Newington co-op remains undefeated with win over Northeastern

BOLTON, Dec. 28, 2022 – Harrison Ranger and Jack Petronio scored two goals each as the defending CIAC Division III state champion Newington co-op hockey team remained undefeated after a 7-2 victory over the Northeastern co-op squad at Bolton Ice Palace on Wednesday morning.

Newington (4-0) had 15 shots on net in a frenetic but scoreless first period thanks to the efforts of Shamrock goalie Aidan Houk. But the Nor’easters broke through in the second period when sophomore wing Petronio finished a neat 2-on-1 break off a Tanner Jorczak pass for a 1-0 lead.

Barely a minute later, the Nor’easters extended their lead to 2-0 when Canton senior defenseman Evan Howard blasted a shot past Houk off a passing play between Evan Oliver and Ranger.

Northeastern cut the lead in half when the Shamrocks’ Alex Stoner scored the first of his two goals on a short-handed breakaway elevating the puck over Newington goalie Jeremy Wagner’s glove.

But any semblance of a comeback by the home team was quickly dismissed when just two minutes later the Newington squad scored back-to-back goals within an 11 second span to bump the lead up to 4-1. Canton sophomore Mason Buckley scored his first varsity goal off a Mike Deegan shot followed by Deegan scoring his own goal with assists to linemates Andrew Striblking and Josh Grimm.

Petronio completed the 2nd period scoring off another great pass from Jorczak to give the visitors the 5-1 lead.

Although the Shamrocks opened the third period with the second goal by Stoner assisted by his linemates Landon Bell and Shane Pourmalecki, Ranger scored consecutive goals assisted by Canton’s Cole Brandon and Newington’s Evan Oliver to push the lead to five goals.

Wagner stopped 18 of the 20 Shamrock shots in net while Shamrock netminders Houk and Jack Bell combined to stop 38 of the 45 shots they faced.

Newington co-op returns to action on Friday night when they host New Milford at Newington Arena beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Newington co-op 7, Northeastern co-op 2
At Bolton
Newington (4-0)              0  5  2  — 7
Northeastern (1-2)          0  1  1  — 2
Goals: Newington – Harrison Ranger 2, Jack Petronio 2, Mason Buckley, Evan Howard, Mike Deggan; NE – Alex Stoner 2; Assists: Newington – Ranger, Howard, Deegan, Tanner Jorczak 2, Andrew Stribling 2, Evan Oliver 2, Cole Brandon, Josh Grimm; NE – Landon Bell, Shane Pourmalecki; Saves – Jeremy Wagner (Newington) 18 saves; Aidan Houk (NE) 25 saves, Jack Bell (NE) 12 saves; Shots: Newington 45-20