The Thunderbirds’ ice hockey team currently stands at 7-1 following a pair of victories, one which came against one of the better teams in Division II. On Jan. 14, North Branford went on the road and defeated Cheshire 5-4 behind two third period goals by forward Adam Burkle.

In the first period, Brian McKee opened the scoring on an assist from Alec Martone and then Chris Russo found the back of the net following assists from Martone and Nico Giatrelis. In the second, Cheshire scored three times, but Tanner Opie lit the lamp for North Branford on assists from Burkle and Dominic Raccio. With the game evened 3-3 in the third, Burkle scored at the 13:10 mark and then again at 7:12 to help the T-Birds prevail. Sophomore netminder Will McEwen made 27 saves in net to preserve the victory.

With confidence soaring, McEwen recorded his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over Suffield-Granby-Windsor Locks on Jan. 17. He was peppered with shots throughout the game, but made 36 saves to keep the puck out of the cage. Burkle scored another two goals in the win and Raccio added one in the third. Burkle’s first goal came late in the second period as he was assisted by Opie and Martone. His second, which came early in the third period, was unassisted and Raccio’s goal was also assisted by Opie and Martone.