madera was turned aside in front with 3:06 to go.
Just seconds later, Bruno scored on a one-timer off a pass from Marcus Burrows. Brady Price also added an assist on Bruno’s goal for a 2-0 lead.
Madera increased the lead to 3-0 with just under a minute to go in the period. Picking up a loose puck in neutral ice, Madera crossed into the zone and ripped a shot from the slot with 55 seconds remaining in the period.
Burrows had two golden opportunities to increase the lead in the third period, but his one-timer was turned aside with 5:02 to go, and his breakaway attempt was shot wide 32 seconds later.
Porto sealed the victory with an empty-net, short-handed goal with 54.2 seconds remaining.
Javed Ullah was on in goal from the start, making 10 saves in the first period, 11 in the second, and seven more in the third for his first shutout of the season.
Crusher
Westies fall to Westhill-Stamford in OT
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 6, 2024) - In yet another close game, the West Haven boys hockey team fell to Westhill/Stamford 2-1 in overtime Tuesday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven.
The loss dropped West Haven to 8-7 on the year. It was West Haven’s sixth loss by two goals or less, and fourth by one goal.
Max Zelikman scored off a scramble in front with 2:33 left in overtime to send West Haven to a crushing defeat.
West Haven had its chances in overtime, but the Westies could not capitalize. Mike Madera had the best opportunity in the extra session, but he was denied in front.
Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Westies scored their lone goal when Brady Price picked up a loose puck and ripped a shot off the right wing for the equalizer 1:37 into the second period.
The Westies looked as if they would take the lead, but Josh Rodrigue’s shot trickled through the crease and off the post 4:36 into the second.
Javed Ullah made 11 saves in the middle period, several in stellar fashion, including a breakaway save with 8:02 remaining in the period.
Haygen Axelrod then saw his point shot denied with 6:05 remaining in the period, and a perfect Jayden Spreyer to Madera set up was tipped just over the crossbar by Madera with 2:47 left in the second.
The Westies had just four shots in the third period, with Spreyer’s one-timer denied 2:41 in, and a shot from Madera off the left wing turned aside with 6:27 to go in regulation.
Ullah finished with 25 saves in the loss.
Dramatic Victory
Bruno's late goal lifts WH over St. Dominic Academy
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 9, 2024) - With a few short days to bounce back from an overtime loss, the West Haven boys hockey team had the perfect formula. That formula consisted of scoring early and late, and also playing a sound contest in between.
The end result was a 2-1 victory over St. Dominic Academy of Maine Friday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven. With the win, West Haven improved to 9-7 on the season.
Justin Bruno proved to net the game-winner as he scooped up a loose puck off a St. Dominic skate, and he fired home the go-ahead goal from in front with 1:53 to go in the third period.
Bruno’s tally came after West Haven dominated play in the final period with a 16-5 shot advantage. West Haven could not find the back of the net until that point as Jayden Spreyer and Brady Price rang shots off the post minutes apart, while attempts by Mike Madera, Thomas Porto, and Marcus Burrows were denied.
Brody DiNuzzo came up big in the final moments when he thwarted a 2-on-1 rush by St. Dominic’s with a perfectly executed play on defense.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead just 27 seconds into the contest when Madera streaked down the left wing and slid a perfect pass in front to Spreyer for a shot to the top corner of the net.
With the game even at one, Price and Madera were each denied in front in the final two minutes of the opening period.
An evenly played second period failed to produce any goals, setting up the dramatic third period.
Two in a Row
Westies top Branford 5-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 10, 2024) - With four games in seven days, the West Haven boys hockey team won its second in a row and third during the four game stretch with a 5-0 victory over Branford Saturday afternoon at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven.
Jayden Spreyer led the way with three goals, Mike Madera had three assists, and Thomas Porto added a goal and an assist in the win. Javed Ullah made 19 saves to record his second shutout of the season.
Spreyer scored the first three West Haven goals and gave the Westies a 1-0 lead when he took a pass from Madera and scored in front with 3:09 left in the opening period.
After two attempts by Madera were denied in front, Madera fed Spreyer for a one-timer in the circle for a 2-0 lead. Porto then set up Spreyer for a 3-0 lead 1:53 later.
West Haven (10-7) held a 51-19 shot advantage in the game, including 15 shots in the middle period. JJ Alling was denied from the point with 9:18 left, Madera was stopped twice in front with 7:52 to go, and Brody DiNuzzo was turned aside from the slot with 4:53 to go.
Justin Bruno scored an unassisted goal for a 4-0 lead with 1:38 left in the middle period.
Porto capped the scoring with 8:52 remaining in the game when he scored off an assist from Madera.
Round Two
Westies blank Hamden in second meeting of season
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 17, 2024) - In the first meeting between rivals Hamden and West Haven, the Green Dragons controlled play and never let West Haven get going in a Hamden victory. The Westies were looking for a different tune on Saturday.
With an old-time rivalry feel, the Westies received goals from five different players and blanked the Green Dragons 5-0 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink.
West Haven controlled play from the start to win its third straight contest and fourth in five games. The Westies improved to 11-7 on the year.
Mike Madera led the way with one goal and three assists, Jayden Spreyer had a goal and two assists, and Marcus Burrows and Brody DiNuzzo each had a goal and an assist. Justin Bruno also scored for the Westies.
Javed Ullah and Matt Rasile combined on the shutout with Ullah making 19 saves, and Rasile coming in during the third period to make six saves.
The first period saw numerous scoring opportunities by both teams, but only Bruno found the back of the net off assists from Burrows and DiNuzzo with 1:22 left in the opening period.
The Westies took control of the game in the second period. Holding a 15-4 shot advantage, West Haven scored twice to take a 3-0 advantage.
DiNuzzo ripped home a shot from the slot 2:33 in off assists from Spreyer and Madera, before Madera took a pass from Spreyer and deposited a shot in the back of the net from the slot with 9:17 left in the second.
West Haven continued the pressure and took a 4-0 lead 3:30 into the third as Madera’s pass from behind the net found Spreyer in front for a one-timer and a 4-0 lead.
Rasile then came up big for the Westies as he helped kill an extended Hamden power play with numerous saves in a span of four minutes.
Madera then fed Burrows in front, where Burrows scored for a 5-0 lead with 1:31 remaining in the game.
Crushing Loss
Westies fall to Watertown/Pomperaug 2-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 21, 2024) - With a chance to qualify for the SCC/SWC tournament, the West Haven boys hockey team had plenty of shots. They just did not go in.
Despite putting 37 shots on goal, the Westies could only bury one in a 2-1 loss against Watertown/Pomperaug at the Edward L. Bennett Rink Wednesday evening.
Matt Rasile was solid in his first start of the season, making 26 saves to keep West Haven in striking distance.
The Westies (12-7) controlled play early in the game, but Mike Madera was denied 1:10 in from in front, Marcus Burrows was turned away on a breakaway 37 seconds later, and Theo Diakomis was turned away with a pad save with 9:12 left in the opening period.
Watertown took a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal off a faceoff with 31 seconds remaining in the opening period.
The Westies evened the game with a shorthanded goal of their own 4:01 into the second period when Justin Bruno blocked a shot to send Burrows in for a breakaway goal.
After Jayden Spreyer was denied in the slot with 9:05 remaining in the middle period, a West Haven turnover led to a breakaway goal for Watertown and a 2-1 deficit.
West Haven continued to pour it on to end the second as Thomas Porto was denied twice in front with 6:54 to go, and Spreyer was turned aside from the slot with 2:31 to go.
The Westies controlled the third period with a 16-6 shot advantage, but Watertown goalie Andrew Brown was up to the task.
Brown stopped Madera in front with a pad save 3:39 in, turned away Bruno from the slot less than two minutes later, and again turned away Madera in front seconds later.
Brown’s biggest save came with 2:47 remaining as Madera sent Spreyer on a breakaway, but Brown used his glove to deny Spreyer.
Overtime Winner
Madera's tally lifts WH past Amity
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 26, 2024) - In the last regular season game of the season, the West Haven boys hockey team had so many things to ponder. Postseason bids and seedings had different possibilities based on outcomes of different games.
The Westies put all that aside in a Senior Night contest against Amity.
Behind two goals and two assists from Mike Madera, one goal and two assists from Thomas Porto, and two assists from Jayden Spreyer, West Haven topped Amity 4-3 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven Monday evening.
Madera’s second goal of the game with 31.5 seconds remaining in regulation proved to be the difference and sent the Westies to the Southern Connecticut Conference tournament. The loss for Amity was the first since early January.
With the game even at one, the two teams combined for five goals in the final period. Porto gave West Haven a 2-1 lead when he scored 4:09 into the third period off assists from Madera and Leo Mazuroski.
After Eli Gregory evened the game for Amity 36 seconds later, Yousaf Ullah scored on the power play 38 seconds after for a 3-2 West Haven lead.
The Spartans did not back down and another goal by Gregory on the power play with 3:51 remaining in the third evened the game at three.
Madera was denied on a partial break with 50 seconds remaining, but when the play returned back in the Amity zone, Madera fed Spreyer, and after a scramble in front, Madera scored the game-winner with 31.8 seconds remaining.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead 4:52 into the contest when Madera scored off assists from Porto and Ullah.
The Spartans had plenty of scoring opportunities in the opening period, but Javed Ullah came up big with 10 saves, before finishing with 26 saves in the game.
The Westies had opportunities to extend the lead in the second, but Porto was denied from the slot 59 seconds in, Madera hit the crossbar 3:30 in, and Spreyer was stopped off the wing with 7:40 remaining.
Opening Defeat
Westies fall to Cheshire in SCC semis
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 28, 2024) - Playing in the Southern Connecticut Conference playoffs for the first time in recent memory, the West Haven hockey team was looking to make a statement. That statement was made in the opening period, but it could not be sustained.
Behind five unanswered goals, top-seeded Cheshire defeated No. 4 West Haven 5-2 in the SCC semifinals at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven Wednesday evening.
The Westies came out on fire in the opening period and took a 2-0 lead after one period of play. After a two-on-one with Mike Madera and Jayden Spreyer was denied, the Westies capitalized less than a minute later when Spreyer scored a power play goal off assists from Thomas Porto and Brody DiNuzzo 5:51 into the game for a 1-0 lead.
Holding a 10-7 shot advantage in the first period, West Haven increased the lead to a pair of goals when Marcus Burrows took a pass from Brady Price and scored with 6:14 left in the opening period. Justin Bruno also had an assist on the goal.
West Haven held the lead for the first nine minutes of the second before Cheshire defenseman Keegan Grace score with six minutes to go in the middle period.
The Rams then stole the momentum and used a power play goal by Evan Vasiljevs to even the game at two with 3:48 left in the second.
West Haven had a chance to take the lead again, but Madera was denied on a partial break with 50 seconds remaining in the period.
Price and Spreyer were denied one minute apart in the third, and Cheshire took the lead for good when Drew DePodesta scored 3:15 in.
The Rams scored an insurance goal with 3:16 remaining and added an empty net tally with 53 seconds remaining.
Javed Ullah finished with 31 saves in the game.
Season Over
Westies fall to East Haven in opening round of state tournament
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(March 5, 2024) - The season has come to a close for the West Haven boys hockey team. Despite a second seed in the state tournament, West Haven was forced to play an East Haven team which had 19 wins, but was forced to forfeit 14 of those due to an ineligible player.
East Haven proved to be too tough in defeating West Haven 6-1 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in the opening round of the Division II state tournament. Mike Madera continued his solid season, scoring the lone West Haven goal, while Javed Ullah made 23 saves in the loss.
Despite controlling the opening period and dominating with a 16-8 shot advantage, West Haven trailed 1-0 when John D’Albero scored a short-handed goal with 6:50 remaining in the period. D’Albero’s goal turned away what was a solid period for the Westies.
West Haven had its opportunities in the opening period, but Brady Price and Justin Bruno were turned aside 18 seconds apart. Madera was stopped off the right wing 30 seconds after the East Haven goal, Thomas Porto’s deflection was denied with 4:39 to go, and Madera was denied on a partial breakaway with 3:46 to go.
After West Haven saw opportunities by Madera, Marcus Burrows, and Bruno denied in first 3:08 of the second, East Haven scored the first of its three power play goals 4:15 in for a 2-0 lead.
Trailing 4-0, West Haven finally got on the board with 3:16 remaining in the middle period as Madera ripped a shot to the top corner for a power play goal off assists from Jayden Spreyer and Brody DiNuzzo.
Despite putting more pressure on in the third period, West Haven never got closer and saw a successful season come to an end.
BOYS HOCKEY 2023-2024
State Champions - 1949, 1961, 1964, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1994
All-State Players - Ray Luedee '75; Mark Carlo '76, '77; Marty Crouse '77, '78; Don MacMillan '77; Eddie Merola '79; Bob Serenson '84; Jay Andrew '84; Mark Anquillare '84; Mike Gilbert '87; Mike Woznyk '87; Paul Mulligan '88; Darrell Galasso '90; Rob Kryznel '93; Keith Dupee '94; Shaun Jackson '00; Aaron Beauvais '00; Tom Withington '00; Mark Heffernan '00, '01, '02; Brandon Fanelli '02; Jim Lafo '02; Chris Quagliani '02; Ron Baia '03; Nick Quagliani '03; Chris Shore '04; Joe Pereira '05; Ken Comfort '06; Joe Innamorato '07; John Ascenzia '10; Tim Baylis '10; J.P. Withington '11; Kyle Leyerzapf '12; Mike Troiano '12; Austin Hansen '13; Mike Savino '14; Alex Scranton '14; Mike Savino '15; Tyler Paine '16; Pete Richetelli '17; Brendan Serenson '17; Alex Lynch '17; Niko Kyle '19; Rob Forleo '20
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