ENFIELD, February 4, 2023 – Senior captain Evan Oliver had two goals and goalie Jeremy Wagner made 23 saves to lead the Newington co-op ice hockey team to a 5-1 win over Enfield/East Granby/Stafford in CCC South action Saturday afternoon at Enfield Twin Rinks.
After a scoreless first period that saw both teams playing a cautious, defensive-minded style, Enfield’s Josh Tyler opened the scoring converting a nifty pass from behind the Newington goal from linemate Colin Tavernier and slipping the puck by Wagner for the 1-0 lead.
Seven minutes later, Oliver scored the 1st of his 2 goals taking a Harrison Ranger feed and deflecting the puck past Eagle netminder Tommy Terhune to tie the game at 1-1.
An Eagle penalty put the Nor’easters on the power play and it took an outstanding save from Wagner on a short-handed breakaway attempt by Enfield’s Ethan Ambrosino to keep the score even.
Buoyed by the save, the Newington power play then went to work with Deegan finding Ranger who again threaded a pass this time to sophomore defenseman Mason Buckley from Canton who rifled a low shot over the right pad of Terhune to put the Nor’Easters ahead 2-1 which they held going into the second intermission.
The third period opened with the invigorated Newington squad buzzing around the opponent’s net culminating in Mike Deegan one-timing an Andrew Stribling pass at the 2:09 mark to extend their lead to 3-1. Oliver followed 2½ minutes later with his second goal, knocking in a rebound of a Ranger shot.
Ranger completed the scoring less than a minute later taking a Buckley clearing pass, streaking down the ice and firing a low wrist shot past Terhune for a short-handed tally and the final 5-1 score.
Oliver finished with two goals and an assist while Ranger contributed a goal to go along with three assists. Buckley continued his strong play adding two assists along with a goal. Wagner faced 24 shots saving all but one while Terhune stopped 24 of 29 shots for Enfield (8-5, 5-4 CCC South).
Newington (11-2, 8-1 CCC South) returns to action on Wednesday night when travel to Storrs to face E.O. Smith (4-9, 3-6) at Freitas Forum on the UConn campus beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Paul Helenski contributed to this article
Newington co-op 5, Enfield co-op 1
At Enfield
Newington co-op (11-2) 0 2 3 — 5
Enfield co-op (8-5) 0 1 0 — 1
Goals: Evan Oliver (N) 2, Harrison Ranger (N), Mason Buckley (N), Mike Deegan (N), Josh Tyler (En); Assists: Oliver, Ranger 3, Buckley 2, Deegan, Josh Grimm (N), Cole Brandon (N), Andrew Stribling (N); Colin Taverner (En), Dylan Gates (En); Saves: Jeremy Wagner (N) 23, Tommy Terhune (En) 24; Shots: Newington 29-24
