This CT high school hockey team won in OT to capture its first state title in 33 years
· Yahoo Sports
HAMDEN – Senior Connor McHugh left his mark on the Hall ice hockey program, setting multiple single-season and career records. So did his teammate, senior goalkeeper Matthew Bonner.
But none of the records meant as much to them as winning a state title.
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And Hall did just that Thursday night, beating E.O. Smith/Tolland in overtime, 2-1, for the Division III championship, the first for the program since 1993, at Quinnipiac’s M&T Bank Arena.
McHugh scored the 66th goal of his career in the first period and sophomore Matthew McDermott had the game-winner 1:13 into overtime for fifth-seeded Hall (17-6-1).
“Words can’t describe how happy I am and how proud I am of all my friends and teammates,” McHugh said. “I’m so excited.
“We did not care about the records – winning states was the No. 1 priority. The state title – I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”
McHugh holds the career goals record, the single season record (31) and the single season points record (56). He had 76 career assists and 142 points, both records.
Meanwhile, Bonner holds the saves record (over 1,720 – coach Colin O’Connor wasn’t exactly sure how many he had after Thursday’s game) and the career wins (37) record.
“It feels amazing,” Bonner said. “Before the game, we got a text message that our captain Colin McHugh read for us from one of the former players on that 1993 team – that definitely helped us, that gave us a lot of motivation, gave us a lot of perseverance. We never gave up, we fought to the end and now we’re on top.”
McHugh scored 1:25 into the first period but 10th-seeded E.O. Smith/Tolland tied the score at 1 on a Cash Lacy goal with 4:07 left in the first.
The two teams – which had split during the season – then battled through the next two periods with no score.
“They have a really good goaltender (William Petrella),” McHugh said. “It gets frustrating when you’re playing well, feels like you’re outplaying them a little bit and their goalie just keeps them in it, making miraculous saves left and right. Fighting through that is tough.”
Bonner had fought through his own battles to get to the championship. As a freshman, he suffered a back fracture while playing lacrosse and it happened again his sophomore year. While he’s recovered, his back still bothers him sometimes.
“It’s very up and down,” Bonner said. “Some days it’s better than others. I’ve been going to this performance (physical therapist) that’s helped me so much.
“Even though it’s up and down, I still feel good – especially today.”
O’Connor called Bonner “the backbone of the team.”
“He’s been through a lot,” O’Connor said. “I’ve always had all the confidence in the world in him. He’s a great kid. He’s got a good team in front of him that makes his life a little easier sometimes, but for goalies that can be difficult – I think they had three shots on goal in the second period and all three of them were high-danger chances so that’s not what you want as a goaltender but I know he’s back there and he can stand on his head when it comes down to it.”