WestieBlue
WH YOUTH HOCKEY 2022
(December 4, 2022) - The West Haven Mite C hockey team traveled to New Canaan to take on the New Canaan Mite C on Sunday. Ava Healy was the goalie for the Blue Devils and made many excellent saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Jackson Ford, with a goal also scored by Brayden Gagliardi, and assists made by Ryan Shannon and Brayden Gagliardi. Shots on net were made by Quinn Uscilla, Ryan Shannon, Caleb Ford, Wesley Morrazini and Maddy Bruder.
Excellent defense was played by Caleb Ford, Jackson Ford, Shannon and Gagliardi.
The West Haven Squirt AA ripped off five wins in state over the last two weeks behind the solid goaltending duo of Michael Paone and Gabe Calabrese. The goalies were assisted by the solid play in front by Cody Lyons, AJ Farrell, Henry Strada and Daniel Moll.
The goalie duo posted a shutout in West Haven’s 11-0 win over the Wonderland Wizards. Charlie Gunning, Dylan Spreyer and Young combined for eight goals in the win. Moll, Strada and Jeremiah McGrath also scored.
Assists on the day came from Colby Cushing, Peyton Berlepsch, Nick Ciccosanti and Gunning.
The Westies dug themselves a 3-0 hole before roaring back to a 7-4 win over Darien AA. McGrath and Gunning each netted two goals, and Farrell, Spreyer and Berlepsch also scored.
Assists came from Moll, Dane Walsh, and McGrath. Calabrese stopped 11 shots in the win.
Last weekend, the Westies topped Mid Fairfield U10 6-0. Calabrese and Paone combined on the shutout win.
Ciccosanti netted two goals and Farrell, Moll, Berlepsch and Gunning also scored. Berlepsch had two assists on the day and Moll, Ciccosanti and Spreyer also set up goals.
A balanced scoring attack led by Wade Roach, Gunning, Farrell, Cushing, Spreyer and Alex Jenei overpowered the Connecticut Riverhawks A 15-2. Assists came from Walsh, Ciccosanti and Strada.
The Westies took a trip to South Kent and came way with a 13-2 win over Northwestern AA. Roach notched six goals, Gunning two and Cushing, Farrell and Spreyer also had goals.
McGrath notched five assists and Ciccosanti added two in the win.
The West Haven Peewee AA team headed to Springfield, Mass Saturday morning and defeated the Holy Name Peewee’s 4-0.
Sophia Locklear struck first just three minutes into the game as she took the puck all the way up ice after receiving a pass from Santino Desantis in the defensive zone. Colin Dempsey got the second goal for the Westies with a shot from the circle after a face-off win from Jaxon Troyer.
The second period started off with a rebound goal for Dempsey after a slapshot from Tyler Persico. The fourth and final goal came from defenseman Andrew Grillo on a penalty kill as the puck went from Locklear to Desantis then to Grillo.
David D’Aiuto and Andrew Lacasse were spectacular at back-checking. Max Barbera and Quinn Smith shared time between the posts and both played very well.
On Sunday, West Haven headed to Northford to play Yale AA and won 11-2. The first goal of the game came after defenseman Kyle Guarino skated the puck from the neutral zone up to the net, wrapped it around and passed to Jaxon Troyer, who tapped it in. TJ Russo scored shortly after from the bottom of the circle when Andrew Lacasse passed it out from behind the net. Russo also earned himself three more assists throughout the game.
Leading 2-1, the Blue Devils kept up the pressure in the second period with three more goals. Alessandra Picard found her way to the net after winning a battle in the corner and getting a rebound from Lacasse. David D’Aiuto finished off the second period with a goal after a pass from Locklear and Troyer.
West Haven turned up the pressure in the third period with six more goals.
Tyler Persico and Drew Bereski held the blue line and took multiple shots. Santino Desantis shut down any potential breakaways, and Kyle Guarino and Grillo skated the puck up and both got multiple assists on goals.
Dempsey scored less than a minute into the third period on a rebound from Rocco Kelly. Picard got her second goal of the day with help from Guarino. Lacasse then scored consecutive goals.
Smith started the game in net and Barbera came in halfway through to finish the game.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team split a pair of games over the weekend. The Blue Devils topped Ridgefield AA, 8-2, on Saturday night before losing 6-0 to New Canaan AA on Sunday morning. West Haven is now 15-4-2 overall and 8-3-2 on league play.
In the win over Ridgefield AA at the Winter Garden Ice Arena, Sean Studley jammed in Matt Kelly's centering pass to open the scoring in the first period.
Charlie Clark dropped a pass to Joel Goodman and he zipped a wrist shot under the goalie's pads for a 2-0 lead.
In the second period, Aaron Campbell tapped it to Ethan Kelly who fed Studley for another one-time goal in the opening minute. After a Ridgefield score, Goodman sniped another wrister to make it 4-1. Studley and Ethan Kelly played give-and-go and Studley earned a hat trick with a backhander for a 5-1 lead.
Goodman then snapped home another wrist shot for his hat trick. Goodman later hit Sam Malangone who jammed it home, and late in the period, Alex Zhukovsky won a faceoff back to Will Hamre who quickly slid it to Leo Mazuroski for a rising wrister that capped the scoring.
Bryce Upson was only called on for six saves as the Westies outshot Ridgefield 51-8.
The West Haven Bantam Minor team traveled to Stamford on Saturday to play Greenwich Skate Club Bantam A and fell 3-1. Despite not scoring in the first period, Zach Melchiore quickly got on the board less than two minutes into the second period after a pass from Dylan Dicioccio to tie the game at one. Enzo Plano kept up the pressure and Benny Pikul was right at home in net until there were two minutes left in the game when the Blue Devils pulled the goalie.
On Sunday, the Bantam AA Minor team had a hard fought 7-2 loss against Hamden at Bennett Rink. Hamden was up by three after the first period, before West Haven got on the board five minutes into the second when Keegan Dobratz passed the puck to Michael D’Aiuto, who scored off his backhand.
The shots kept coming from Cameren Lipford, Eddie Thomas, Mark Vere, Ian Olszewski and Peter Aurora. Ben Brown was aggressive on defense every shift.
With five minutes left in the second, Aedan Guarino stopped a breakaway attempt. Dylan Dicioccio scored West Haven’s second goal.
Jackson Heyn, Isaac Mann, Lucas MacNiven and Ayden Troyer all played strong on defense. Pikul played admirably in net for the Blue Devils.
(December 11, 2022) - The West Haven Mite B hockey team spent Saturday down in Norwalk where the Westies went up against the CT Junior Whalers and had some great plays. Goals were scored by Austin Picard, Landon Alling, Kiera Harrison as well as Jack Weiss.
On Sunday, West Haven traveled to Avon and the Westies had some great competition. Many shot attempts and great puck passing were done by all players, helping JP Beebe, Alling and Caleb Ford score goals for the day. West Haven had many great saves from goalie Jackson Ford.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team hosted Darien Mite B Gray at Bennett Rink on Saturday. In net for the Blue Devils was Jackson Ford, who made many excellent blocks and saves during the matchup. Multiple goals were scored by Brayden Gagliardi and Quinn Uscilla, with one goal each scored by Maddy Bruder and Ava Healy.
Shots on net were made by Caleb Ford, Wesley Morrazini and Ryan Shannon. Excellent defense was played by Caleb Ford, Shannon and Healy.
The West Haven Peewee AA hockey team took on the Elite Hockey 12U Minor team at Bennet Rink and posted a 7-2 victory. Tyler Persico got the Westies on the board first when he skated the puck all the way up ice and shot from the top of the circle. With the game even at one, Colin Dempsey answered right back and also found the back of the net. Drew Bereski stopped the puck from leaving the neutral zone, passed to Dempsey, and he sent it in right over the goalies shoulder to make it 2-1.
Bereski picked up four assists and an unassisted goal in the third period. The Blue Devils made it 3-1 in the middle of the second period when Rocco Kelly and Jaxon Troyer won the battle in the corner, passing it out to the defense, Bereski to Kyle Guarino, who then shot it in from the blue line.
With only seconds remaining in the second period, Santino Desantis skated the puck up and passed across the crease to Troyer who tapped the puck in.
The third period produced three more goals for the Devils. Bereski, TJ Russo, and Dempsey added goals to the score sheet with some help from Andrew Lacasse. Sophia Locklear, David D’Aiuto, and Alessandra Picard skated hard every shift, constantly moving the puck and creating plays. Quinn Smith was in net for West Haven and had another solid game.
The Peewee’s traveled to Bridgeport Sunday morning to face Wonderland AA and posted a 1-0 victory. Max Barbera earned another shutout, making this his sixth full game shutout. Barbera blocked all 20 shots in securing the win for the Blue Devils.
Late into the first period, Bereski was able to sneak the puck in for a 1-0 lead.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team went 2-1 on the weekend. The Blue Devils lost, 4-1, to Hamden AA before bouncing back to win, 7-3, over Simsbury, and shut out Hartford Jr. Wolfpack 3-0. The Westies are now 17-5-2 overall and 9-4-2 in league play.
On Sunday morning at the Edward L. Bennett Rink, the Westies struck first against Simsbury. Matt Kelly poke checked the puck loose and fed a streaking Sean Studley, who zipped it through the five-hole. Simsbury then scored three quick goals to go up 3-1, before the Westies regrouped and took back the momentum when Charlie Strada banged home a rebound of Mike Madonick's shot just before the end of the period.
Early in the second period, Studley passed from behind the net to Ethan Kelly who roofed his backhand to tie it 3-3. With four minutes left, Strada's shot was saved and in the ensuing scramble, Alex Zhukovsky dove and popped in the rebound for a 4-3 lead.
Leo Mazuroski ripped one from the slot to open the third and make it 5-3. Matt Kelly snuck one under the goalie with assists from his brother Ethan and Will Hamre. Ethan Kelly then deked and scored on a breakaway with assists to Strada and Madonick. Bryce Upson made 29 saves for the Blue Devils.
On Sunday afternoon, the Westies traveled to Champions Skating Center in Cromwell to face the Wolfpack. Studley again opened the scoring with a wrister from Brett Kayser and the Blue Devils led 1-0 after one.
The Westies put the game away in the third period. Mazuroski fired from the blue line on a power play and Ethan Kelly flipped in the rebound. Madonick closed the scoring when he took Mazuroski's feed and banked one off the goalie and in. Upson was solid throughout with 30 saves to earn the shutout.
On Saturday the Blue Devils dropped a 4-1 decision to Hamden in a close battle. Hamden scored two late goals at the end of the second period and another early in the third to gain control. Charlie Clark scored the only Blue Devil goal with Studley assisting.
The West Haven Bantam AA Minor team traveled to Wallingford to take on the Hawks Bantam A team on Saturday and earned a 9-1 win.
Zach Melchiore, Eddie Thomas, Benji Brown and Dylan Dicioccio all scored two goals in the game. Defenseman Lucas MacNiven also scored from the blue line for the second weekend in a row.
Enzo Plano tallied two assists for the day as well as Mark Vere and Keegan Dobratz.
Kai Lupa played tremendously, only allowing one goal in the second period. Johnny Cicarella played in net in the third period and did not let anything by him.
Sunday brought the Bantams back home to Bennett Rink to face Central AA and fell 2-0. Central scored both goals in the first period, but was unable to get past the Westies for any more goals in the second or third.
Benny Pikul was once again outstanding in net, blocking over 15 shots each period.
(December 18, 2022) - The West Haven Mite A hockey team welcomed the Wonderland Wizards out of Bridgeport. The Westies were led by Henry Seslar and Brody Miller, who each scored twice and got their teammates involved in the action.
Goaltender, Landon Silverman, was impressive in net and Cooper Owens helped on defense, making it very difficult for the Wizards to score. Goals by Brayden Jacob, Caden Minio, and Keegan Jackson helped the Blue Devils to an impressive win.
The Mites then traveled to South Windsor to face off against the South Windsor Knights. Alexa Jacob was in-between the pipes for this match-up and had many outstanding saves.
Silverman showed he can shoot the puck just as well as he can block it, by netting three goals. The Westies lit the lamp over 15 times, with goals coming from Santino Martin, Emmett Hemming, and others.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team took on the Milford Mudhounds at the Milford Ice Pavilion on Sunday. In net for the Mite C’s was Caleb Jackson, who made many great saves during the matchup. Multiple goals were scored by Jackson Ford, Brayden Gagliardi, Ryan Shannon and Quinn Uscilla. Ava Healy and Wesley Morazzini also scored a goal each, and assists were made by Jackson Ford and Shannon. Excellent defense was played by Healy, Ford and Gagliardi.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team ripped off three wins and a tie to remain unbeaten in state over the last two weekends behind the solid goaltending duo of Michael Paone and Gabe Calabrese The goalies were assisted by the solid play in front by Cody Lyons, AJ Farrell, Henry Strada and Daniel Moll.
The goalie duo posted a shutout in the Westies 13-0 win over the Yale 2012 AA. Charlie Gunning, Dylan Spreyer, Nick Ciccosanti, Wade Roach, Jeremiah McGrath and Cody Young all posted goals in the win. Assists on the day came from Colby Cushing, Dane Walsh, Farrell and Ciccosanti.
The Westies rolled the Connecticut Chiefs 11-2 behind the scoring of Peyton Burlepsch, Alex Jenei, Farrell, Roach, Gunning and Spreyer. Paone and Calabrese shared the duties in net with a combined 18 saves.
The Westies tied the New Canaan Winer Club AA 4-4. Gunning, Moll, Roach and Jenei found the back of net. Gunning notched 2 assists and Moll and Young also added a helper.
The final game of weekend saw the Westies upend Central AA 5-0. Paone posted the shutout in net. McGrath, Walsh and Roach accounted for goals. Spreyer and Gunning both credited for assists in the contest.
The West Haven Squirt A hockey team traveled to Greenwich Skate Club’s outdoor rink Saturday evening to play the Greenwich Wings under the lights, with the Blue Devils skating to a 4-3 win.
The Wings took an early lead in the first period, but it did not last for long as Kyle Johnson scored off an assist from Colin Whelan to tie the game. The Wings took a 2-1 lead, scoring late in the first period, but again the lead did not last as Logan Minio was able to find Jax Guarino coming off the bench on a quick line change to score and tie the game once again.
The Blue Devils finally secured the lead late in the second period as Minio scored off an assist from Connor Owens. In the third period, Greenwich scored once more to come within one, but Owens and Minio connected again, this time with Owens finding the back of the net to secure the win for the Devils. Alex Cicarella once again had an outstanding performance in goal.On Sunday, the Westies topped the Hamden Green Dragons A 10-2. Brady Salkins and Whelan each had an assist in the game. JJ Charbonneau, Logan Stackpole, and Whelan scored two goals each, while Joey Mondo, Johnson, and Ryan Schempp also were able to find the back of the net in the win. Goaltender Evan Harrison shut the Dragons down between the pipes.
The West Haven Squirt A1 hockey team had a red-letter weekend taking on the Mamaroneck Tigers and the New Canaan Winter Club in a double header on Sunday. The Westies bested Mamaroneck 3-2 and New Canaan 6-4 in what turned out to be a battle amongst the goalies.
Goal tenders Ethan McGrath and Matteo Kenworthy stopped 48 shots between the two games. With some remarkable glove saves by McGrath, and some dazzling point-blank blocks from Kenworthy, the pair were able to limit the Tigers to two goals and four goals for New Canaan, respectively.
Julius Stokes was the sole scorer against Mamaroneck obtaining a hat trick along with two unassisted goals in the first period, and one in the second. Stokes again had a multi-point game against New Canaan with yet another hat trick and two assists for an 8-point weekend.
Tyler Gyllensten was another standout in the New Canaan game, obtaining a goal and an assist. Jameson Schempp was able to tack two goals on the board with some beautifully set up shots from Stokes, and Noah Silverman gained a point with his assist on Stokes’ first period goal.
Notable mentions include Olivia Persico for her relentless forechecks up ice, leading to multiple turn overs in the oppositions’ defensive zone, Aryn Dayah for his defensive prowess, and Carter Liston whose presence on the ice in the Mamaroneck game was impossible to go unnoticed leading to numerous scoring opportunities and forcing several turnovers against the Tigers.
The West Haven Peewee AA hockey team finished off the week before Christmas with three solid wins. The Westies started Saturday off with a morning game at Bennett Rink against the Western Peewee A team and won 8-0. With Max Barbera in net, the Westies secured another shutout win.
Drew Bereski started the scoring for the Blue Devils with some help from Kyle Guarino with 5:47 left in the first period. The second period was the busiest period, with the Devils scoring four more goals. Sophie Digioia and Jaxon Troyer found the net, along with Sophia Locklear getting two goals in the period and an assist later on.
Andrew Lacasse, TJ Russo, Andrew Grillo, Kyle Guarino and Tyler Persico all recorded assists. David D’Aiuto had two assists in the period.
The third period ended with three more goals, one from Rocco Kelly and two from Alessandra Picard, who also had an assist. Locklear, Russo and Digioia also assisted on goals in the period.
Santino Desantis played incredible defense and the Westies headed right for Hamden to face the Peewee A Dragons. Quinn Smith played spectacularly in net, only allowing one puck to get by him and helping the Blue Devils come out on top with a 5-1 win.
Digioia scored first for the Devils only a few minutes into the game after a face-off win. D’Aiuto scored the next two goals in the second period, with passes from Picard and Russo. Troyer found the back of the net in the third period after shots from Grillo and Kelly. Santino got himself on the score sheet with the fifth and final goal for West Haven.
On Sunday, the Westies finished off their three-game weekend in Stamford against the Sharks Peewee A team and posted a 13-1 win. TJ Russo wasted no time getting the Westies on the board with a pass from Guarino. Russo would also get four assists in the game and another goal in the third.
Digioia scored the next goal halfway through the period after passes from Grillo and Picard. D’Aiuto had an incredible game, adding four goals to his tally for the weekend, the final goal with only 3.4 seconds left. Picard, Grillo, and Lacasse also found the net in the second period, with assists from Troyer and Russo.
The third period was the most eventful with seven more goals for West Haven. Troyer scored on a breakaway, Persico scored and also assisted D’Aiutos final goal, and Russo and Locklear also scored. Kelly and DeSantis both earned themselves an assist, and Barbera and Smith shared time in net and blocked all but one shot from the Sharks.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team split a pair of games this weekend. The Blue Devils knocked off Central AA, 3-2, before losing a 6-4 decision to the South Westchester (NY) Blackhawks. The Westies are now 19-5-2 overall and 10-4-2 in league play.
On Saturday night at Newington Arena, the Westies were down 2-0 until midway through the second period when Nick Shefter drove to the net, deked, and slid in a backhand.
Early in the third period, Jack MacNiven fired a pass from the blue line that Aaron Campbell deflected up and over the goalie to tie the game at two. Two minutes later, on a power play, Sean Studley passed to Matt Kelly, who quickly found Ethan Kelly in the slot and he fired it home. Bryce Upson was solid with 26 saves in the game.
On Sunday morning at the Edward L. Bennett Rink, the Westies went down 4-0 after the first period. Leo Mazuroski's laser midway through the second period got the Blue Devils on the scoreboard. The Blackhawks made it 5-1 with a power play goal half way through the third period, before the Westies mounted a furious comeback.
Campbell sniped one through a defenseman's legs with Brett Kayser assisting. With 2:28 to play Ethan Kelly stole the puck, charged to the net, and zipped a shot home to make it 5-3.
Less than a minute later, the Westies went on a power play and pulled their goalie. Mazuroski's shot was saved, but Sam Malangone tipped the rebound to Ethan Kelly and he lifted it in to make it a one goal game. An empty net goal sealed it for the Blackhawks.
Upson and Max Malangone combined for 14 saves as the Westies outshot the Blackhawks 39-20.
The Bantam AA minor team traveled to Stamford Saturday afternoon to face the CT JR Whalers. Although down a few players, the Blue Devils gave it their all, ultimately falling 4-2.
The first period of the game was scoreless on both sides. With Benny Pikul in net, the Whalers were not able to score until the second period.
The Westies started the third period down 2-0. Kai Lupa traded places with Pikul in the net to finish the game. The trio of Zach Melchiore, Michael D’Aiuto and Dylan Dicioccio were able to get one past the goalie to get the Devils on the board and make it 4-1. Shortly after, Cameren Lipford took advantage of a breakaway and made it 4-2.
Sunday the Westies pulled off an incredible 4-1 win over Darien A1 for their last game before Christmas break. Pikul was outstanding in net, blocking over 20 shots, including many rebounds.
Aedan Guarino and Benji Brown never allowed a breakaway or close shot, Jackson Heyn used his body to block shots, Lucas MacNiven kept the plays alive, and Ayden Troyer pushed out a puck from inside the net before it crossed the line.
Lipford got things started for the Westies with a shot from the circle after a pass from Brown. Darien tied the game at the beginning of the second, but Guarino answered right back and scored to give the Westies the lead. Lipford would also add an assist to his day at the start of the third period when he skated all the way up and passed across the crease to Mark Vere who scored. Melchiore scored the fourth and final goal to seal the deal.
(January 1, 2023) - The West Haven Mite A hockey team won its third tournament of the season by winning the 2nd Annual Mite A division of the Christmas Classic held at the Northford Ice Pavilion in Northford, CT. The Westies posted a 5-0 record defeating the Northwestern CT Icehawks (South Kent), The Hartford Jr. Wolfpack, The Greater New Haven Warriors, and The Wallingford Hawks.
The Blue Devils were led in scoring by forwards Brody Miller, Henry Seslar, Emmett Hemming, Santino Martin, Caden Minio, Alexa Jacob, and Brayden Jacob. Solid defense by Cooper Owens and Keegan Jackson made it very difficult for any teams to score.
Alexa Jacob had one game in net with Landon Silverman manning the other four to help lead the Westies to a championship.
The Mites scored a total of 64 goals, while only allowing 12 against in the five games. The Blue Devils defeated the Hartford Jr Wolfpack 12-4 in the final game.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team spent the holiday break at the Philadelphia Flyers training facility in New Jersey and walked away with the championship of the 2012 Squirt AAA division.
The Westies went 3-1 in pool play and were able to avenge their early loss in posting a 7-6 win over the Philadelphia Revolution AAA in the championship game for the title. Michael Paone withstood a furious short-handed rally to seal the win in the net. Paone finished with 15 saves.
Charlie Gunning posted a hat trick and Wade Roach added two goals in the title game. Colby Cushing and Alex Jenei also scored for the Westies. AJ Farrell, Danny Moll, Dane Walsh and Nick Ciccosanti accounted for assists.
Peyton Burlepsch was the star of the semifinal against Dark Magic (NJ) AAA as he netted two goals in a 4-1 win. Cody Young and Roach accounted for the other goals. Paone finished with 22 saves on the day, while Walsh, Dylan Spreyer and Jeremiah McGrath posted assists.
In pool play, Spreyer posted a hat trick as the Westies defeated Dark Magic 7-3. Henry Strada, Moll and McGrath posted assists in the game.
Roach scored five goals as the Westies topped Play Hockey Red 9-3. Gunning posted a hat trick as the Westies upended Play Hockey Gray 6-3. Farrell had two goals and two assists in the game, and McGrath added the other goal.
In the lone loss, the Revolution downed the Westies 6-5. Walsh posted a goal and two assists in the contest. Paone finished with 23 saves on the day.
(January 8, 2023) - The West Haven Mite B hockey team spent Saturday at home where it played Yale. The Westies had some great plays as Sadie Moll filled in for goalie and saved many pucks. Goals were scored by Landon Alling and Jack Weiss.
West Haven went to Northford to play Greater New Haven and the Westies had some great competition. Many shot attempts and great puck passing were done by all players, helping Kierra Harrison , Alling, JP Beebe, Austin Picard and Gabby Jenei score goals for the day.
West Haven had many great saves from Ava Healy.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team had two games this weekend. The first game was on home ice against Darien Gray.
Caleb Ford was in net and made many excellent saves. Ryan Shannon, Brayden Gagliardi and Jackson Ford each scored a goal, with multiple assists from Ava Healy and another assist by Jackson Ford.
Shots on net were made by Maddy Bruder, Healy, Wesley Morazzini and Quinn Uscilla. Excellent defense was played by Bruder and Healy.
In the afternoon, the Mite C’s traveled to Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport to take on the Shoreline Sharks. Caleb Ford was in net again during the matchup and made many more great saves for the Blue Devils.
Multiple goals were scored by Gagliardi, Jackson Ford, Bruder and Uscilla, while Shannon also scored a goal. Assists were made by Shannon and Gagliardi.
Shots on net were made by Healy and Morrazini, while excellent defense was played by Jackson Ford, Healy and Bruder.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team dropped both of its games this weekend. The Blue Devils lost 4-2 to Western A and 3-0 to New Canaan AA. The Westies are 19-7-2 overall and 10-6-2 in CHC play.
On Saturday afternoon at Danbury Ice Arena, the Colonials scored three goals late in the third period to pull out the 4-2 win over the Westies.
Brett Kayser tied the game at one for West Haven with a hustle play in the final minute of the first period. After his initial shot was saved, he pounced on the loose puck and jammed it in.
Sam Malangone put the Westies ahead 2-1 when he nabbed an errant pass and snapped it home with 13 minutes left in the game.
Bryce Upson was clutch in goal, but Western scored two power play goals and added an empty-netter in the last six minutes. The Westies were outshot 40-22.
On Sunday, New Canaan outshot West Haven 34-15 and skated away with a 3-0 win.
The West Haven Bantam AA Minor team traveled to Newington to play Central CT Capitals on Saturday and fell 3-1. Despite numerous penalties, and going into the second period down by one, Zach Melchiore and Cameren Lipford were able to work together and even the game.
Lipford skated the puck up ice and passed to Melchiore in front of the net, shooting twice to get the Westies on the board.
The defense worked tirelessly to keep the puck out of the zone, not allowing any shots or breakaways. The Westies held the Capitals to a tie at one, until only three minutes remained in the third period. Despite the loss, Benny Pikul was solid in goal.
The Westies faced Greenwich Skating Club Sunday night at Bennet Rink and posted a 4-2 victory. Despite Greenwich getting on the board first, the Westies dominated the rest of the game as the defense was stellar with Benji Brown and Aedan Guarino leading the charge, constantly winning the battles in the corners, and keeping the puck in the zone.
The Blue Devils entered the second period trailing by one, before quickly falling behind by two goals. With six minutes left, Brown made a huge stop at the blue line and passed the puck to Dylan Dicioccio, who shot it right past the goalie and got West Haven on the board.
Less than three minutes into the last period, Eddie Thomas, Lipford, and Mark Vere were controlling the zone along with the defense of Ayden Troyer and Jackson Heyn. Thomas backhanded the puck in from the outside of the circle to even the game at two.
Just two minutes later, Dicioccio received a pass from Guarino, went bar down and put West Haven up 3-2.
Forwards Keegan Dobratz, Michael D’Aiuto, Ian Olszewski, Peter Aurora and Carson Frost continued the pressure, while Isaac Mann and Lucas Macniven made some key saves, and blocked shots to keep the puck in play.
With eight minutes left in the third period, Dicioccio recorded a hat trick for the night and secured the win for West Haven off assists from Melchiore and Enzo Plano.Kai Lupa was solid in net for the Westies.
(January 15, 2023) - The West Haven Mite C hockey team traveled to Newington to take on the CT Chiefs on Saturday. In net for the Blue Devils was Ava Healy, who made many great saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Brayden Gagliardi and Maddy Bruder, and a goal was also scored by Quinn Uscilla. Uscilla and Wesley Morazzini also each had an assist.
The Mite C’s played Hamden Mite B on Sunday in an away matchup. Healy was in net again for the Blue Devils and made many excellent saves.
Multiple goals were scored by Gagliardi, Jack Weiss and Landon Alling. Uscilla, Morazzini, Finn McLaughlin and Bruder also scored one goal each. Uscilla and Alling each had an assist during the matchup.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team competed in the MLK Classic hosted by the Northern Cyclones in Cyclones Arena in Hudson, NH. The Blue Devils went 1-2 in three hard-fought games.
In the opener on Saturday, the Westies outplayed the Valley Jr. Warriors, outshooting them 33-13, in posting a 1-0 victory. Sean Studley fed Ethan Kelly who flipped in a backhander four minutes into the game for the lone goal. Bryce Upson posted the shutout in net.
In Sunday's second game, the Westies were tied 3-3 late in the third but lost, 5-3, to the NE Predators. Down 1-0 midway through the second period, Ethan Kelly hit Studley with a stretch pass and the winger roofed the breakaway to tie the game. The Predators scored twice to regain the lead, but the Westies would not quit.
Kelly passed to Leo Mazuroski who ripped it from the point. Studley redirected it out of the air and into the net to make it 3-2.
Early in the third period, Matt Kelly took a shot and Studley pounced on the rebound and fired it over the goalie's shoulder for a hat trick to tie the game at three. The Predators pulled away late. Upson made 19 saves in the contest as the Westies outshot them 27-24.
In game three early Monday morning, the Blue Devils faced the undefeated VT Flames. Ethan Kelly redirected in Jack MacNiven's shot for the Westies' lone goal late in the first period. Upson made 25 saves in the 3-1 loss.
(January 22, 2023) - The West Haven Mite B hockey team had both games at home this weekend. On Saturday, Westies went up against Wonderland of Ice. In net for the Blue Devils was Moriah Frost, who made many great saves during the game. Goals were scored by Kierra Harrison, JP Beebe, Landon Alling, Jack Weiss, and Sadie Moll.
The Westies played the River Hawks on Sunday. Frost was in net again for the Blue Devils and made many excellent saves.
To start off the day, Finn McLaughlin got the first goal of the game. Multiple goals were then scored by Beebe, Weiss, and Austin Picard. Landon Alling and Gabby Jenei also scored a goal.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team played South Windsor Mite C in an away matchup on Saturday. In net for her goalie debut was Quinn Uscilla, who made many amazing saves during the game.
Multiple goals were scored by Maddy Bruder, Brayden Gagliardi, Ryan Shannon, Caleb Ford and Ava Healy, with a goal also scored by Jackson Ford. Gagliardi had numerous assists, and an assist was also made by Ford. Excellent defense was playing by Caleb Ford and Jackson Ford.
West Haven took on East Haven on Sunday in another away matchup. In net for the Blue Devils was Caleb Ford, who made many great saves for his team.
Multiple goals were scored by Gagliardi, Bruder, Uscilla and Jackson Ford. A goal was also scored by Healy, with additional shots on net being made by Shannon. Shannon had numerous assists, with an assist each going to Uscilla and Bruder.
The West Haven Peewee AA hockey team started the weekend off with a 5-3 win over CJR U12 Girls Elite Saturday morning at Bennett Rink. Max Barbera started the game in net and earned himself another shutout.
The Westies put up four goals in the first period to take a 4-0 lead over CJR. Colin Dempsey started things off with a beautiful shot from the circle only 30 seconds into the game after a face-off win by Sophie Digioia. Andrew Lacasse scored the second goal for the Blue Devils halfway through the period, shooting from the top of the circle.
Santino Desantis spoiled countless breakaway attempts and led the charge on defense. With six minutes left in the first period, Jaxon Troyer shot the puck deep into the zone. Drew Bereski won the battle to keep it inside and earned himself an assist when he passed it to Digioia for a goal.
With less than two minutes left in the first, Kyle Guarino stepped up and kept the puck in the zone, skating up and passing it behind the net to Sophia Locklear. Locklear won the battle and passed it out front to Dempsey who took a shot. Lacasse was right in front of the net to get the rebound shot and score his second goal of the day.
CJR started a comeback at the end of the second period and continued into the third. With less than a minute left, CJR pulled their goalie and Andrew Grillo took a shot across ice to secure the 5-3 win.
On Sunday, the Westies took the long drive up to South Kent to play Northwestern and posted a 6-2 victory.
Although Northwestern scored in the first period, the Westies quickly found their groove as soon as the second period started and controlled the remainder of the game.
Alessandra Picard got West Haven on the board first and had a big day with two goals in the second period and an assist in the third. Bereski assisted on one of those goals with a pass from behind the net. Locklear was on a mission and earned herself a spot on the scoresheet in the second period to tie the game at two.
Lacasse continued his hot streak from Saturday and took a pass from Persico behind the net and backhanded in the third goal to put the Westies in the lead.
Dempsey dominated the third period with two goals to secure the Blue Devils 6-2 win over Northwestern. Quinn Smith got the game started for West Haven and stopped all but two shots on net. Barbera finished the second and third periods without allowing Northwestern to come back.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team lost a pair of CHC games this weekend. The Blue Devils are now 20-11-2 on the season.
On Saturday afternoon at Twin Rinks in Stamford, Darien AA dropped the Blue Devils, 7-1. The lone goal for West Haven was scored by Sean Studley as Brett Kayser centered to Studley in front, and he lifted a wrister under the cross bar. Bryce Upson made 35 saves in goal for West Haven.
On Sunday, the Westies headed to Champions Skating Center in Cromwell to face Whalers A. Down 2-0 and short-handed, Studley shoveled the puck out to Ethan Kelly who went to the net, deked, and scored.
In the second period on a power play, Ethan Kelly slid the puck to Matthew Kelly for a point shot. Mike Madonick swept in the rebound to make it 4-2. The Whalers scored three power play goals in the third to win 7-2. Upson made 31 saves in the loss for West Haven.
The Bantam Minor AA team headed to Hicksville, NY to play against the Nassau County Lions 13U team on Saturday and fell 3-2. Benny Pikul was in net for the Blue Devils and played well for West Haven.
The Lions scored a few minutes into the first period for a 1-0 lead. With only 34 seconds left in the first, Benji Brown took a shot after a pass from Keegan Dobratz and got the Blue Devils on the board to even the game at one.
Although the defense held strong, the second period yielded two more goals for the Lions. Going into the third period down by one, Dylan Dicioccio got the Westies within a goal to make it 3-2. The Blue Devils ultimately ran out of time despite a courageous effort by all.
The Bantam Minors headed back home to Bennett Rink Sunday night to take on the GNH Warriors 14U A and fell 4-2. The first period was almost scoreless until GNH went up by one with two minutes left.
The Blue Devils answered right back less than a minute into the second period to tie it up as Enzo Plano got the Westies on the board after a shot from defenseman Aedan Guarino from the blue line.
GNH answered right back to take a 2-1 lead, before the trio of Michael D’Aiuto, Dobratz, and Ian Olszewski pressured and D’Aiuto was able to get it past the goalie with an assist from Cameren Lipford to tie the game at two.Kai Lupa played phenomenally for the Blue Devils and stopped 35 out of 38 shots.
(January 29, 2023) - The West Haven Mite C hockey team hosted Southeastern Mite C at Bennett Rink on Saturday. In net for the Blue Devils was JP Beebe, who made his goalie debut, making many excellent saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Ava Healy, Brayden Gagliardi, Maddy Bruder and Caleb Ford. Ryan Shannon, Quinn Uscilla and Jackson Ford also scored a goal each, with one assist each from Caleb Ford and Bruder.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team dropped its first state contest, falling 2-1 to New Canaan AA. The Westies bounced back the following day by downing the same team 8-2.
The Westies upended the CT Junior Whalers 4-1 in South Norwalk. Wade Roach posted the hat trick and Nick Ciccosanti added the other goal. Assists on the day came from Daniel Moll, Dane Walsh and Henry Strada.
Dylan Spreyer took his turn for a hat trick as the Westies blanked Elite AA 7-0. The combined shutout went to Michael Paone and Gabe Calabrese. Jeremiah McGrath, Roach, Ciccosanti, Charlie Gunning, Cody Young and Alex Jenei posted assists.
The Westies rolled the CT Chiefs AA 12-0. Gunning finished with the hat trick. Peyton Burlepsch, Roach and Ciccosanti each posted two goals. Also posting goals were McGrath, Spreyer, and AJ Farrell. Colby Cushing added two assists, and Strada, Moll and Walsh also had helpers. Paone and Calabrese again combined for the shutout.
The West Haven Peewee AA team started off its weekend with a night game at the Greenwich Skate Club and fell 3-2.
The second period started off with a powerplay goal for the Westies. Tyler Persico skated the puck into the zone and took a shot. Colin Dempsey gained possession behind the net and passed it out to defenseman Santino Desantis, who made an absolutely perfect on-point shot allowing Jaxon Troyer to tip in the rebound and get the Blue Devils on the board.
Greenwich tied the game a few minutes later. Sophia Locklear, who was a missile on offense all game, took things into her own hands when she stole the puck and sniped it over the goalies shoulder to tie the game 2-2 with 6:44 left in the game.
Penalties plagued both sides, but ultimately the Westies ran out of time and were unable to come back from the 3-2 loss. Max Barbera blocked 30 out of 33 shots on goal. On Sunday, the Westies traveled to Milford to take on the Southern Stars and posted a 4-1 win. Quinn Smith played well in net, allowing one goal. Colin Dempsey, Tyler Persico, Lacasse, and Rocco Kelly scored for the Devils, and Russo and Dempsey had assists.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team split a pair of closely contested games this weekend. The Westies defeated Simsbury A, 4-1, and lost 3-2 to Whalers A. Their record is now 21-12-2.
On Saturday morning, the Blue Devils faced Simsbury A at their outdoor ice rink at Simsbury Farms. Mike Madonick gave the Westies a 1-0 lead four minutes into the opening period when he banged in the rebound of Matt Kelly's point shot. Simsbury tied it with a power play goal late in the period.
The Westies regained the lead in the second when Ethan Kelly skated in alone, deked the goalie, and scored with a backhand shot. Later in the period, Sean Studley grabbed a loose puck behind the Simsbury net and quickly stuffed it just inside the post for a 3-1 lead.
Studley iced the game when he flipped the puck over the goalie's pad off a scramble in front with just over three minutes to play in the game. Bryce Upson made 36 saves as the Westies outshot Simsbury 38-37 in the contest.
On Sunday morning at Edward L. Bennett Rink, the Whalers went up 1-0 with a power play goal, but the Westies responded 13 seconds later. Ethan Kelly won a faceoff back to his brother Matthew and the defenseman's point shot found the net.
The Whalers went up 2-1 early in the second period but again the Westies responded just 17 seconds later. Studley knocked in the loose puck off a scramble in front of the net with Matt Kelly and Aaron Campbell assisting.
The Whalers scored midway through the second period and the two teams then skated back and forth to the finish with both squads getting chances, but the defenses stood tall. Upson made 35 saves as the two teams both took 38 shots in the game.
The West Haven Bantam Minor team had a busy weekend. The Westies started with a game in Norwich against Southeastern and won 6-0. Kai Lupa was strong in net for the Blue Devils, earning himself a shutout and stopping well over 15 shots throughout the game.
Dylan Dicioccio did not waste any time getting his team on the board, scoring just five minutes into the first period. Cameren Lipford followed up with the second goal just two minutes later. Jackson Heyn scored next after shooting from the blue line, Eddie Thomas followed shortly after with another shot on net and the fourth goal for the Westies. Michael D'Aiuto came off the bench and got one past the goalie with help from Ian Olszewski. The sixth and final goal for West Haven was the first of the season for Carson Frost, with an assist from his linemate Keegan Dobratz.
The Blue Devils carried the momentum of the win into the next game at Northford against Yale AA. Benny Pikul was between the pipes and showed off his skills with over 20 saves in a 2-1 loss.
Yale went up by a goal early on in the second period after a power play goal. The Blue Devils were down by two in the third period but with 58 seconds left, Enzo Plano passed the puck to Zach Melchiore who shot it over the goalie’s shoulder to get on the board.Sunday brought yet another tough game for the Blue Devils as they took on Simsbury at Bennett Rink. Despite great effort by all, the Westies suffered a 7-0 defeat.
(February 6, 2023) - The West Haven Mite A hockey team had a solid weekend, defeating two tough opponents in the Northwestern Icehawks (South Kent, CT) and the Wonderland Wizards (Bridgeport, CT).
In the first of the two games, the Westies welcomed the Icehawks to Bennett Rink. Cooper Owens was in between the pipes and had many great saves while only allowing two goals.
Keegan Jackson and Emmett Hemming also played great defensively, making it very difficult for the Icehawks to score. Blue Devil goals were scored by Henry Seslar, Brody Miller, Brayden Jacob, and Santino Martin. Coming up with some great passing and assisting on a few of the goals were Landon Silverman, Alexa Jacob, and Caden Minio.
In their second game, the Westies traveled to the Wonderland of Ice to take on the Wizards. Each matchup this season has proved to be a hard-fought battle.
The Blue Devils found themselves down early and trailing by two at the half. The Devils came out hot in the second half with goals scored by Seslar, Owens, Minio, and Alexa Jacob to put the Westies ahead for good.
Solid goaltending by Silverman and a great defensive effort by Hemming and Jackson helped shut down the Wizards and give the Mite A’s another undefeated weekend.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team traveled to Hamden to take on Hamden Mite Bon Saturday. In net for the Blue Devils was Quinn Uscilla, who made excellent saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Brayden Gagliardi, while Ava Healy and Ryan Shannon each scored one goal. Gagliardi also recorded an assist, and shots on net were made by Maddy Bruder, Caleb Ford, Jackson Ford and Wesley Morrazini.
The Blue Devils traveled to Milford on Sunday to face Southern CT White. In net during the matchup was Morrazini, making amazing saves during the game.
Multiple goals were scored by Gagliardi and Bruder, with one goal each also coming from Jackson Ford and Uscilla. Bruder, Jackson Ford, Shannon, Healy and Uscilla each recorded an assist during the matchup and Caleb Ford also contributed several shots on net during the game.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team hosted two out of state teams this weekend and notched victories in both contests.
On Saturday, the Westies upended the Westchester, NY Vipers AA, 10-2. Charlie Gunning had four goals, Wade Roach had three goals and Dylan Spreyer added two goals. AJ Farrell notched the other goal as he went the length of the ice.
Colby Cushing and Cody Young each posted multiple assists, while Daniel Moll and Henry Strada also added assists. Michael Paone and Gabe Calabrese were solid in net with a combined 18 saves.
The Westies jumped out to a five-goal lead in posting a 7-2 win over the New Jersey Avalanche AAA. Roach pumped in four goals and Jeremiah McGrath, Cushing and Gunning also scored.
Assists on the day came from Alex Jenei, Peyton Berelepsch and Nick Ciccosanti. Paone and Calabrese saved a combined 22 shots in the win.
The West Haven Peewee AA hockey team faced the Mamaroneck Tigers at Bennett Rink on Saturday and posted a 7-0 victory. Max Barbera and Quinn Smith shared time between the posts, earning another shutout.
Andrew Lacasse started things off for West Haven, along with an assist in the game. Colin Dempsey added the second goal, followed by two goals by Sophie Digioia.
David D'Aiuto scored for his team after a pass from Jaxon Troyer, as well as getting an assist later on. Tyler Persico assisted on two goals early on, Santino Desantis played solid defense and also scored a goal and added an assist for the day. Kyle Guarino had two assists in the game as well as one from Sophia Locklear.
On Sunday, the Peewee's traveled to Bridgeport to take on the Wonderland Wizards AA team and posted a 1-0 victory. Barbera and Smith once again played well to get their second shutout of the weekend.
A faceoff win from Troyer sent the puck to TJ Russo, who wasted no time shooting the puck over the goalie’s shoulder to get the Westies on the board.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team knocked off Hamden AA, 6-4, in its only game of the weekend at Astorino Rink on Saturday.
Sean Studley had a hat trick to lead the offense in a back-and-forth game in which neither team led by more than one goal until the final seconds. West Haven is now 22-12-2 on the season.
The Westies opened the scoring halfway through the first period as Leo Mazuroski kept the puck in the zone and found Aaron Campbell. Campbell whipped a pass to the net where it knocked in off Studley's hip for a 1-0 lead.
Hamden tied the game with a power play goal early in the second period, but five minutes later, Studley gave West Haven the lead when he took Ethan Kelly's pass, juked two defensemen, and zipped in a backhand.
Fourteen seconds later Hamden tied the game, but the Blue Devils regained the lead less than a minute later on the power play as Campbell fed Ethan Kelly coming down the slot for a wrister.
Hamden took the momentum with two goals and had a 4-3 lead with six minutes to play. Studley took the momentum back with his third tally on a power play.
With 2:27 left in the game Matt Kelly passed to the front of the net where Charlie Clark knocked the puck up and over the Hamden goalie, giving the Westies a 5-4 lead. Ethan Kelly eventually slid home an empty-netter with six seconds remaining for the 6-4 win.
Bryce Upson made 24 saves for the Westies who outshot Hamden, 33-28, in the game.
The West Haven Bantam Minor team traveled to Pawling, New York to face the Putnam Panthers and fell 7-2 on Saturday. The Blue Devils were down 5-0 going into the third period, but Cameren Lipford passed to Michael D'Aiuto for a goal five minutes in.
With a few minutes left, Jackson Heyn took a shot from the blue line after a pass from Mark Vere for West Haven’s second tally. Benny Pikul and Kai Lupa shared time in net, making over 20 saves combined.
On Saturday afternoon, the Blue Devils returned to Bennett Rink to take on the Enfield Eagles and fell 8-6.
The Westies went into the second period down by four, with only one goal in the first period by Enzo Plano. Zach Melchiore added the second goal, as well as another goal later in the game. Michael D'Aiuto scored the third goa, his second goal of the day, while Aedan Guarino landed a shot from the blue line after a pass from Ayden Troyer.Lipford got a breakaway and shot it right over the goalie’s shoulder to get West Haven within a goal. Dylan Dicioccio and Melchiore each had two assists, while Lipford and Eddie Thomas each had assists. On Sunday, Blue Devils headed to South Kent to play against Northwestern and fell 6-0. Pikul and Lupa again shared time between the posts, stopping over 17 shots combined.
(February 13, 2023) - The West Haven Mite C hockey team traveled to Newington to take on the CT Chiefs Mini-Mites on Saturday.
In net for the first period was Quinn Uscilla, followed by Ava Healy in the second period. Both goalies made excellent saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Brayden Gagliardi, Maddy Bruder and Uscilla. Healy and Bruder had multiple assists, while Jackson Ford also recorded an assist. Ryan Shannon and Caleb Ford had several shots on net during the game.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team traveled to Mount St. Charles in Woonsocket, RI to face the RI Saints on Saturday and fell 9-3.
Trailing 1-0 in the opening period, Matt Molnar poke checked the puck ahead while short-handed. He sped into the zone and went five-hole to tie the game.
The Saints scored 12 seconds into the second period, but West Haven tied the game on the power play two minutes later. Will Hamre passed to Aaron Campbell in the corner who centered it to Sean Studley for a one-timer to tie the game at two.
The Saints regained the lead with a power play tally, but the Blue Devils responded yet again. Studley passed ahead to Sam Malangone, who centered to Nick Shefter for a 3-3 game.
The Saints scored in the final minute of the second and this time, the Westies had no answer. The Saints skated away to a 9-3 win, outshooting the Westies 41-20 for the game.
Bryce Upson (28) and Max Malangone (4) combined for 32 saves in net.
West Haven is now 22-13-2 on the season.
The West Haven Bantam Minor team finished off their regular season with a game against the GNH Warriors A1 team and posted a 6-2 victory. Benny Pikul was in net and stopped over 20 shots.
The first West Haven goal came with just three minutes left in the first period after Aedan Guarino sent a shot from the blue line and Enzo Plano was able to tip it in.
Defenseman Benji Brown was the next to add a goal for the Westies, followed shortly by Zach Melchiore. Melchiore would also score the fourth with an assist from Plano. With 34 seconds left in the period, Melchiore assisted on Plano's second goal of the evening.Michael D'Aiuto scored the sixth goal of the night with help from Mark Vere.
(February 20, 2023) - The West Haven Mite A hockey team completed a fantastic season this past weekend with two very solid performances.
In their last home game of the season, the Westies welcomed a tough New Cannon Winter Club team. Goaltender Landon Silverman had one of his best games of the season facing a battery of shots and stopping all but one. Goals were scored by Emmett Hemming, Caden Minio, Henry Seslar, Cooper Owens, and Santino Martin.
The Blue Devil defense was led by Keegan Jackson and Brayden Jacob. Brody Miller and Alexa Jacob each helped assist on many of the Westie goals and contributed to the team’s success.
In the season finale, the Blue Devils competed in the CT Mite A Jamboree at the Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT. The Westies faced off against the Southern Stars (Milford), the Stamford Sharks, the Central Capitals (Newington), Yale Bulldogs (New Haven), the South Windsor Knights, and the Wonderland Wizards (Bridgeport).
West Haven finished with a 5-1 record, scoring 17 goals and only allowing five goals in six games. The games were each 15 minutes in length.
Silverman again led the team with his amazing play in net. Multiple goals were scored by Miller, Seslar, Hemming, Martin, Minio, and Alexa Jacob.
The team had one of their best passing performances of the year, Brayden Jacob led the team in assists on the day. The defense was stellar in every game behind Owens and Jackson.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team traveled to East Haven to take on East Haven Mite B. In net for the first half was Quinn Uscilla, and Maddy Bruder played in goal for the second half. Both made great saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Jackson Ford, Brayden Gagliardi and Ava Healy, while Maddy Bruder also scored a goal. Gagliardi also recorded an assist during the matchup. Shots on net were made by Uscilla, Ryan Shannon and Caleb Ford.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team tuned up for the upcoming state tournament with two wins. The Westies enter tournament play at the top seed in the eight team Tier 2 tournament located in Danbury.
Peyton Berlepsch went for a hat trick as the Westies upended Simsbury A 9-2. Wade Roach put in four goals and Charlie Gunning and Nick Ciccosanti added the other goals. Gunning posted two assists and Roach, Henry Strada, Alex Jenei and Jeremiah McGrath added assists. Michael Paone and Gabe Calabrese stopped a combined 15 shots in net for the win.
Paone and Calabrese pitched a shutout in net as the Westies downed the Connecticut Junior Rangers AAA 9-0. A.J Farrell, Dylan Spreyer, Colby Cushing and Roach accounted for the goals. Assists on the date came from Daniel Moll, Cody Young, Dane Walsh, Gunning, and Cushing.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team won its only game of the weekend. The Blue Devils defeated CT Game Changer, 6-4, at the Bolton Ice Palace on Saturday afternoon.
The Westies are 23-13-2 and will be playing for the CHC Tier 2 state championship next weekend.
Nick Shefter earned a hat trick to lead the West Haven offense. Sam Malangone redirected Jack MacNiven's blue line shot for a nice goal. Ethan Kelly and Aaron Campbell also scored for the Blue Devils. Leo Mazuroski, Campbell and Kelly also had assists. Bryce Upson made 19 saves in net for the Westies.
(March 5, 2023) - The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team’s quest for a state title fell short as the Westies were upended by New Canaan AA 5-2 in the state final. The team did qualify for the New England regionals in New Hampshire the weekend of March 17, 2023.
In the final, Wade Roach and Dylan Spreyer scored goals and a late rally was not enough to get the win. Charlie Gunning had one assist on the day. Gabe Calabrese had 18 saves in net.
In the thrilling semifinal, Roach took a pass from Gunning and buried the game winner with seven seconds on the clock to give the Westies a 2-1 win over the Connecticut Junior Whalers AA. Spreyer accounted for the other goal on an assist from Roach. Calabrese was stellar in net and turned away a breakaway in the last minute to set up the game winner.
In the opening round games, Roach and Gunning each buried two goals and Jeremiah McGrath added another in a 5-0 win over the Connecticut Riverhawks. AJ Farrell had two assists and Peyton Berelepsch, Nick Ciccosanti and Danny Moll each had one. Mike Paone and Calabrese combined on the shutout. Henry Strada, Dane Walsh and Alex Jenei had strong defensive games.
Gunning posted a hat trick and Berelepsch and Roach added goals in a 5-2 win over Darien AA. Cody Young posted two assists on the day, while Farrell and Colby Cushing added one each. Paone and Calabrese shared the win with a combined 14 saves.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team ended the season with a thrilling run to the semifinals of the CHC Tier 2 State Championship played at Northford Ice Pavilion this weekend. The team finished with an overall record of 26-14-2.
The Blue Devils were defeated by Whalers A, 2-0, in the semifinal. In a closely contested game, the Whalers outshot West Haven, 37-33.
West Haven earned the top seed in the National bracket by going 3-0 in pool play. The Westies opened the tournament on Friday night by beating New Canaan AA, 2-1.
New Canaan, which shut out the Westies twice during the regular season, took a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game. The Westies responded at the end of the period with a power play goal when Joel Goldman fired on net and Charlie Clarke stuffed home the rebound.
The game-winner came with just over a minute remaining in the second period as Sean Studley slid the puck out of the zone to Ethan Kelly. Kelly carried in and dropped it for Goldman and the defenseman's wrister hit the back of the net.
Both teams battled through the third period, but the Blue Devil defense was stout. Bryce Upson was sharp, making many clutch saves late in the contest, and had 30 saves total.
On Saturday afternoon, the Westies came from behind to knock off Hamden AA, 3-2. Down 2-0 midway through the second period, Aaron Campbell got the Westies back in the game as his shot through a screen made it 2-1. Matt Kelly earned an assist on the power play goal.
Ethan Kelly tied the game 2:10 into the third on a two-man advantage. His initial shot was saved, but he chopped at the midair puck and knocked it in.
Just 13 seconds later, still on a power play, the loose puck squirted to Clarke in the slot and he coolly wristed it home. Upson (33 saves) and the defense were again tough down the stretch as Hamden applied pressure to no avail.
In the late game Saturday, the Westies dropped a feisty Central AA team, 4-2. Studley passed to Ethan Kelly who weaved in and roofed one to open the scoring.
Trailing 2-1 going into the third, Ethan Kelly tied the game with an unassisted goal. Studley then did the rest as he buried his own rebound with seven minutes left for the game-winner. Studley then added an insurance goal on a breakaway off Kelly's stretch pass while short-handed.
The Westies outshot Central, 47-30, as Upson had 28 saves.
(March 19, 2023) - The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team ventured last weekend to Exeter, New Hampshire to compete in the Tier 2 New England Regionals. West Haven’s quest to take home the title fell one game short as the Westies fell to Winchester MA 4-3 in the title game.
The Westies jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the final behind goals from Wade Roach and Charlie Gunning. Cody Young and Jeremiah McGrath picked up assists on their goals. Dylan Spreyer took a pass from Gunning and buried an equalizer to tie the score at three. Winchester buried a late goal to take home the title.
Nick Ciccosanti and Colby Cushing had great scoring chances for the Westies. Gabe Calabrese saved 21 shots in net.
The Westies got the final by avenging their two in state losses on the year as they downed New Canaan AA 4-1 in the semifinals. After falling behind by a goal, Spreyer broke free and scored to tie the game.
Gunning buried the next two goals and Cushing tucked in a wrap-around to put the game away. West Haven’s assists on the day were from Alex Jenei, Dane Walsh and Cushing. Calabrese was again stellar in net for the win.
In cross- over action, the Westies opened with an 8-1 win over the Maine Gladiators. Gunning finished with five goals on the day, Roach scored twice and Cushing added the final one. Assists came from AJ Farrell, Young, Ciccosanti, Jenei and Cushing.
Michael Paone and Calabrese shared duties in net, accounting for 16 saves.
The Westies downed the Cyclones Squirt Platinum 4-1 behind a pair of Gunning goals, and goals by Spreyer and Roach. Ciccosanti accounted for the assist on the day. Calabrese got the win in net.
The Westies fell to Winchester 7-4 in the final crossover game. Peyton Berelepsch, Cushing, Gunning and Spreyer found the back of the net.
Assists on the day came from Henry Strada, Daniel Moll, Young, Farrell and McGrath.
THE HOME OF WEST HAVEN SPORTS
(September 11, 2022) - The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team returned to the ice with a championship appearance and four wins in the ECC Labor Day tournament in Northford.
The Westies opened the tournament with a 7-1 win over the Elite HockeyAAA. Charlie Gunning had three goals and Jeremiah McGrath had two goals in the win.
Colby Cushing and Dylan Spreyer also found the back of the net, while assists came from Nick Ciccosanti, Peyton Berlepsch and Dane Walsh. West Haven’s defensive efforts were led by Daniel Moll, Henry Strada and Cody Young, and Michael Paone and Gabe Calabrese split duties in the net.
The Westies fell behind the Connecticut Junior Rangers, before rallying to a 5-2 win in the second contest. AJ Farrell took over from his defensive post as his first shot from the point was tipped by Gunning to even the score. One minute later, Farrell took matters into his own hands in burying his own shot from the point.
Gunning, McGrath and Spreyer all found the back of the net. Paone and Calabrese combined for the win in goal.
Young then helped power the Westies to a 7-3 win over the Vermont Flames with goal and solid defensive play. Gunning scored four goals and McGrath scored twice for the Westies. Berlepsch, Ciccosanti and Alex Janei added assists, while Paone and Calabrese again split goaltending duties.
In the semifinals, Farrell again found the back of the net from the point to lead the Westies to a 3-1 win over the Connecticut Junior Rangers. Gunning broke free for two goals with an assist from Walsh and Strada.
The run ended for the Westies as they pushed MassConn United to overtime, before falling 4-3 in overtime.
The Westies took a 3-1 lead behind two goals by McGrath and one by Cushing, with assists coming from Ciccosanti and Moll. Young and Farrell were solid on defense, while Calabrese handled the net with several solid saves.
The Westies returned to action this weekend with a split of games against Mid-Fairfield.
In the opener, Gunning scored three times and Ciccosanti added two in a 7-2 win. McGrath and Spreyer rounded out the scoring, with assists coming from Farrell, Strada, Janei and Moll. Paone picked up the win between the pipes.
The Westies lost 3-2 to Mid- Fairfield 2013 as McGrath and Spreyer scored in the loss. Young, Berlepsch and Walsh had assists, while Calabrese was solid in net.
The West Haven Squirt A travel hockey team opened the 2022-2023 season Saturday morning at Bennett Rink with a 4-4 tie against the Greater New Haven Warriors. Looking to defend their state title from the 2021-2022 season, the young Westies showed perseverance as they fought back after being behind 4-2 late in the second period.
Evan Harrison had an acrobatic performance between the pipes, stopping numerous well-placed shots by the Warriors. He was supported by a great defensive effort by Kyle Johnson, Joey Mondo, Conner Owens, and Ryan Schempp, locking down the blue line and solid back-checking. The offensive effort was supported by Kyle D’Agostino, Jax Guarino, Anthony Parise, and Brady Salkins, who showed a lot of hustle and were quick on the puck.
The Warriors scored late in the first period to get things started off, but their lead was short-lived as center Logan Stackpole scored an unassisted goal three minutes later to tie the game at the end of the first period.
The Warriors scored again mid-way through the second period to take the lead once again. With 5:15 left in the second period, forward Colin Whelan stuffed the puck into the net off a rebound from a hard wrist shot from forward JJ Charbonneau to tie the game up once again.
Two minutes later, the Warriors once again took a 3-2 lead and then scored another quick goal to take a 4-2 lead with two minutes left in the period. The two-goal lead would only last about 30 seconds as Owens scored off an assist from center Colton Bruneau.
Down 3-2 in the third period with 8:44 left in the game, the Westies moved into the offensive zone and set up a nice play which allowed Logan Minio to score off assists from Stackpole and Schempp to even the game at four.
The West Haven Squirt A1 travel hockey team had quite the opening weekend, facing off against Greater New Haven Warriors and the Connecticut Junior Whalers. The Blue Devils put on a defensive skills tutorial in their openers, only allowing four goals the entire weekend and topping the Warriors 10-3 and the Junior Whalers 8-1.
Tyler Gyllensten chalked up the season's first goal against the Warriors. Gyllensten went on to cap off the weekend with the season's first hat trick, as well scoring three more goals and adding two assists.
Julius Stokes was virtually untouchable on his approaches up the ice and scored four goals and added assists. Olivia Persico went on to score two goals, along with Noah Silverman and Alex Jones, who both scored twice and chalked up an assist each.
Other notable mentions for their offensive prowess included Mason MacDonald and Jameson Schempp each with one goal and one assist, and Carter Liston, who created numerous opportunities for the young Devils and finished with two assists.
The team also received a tremendous defensive effort brought forth by Ben Trenchard and Aran Dahya, who scored his first West Haven career goal Sunday against the Junior Whalers.
Matteo Kenworthy had no issues ironing out the crease, only allowing one goal against the Junior Whalers in his Squirt A1 debut between the pipes. Ethan McGrath took control of the Junior Whaler's goal and shut down his own team's advances after the Junior Whaler's own goaltender was unable to continue due to a lower body injury.
(September 18, 2022) - The West Haven Bantam AA hockey team earned its first win of the 2022-23 season with a road win over Greater New Haven A on Saturday morning at Northford Ice Pavilion.
Sean Studley put the Westies up 1-0 when he fired home a rebound of Ethan Kelly's shot with just under a minute to play in the opening period. The Blue Devils went up 3-0 with a pair of second period goals as Dylan DiCioccio scored with assists from Matt Kelly and Michael Madonick, before Will Hamre tallied with helpers by Leo Mazuroski and Cam Lipford.
GNH scored early in the third period, before Ethan Kelly made it 4-1 less than a minute later. GNH cut it to 4-2, before Ethan Kelly scored twice more to complete his hat trick and make the final score 6-2. Goaltender Bryce Upson was solid in net to earn the win.
On Sunday morning at the Edward L. Bennett Rink, the Blue Devils had a 3-0 lead with a minute to play in the second period, before dropping a 5-4 decision to Junior Bulldogs AA.
Kelly opened the scoring in the first when he weaved through traffic and snapped home a wrist shot. Less than a minute later, Mazuroski dumped the puck and Madonick whipped a centering pass where Charlie Strada jammed in the one-timer for a 2-0 lead. One minute into the second, Studley stole a pass along the boards, got control of the puck and roofed it to make it 3-0.
The Bulldogs scored four times in less than five minutes to take the lead early in the third, before Ethan Kelly split two defensemen and fed Madonick for a rising wrist shot to tie the game at 4-4 with 8:39 to go.
The Blue Devils opened their 2022-23 season last week and skated to a 3-3 tie against Western A at Bennett Rink.
Down 2-0 in the opening period, Kelly took a feed from Studley and Mazuroski, skated over the blue line and fired in a laser.
Down 3-1, Madonick stole a pass at the blue line and fired home a low wrister with only 2.8 seconds left in the first period. Matt Kelly banged home a loose puck on a power play in the third period, with assists from Studley and Sam Malangone, to even the game at 3-3. Upson was clutch in goal in the third as the Westies earned the tie.
The West Haven Youth Hockey Squirt AA split a pair of games last weekend. On Saturday, the Westies dropped a 4-2 contest to Westchester Express AA.
A.J. Farrell started the scoring with a shot from the point. After falling behind 3-1, Cody Young took a pass from Charlie Gunning and Colby Cushing and buried a goal to cut lead to one. An empty net goal finalized the scoring. Gabe Calabese was solid in net for West Haven.
The Westies bounced back with a 6-1 win over Ridgefield AA. Daniel Moll started the scoring by going end to end. Gunning netted two goals and Jeremiah McGrath, Dylan Spreyer and Alex Janei also scored. Assists for the Westies came from Henry Strada, Gunning, Cushing and Farrell. Michael Paone got the victory in between the pipes.
In yet another impressive defensive display, the West Haven Squirt A1 squad was able to skate away with its third win of the season in as many games.
The young Devils were able to keep the Hamden Dragons down to only six shots on goal which goaltenders Ethan McGrath and Matteo Kenworthy were able to keep out of harm's way while splitting the goaltender assignment.
Noah Silverman started the day of with a quick breakaway which led to an unassisted goal at 30 seconds into the first and went on to get his first hat trick of the season. Julius Stokes was short to follow Silverman's lead with his own unassisted goal at 1:20 into the first which was followed by another unassisted goal and three assists in the second period.
Two of those assists where for Trevor Gyllensten, who racked up a five-point day by scoring four goals and one assist. Carter Liston assisted one of Gyllensten's third period goals.
Gyllensten returned the favor two minutes later and set Liston up for his own goal which made two for the day with an unassisted goal earlier in the second. Also continuing his scoring streak was Aran Dahya, who was able to rack up two unassisted goals of his own.
(September 25, 2022) - In what turned out to be an immensely entertaining Sunday morning game between the Enfield Eagle Squirt B1 and the West Haven Squirt A1 squads, fortune favored the young Blue Devils in the 8-4 West Haven win. The victory allowed the Blue Devils to solidify their fourth consecutive win.
The Eagles started off strong, scoring the first goal of the game, but the Blue Devils were quick to quell the Eagle's fire. Julius Stokes was the first Westie to touch the back of the net on an unassisted breakaway goal at 5:26 in the first, and took up a more supporting role racking up two more assists while creating numerous other scoring opportunities. Alex Jones went on to score his second goal of the season at 9:33 in the first.
Olivia Persico was first to lead off the second period scoring barrage with her third goal of the season at 1:15, which was assisted by Jameson Schempp and Mason MacDonald. Short to follow was Carter Liston, who racked up his third goal of the season on an assist from Noah Silverman at 1:29.
Silverman was next up to light the lamp with a goal at 5:33 on an assist from Stokes. Jones kept the scoring streak alive with a goal at 6:12 on assists from MacDonald and Persico.
Liston made an encore appearance, scoring his second goal of the second period at 9:50 off an assist from Silverman, and Jameson Schempp added the last goal, scoring his second goal of the season at 6:12 in their third period.
Goaltenders Ethan McGrath and Matteo Kenworthy split the contest and were able to keep the Eagles at bay, only allowing two goals each shift while shutting down 19 shots collectively.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team traveled to Springfield, Mass. on Sunday night and topped the Springfield Aces, 4-1, at Smead Arena. Ethan Kelly led the way with his second hat trick of the young season. The Blue Devils are now 2-1-1.
Kelly gave the Westies a 1-0 lead two minutes into the game when he buried the rebound of Sean Studley's intial shot on an odd-man rush. The Aces tied the game at one with a power play tally later in the period.
Kelly only took 28 seconds to make it a 2-1 game in the second period as he gathered the puck at the red line, carried it into the zone and roofed it. The Blue Devils made it 3-1 with a power play goal late in the second as Sam Malangone flipped the puck in front from behind the Aces' net where Studley knocked it down and tipped it back to Malangone who swept it into the open cage.
Bryce Upson was stout in goal for the Westies and denied any chances the Aces fired at him in the third period. Kelly added an empty-netter from his own zone with 36 seconds left to make the final score 4-1.
(October 2, 2022) - The West Haven Mite B hockey team welcomed the Southern stars Saturday. It was a great start to the weekend with multiple goals from Landon Alling, JP Beebe, Austin Picard, Jack Weiss, Sadie Moll and Gabby Jenei.
The second period brought a great loop around shot from Finn McLaughlin and goalie Moriah Frost had an outstanding game with many saves.
West Haven played against Wallingford on Sunday and Jackson Ford made many saves while in goal. Goals were scored by Weiss, Caleb Ford, Alling, Beebe, McLaughlin, and Jenei. Great plays were made by Kiera Harrison and Moll.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team had its first game of the season on Sunday against the Shoreline Sharks. In net for the Blue Devils was Caleb Ford, who made several great saves during the matchup. Multiple goals were scored by Jackson Ford and Brayden Gagliardi. Quinn Uscilla and Maddie Bruder each scored a goal, with assists going to Ava Healy and Ryan Shannon. Shots on net were also contributed by Wesley Marazzini and Ava Healy.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team kicked off a full weekend of CHC league games and posted two convincing wins.
On Saturday, the Westies fell behind 2-0 to Central AA before a five goal second period powered them to a 5-2 win. Jeremiah McGrath and Charlie Gunning each posted two goals in the win.
Peyton Berlepsch , Henry Strada and Alex Janei posted assists. Cody Young, Dane Walsh and Nick Ciccosanti led the defensive effort, while Michael Paone and Gabe Calabese combined for the win.
Daniel Moll went bar down from his defensive post to cap a 9-1 win over Yale 2012 AA. Gunning scored four goals and McGrath, Dylan Spreyer, AJ Farrell and Colby Cushing also found the back of the net. Assists for the Westies came from Moll, McGrath, Gunning, and Young. Calabrese got the victory in between the pipes.
The West Haven Blue Squirt A travel hockey team traveled to Lou Astorino Arena to play rival Hamden on Saturday. The young Westies topped the Dragons with a come-from-behind 7-4 win.
West Haven started the scoring just two minutes into the first period with a goal from Logan Minio. He was assisted by defensemen Ryan Schempp and Joey Mondo. Just two minutes later, Colin Whelan found the back of the net off an assist by Logan Stackpole. The two-goal lead did not last for very long as Hamden scored three quick goals late in the first period to take the lead.
The Westies put on an offensive show in the second period, supported by JJ Charbonneau who kept moving the puck up the ice, making solid passes, and working hard along the boards.
The scoring started nine minutes into the second period by Colton Bruneau, who blasted a shot into the net off an assist from Stackpole. Stackpole then followed up four minutes later with an unassisted goal. Finishing the scoring was Jax Guarino who notched his first goal of the season off a quick pass from Bruneau with three minutes left.
Goaltender Alex Cicarella showed perseverance and locked things down in the crease, stopping numerous shots by the Dragons and holding them to only one goal for the remainder of the game.
In the third period, the Westies extended their lead as Kyle D’Agostino intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and took it to the net, going top shelf for his first goal of the season. Minio finished off the win with an unassisted goal with 5:46 left in the game. Kyle Johnson and Conner Owens supported the defensive effort, shutting down the Hamden offense for the win.
On Sunday, the Blue Devils hosted top-ranked Greenwich Skate Club at Bennett Rink in West Haven and posted a 6-4 win. West Haven took a 1-0 lead with a well-placed top shelf shot from Bruneau off an assist from Stackpole.
In the second period, the scoring ramped up as Greenwich scored two goals in the period, but it was not enough to hold off the West Haven offense.
Brady Salkins took the puck up the ice twice in the second and score two unassisted goals. The Westie defensive line of Owens, Mondo, and Johnson locked things down along the boards and held off the Greenwich offense throughout the game.
Entering the third period with a 3-2 lead, Minio scored at the 9:52 mark off a cross-ice assist from Whelan. Minio then scored a second time off an assist from Schempp.
Ahead 5-4, the solid play of Egg Parise, Guarino, and D’Agostino kept the pressure on Greenwich holding back the one-man advantage. With one minute left in the game, Stackpole scored an empty-net goal to secure the win.
Goaltender Evan Harrison had yet another phenomenal performance in net for the Devils, displaying great athleticism and making solid positional saves in the crease.
The West Haven Squirt A1 hockey team posted wins over the Greater New Haven Warriors and the Southeastern Seahawks.
Alex Jones was first on the board against the Warriors off an assist from Noah Silverman and Trevor Gyllensten at 15 seconds into the first period. Aryn Dahya scored on a breakaway to make the score 2-0 at 4:43. Julius Stokes was next up with his unassisted goal at 7:22 in the second period, followed by another unassisted goal by Tyler Gyllensten at 4:27. Noah Silverman was able to touch the back of the net of an assist from Alex Jones to cap off the second period scoring at 11:23.
The third period was capped off by two more Blue Devil goals, the first by Tyler Gyllensten off an assist from Silverman. The second goal scored by Silverman came off an assist from Trevor Gyllensten. The strong West Haven defense helped goaltender Ethan McGrath, who had no issues stifling the Warriors advances.
Oliva Persico, who also added an assist in the game, was first on the board in Sunday's game against the Seahawks off an assist from Mason MacDonald by way of Stokes. Stokes went on to score two goals and added four assists on the day. Trevor Gyllensten was another standout for the young Devils, racking up a goal of his own with two assists.
Jones touched the back of the net for his third goal of the season, along with Carter Liston who had some strong offensive plays at the goal against the Seahawks. Finding her stride was Sarah Mastroni, who had several shots on goal.
Silverman had yet another multi-point game with one goal and one assist, along with Tyler Gyllensten who followed suit with one goal and one assist. Center Jameson Schempp was able to make his mark, scoring in the third and winning a majority of the faceoffs during the game.
Again, the West Haven defense consisting of Ben Trenchard, Dahya and Stokes proved to be an impenetrable force which made easy work for Matteo Kenworthy between the pipes by only allowing three shots on goal.
The West Haven Bantam AA hockey team topped Greater New Haven A, 9-1, on Sunday morning at Edward L. Bennett Rink. Eight different players scored goals as the Westies improved to 3-1-1 on the season.
Ethan Kelly put the Blue Devils up 1-0 when he jammed in a loose puck in front of the GNH goalie nine minutes into the game. Mike Madonick made it 2-0 when he stuffed home the puck on a scramble out front, and Sam Malangone ripped a shot that rang the post and he quickly zipped in his own rebound to make it 3-0 in the first period.
In the second period, Joel Goodman skated behind the GNH net and flipped the puck out front where Sean Studley one-timed it coming down the slot for a 4-0 lead. Charlie Strada later found Matt Kelly at the blue line and his rising slap shot found the net. In the last minute of the period, Ian Brezak's shot was saved, but Alex Zhukovsky slipped in the rebound while falling to the ice for a 6-0 lead.
Matt Kelly's slapper on the power play made it 7-0 with Zhukovsky assisting to open the third period. Aaron Campbell one-timed Brezak's feed through the five-hole, before GNH finally got on the scoreboard with 3:27 to play. Nick Shefter roofed Zhukovsky's feed in the final seconds to make the final score 9-1.
Bryce Upson made eight saves for the Westies, before Max Malangone came on in relief and posted four saves.
(October 9, 2022) - The West Haven Mite A hockey team took the road this past weekend, traveling to South Kent and Ridgefield.
On Saturday, the Blue Devils faced off against the Northwestern CT Icehawks in South Kent. The Westies had their best passing performance of the season thus far and were led offensively by centermen Henry Seslar and Brody Miller, along with wingers Emmett Hemming and Caden Minio, who each found the back of the net multiple times.
Defensively it was near impossible to get the puck past Cooper Owens. When the Icehawks got a shot on net, they were met by a brick wall in goalie Landon Silverman.
On Sunday, the Mite A team faced the Ridgefield Lions. The back and forth competitive game included some spectacular goals from Brayden Jacob and Santino Martin. Keegan Jackson had a solid performance on defense, clearing the puck from the zone during some key pushes by the Lions.
Alexa Jacob volunteered to be the netminder in place for the injured Silverman. Jacob was able to hold off a pesky Lions attack.
The West Haven Mite B team welcomed the Wonderland Wizards and played well on Saturday. Austin Picard and Jack Weiss started first the period off strong with a goal each, and Sadie Moll and JP Beebe each got a goal to close out the first period. In the second period, goalie Moriah Frost saved many shots. A goal by Landon Alling was scored as well as Beebe scoring multiple goals to close out the game.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team played against East Haven Mite B on Saturday at the Bennett Rink. Jackson Ford played goalie for the Blue Devils, making many great saves. Multiple goals and assists were made by Maddy Bruder, Wesley Marazzini, Brayden Gagliardi, Ava Healy, Quinn Uscilla, Ryan Shannon and Caleb Ford.
The West Haven Blue Devils Squirt A travel hockey team visited Newington Arena to play the Central Capitals on Saturday morning and skated to a 7-1 win.
West Haven started the scoring just 17 seconds into the first period with a goal from Logan Minio. Minio scored his second goal of the game off an assist from Brady Salkins late in the period.
In the second period, the Devils’ offense kept their foot on the gas with Logan Stackpole scoring six minutes into the period, and five minutes later Conner Owens scored off an assist by Stackpole. The Devils would enter the third period with a commanding 4-0 lead thanks to the strong defensive effort by Joey Mondo and Ryan Schempp.
Minio secured his hat trick with two more goals in the third period off assists from Colin Whelan and Kyle Johnson. Shortly after the Capitals scored their lone goal of the game, Egg Parise took a laser wrist shot that found the back of the net to finish things off.
Jax Guarino, JJ Charbonneau, Colton Bruneau, and Kyle D’Agostino moved the puck well throughout the game to support the offense. Goaltender Alex Cicarella had an outstanding performance between the pipes in the win.
On Sunday, the Blue Devils hosted the Wonderland Wizards and came out with a decisive 6-2 win.
Owens started things off by firing a rocket from the blue line off an assist from Johnson. Shortly after, the Wizards scored to tie things up at the end of the first period.
The Wizards scored two minutes into the second period, but their lead would not last for very long as the Westie offense stepped things up.
First up was Stackpole who scored an unassisted goal with five minutes left in the period to tie the game. Three minutes later, Minio found Whelan in front of the net as he buried a quick one-timer to give the Westies a 3-2 lead going into the third period.
Bruneau scored three minutes into the third period off an assist from Charbonneau. Four minutes later Salkins found the back of the net off an assist from Minio.
West Haven sealed the win with five minutes left in the game as Salkins knocked the puck loose along the boards and Whelan skated it into the slot, going top shelf and securing the Westies win.
Goaltender Evan Harrison once again had a razor-sharp performance in net, stopping some very well-placed shots by the Wizard squad
The West Haven Squirt A1 hockey team kept its undefeated streak alive by topping the Stamford Sharks on Saturday and the Western Junior Colonials on Sunday.
The Devils started Saturday's contest with an unassisted goal scored by Julius Stokes at 3:13 in the first. Stokes went on to assist Trevor Gyllensten's goal at 5:06, and Jameson Schempp was next on the board off an assist from Olivia Persico at 9:40. Schempp capped off the first period scoring on a beautiful goal to the top shelf.
Schempp scored the first goal of the second off an assist from Stokes at 3:20 to get his first hat trick of the season. Stokes scored two more unassisted goals at 4:01 and 5:07. Mason MacDonald scored his second goal of the season off an assist from Persico at 6:10.
Just 22 seconds later, Sarah Mastroni was able to send one to the back of the net for her first goal of the season. Trevor Gyllensten obtained his second goal of the game off an assist from Alex Jones, and Noah Silverman ended the second period scoring off an assist from Stokes and Mastroni at 11:43.
Schempp scored the first goal of the third period off an assist from MacDonald, before Jones scored with 26 seconds on the clock off another assist from MacDonald.
Ethan McGrath and Matteo Kenworthy played well in goal, obtaining another shutout.
The Westies closed the weekend with a 12-4 win over the Western Junior Colonials. McGrath and Kenworthy were able to account for 18 of 21 shots.
Silverman was first on the board with an unassisted goal at 1:15 in the first, Schempp was the next to rack up a goal for the Devils at 8:40 off an assist from Stokes, before Stokes got his own unassisted goal at 11:50 and assisted a goal by Jones at 11:31.
Persico started off the second period scoring with an unassisted goal at 1:17. This was followed by two more unassisted goals by Stokes. Silverman was able to get his second of the day off an assist from Aran Dahya with six seconds left on the clock in the second.
Jones started the third period with a goal at 1:31 off an assist from Dahya. Schempp scored his second of the day at 4:40 off an assist from Persico. Stokes capped the weekend with two more unassisted goals for a seven-point game.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team split a pair of road games over the weekend. The Westies dropped Wonderland AA, 3-1, on Saturday morning at the Wonderland of Ice, before losing 5-1 to Mid-Hudson Polar Bears on Sunday afternoon in Newburgh, NY. The Blue Devils are now 4-2-1 on the season.
Down 1-0 with just 15 seconds left in the second period against Wonderland, the Westies tied the game with a power play goal. Ian Brezak fed Joel Goldman for a shot and Brett Kayser swept in the rebound.
The Westies took over in the third period. Goldman kept the puck in the zone and found Charlie Clark in front of the net where he roofed it. Jack MacNiven then won the puck against the boards and flipped it across ice for Sam Malangone’s one-timer in the slot. Bryce Upson was solid throughout the game in goal for the Westies.
The lone goal in the loss to the Polar Bears came when Clark hit Alex Zhukovsky over the red line. Zhukovsky slid the puck to Sean Studley who backhanded it off the back of the goalie. Upson posted a whopping 53 saves in goal for the Westies.
(October 16, 2022) - The West Haven Mite B hockey team welcomed Wonderland on Saturday. While the competition was tough, the Blue Devils managed to get a few good goals from J.P Beebe, Austin Picard and Landon Alling.
The traveled to the Northford Ice Pavillion on Sunday to play Greater New Haven. Jack Weiss, Picard and Beebe were scorers for the day with great hockey play by Gabby Jenei, Kiera Harrison and Alling. Finn Mclaughlin played a solid game in goal.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team had an away game against Darien Mite B Gray on Sunday. Ryan Shannon played goalie for the Blue Devils, making many excellent saves.
Multiple goals were scored by Brayden Gagliardi with Wesley Marazzini also scoring a goal for the Blue Devils. Shots on goal were made by Quinn Uscilla, Ava Healy and Maddy Bruder.
In a matchup of the two top-ranked teams in the state rankings, the West Haven Youth Hockey Squirt AA hockey team traveled to New Canaan AA and left with a 4-3 win to strengthen its hold on the top spot.
The Westies fell behind 3-0 early in the game, but tied the contest in the third period and Jeremiah McGrath buried a rebound on a power play with under two minutes remaining to clinch the win. Nick Ciccosanti went end to end to tie the game at three.
Charlie Gunning and Peyton Berlepsch also scored for the Westies, Assists on the day came from Cody Young, Henry Strada, Ciccosanti and Gunning. Michael Paone and Gabe Calabese combined for the win with 16 saves on the day.
Alex Jenei started the offense with an early goal to power the Westies to an 8-0 win over Elite Hockey AA. McGrath netted two goals and Danny Moll, Colby Cushing, Dylan Spreyer, Gunning and Berlepsch also scored in the win.
The Westies got assists from Dane Walsh, Young, Gunning and Strada. Paone and Calabese combined for the shutout win.
AJ Farrell had a goal and two assists to lead the Westies to an 8-3 win over the Connecticut Junior Rangers AAA. Gunning had three goals and Strada, Spreyer, Berlepsch and Cushing all found the back of net. Cushing and Gunning each had two assists and Moll and Young each added one.
Later Sunday, the Westies travelled to New York but dropped a 2-1 contest to the Westchester Express AA. Spreyer provided the offense with an end to end rush for a goal.
The Westies got solid scoring chances from Ciccosanti, Walsh and Young. Paone and Calabese combined for 12 saves.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team won its only game of the weekend in convincing fashion with an 8-2 defeat of Jr. Bulldogs 2008 AA at Edward L. Bennett Rink on Sunday morning. Seven different players scored goals for the Blue Devils in the balanced effort.
The win avenges the team's only loss in the league as the Westies improved to 5-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 in CHC league play.
West Haven scored the only goal of the opening period when Mike Madonick passed from behind the net to Matt Kelly, who buried his wrister. Ethan Kelly opened the second period by weaving his way to the net and flipping in a backhand shot for a 2-0 lead, before the Bulldogs responded by tying the game with a pair of goals only 1:35 apart.
The Westies snatched the momentum back just 36 seconds later. Matt Kelly's shot was deflected in by Aaron Campbell for a 3-2 lead. Madonick then flipped a shot that rebounded to the stick of Nick Shefter who snapped it home. Ian Brezak then got the breakout started ahead to Shefter who found Madonick in stride for a 5-2 lead after two periods.
The Blue Devils dominated the third period. Brezak went coast-to-coast for an impressive short-handed goal, Charlie Strada redirected Matt Kelly's point shot to the top shelf, and Shefter closed the scoring when he stole the puck and zipped it into the top corner.
Leo Mazuroski returned from injury and was strong on defense, along with Jack MacNiven. Bryce Upson was solid between the pipes.
(October 23, 2022) - The West Haven youth hockey Mite A team won the Mite Upper Division at the Haunted Shootout Tournament in Marlborough, Mass. The Westies had an undefeated 6-0 record over the weekend.
In round robin play, the Westies faced the Palisades Predators and Woodbridge Wolfpack Hockey Club, each from New Jersey, along with the Greater New Haven Warriors and East Coast Thunder from Hyannis Mass.
The Blue Devils were led by goaltender Landon Silverman who recorded two shutout wins and only allowed six goals all tournament. The team scored over 40 goals in all with every player finding the back of the net.
Solid defense by Cooper Owens and Keegan Jackson also made it difficult for opposing teams to score on Silverman. Offensively the Devils were led by Henry Seslar, Santino Martin, Caden Minio, Emmett Hemming and Alexa Jacob.
The highlight of the weekend was a 2-1 semifinal overtime win against rival Hamden with Brody Miller netting the game winner. In the final game, the Westies found themselves down early to Weymouth, Mass. and fought back for a 5-3 victory and a championship trophy.
The West Haven Mite C team played the Wallingford RiverHawks Mite B. Wesley Morazzini was in goal for the Westies and he made great saves during the match up. Multiple goals were scored by Caleb Ford and Jackson Ford. Brayden Gagliardi also scored a goal and an assist was made by Caleb Ford. Shots on goal were made by Maddy Bruder, Ava Healy, Ryan Shannon and Quinn Uscilla.
On Sunday, the Mite C’s played the Shoreline Sharks at Bennett Rink. In net again for the Blue Devils was Wesley Morazzini, who made more great saves. Multiple goals were made by Caleb Ford, Jackson Ford and Gagliardi. Uscilla, Bruder and Shannon also each contributed a goal, which assists made by Jackson Ford, Uscilla, Gagliardi and Shannon. Shots on goal were also made by Healy.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team won the 2022 Haunted Shootout at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, MA over the weekend. The top-seeded Blue Devils downed second-seeded Palisades Predators, 6-2, in the championship game on Sunday afternoon. The Westies dominated the weekend offensively and defensively as they outscored their opponents 29-4 in the five games.
In the finals, the Predators knocked in a loose puck 2:24 into the game for a 1-0 lead and it was the first time West Haven had trailed on the scoreboard all weekend. Just 41 seconds later, Matt Kelly carried the puck the length of the ice and wristed it into the top right corner to tie the game at one. The Predators tallied again late in the period and led 2-1 at the first intermission.
In the opening minute of the second, Sean Studley tied the game at two when he intercepted a pass, skated into the slot and zipped it home. Less than a minute later, Nick Shefter fired the puck from the corner and it deflected off the Palisades goalie and in. Studley made it 4-2 when his slap shot off a loose puck hit the back of the net. Late in the second, Ethan Kelly flew up the ice, deked the goalie, and backhanded it home for a beautiful goal and a 5-2 lead.
The West Haven defense then locked down the Predators in the third period and Bryce Upson made every save down the stretch. Ethan Kelly scored on a breakaway with seven minutes to play for the final goal of the 6-2 victory.
Ethan Kelly led all Blue Devil scorers with seven goals and eight assists in the tournament. Studley followed with six goals and an assist. Defensemen Leo Mazuroski and Ian Brezac each scored three goals, while Aaron Campbell and Shefter both had two goals and two assists.
Alex Zhukovsky and Mike Madonick (one assist) had two goals apiece, Brett Kayser and Matthew Kelly each had a goal, and Sam Malangone had an assist.
In front of goaltender Upson, Jack MacNiven was outstanding on defense, along with Mazuroski, Brezac, Matt Kelly, and Madonick. Matt Molnar was gritty on the wing and forward Charlie Strada was solid before getting injured in game three.
In the semifinal on Sunday morning the Blue Devils skated to a 5-1 win over Providence Hockey Club. Campbell hit Ethan Kelly who flipped in a backhander for a 1-0 lead in the first period, Kelly fired a shot that was saved, but Zhukovsky alertly swept in the rebound in the second, while Studley made it 3-0 when he snapped home a wrister from Kelly.
In the third period, Malangone found Campbell in stride and he sniped the corner, Kelly deked and scored in the final moments to finish the scoring. Upson was sharp and made some key saves early in the contest.
The Blue Devils earned the top seed by going 3-0 in pool play.
On Friday afternoon the Westies opened the tournament against the Predators. It was a scoreless game into the third period when Mazuroski took a feed from Ethan Kelly and zipped it home. Brezac and Ethan Kelly followed with unassisted goals and Upson earned the shutout.
On Saturday, the Westies dominated Atlantic Coast Selects but despite outshooting the opponent 16-1 it was scoreless after one period. The floodgates opened in the second when Studley buried a feed from Ethan Kelly, and Brezac fired in a wrist shot. Kayser scored a power play goal from Shefter, and Kelly scored a short-handed goal.
In the third period, Ethan Kelly fed Campbell for a power play tally and then Studley for a one-timer. Ethan Kelly took the puck the length of the ice and scored himself, Madonick roofed Shefter's pass, and Mazuroski went five-hole.
Studley earned a hat trick with a breakaway goal to complete the 10-1 rout. The Westies outshot Selects 57-12 and Upson earned another win between the pipes.
Late Saturday, the Westies kept the momentum going with a 5-0 drubbing of the Providence Hockey Club. Shefter got the scoring started when he took Studley's pass and wristed one in. Ethan Kelly found Mazuroski who fired home a laser from the blue line for a 2-0 lead after one period, and Zhukovsky went five-hole to make it 3-0 in the second with Kelly assisting again.
Brezac sniped one and finally Campbell centered to Madonick for a one-timer to complete the scoring. The Westies outshot PHC 67-10 and Upson earned his second shutout of the tournament.
(October 30, 2022) - The West Haven Mite C hockey team played South Windsor Mite C at Bennett Rink on Saturday. In net for the Blue Devils was Ava Healy, who made many great saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Caleb Ford, Jackson Ford and Brayden Gagliardi. Maddy Bruder also scored a goal, while shots on net and passes were made by Quinn Uscilla, Wesley Morazzini, and Ryan Shannon.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team took home the Squirt A title at the Haunted Shootout in Marlborough by posting a 5-0 record, including three shutout wins. The team was paced all weekend by the strong goaltending tandem of Gabe Calabrese and Michael Paone, and a strong defensive attack led by Cody Young, AJ Farrell, Henry Strada and Danny Moll which limited scoring chances.
In the final, the Westies topped the Westchester (NY) Vipers AA 10-0 behind the multi-goal games from Colby Cushing, Nick Ciccosanti, Dylan Spreyer, Farrell and Charlie Gunning. Assists in the game came from Dane Walsh (2), Peyton Berlepsch, Young, Jeremiah McGrath and Alex Jenei. Paone and Calabrese combined for the shut out.
Paone and Calabrese shut out the Weymouth AA 10-0 in the semifinal. Cushing and Gunning combined for eight goals, while Jenei and Strada also found the back of the net. Westie assists came from Moll, Walsh Young, Strada and Farrell.
In the opening round, Gunning, Spreyer and Jenei paced the Westies to a 6-1 win over the Palasides Predators. Young had two assists on the day and Berlepsch added another.
The Westies trailed the Vermont Flames AA 2-0 entering the third period before rallying to a 5-2 win. Gunning scored two goals to pull the team even, before Berlepsch buried the game-winner. Cushing and Gunning each added another goal for the difference.
Strong play on the back end from Moll, Farrell, Young and Strada led to the breakouts. Paone and Calabrese combined for the win.
McGrath, Spreyer, Young, Cushing and Gunning combined for 10 goals as the Westies were all over the New Jersey Avalanche 12-0. Assists on the day came from Walsh, Strada, Berlepsch and Moll. Paone and Calabrese combined for the shut out.
In a matchup of the two top-ranked teams in the state rankings, the West Haven Youth Hockey Squirt AA hosted the Connecticut Jr. Whalers and came away with a 5-2 victory to strengthen its hold on the top spot.
Walsh set up Gunning early in the first period to give the Westies a 1-0 lead. Farrell then weaved through traffic and went top shelf, Gunning had two more, and Ciccosanti also scored for the Westies, Assists on the day came from Young, Strada, Jenei, Spreyer and McGrath. Paone went the distance for the win with 14 saves on the day.
The final game of the weekend saw the Westies upend the Junior Wolfpack AA 13-1. Walsh started the scoring off with a wrister, and McGrath, Ciccosanti, Spreyer, Cushing and Gunning all found the back of the net.
Ciccosanti had three assists on the day, and Young, Strada and Farrell each added one assist. Calabrese got the win in net with 10 saves.
The West Haven Squirt A1 squad faced off against the Northeast Junior Huskies on Sunday in what turned out to be a battle amongst the goalies, The Blue Devils topped the Jr. Huskies 5-4.
Ethan McGrath and Matteo Kenworthy had a showcase performance between the pipes, facing 25 shots, only allowing four to touch the back of the net. McGrath had some amazing saves during the first shift of the bout, flashing the leather on more than one occasion and keeping 11 of the 12 shots he faced out of harm's way. Kenworthy made some dazzling leg saves, and was able to account for 10 of the 13 shots he faced.
Olivia Persico started the scoring for the Devils in the first period with an assist from Carter Liston at 5:59. Tyler Gyllensten was next on the board with an unassisted goal in the second period at 8:43. Gyllensten's goal was shortly followed up by another unassisted goal by Julius Stokes at 10:57.
Stokes went on to score two more unassisted goals in the third for his fourth hat trick of the season.
The West Haven Peewee AA hockey team started strong on its three-game weekend with a 3-1 victory over Darien A Saturday morning at Bennett Rink.
The first goal came just three minutes into the game by defenseman Santino Desantis, taking the puck all the way up ice. A scramble in front of the net ensued following a shot from Tyler Persico at the blue line, and Andrew Lacasse shot in the rebound for the second goal before the end of the first period.
The second period was scoreless due to impeccable defense by Persico, Kyle Guarino, Desantis, Drew Bereski, Andrew Grillo and Max Barbera in net.
The third period yielded the final goal for the Westies with a snipe from Jaxon Troyer. Barbera was flawless in net with a total of 26 saves in the game.
The second game of the day at Bennett Rink for the Peewee AA’s and they dominated the Yale AA 7-1. Colin Dempsey earned himself a hat trick by getting a goal in each period, an unassisted goal and two with assists from Rocco Kelly, Sophie Digioia, and Desantis.
Troyer had an unassisted goal in the first and shortly after, TJ Russo scored with an assist from Alessandra Picard. Sophia Locklear had two goals in the game’ s second and third periods.
The Westies kept the pressure on with shots from David D’Aiuto, Andrew Lacasse, Digioia, Kelly, Guarino, Persico, Picard and Bereski. Quinn Smith was right at home in net with 11 saves in the game.
On Sunday, the Peewee AA's traveled to Simsbury for their final game of the weekend and came home victorious 11-2. Digioia didn’t waste any time and put two goals on the board in the first few minutes. She also had an assist later in the game. Lacasse followed suit and put another tally up for the Westies. The second period was full of goals from Lacasse, getting his second, Troyer, Desantis, and Digioia getting her third to secure a hat trick.
The third period did not disappoint with more goals from Kelly, Guarino, Dempsey, and the final goal from Desantis. Locklear, Bereski, and Russo.
The Westies received a solid effort from D’Aiuto, Locklear and all of the forwards. None of the goals would have been possible without the wall of defense from Persico, Bereski, Guarino, Grillo and Desantis.
Outstanding goaltending was played by Barbera and Smith, who shared time in net and combined to make seven saves.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team won its only game of the weekend, a 4-3 victory over Wonderland AA on Sunday at Edward L. Bennett Rink. The Blue Devils are now 11-2-1 overall and 5-1-1 in CHC play.
Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Westies tied the game with a power play goal as Aaron Campbell found Joel Goodman at the point and his blast hit the back of the net. The Westies took the lead less than a minute later when Leo Mazuroski took the puck the length of the ice and fired a shot that deflected in. In the final minute of the period, Charlie Strada hit Ethan Kelly who roofed a wrist shot.
Matt Kelly opened the third period with a short-handed goal, giving the Blue Devils a 4-1 advantage. The Wizards scored on a power play and again with five minutes remaining, but the West Haven defense played well down the stretch and Bryce Upson was solid in net.
The West Haven Bantam AA Minor team fought a tough back and forth game against Southern Stars Bantam A team on Saturday at Bennett Rink. Despite Southern scoring a goal within the first two minutes of the game, the Westies came back and scored one goal in the first period and two in the second.
Keegan Dobratz put West Haven on the board first with an assist from Enzo Plano. Plano then followed that up with the second goal with a little help from Dylan Dicioccio. Zach Melchiore found the net to make it 3-1 Westies with seven minutes left in the second period. Eddie Thomas and Cameren Lipford assisted on the goal.
Despite Southern scoring two more goals in the second to bring the score to 3-3, West Haven’s Mark Vere scored the fourth and final goal with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Southern pulled its goalie and tied the game at four with one minute left to play. Benny Pikul was outstanding in net, stopping multiple shots including many breakaway attempts.
(November 6, 2022) - The West Haven Mite B hockey visited Norwalk on Saturday against a tough Junior Whalers team and had some great plays. Goals were scored by Jack Weiss, J.P. Beebe, Landon Alling, Austin Picard, Kiera Harrison as well as Finn McLaughlin.
On Sunday, the Westies traveled to Darien. Many attempts and great puck passing were done by all players, helping Beebe score some goals on the day. West Haven had many great saves from goalie Moriah Frost.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team hosted the CT Chiefs at Bennett Rink on Saturday. In net for the Blue Devils was Brayden Gagliardi, who made many great saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Jackson Ford, with Maddy Bruder also scoring a goal. Shots on net were made by Ava Healy, Caleb Ford, Quinn Uscilla, Ryan Shannon and Wesley Morazzini.
The West Haven Squirt A travel hockey team got back into the swing of things this past weekend after its impressive second place finish at the Haunted Shootout Tournament in Marlborough.
On Saturday afternoon, the Bridgeport Islanders hosted the young Westies at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport where the Westies skated to a 6-1 win over the Wonderland Wizards Squirt A team.
Logan Stackpole started the scoring off in the first period off an assist from Colton Bruneau. The duo teamed up for a second goal in the first period as well with another assist by Bruneau for Stackpole’s second goal.
In the second period, JJ Charbonneau scored two goals a few minutes apart. The first was off an assist by Logan Minio and the second off an assist from Bruneau. Late in the second period Brady Salkins found the back of the net off an assist by Colin Whelan. At the end of the second Bruneau scored off an assist by Charbonneau.
Goalies Evan Harrison and Alex Ciccarella split time between the pipes, holding the Wizards to their single goal in the third Period.
On Sunday, the Blue Devils played a doubleheader. In their morning game, the Westies fell 2-1 to the Ridgefield Lions Squirt A team. Ridgefield’s talented goalie stopped an onslaught of some very well-placed shots by the Blue Devils.
Stackpole scored the lone goal for the Devils off an assist from Bruneau in the first period. Harrison once again locked things down in net with support from Kyle Johnson, Joey Mondo, Ryan Schempp, and Conner Owens, who all played solid defense during the game, holding the Lions to only two goals.
Egg Parise was the player of the game for the Devils thanks to his hustle and toughness playing against the physical Ridgefield team.
For the afternoon game, the Devils traveled to the Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport and skated to a 7-3 win over the CT. Jr Rangers AAA Squirt team.
In the first period, the Jr. Rangers netted the first goal of the game, however their lead did not last long as Whelan scored the first goal of the game for the Devils one minute later off an assist from Salkins. Then, four minutes later, player of the game Kyle D’Agostino was able to find the back of the net off the rebound from a shot by Jax Guarino.
Whelan then scored his second goal of the game, winning the faceoff and skating the puck up the ice for an unassisted goal. Salkins scored the fourth goal of the first period off an assist from Whelan.
Two minutes into the second period, Bruneau scored off an assist from Schempp. The Jr. Rangers started showing signs of a comeback, scoring with seven minutes left in the second period and then at the beginning of the third period to narrow the Devils lead to just two goals.
Stackpole scored off an assist from Charbonneau, and just three minutes later, Charbonneau secured the Devils win, scoring an unassisted goal.
Cicarella had a phenomenal game between the pipes for West Haven, stopping some very well-placed shots by the Jr. Rangers.
The West Haven Squirt B hockey team opened the weekend with a win against Wallingford on Saturday.
The Blue Devils struck the first blow against the Hawks early on a goal from Julius Stokes off an assist from Jameson Schempp, who in turn went on to score later in the first off an assist from Stokes.
Stokes went on to finish the day with two more unassisted goals and two assists. Tyler and Trevor Gyllensten had a multi-point game as well for the tenacious duo with Tyler scoring three goals (2 unassisted) and Trevor scoring two of his own.
Other contributors to the game were Olivia Persico, Alex Jones, Mason MacDonald and Sarah Mastroni, each scoring a goal which helped the Blue Devils extend their undefeated streak to eight games.
Netminders Ethan McGrath and Matteo Kenworthy were able to account for nine of the 11 shots they faced.
The young Devils faced their toughest challenge of the season yet and subsequently their first loss against the South Windsor Knights, 8-5, Sunday morning. West Haven came back from 4-1 deficit, but it was not enough.
Stokes again led off the scoring for the Blue Devil's with and unassisted goal in the first and went on to gain another unassisted goal, and an assist on Schempp's second period goal.
The Gyllensten Brother's went on to gain a point each with Trevor assisting Tyler's third period goal. Carter Liston got West Haven’s last goal of the game off a steal, which led to his breakaway goal.
McGrath and Kenworthy put on a valiant effort between the pipes, with 14 saves.
West Haven closed the weekend with a 5-2 win over the Greenwich Cardinals. Stokes again was the first on the board off an assist from Kenworthy.
Stokes went on to get another unassisted goal in the second, as did Tyler Gyllensten and Schempp. Trevor Gyllensten closed the scoring with his own unassisted goal in the third period.
McGrath and Kenworthy combined for nine saves.
The West Haven Peewee AA team went 3-0 in a solid weekend of play. The Westies took on the Riverhawks Peewee A Major team at Bennett Rink on Saturday and posted a 4-2 victory.
Rocco Kelly started things off for the Westies with a goal in the first period with help from Alessandra Picard and Colin Dempsey. Sophia Locklear added goal number two to the scoreboard with an unbelievable shot in the second period. David D’Aiuto and Jaxon Troyer assisted on the play. Andrew Lacasse had another incredible snipe with a pass from Troyer to conclude the second period scoring. Alessandra Picard took control of a pass from Kelly in the third period and added the final tally for the Westies. Kyle Guarino was tough on defense and Max Barbara was solid in net.
On Saturday night, West Haven headed to Stamford to play Darien A and posted a 3-2 victory. Quinn Smith was strong in net for the Westies.
TJ Russo got the Westies on the board with an assist from Guarino in the first period. The second period followed with an amazing shot from D’Aiuto after a pass from Locklear. Darien tied the game at two with five minutes left in the third period, but Lacasse scored the winning goal with two minutes left in play.
Andrew Grillo also got an assist in the period. Drew Bereski, Santino Desantis and Tyler Persico also played exceptional on defense.
West Haven closed the weekend on Sunday evening with a 7-0 victory in Danbury against the Western Peewee A team. Barbara and Smith shared time in net and finished with a shutout.
Rocco Kelly scored the only goal of the first period when he struck first with 35.4 seconds left. Colin Dempsey assisted on the goal and also on two more goals in the second period.
The second started off strong with three goals in less than two minutes. Two goals were scored by Jaxon Troyer and one by Bereski, who would also assist on a goal in the third. D’Aiuto gathered an assist and a goal to finish the period.
Dempsey added a goal to his three assists on the day and started the third period scoring with help from Kelly and Guarino. D’aiuto scored his second goal of the day to finish the scoring for the Westies.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team split a pair of games against Darien teams this weekend. The Blue Devils topped Darien A, 7-1, on Saturday, then lost 5-1 to Darien AA on Sunday. The Westies are now 12-3-1 on the season and 6-2-1 in league play.
On Saturday afternoon at Twin Rinks in Stamford, Sean Studley put West Haven up 1-0 just 1:01 into the game off a pass from Ethan Kelly. The Westies then blew open the game in the second period.
Ian Brezac scored back-to-back goals with Sam Malangone assisting on the second one to put West Haven up 3-0. Mike Madonick made it a 4-0 game off an assist from Will Hamre.
In the third period, Studley notched another goal with Brezac assisting. Matt Molnar and Nick Shefter sandwiched goals around a Darien tally to make the final score 7-1. Bryce Upson was solid in net and gained the win for the Westies.
On Sunday morning at Edward L. Bennett Rink, Darien AA quickly went ahead 1-0 but the Westies tied the game one minute later. Charlie Strada gave the puck to Nick Shefter who got off a backhand shot that was saved. Molnar swooped in on the rebound for the goal.
Darien scored a short-handed goal late in the first period. The teams skated back-and-forth into the third period with both squads creating opportunities.
Upson stacked his pads to make a clutch save with ten minutes to play to keep it a 2-1 game, but Darien proved a bit too much down the stretch and pulled away for the win.
The West Haven Bantam AA Minor team traveled to Maine this weekend to face Maine Evolution and Maine Moose.
Saturday brought the Westies two wins against Maine Evolution. The Blue Devils were victorious in the first game with goals from Enzo Plano, Eddie Thomas and Dylan Dicioccio.
Aedan Guarino and Benjamin Brown led the wall of defense. Benny Pikul was exceptional in net with over 40 saves between both games, while Keegan Dobratz, Zach Melchiore, Cameren Lipford, Peter Aurora, Michael D’Aiuto, Mark Vere and Ian Olzewski also played well.
Isaac Mann, Jackson Heyn, Lucas MacNiven and Ayden Troyer followed suit with strong defense as the Westies finished on top with a 3-1 victory.
The second game brought more superior skating and teamwork with two more goals by Plano to secure a 2-1 victory over Maine Evolution.
The Westies took on the Maine Moose 14U on Sunday and fell 2-1 in overtime. Kai Lupa was right at home in net stopping incredible shots and breakaway attempts. With less than three minutes left in the third period, Michael D’Aiuto came off the bench and put West Haven on the board and tied the game at one.
The second game on Sunday was another tough 3-1 loss to the Maine Moose, despite incredible effort. The Westies were down by two at the start of the third period, but with four minutes left to play, Lipford received a pass from Thomas and skated the puck up ice to get West Haven on the board.Maine scored its third goal on an empty net to send the Blue Devils home without the win.
(November 13, 2022) - The West Haven Mite C hockey team traveled to Wallingford to take on the Wallingford RiverHawks on Saturday. Ava Healy was in net for West Haven, making many great saves during the matchup.
Maddy Bruder scored multiple goals, with a goal each also coming from Ryan Shannon, Jackson Ford and Brayden Gagliardi. Shots on net were made by Caleb Ford, Quinn Uscilla and Wesley Morazzini.
On Sunday, the Westies traveled to Norwich to play the Southeastern Seahawks. Healy was in net once again and made more great saves.
Multiple goals were scored by Gagliardi, Caleb Ford, Jackson Ford, Bruder, Uscilla, Shannon and Morazzini.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team topped Ridgefield AA 11-4 as Nick Ciccosanti opened the scoring by going top shelf right off the opening tip. The Westies had a balanced scoring attack with goals from Alex Jenei, Colby Cushing, Dylan Spreyer, Cody Young, Peyton Berlepsch, Jeremiah McGrath and Charlie Gunning.
Danny Moll, AJ Farrell and Henry Strada provided solid defensive play. Michael Paone and Gabe Calabrese combined for the win in net.
The Westies travelled to Albany and dropped two games to the Troy Titans AAA. In the opener, the Westies got two goals apiece from Cushing and Gunning, but fell 6-4. Assists in the game came from Ciccosanti, Dane Walsh and Jenei.
In the second game, the Westies fell behind early and cut the lead to one before falling 7-3. Spreyer, Gunning and Cushing notched goals.
The Westies hosted the New Hampshire Avalanche AAA for two games and won both contests. Calabrese pitched a shutout in net in the opener as the Westies won 5-0. Gunning scored two goals, and McGrath, Walsh and Jenei added goals in the win. Young, Walsh and Moll had assists.
The Westies then posted an 11-3 win over the Avalanche. Ciccosanti and Gunning each posted a hat trick, and Young and Spreyer combined for four goals. Assists on the day came from Farrell, Strada and Berlepsch, while Paone got the win in goal.
The Westies finished the weekend by dropping a 7-4 contest to Mid Fairfield. Belepsch, Farrell, Gunning and Spreyer found the back of the net. Paone and Calabrese shared the duties in net.
The West Haven Peewee AA hockey team started off the weekend with a big 2-1 win against the Whalers AA at Bennett Rink. Max Barbara was solid between the pipes with a total of 50 saves.
The first period was scoreless with amazing defense by Tyler Persico, Kyle Guarino, Santino Desantis, Drew Bereski and Andrew Grillo.
The Whalers scored on a power play with 3:59 left in the second period to take a 1-0 lead, but the Westies answered right back in less than a minute when Jaxon Troyer got a pass from Persico and went bar down for the equalizer.
The second goal for West Haven came just two minutes later from defenseman Drew Bereski with a rocket from the blue line.
On Sunday, the Peewee AA team traveled to Cromwell and came up short, 1-0, in a rematch with the Whalers AA. Quinn Smith was solid in net with 23 saves.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team shut out the Greater Springfield Aces, 2-0, on Sunday at Edward L. Bennett Rink. Sean Studley wristed home the game-winner with 1:48 to play, giving the Westies the hard-fought win. West Haven is 13-3-1 on the season.
Matthew Kelly pushed the puck to Studley on the right boards and the winger shook off a defender, cut toward the slot, and fired through traffic to break the scoreless tie.
The Blue Devil defense of Leo Mazuroski, Ian Brezac, Joel Goodman, Jack MacNiven and Matthew Kelly was terrific in front of goaltender Bryce Upson. Upson made 20 saves to record the shutout. The Westies outshot the Aces 37-20.
With the Aces net empty and the puck in the Westies' zone, Ethan Kelly won a clutch faceoff back to his brother and Matthew Kelly flipped the puck the length of the ice to make it 2-0 with 13 seconds left to play.
(November 20, 2022) - The West Haven Mite A hockey team won its second tournament of the season at the RAHA Mite Jamboree in Ridgefield, Ct.
In their first game, the Westies took on the host, Ridgefield Lions and posted a 7-3 victory. The Blue Devils took an early lead with goals from Brody Miller, Santino Martin, and Emmett Hemming. The Lions fought back to even up the score before the half.
West Haven goalie Landon Silverman made it impossible for the Lions to score in the second half. Miller and Martin each netted their second goals of the game with Hemming earning a hat trick to seal the deal for a 7-3 win.
In game two, the Westies were pitted against the Mid Fairfield CT Jr Rangers and posted a 5-0 victory. Solid defense by Keegan Jackson and Cooper Owens helped lead the Blue Devils to the shutout victory. Silverman again was outstanding in net. Miller, Martin, and Hemming were each able to find the back of the net multiple times against a very good Rangers goalie.
The third game saw West Haven take on the Stamford Sharks and post a 5-1 win. The Westies got on the board early with a goal from Henry Seslar, who was set up by an outstanding pass from Alexa Jacob. Owens and Jackson again led another stellar defensive effort and a birth into the finals.
The championship game was against the host Ridgefield Lions and the Westies took home a 3-1 victory. This was a tight battle where each team made it very difficult to enter the offensive zone and each goaltender was in great position when faced with a shot. Late West Haven goals by Seslar, Brayden Jacob, and Jackson gave the Westies the victory, an undefeated record, and a championship trophy.
The West Haven Mite B hockey team welcomed Greater New Haven. While the competition heated up, West Haven goalie Kiera Harrison had a great game and saved many shots. Great plays were made from Jack Weiss, Gabby Janei, and Sadie Moll, while J.P Beebe and Landon Alling were the goal scorers on the day.
West Haven then traveled to the Wonderland of Ice. Harrison, Alling and Beebe were the goal scorers, with great hockey play by Jack Weiss and Finn Mclaughlin. Moriah Frost played a solid game in goal.
The West Haven Mite C hockey team traveled to Simsbury to take on the CT Northern Lights. Caleb Ford was in goal, letting in one goal during the matchup. Multiple goals were scored by Ava Healy, Brayden Gagliardi and Jackson Ford. Ryan Shannon and Wesley Morazzini each scored a goal. Excellent defense was played by Ava Healy, Brayden Gagliardi and Wesley Morazzini.
The West Haven Squirt AA hockey team posted three wins in state this weekend behind the solid goaltending duo of Michael Paone and Gabe Calabrese. The duo allowed three goals all weekend.
The goalies were assisted by the solid play in front by Cody Lyons, AJ Farrell, Henry Strada and Daniel Moll.
The goaltending duo opened the weekend with a shutout in a 2-0 win over Darien AA. Colby Cushing and Jeremiah McGrath scored for the Westies, while Dylan Spreyer added two assists, and Peyton Berlepsch had an assist.
The Westies upended the Elite Hockey AA 5-1. Spreyer, Dane Walsh, Charlie Gunning, Young and Strada scored in the win. Farrell notched two assists and Nick Ciccosanti added another.
The Westies wrapped the weekend with a 6-1 win over the second-ranked CT Junior Whalers. Gunning scored twice, and Young, Strada, McGrath, and Moll found the back of the net. Assists on the day came from Cushing, Farrell, Gunning and Alex Jenei
The West Haven Squirt A hockey team traveled to Avon Old Farms to play the Avon Panthers Squirt A team on Saturday afternoon and skated to a 10-1 win.
Colin Whelan started the scoring off for the Westies at the 10:44 mark of the first period winning the faceoff in the offensive zone and taking it behind the Seahawks net for a wraparound goal. Shortly after, Logan Stackpole took the puck up the ice and netted one from the slot.
With four minutes left in the first period, Whelan skated the puck end to end into the Panther’s zone and sailed a pass over to Brady Salkins, who was able to find the back of the net. The Westie’s scored their fourth goal of the period on a shot from Stackpole off an assist from defenseman Kyle Johnson.
Colton Bruneau scored the first goal of the second period of an assist from defenseman Joey Mondo. With five minutes left in the second period, Whelan grabbed the loose puck in the neutral zone and maneuvered around three of the Panthers players to score from the slot. Bruneau wrapped up the scoring in the period with a great pass from Kyle D’Agostino.
In the third period, West Haven continued its offensive push. Stackpole scored off an assist from the point by Johnson, and with two minutes left, Whelan locked in a hat trick after scoring of a secondary assist from Bruneau, who was assisted by Stackpole.
With four seconds left, Egg Parise took a shot from the hashmarks that found the back of the net. Goaltenders Evan Harrison and Alex Cicarella split time between the pipes, holding the Panthers to only one goal in the game.
The young Westies then hosted the Southeastern Seahawks at Bennett Rink with the contest ending in a 5-5 tie. The Westies scored the first goal of the game with Logan Stackpole skating the puck out of the neutral zone and going top shelf at the 8-minute mark. Colton Bruneau followed that up at the 5-minute mark, giving the Westies a 2-0 lead at the end of the period.
At the start of the second period, the Westies extended their lead to 3-0 off a goal from JJ Charbonneau, and then added another off a nice rip from Parise. The four-goal lead did not last for long as the Seahawks netted two quick goals in the second to cut the Westie lead to two. The Seahawks tied the game, scoring just 15 seconds into the start of the third period. The Westies would re-take the lead as Colin Whelan made a pass off the faceoff to defenseman Kyle Johnson who fired off the fifth West Haven goal.
(November 27, 2022) - The West Haven Mite C hockey team played against the Milford Mudhounds at Bennett Rink on Saturday. In net for the Blue Devils was Ryan Shannon, who made many excellent saves during the matchup.
Multiple goals were scored by Brayden Gagliardi, while Maddy Bruder and Caleb Ford each scored a goal. Shots on net were made by Quinn Uscilla, Jackson Ford, Ava Healy and Wesley Morrazini. Excellent defense was played by Ava Healy, Caleb Ford and Jackson Ford.
The Peewee AA team ended Thanksgiving weekend with two big wins. On Saturday, the Westies headed to Bridgeport to take on Wonderland AA and posted a 2-1 victory. Quinn Smith was a rock in net with incredible saves throughout the game, only allowing one goal.
TJ Russo scored both goals for West Haven. Alessandra Picard assisted on both goals and Santino Desantis had one assist. The defense of Kyle Guarino, Drew Bereski, Tyler Persico and Desantis was solid. On Sunday, the Peewee team faced the CT Jr Whalers AA again at Bennett Rink and posted a 5-0 victory. Sophie Digioia was on a roll with two goals and an assist in the game. Max Barbera was a wall in the net for the Blue Devils and blocked every shot.
Picard scored off a rebound from Digioia, and Colin Dempsey also earned himself a goal and an assist. Andrew Lacasse scored the fifth and final goal for the Westies, along with adding an assist in the game. Rocco Kelly had two assists on the day and Russo also had an assist.
Sophia Locklear, David D’Aiuto and Jaxon Troyer also played well for the Westies.
The West Haven Bantam AA Major hockey team faced the Northwestern Icehawks in a home-and-home series over the weekend. The Blue Devils won, 4-2, on Saturday night before the teams skated to a 1-1 tie Sunday morning. West Haven is now 14-3-2 overall and 7-2-2 in CHC play.
On Saturday night at Admiral Stockdale Arena at South Kent School, the Westies took an early 1-0 lead when Leo Mazuroski fed Mike Madonick in the right circle and his rising wrister found the net.
In a close battle with two strong defensive teams, the Icehawks scored an early power play goal in the second period and another goal early in the third to take a 2-1 lead.
With nine minutes to play, Sam Malangone passed from behind the net to Jack MacNiven cutting toward the high slot and the defenseman's slap shot went over the goalie's shoulder to tie the game. Just 24 seconds later, Matt Molnar grabbed the puck in the neutral zone, barreled toward the net, and fired home a tough-angle shot with a defender draped on his back giving the Blue Devils the 3-2 lead.
With four minutes remaining, Mazuroski's shot was stopped, but Charlie Clark dove for the loose puck and swept it in the open cage. Bryce Upson had 33 saves in goal for the Westies.
The two teams battled once again on Sunday morning at the Edward L. Bennett Rink.
Trailing 1-0, the Blue Devils opened the second period by killing off a 5-on-3 to stay in the game. Upson, who had 30 saves, was solid in net.
Midway through the third period, Ethan Kelly circled the puck around the red line, sped into the zone, and fired a low wrist shot that snuck inside the far post earning the 1-1 tie.
The Bantam AA Minor team traveled to Cromwell to take on the Hartford Jr Wolfpack 08 team and fell 4-2.
The Wolfpack got on the board early in the first period, and the second period was action packed with five more goals. The Blue Devils answered back with a slapshot goal from defenseman Lucas MacNiven in the second, bringing the score to a one goal difference.
The Wolfpack pulled ahead again, but was quickly met with a backhand goal from Dylan Dicioccio after a great pass from Zach Melchiore. Benny Pikul was in net and stopped a number of shots, including several breakaway attempts.
Benji Brown and Aedan Guarino led the charge for the defense.