The Hand girls’ ice hockey co-op team opened up its campaign with a strong 5-4 victory over Trumbull-St. Joseph on Dec. 12. The Tigers led 4-0 heading to the third period, but held off a late rally from their opponent to win.

In the first period, Hand led 2-0 after scores from Cora Buzzard (assisted by Jaimey DiNapoli and Brooklyn Jepson) and Raegan Wyrebek-Brasky (from Hannah Rich and Faith Minickene). The edge ballooned to 4-0 following two periods with Tigers’ tallies from Ari Wilson and Minickene, with helpers from Minickene and then Kylee Bolding and Cheyenne Wilson, respectively. Buzzard blasted through what would end up being the deciding goal in the third before Trumbull-St. Joseph notched the last four scores of the game.

The Tigers then had a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime victory over Hamden on Dec. 14 to improve to 2-0. Hand trailed 2-0 entering the third, but then scored the equalizer at the buzzer to send the game into the extra session where they took the contest.

Tigers’ goal scorers were Raegan Wyrebek-Braskey (assisted by Jaimey DiNapoli), Minickene, assisted by Brooklyn Jepson and Wilson, Kendall Dobratz with the tying goal (assisted by Minickene) before Minickene had the game-winner.

The Tigers’ squad this year is comprised of athletes from Hand, Branford, Haddam-Killingworth, Old Saybrook, Cromwell, Valley Regional, and Westbrook. The Head Coach is Greg Thompson with assistants John Minickene and Sara Walewski. The squad captains are Wilson and Jepson, with assistant captains of Minickene and Brynn McKeown.