Javed Ullah and West Haven fell to New Canaan 4-0 in the season opener, December 13, 2021. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Anthony Peschell and West Haven fell to New Canaan 4-0 in the season opener, December 13, 2021. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Nico Bruneau (88) against Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe December 29, 2021. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Joe D'Aurio (16) against Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe December 29, 2021. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Mike Alfano celebrates his goal against Notre Dame-Fairfield, January 5, 2022. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Tyler Bernardi celebrates his goal against Notre Dame-Fairfield, January 5, 2022. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Silenced
Westies fall to New Canaan in season opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 13, 2021) - Just 19 seconds into the contest, New Canaan’s Gavin Fitzpatrick skated around the West Haven defense and beat West Haven goaltender Javed Ullah for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Westies had trouble clearing the zone in the opening period and watched as New Canaan took a 2-0 lead when senior Nick Megdanis scored from in front 2:54 in for a 2-0 lead. Just 38 seconds later, it was 3-0 when Fitzpatrick scored his second of the game. When Bryce Lyden scored 1:25 later, New Canaan led by four.
The Westies came out a different team in the second period and had scoring chances, but could not bury the puck in the net.
Seniors Nico Bruneau and Ryan Bernardi had a two-on-one 32 seconds in, but could not get a shot off. Anthony Peschell shot wide one minute later, and Bruneau was denied with a pad save by New Canaan goaltender Beau Johnson on the power play 1:46 in.
The shots kept coming, but did not produce any results in the period. Jack Aloi’s point shot was turned aside, and Mike Alfano’s shot off a turnover in the slot was denied by Johnson with 7:04 remaining in the middle period.
West Haven had two more opportunities in the second period, but shot by Jayden Spreyer and Marcus Burrows were denied by Johnson in the final four minutes.
The Westies again had scoring opportunities in the third, but Johnson turned each away to complete the shutout.
The New Canaan goaltender denied Peschell with a blocker save 20 seconds in, made a glove save on Alfano from the slot 1:14 in, before denying Bruneau with 9:07 to go.
While Johnson was denying the Westies, Ullah turned up his game to finish with 23 saves. Ullah’s best work came later in the opening period when he denied a pair of New Canaan shots and the rebound.
Ullah gave his team a chance in the final two periods with more saves, but it was not enough in the loss.
WH falls in home Opener
Xavier tops Westies 6-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 15, 2021) - The West Haven boys hockey team dropped its second straight contest to open the season with a 6-3 loss to Xavier in the home opener at the Edward L. Bennett Rink Wednesday evening.
Despite playing very well in the opening period and having numerous scoring opportunities in the first 15 minutes, the Westies could not capitalize. West Haven had a 5-on-3 for 1 minute, 29 seconds, but failed to get a shot off in the sequence.
The best scoring opportunities for the Westies came early when Marcus Burrows was stopped in front 1:20 in, and Mike Alfano was denied from in front 5:06 into the contest.
When West Haven took a penalty to end the opening period, Xavier went to the power play. A late save by Javed Ullah, who made 11 in the opening period, kept the game scoreless at the intermission.
Xavier quickly took control of the game in the middle period, scoring four times in a span of 4:46 for a 4-0 lead.
Trailing by four goals, the Westies continued to fight, but a golden opportunity was missed when Ryan Bernardi found Burrows in front, but the sophomore could not connect. Nico Bruneau then shot wide on a 2-on-1 break, before the Westies received another golden opportunity.
Picking up a loose puck, Mike Madera attempted to break in on goal. Madera was taken down for a penalty, and when Xavier argued the goal, West Haven had a 5-on-3 for two minutes with 1:35 left in the middle period.
The Westies finally capitalized and scored their first goal of the year on the ensuing power play when Jayden Spreyer took a pass from Anthony Peschell and roofed a shot with 47.9 seconds left in the period to cut the deficit to 4-1.
West Haven had a chance to get within a pair of goals, but Bernardi was stuffed in front with 18 seconds remaining in the period.
West Haven pressured to start the third, but could not get closer. When the Falcons scored with 6:24 remaining and added another 3:17 later, the game was sealed.
Carfora added a tally with 2:14 remaining off assists from Yousaf Ullah and Bernardi, before freshman Brady Price scored with 1:22 remaining off an assist from Spreyer.
Javed Ullah finished with 39 saves in the loss.
Warde/Ludlowe blasts Westies
WH falls to 0-3 with 10-2 loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 29, 2021) - Down a handful of players, the West Haven boys hockey team was in a tied contest halfway through Wednesday evening’s game against Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe. The game turned in an instant.
Scoring three goals in the final 3:05 of the second period and twice more in the first 43 seconds of the third, Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe topped the Westies 10-2 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink.
West Haven was outshot 35-14 in the game as the team fell to 0-3 on the year.
Trailing 1-0 to start the second, the Westies got on the board to even the game when Marcus Burrows jarred the puck loose and D.J. Carfora picked up the loose puck. Carfora crashed the net and used a backhander to even the contest at one just 1:15 into the period.
Carfora’s goal gave the Westies momentum, but they could not capitalize. Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe scored its second power play goal of the game for a 2-1 advantage with 6:48 remaining in the period.
West Haven could not get the equalizer and the guests scored three times in the final 3:05, all within a span of 1:46 for a 5-1 lead after two periods. The Mustangs, who scored three times on the power play, put the game away with two goals in the opening minute of the third period for a 7-1 lead.
Trailing 9-1, Burrows got the Westies closer when he one-timed a pass from Brady Price for a goal with under five minutes remaining.
Javed Ullah made 25 saves in the loss for West Haven.
Heartbreaker
Late goal propels NDFF to 4-3 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 5, 2022) - It was a game for the taking. Unfortunately for the West Haven boys hockey team, it was taken in an instant.
Patrick Dabrowski’s goal with 1 minute, 21 seconds left in regulation broke a tie and sent Notre Dame-Fairfield to a 4-3 victory over West Haven at the Rinks in Shelton Wednesday evening.
“I saw a lot of positives in the game,” West Haven coach Steve Harris said after his team fell to 0-4. “We were good on the power play. We had good puck movement. We had a couple of breakdowns which led to goals, but I thought our forecheck was very good. We need to build on this.”
Dabrowski’s goal spoiled what was West Haven’s best effort in the initial four games of the season, twice rallying from one-goal deficits. Sophomore goaltender Javed Ullah (25 saves) came up big throughout, including a pair of big saves in front, just seconds before the eventual game-winner.
Despite the Lancers taking an early 1-0 lead, the Westies battled and took a 2-1 advantage with two goals in a span of 47 seconds early in the first.
West Haven evened the game at one with a power play goal 4:32 in as D.J. Carfora sent a perfect pass in front where Mike Alfano deposited the equalizer.
Less than a minute later, the Westies had the lead with another beautiful set up as Nico Bruneau found Ryan Bernardi in front and Bernardi put the Westies on top when he knocked in a rebound with 9:41 left in the opening period.
The lead lasted less than two minutes as the Lancers scored off a rebound in front to send the contest to the break even at two.
The Westies had several opportunities early to take the lead early in the second, but could not get the go-ahead goal.
Alfano was denied on a shot and rebound 1:30 in, Carfora was turned aside 4:27 in, and Bernardi was also turned away with 7:04 remaining in the middle period.
Trailing 3-2, West Haven carried all the momentum into the third period, scoring the equalizer with five seconds to go in the second period.
Anthony Peschell circled from behind the net, and when no one picked him up, his shot from in front evened the contest at three.
West Haven again had its opportunities in the third, but could not cash in. The Westies best opportunity came with 2:21 remaining as a shot by Joe D’Aurio was turned aside as was the rebound attempt by Alfano.
Hamden tops Westies
West Haven falls 6-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 8, 2022) - A game after falling to Notre Dame-Fairfield in the final two minutes, the West Haven boys hockey team was looking to pick up its first win of the season. The initial win will have to wait.
Behind a 3-goal third period, Hamden defeated West Haven 6-3 at Lou Astorino Rink in Hamden Saturday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven fell to 0-5 on the year.
Trailing 1-0 in the opening period as Hamden scored less than four minutes in off a faceoff, the Westies evened the game 47 seconds later with a goal by D.J. Carfora. Assists on the goal went to Anthony Peschell and Jack Aloi.
Hamden took a 2-1 lead to the break with a shorthanded goal with 3:56 remaining in the opening period, but the Westies evened the contest when Nico Bruneau scored off a one-timer in front just 15 seconds into the middle period.
Bruneau’s goal, assisted by Carfora and Peschell, evened the contest, but held for just 36 seconds as Hamden took the lead for good.
The Westies had opportunities to even the contest, but Bruneau’s shot and rebound were turned aside with 9:56 remaining in the second, and a shot in front by Marcus Burrows was denied with 5:23 to go.
Hamden scored off a West Haven turnover 2:13 into the third, before a goal by Jayden Spreyer got West Haven within 4-3 with 10:46 to go.
That was as close as the Westies got as Hamden scored twice in the final 8:37 for a 6-3 lead.
Westies fall to Fairfield
Valiant effort falls short
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 10, 2022) - After playing Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe to a tight contest for the first 25 minutes the first time around, before being defeated, the West Haven boys hockey team was looking to finish the job. Playing in another close contest, West Haven watched as Fairfield pulled away late in a 6-2 victory over the Westies at the Wonderland of Ice Monday evening.
The Westies had ample opportunities to get on the board first in the contest, but a breakaway by Nico Bruneau 3:20 in rang off the post, and a two-on-one with Bruneau and D.J. Carfora resulted in a stop of Carfora 30 seconds later.
The Westies were forced to kill eight penalties on the night and the Mustangs capitalized with three power play goals. Including the first of the game with 8:46 left in the opening period.
Trailing 2-0 in the second, West Haven cut the deficit in half when Michael Madera raced to a loose puck and sent it to Brady Price. Price found Thomas Porto along the boards and his odd-angled shot trickled in to get West Haven within 2-1 with 7:16 left in the middle period.
Fairfield added its second power play goal 2:58 later to increase the lead to 3-1, before West Haven put the pressure on to start the third.
Carfora was denied in front 40 seconds in, Yousaf Ullah’s point shot and the rebound by Jayden Spreyer were denied less than a minute later, and Ryan Bernardi’s shot in front was turned aside 2:20 in.
Killing off its fifth penalty of the game, West Haven got within 3-2 when Bruneau blocked a shot and scored on a breakaway with 10:36 remaining.
The Westies never got closer as Fairfield made it 4-2 with 9:13 remaining. West Haven had chances to get closer, but Bernardi and Mike Alfano were denied, before Madera’s shot and rebound in close were both turned away a short time later.
Javed Ullah played well in goal, keeping the Westies in the contest throughout, until the Mustangs scored twice in a span of eight seconds to ice the game later in the third.
First of the Season
Javed Ullah shuts out EH 4-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 12, 2022) - It may have taken seven games, but the West Haven boys hockey team is finally in the win column. Behind a bruising forecheck, a stifling defense, and the 18-save shutout performance from Javed Ullah, West Haven defeated East Haven 4-0 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven Wednesday evening.
“It was about the amount of shots we blocked and the amount of shots we took,” West Haven coach Steve Harris said after his team improved to 1-6 on the year. “Our shots in the first period (17) were almost as much as we have had in some games.”
Ullah was the difference in the game as two nights after stopping 50 shots in a loss to Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe, the sophomore turned aside 18 shots for his first career shutout and victory.
“The guys blocked a lot of shots in front of me,” Ullah said. “The defense played great tonight. They were blocking shots for me and they were able to clear the puck. This feels amazing. Hopefully, it gets us started.”
Seniors Ryan Bernardi and D.J. Carfora accounted for a pair of goals with Carfora setting up Bernardi for a pair of goals.
“First, I would like to thank the coaching staff,” Bernardi said. “They take the hits for us when we lose. It was nice to show up today and get the win. It feels great. Hopefully, we can use the momentum.”
The Westies took a 1-0 lead just 1 minute, 51 seconds into the contest when Thomas Porto’s shot was denied, but the rebound when to a streaking Mike Madera, who put a one-timer in the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage.
West Haven continued the pressure in the opening period as Carfora was turned aside by East Haven goaltender Ethan Roach with a pad save, before Nico Bruneau shot high on a breakaway with 7:15 left in the opening period.
After holding a 17-5 shot advantage in the first period, the Westies came out flying again in the second. After a pair of opportunities by Bernardi and Madera failed to capitalize in front, Carfora broke in on Roach with Roach making the save. Bernardi picked up the rebound and put the puck in the back of the net for a 2-0 lead with 8:10 left in the middle period.
“We wanted to put the puck on net,” Harris said. “We knew they were a good team. We knew we needed to play a good game to beat them.”
Jayden Spreyer also had a golden scoring opportunity, but his shot in front with 3:45 left in the middle period was turned away.
The Westies created some separation in the third period, and it was Bernardi again as he took a pass from Carfora and beat Roach for a 3-0 lead with 46 seconds gone by.
“It is nice to see Ryan get the two goals,” Harris said of Bernardi. “It was nice to see him step up in a big game. He used his speed and was able to help control the game.”
Anthony Peschell’s point shot gave West Haven a 4-0 lead, with assists going to Porto and Joe D’Aurio with 10:06 to go.
Tough Loss
Ridgefield scores late in 3-2 win over Westies
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 17, 2022) - The West Haven hockey team was just over three minutes from going to overtime against Ridgefield. Just 13 seconds after scoring the equalizer, West Haven watched as the Tigers scored the go-ahead goal to defeat the Westies 3-2 at Winter Garden Ice Arena in Ridgefield Monday afternoon.
Ryan Bernardi led the West Haven offense with two goals, while D.J. Carfora had a pair of assists. Javed Ullah made 29 saves in the loss.
Trailing 2-1, Carfora set up Bernardi in the slot and the senior roofed a shot under the crossbar for the equalizer with 3:30 remaining.
The tie lasted less than 30 seconds as Ridgefield’s Luke Pereira scored his second of the game for a 3-2 Ridgefield advantage.
West Haven had one final chance to even the game on the power play in the final two minutes. Pulling Ullah for a two-man advantage, West Haven pressured, but could not find the back of the net.
West Haven had its share of opportunities in the game, but could not cash in. Carfora was denied on a breakaway in the opening period, and Nico Bruneau was stopped in front.
Trailing 2-0 in the second, Carfora set up Bernardi, who had his first shot denied, but put in the rebound to get the Westies within a goal.
West Haven had a chance to even the game with 1:15 left in the middle period, but a shot by Mike Alfano and the rebound by Carfora were turned aside.
Not Enough
Prep pulls away in third for 7-2 win over WH
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 19, 2022) - For 31 minutes, the West Haven boys hockey team hung with one of the best teams in the state. It was the next 2 minutes, 30 seconds which did the Westies in.
Scoring three times in a span of 2:30, starting just 1:12 into the third period with a power play goal, Fairfield Prep topped West Haven 7-2 at the Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport Wednesday evening. With the loss, West Haven fell to 1-8 on the year.
Leading 3-2, the Jesuits went to the power play just 52 seconds into the third and capitalized when Tiernan Curley scored from in front. The Jesuits added another 2:23 later and a third in the period just seven seconds after to pull away. Prep added a short-handed goal with 1:02 remaining to seal the win.
The Westies came out flying in the contest, setting the tone early as Anthony Peschell was stopped from the point, D.J. Carfora had his sharp-angled shot turned aside, and Jayden Spreyer was denied in front.
After a scoreless first period, Mike Alfano gave West Haven a 1-0 lead with a breakaway goal 1:29 into the second period off assists from Javed Ullah and Yousaf Ullah.
That lead lasted just 1:34 as Prep scored to even the contest, then took the lead with 6:57 to go in the middle period. West Haven evened the game when Ryan Bernardi scored from the slot with 4:47 left in the second.
That lead again was short-lived as the Jesuits scored with 1:19 remaining in the middle period to take a lead they never relinquished.
Overtime Winner
Westies top Immaculate 5-4
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 24, 2022) - After letting a two-goal lead slip away in the final five minutes of regulation, the West Haven boys hockey team had just enough to mount a comeback.
Sophomore Jayden Spreyer’s goal 1:48 into overtime lifted the Westies to a 5-4 victory over Immaculate Monday afternoon at the Danbury Ice Arena.
Spreyer took a pass and moved up the left wing, before beating Immaculate goalie Francis McGreal high to the glove side for the winner. West Haven improved to 2-8 with the victory.
Spreyer’s tally eliminated a blown lead late in the contest as the Mustangs scored twice in the final 4:39, including the equalizer with 20.8 seconds remaining when Seamus Heslin beat West Haven goaltender Javed Ullah (29 saves) to the short side.
West Haven’s top line of Ryan Bernardi, Nico Bruneau and D.J. Carfora combined for 10 points, with Bernardi scoring three goals and adding an assist, Bruneau picking up four assists, and Carfora adding a goal and an assist.
Trailing 1-0 in the first, Bernardi evened the game at one when he one-timed a pass from Bruneau by McGreal with 6:13 remaining in the period. Immaculate’s Malcolm Thompson scored the second of his three goals with 14.9 seconds left in the opening period to put the Mustangs on top 2-1 after one period of play.
The Westies controlled the second period and scored three times to take a 4-2 advantage. Bernardi evened the game 5:44 into the period when he picked up a rebound of Carfora’s shot for the equalizer, before Carfora gave West Haven a 3-2 advanatge18 seconds later off assists from Bruneau and Bernardi.
Bernardi scored his third of the game with 5:03 remaining in the middle period when he beat McGreal to the top right corner from the slot area.
Thompson got Immaculate within 4-3 when he weaved in and out in front on the power play to beat Ullah with 4:39 to go, setting up the final four minutes.
North tops West
Westies fall to Nighthawks 3-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 26, 2022) - Looking to build off the momentum of Monday’s overtime win against Immaculate, the West Haven hockey team was unable to do so in a 3-1 loss against North Haven Wednesday evening. With the loss, West Haven fell to 2-9 on the year.
With the game even at one in the third period, the Nighthawks scored the go-ahead goal with 1:55 gone by and never relinquished the lead. North Haven added an insurance goal with 3:26 remaining as the Westies were held to just seven third period shots.
Trailing 1-0, West Haven evened the game at one when Nico Bruneau fed Mike Alfano in front and the West Haven senior found the back of the net on the power play with 3:28 remaining in the middle period.
The second period was considerably different than the first for the Westies as they controlled portions of the stanza and had several quality scoring chances.
Marcus Burrows was turned aside on the left wing 5:16 into the period, Jayden Spreyer was denied from the slot 2:43 later, D.J. Carfora was denied in front as was Mike Madera three minutes later.
North Haven outshot the Westies 16-6 in the opening period and took a 1-0 lead to the intermission when North Haven’s Alex Petersen took advantage of a West Haven turnover in front and beat Javed Ullah with 2:51 remaining in the opening period.
West Haven was outshot 16-6 in the opening period with its best chances to score coming off the stick of Anthony Peschell in front with 8 minutes remaining and Alfano off the left wing with 5:42 to go in the opening period.
Westies fall to Cheshire
Rams top WH 5-2
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 5, 2022) - After more than a week off, the West Haven boys hockey team was eager to get back on the ice. Unfortunately for the Westies, things did not go their way.
Falling behind early, West Haven never recovered in a 5-2 loss against Cheshire Saturday afternoon at the Edward L. Bennett Rink. With the loss, West Haven fell to 2-10 on the year.
Cheshire controlled played n the opening period, limiting the Westies to just four shots. The Rams scored 6:06 into the contest when Andrew Vaill tipped in a shot by Ryan Fraser, before Damon Zurolo went through the zone untouched and backhanded a shot home for a 2-0 advantage with 1:24 left in the opening period.
West Haven had one solid scoring opportunity in the period, but a breakaway shot by Ryan Bernardi sailed wide.
The Rams tool a 3-0 lead off a rebound in front, before Bernardi sent Nico Bruneau in on a breakaway. Bruneau’s shot to the top left corner got the Westies within 3-1 with 2:39 remaining in the middle period.
That momentum lasted 22 seconds as Cheshire scored off a sharp angle for a 4-1 lead. Bruneau scored his second of the period with 3.8 seconds remaining in the middle period to get West Haven within 4-2, but West Haven never got closer.
Burrows rescues Westies
OT goal lifts WH past Glastonbury
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 9, 2022) - One game after playing possibly its worst game of the season, the West Haven hockey team rebounded to defeat Glastonbury 4-3 in overtime Wednesday evening at the Edward L. Bennet Rink in West Haven.
Marcus Burrows scored from in front off a pass from D.J. Carfora with 4:34 left in overtime as West Haven improved to 3-10 on the season.
The goal by Burrows rescued the Westies from a blown two-goal lead in the third period when Glastonbury scored twice in a span of 1:12 with 7:07 remaining.
Javed Ullah made 34 saves in the win, including 16 in the first period. Making 25 saves through two periods, Ullah had a shutout going into the third period, before Glastonbury scored 1:18 into the third period.
Carfora extended the lead to 3-1 off assists from Ryan Bernardi and Jayden Spreyer with 8:19 remaining for a 3-1 lead, but Glastonbury scored 23 seconds later to get within one.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the opening period after controlling play from the start. Spreyer had his backhander denied in front less than a minute in, Mike Alfano was stopped from an angle 3:07 in, and Mike Madera was turned aside in front with 8:35 to go in the opening period.
Alfano finally got the Westies on the board when he scored from the slot on the power play off an assist from Ryan Bernardi, who finished with a pair of assists on the night.
Bernardi gave West Haven a 2-0 lead 5:37 into the second with a rocket from the corner, before he was stopped in front less than a minute later.
Glastonbury finished with a 37-36 shot advantage.
Hamden sweeps Westies
WH falls 7-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 12, 2022) - With the ceremonies of celebrating the 1990 state championship season fresh in the minds of the players, the West Haven boys hockey team was looking to avenge an earlier season loss against Hamden. Despite rallying from a two-goal deficit, West Haven fell to the Green Dragons 7-3 Saturday afternoon at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven.
Jayden Spreyer scored twice, and Mike Alfano and D.J. Carfora each had two assists, but it was not enough as Hamden prevailed 7-3. With the loss, West Haven fell to 3-11 on the year.
West Haven had the early pressure in the game, but a Ryan Bernardi shot in the slot, a Mike Madera shot in front, and shots by Alfano and Spreyer were turned aside in the first eight minutes of the game by Hamden goaltender Ben Bielen.
Hamden scored twice in a span of 2:41 late in the first, but the Westies cut the deficit in half on a goal by Spreyer, off assists from Alfano and Jack Aloi, with 1:15 remaining.
After Aloi hit the post to start the second, Spreyer tapped in a loose puck to even the game at two with 2:13 gone by in the middle period. West Haven never got closer as Hamden scored three times in a span of 4:06 for a 5-2 lead.
A goal by Marcus Burrows 5:31 into the third had West Haven within 5-3, but Hamden scored the last two goals of the contest.
Westies blank Lancers
Carfora, Javed Ullah lead way in 2-0 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 14, 2022) - West Haven got back on the winning track with a 2-0 victory over Notre Dame-Fairfield Monday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven. D.J. Carfora scored twice and Javed Ullah made 20 saves for his second shutout of the season to help the Westies to their fourth win of the season.
After a scoreless first period with a combined seven shots by both teams, the Westies took a 1-0 second period lead. Marcus Burrows was stopped twice in front in a span of 23 seconds early in the middle period, but Carfora got the Westies on the board with 4:18 remaining when he scored off an assist from Nico Bruneau.
Point shots by Jack Aloi and Yousaf Ullah were turned aside, before Carfora picked up a rebound and gave west Haven a 2-0 lead off an assist from Burrows.
The rest was up to Javed Ullah who denied a two-on-one early in the third period, before turning aside a shot in front a minute later.
Rally falls Short
Westies fall to St. Joseph 4-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 15, 2022) - Winners of two of its last three games, the West Haven hockey team was looking to climb up the ladder of the Division I standings. Unfortunately for the Westies, they came up just short.
Falling behind early, West Haven’s rally fell just short in a 4-2 defeat at St. Joseph – Trumbull Tuesday evening in Shelton. With the loss, West Haven fell to 4-12 on the year.
Trailing 3-0 entering the third period, West Haven got within two goals when Mike Alfano knocked in a rebound of a D,J. Carfora shot on the power play 5:47 into the third.
The Westies got another power play goal with less than three minutes remaining as Carfora knocked in a loose puck. The goal, assisted by Alfano and Nico Bruneau, had the Westies within striking distance, but St. Joseph added an empty net goal with 58 seconds remaining to seal the contest.
West Haven trailed early, allowing two goals in a span of 2:32 with 6:57 remaining in the opening period. West Haven had its chances with 22 shots in the first two periods, but could not find the back of the net.
WH tops East Catholic
Carfora, Javed Ullah lead way in 3-1 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 21, 2022) - The West Haven boys hockey team won its second contest in three games with a 3-1 victory over East Catholic Monday evening. With the victory, West Haven improved to 5-12 on the season.
Senior D.J. Carfora led the Westies with two goals and an assist, Ryan Bernardi scored once, and Javed Ullah made 29 saves in the win.
East Catholic controlled the opening period with a 14-5 shot advantage, but the game went to the intermission even at one.
After the Westies saw a Mike Madera to Thomas Porto set up turned aside with seven minutes to go, East Catholic went to the power play and scored with under two minutes remaining.
West Haven picked up its play late in the period as Jayden Spreyer’s shot from the slot was turned aside with 1:40 remaining.
The Westies went to the power play with 27 seconds remaining in the opening period and Carfora set up Bernardi in front for the equalizer with 8.9 seconds to go in the period.
West Haven controlled play in the middle period with Peschell being turned aside with a glove save from the point, Mike Alfano denied off the left wing and Jack Aloi denied from the slot.
Again, it was a late goal which gave the Westies the lead for good when Carfora picked up a loose puck along the boards and broke in for a short-handed goal with 58.8 seconds left in the middle period.
The two teams combined for 23 third period shots, but it was Carfora who iced the game with 1:24 remaining off an assist from Peschell for a 3-1 lead.
West Haven had its share of opportunities in the period, but Jason Alling was denied from the right wing, Marcus Burrows was turned aside from in front, and Joe D’Aurio had his point shot stopped.
Two in a Row
WH tops Amity 4-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 23, 2022) - The West Haven boys hockey team won its second game in a row and third in four games with a 4-3 victory over Amity Wednesday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven. With the victory, West Haven improved to 6-12 on the year.
Marcus Burrows scored twice, D.J. Carfora had two assists and Javed Ullah made 16 saves in the victory for the Westies.
West Haven held a 4-1 lead in the third period before Amity scored a pair of quick goals to make things interesting. West Haven clamped down and Ullah made several key saves in the final minutes of the win.
Trailing 1-0, West Haven needed just 50 seconds to get the equalizer as Burrows scored with 10:08 left in the opening period off an assist from Haygen Axelrod.
Just 58 seconds later, the Westies scored on the power play when Jack Aloi’s shot was deflected in front by Carfora to Ryan Bernardi for a quick tally.
West Haven kept the pressure on and held a 33-12 shot advantage after two periods. A shot by Mike Madera off the left wing was turned aside with 5:50 remaining in the first, before Ullah made a huge save with five seconds remaining in the period.
After Burrows was denied early in the second, West Haven took a 2-1 lead 1:17 in when Nico Bruneau picked up a rebound in front for a 3-1 advantage off assists from Mike Alfano and Yousaf Ullah.
West Haven continued the pressure but could not capitalize as a two-on-one with Thomas Porto and Madera went over the net, Alfano was stopped in the slot, as was Carfora three minutes later. Jayden Spreyer had his scoring opportunity denied, Anthony Peschell’s shot and rebound by Burrows was denied, and a breakaway by Bruneau was also turned away.
The Westies needed just 49 seconds to take a 4-1 lead in the third when Burrows scored off an assist from Carfora.
Leading 4-3, West Haven had a chance to ice the game, but Carfora’s breakaway was denied as was his shot in front one minute later with 10 minutes to go.
Senior Victory
WH tops Hand 5-3 on Senior Night
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 28, 2022) - West Haven picked up its seventh win of the season with a 5-3 victory over Hand-Madison Monday evening on Senior Night. The Westies scored four times in the final 15 minutes to pull out the victory.
Nico Bruneau finished with one goal and two assists, while Javed Ullah had 20 saves as the Westies improved to 7-12 on the year.
West Haven took a two-goal lead in the third period when Bruneau set up Spreyer for a breakaway goal 1:53 into the third, before Marcus Burrows stole the puck and scored 2:46 in for a 3-1 lead.
Hand evened the game with a goal 1:15 later and another with 9:52 to go to even the game at three. The Westies did not quit.
Picking up a loose puck along the boards, Anthony Peschell blasted a shot home for a 4-3 lead. Bruneau scored a power play goal of an assist from Ryan Bernardi with 1:11 remaining for the 5-3 final.
The first two periods saw a combined 13 shots for West Haven and a 1-1 game. Hand struck first on a goal by James Barber with 4:17 gone by in the middle period, but the Westies needed just 35 seconds to respond.
Bruneau fed a lead pass to Spreyer on the left wing. Spreyer circled the net and fed Mike Alfano in front for a shot to the top right corner and a 1-1 tie with 10:08 left in the period.
West Haven had a chance to take the lead with seven minutes to go in the period when Mike Madera set up Jack Aloi, but Aloi’s blast was turned aside by a brilliant pad save by Alex Schiano.
Streak Over
WH falls to NDWH in season finale
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(March 2, 2022) - The West Haven boys hockey team saw its three game winning streak come to an end with a 5-2 loss to Notre Dame – West Haven in the season finale. With the loss, West Haven closed the regular season at 7-13.
The Westies struggled to get anything in the opening period, pinned in their own zone for the majority of the opening 15 minutes.
The Green Knights wasted little time setting the tone of the game as Grant Curtis took advantage of a West Haven turnover and beat West Haven goaltender Javed Ullah just 57 seconds in.
Notre Dame appeared to take a 2-0 lead, but Colby Faughnan’s tally was wiped away by an icing call 3:28 into the game.
The Westies had a golden opportunity to even the game when D.J. Carfora stole the puck while short-handed, broke into the Notre Dame zone, but shot over the net. Just 49 seconds later, Notre Dame had a 2-0 lead when a shot from the point by Curtis when off Ullah and into the net with 6:32 to go in the opening period.
West Haven finally put pressure on in the final five minutes of the opening period, but shots by Jayden Spreyer from the slot, and Anthony Peschell from the point were denied by Notre Dame goaltender Peter Alfano.
West Haven’s best opportunity came with less than two minutes to go when Nico Bruneau’s shot was denied and Mike Alfano could not convert into an empty net.
The Green Knights controlled play in the middle period with a 13-3 shot advantage and a 2-1 advantage in goals. Logan Hurd increased the lead to 3-0 with 9:21 remaining and a hat trick by Curtis with 7:55 to go had Notre Dame on top 4-0.
West Haven finally got on the board with a power play goal by Ryan Bernardi with 55.8 seconds left in the period off an assist from Carfora.
Anthony Peschell scored in the final minute for the final West Haven goal.
Season Over
WH falls to Fairfield Prep in state tournament
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(March 8, 2022) - The season came to a crushing end for the West Haven boys hockey team with a 4-3 loss to Fairfield Prep in the opening round of the state tournament. Despite rallying from a 3-0 deficit, No. 12 West Haven suffered the crushing loss when fifth-ranked Fairfield Prep scored with 26.6 seconds left in regulation.
When the Jesuits scored 58 seconds into the second period, West Haven was in a 3-0 hole and looked to surely be in for an early exit from the postseason.
With 1 minute, 38 seconds remaining in the middle period, that certainty was no longer as Ryan Bernardi’s shot off an assist from Anthony Peschell trickled in. Just 46 seconds later, Bernardi was at it again when he scored with 52.4 seconds to go in the period.
After goaltender Javed Ullah kept the Westies within a goal, Mike Alfano scored from in front with 8:14 to go to even the game at three.West Haven constantly pressured, but could not take the lead as D.J. Carfora’s shot from in close sailed over the net.
The Jesuits rang the crossbar with 2:54 remaining, setting up the last-second win for the Jesuits.
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