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03/20/2022 12:00 AMFor the first time since 2004, the North Haven boys’ ice hockey squad has earned a place in the state final. The Nighthawks advanced to the championship game of the Division II State Tournament after winning their first three games in the bracket, most recently posting a shutout over Sheehan in the semifinal round last week.
Top-seeded North Haven faced off against No. 4 seed Sheehan in a Division II semifinal game at Bennett Rink in West Haven on March 15. The Nighthawks notched a 2-0 victory versus the Titans to advance to face Wethersfield in the state final on a 21-game win streak and an overall record of 23-2.
Head Coach Chris Avena said that his team has relied on its senior leadership and quality goalkeeping to reach this point. Avena feels excited that North Haven has an opportunity to cap off its magical season with a state title.
After claiming a 6-1 win against the 16th-seeded Eastern CT Eagles in a first-round game, North Haven played No. 8 seed Hand in the quarterfinals of the Division II State Tournament at Bennett Rink on March 11. Junior Tommy Guidone got the Nighthawks on the board by scoring a goal on assists from junior Will Sullivan and senior Nick Tondalo at the 11:36 mark of the first period. The Tigers tied the game up in the second period, sending the two teams to the final frame knotted at 1 goal apiece.
With 5:22 left in the game, senior captain Jake Hines scored on an assist by junior Alex Petersen to give North Haven a 2-1 lead that held up as the difference. With senior Jared Anderson holding the fort in net, the Nighthawks were able to hang on for the one-goal win to move on to the semifinals.
Coach Avena felt relieved that North Haven was able to escape with a close victory against a Hand team that had rallied for a 4-3 win versus Westhill-Stamford in its first-round contest.
“We played very tight. They were a team with nothing to lose. Their win prior was magical. It was destiny type stuff,” Avena said. “They played with all kinds of energy, and we came out flat. We were very lucky to squeak that one out. We’re lucky we have great goaltending.”
North Haven’s semifinal game against Sheehan marked the third time that the two teams faced off this season, with the Nighthawks winning both of the prior matchups. In round three, junior Owen Quick started the scoring by netting an unassisted goal at the 10:15 mark of the first period. North Haven held on to its 1-0 lead until the third period, when Petersen scored on assists from Hines and senior Justin Pniewski to give the Nighthawks a 2-0 advantage. North Haven maintained its two-lead the rest of the way to skate into the Division II state final.
“I had all kinds of nervousness when we played Sheehan. To beat a very good team three times is very, very challenging,” said Avena. “They came in with a chip on their shoulder, while we came in comfortable. We were fortunate to pick up the win. But to shut them out is a testament to how hard our team has played in the defensive zone.”
Anderson made 23 saves to get the shutout when North Haven defeated Sheehan. Anderson has started all three games in the Nighthawks’ state tourney run after helping them win their second-straight conference title. Anderson had to wait for his chance after backing up former goalie Andrew Sacco, but now that it’s his turn between the pipes, the senior keeper is putting in a phenomenal effort for the Nighthawks.
“When you break down a strong defense, it starts with a goalie you’re confident in,” Coach Avena said. “It took Jared some time to get out from Andrew’s shadow and get comfortable with himself. Once he did that, he has been absolutely all-world.”
Anderson is one of seven athletes in a senior class that also features senior captains Hines and Mike Anquillare, assistant captain Brian Jooss, along with Pniewski, Tondalo, and Ayden Mindlin. When these seniors were freshmen, North Haven won just four games. However, in the past few years, they’ve helped put the North Haven hockey program back on the map and establish a winning tradition.
“Their legacy is cemented in North Haven hockey. They helped revitalize the program and helped bring in a winning culture,” said Avena. “We struggled our first year, but we have done nothing but win since then. The more you put in, the more you get out. They’ve all put a ton in, and I think they’re getting a ton out.”
North Haven played No. 3 seed Wethersfield in the Division II championship game at People’s United Center at Quinnipiac University on March 21 (after press time). North Haven’s last state title came in 2004, and this year marks the first time that the team reached the semifinals since that championship run. With his team on the brink of a truly historic season, Coach Avena wants the Nighthawks to stay focused on the task at hand and show everyone in the state just how far the program has come.
“We’ve been waiting for this. We’ve been working hard towards this,” Avena said. “Enjoy the moment, but don’t leave anything on the table. Have no ‘what-ifs’ when you walk out of the building.”
The North Haven boys’ ice hockey team’s roster features senior captains Mike Anquillare and Jake Hines; senior assistant captain Brian Jooss; seniors Jared Anderson, Justin Pniewski, Nick Tondalo, and Ayden Mindlin; juniors Owen Quick, Andre Ohanyan, Alex Petersen, Tommy Guidone, Will Sullivan, Connor Keaney, Ethan Buck, Joseph Taft, and Bryce Petersen; sophomores Nolan Cole, Jake Donovan, Kevin Lawlor, Ben Gilbert, and Jack Keaney; and freshman Nick Salzano.