In the championship sport at Quinnipiac University, the Rams withstood a fierce third-period rally from the Yellow Jackets to win 6-3.
Updated March 18, 2024, 9:38 PM EDT | March 18, 2024, 9:52 PM EDT
HAMPDEN, Conn. — The final time Cheshire High School gained the CIAC Ice Hockey Championship, the seniors on the present roster had simply laced up their skates for the primary time at ages 4 and 5. Fast ahead 13 years, and people tots discovered themselves on the house ice of defending NCAA champion Quinnipiac University, going through a six-school co-op workforce that had dominated the primary three rounds of the Division II match. state finals.
The Rams defeated the East Haven Yellow Jackets 6-3 in entrance of a near-capacity crowd on the 3,570-seat M&T Bank Arena, led by senior Biagio Pepe’s 4 objectives and a stellar efficiency from goaltender Ryan Miller. did.
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Top-seeded Cheshire withstood a ferocious comeback from East Haven and lower a 4-0 deficit to at least one level on the 3:44 mark of the third interval.
Miller made some massive saves early within the sport, nevertheless it wasn’t till Pepe scored from a clumsy angle to the precise of Yellow Jackets goaltender Michael Fritz with 1:01 left within the first interval that both workforce It additionally dented the scoreboard.
The Rams discovered the again of the web on a breakaway by Evan Vasilievs early within the midfield, however moments later, Drew DePodesta beat an East Haven defender on a protracted cross from Ryan Frazier and tucked the puck behind Fritz for Cheshire. They led 2-0.
On the following shift, DePodesta was dragged in with a partial breakaway, leading to a minor penalty on the Yellow Jackets pair for a 5-on-3 Cheshire benefit. Pepe shortly opened the scoring with a nifty cross between Charlie Golden and Vasilyevs, scoring his second purpose of the sport.
With simply over two minutes left within the session, Pepe had a golden probability to finish his hat-trick, however his escape was thwarted by Fritz.
Four-and-a-half minutes into the third interval, Vasilievs appeared to place the ultimate nail in East Haven’s coffin with a rebound of Frazier’s shot from the left level, however he was taken down by a Yellow Jacket defender.
It’s not that quick. East Haven, which had outscored its earlier three opponents by a mixed 17-3 margin, lastly confirmed its offensive potential on Griffin McGlinchey’s power-play purpose with 6:22 left. Just beneath two minutes later, Lorenzo Defilio scored on the rebound of McGlinchey’s shot to make it 4-2.
A tripping penalty on East Haven’s Preston Kantele appeared to halt his workforce’s momentum, however Defilio had a close-range quick probability blocked by Miller earlier than coming again and getting the puck close to the center of the ice. He stole issues, broke in on his personal, and discovered what was incorrect with the workforce. He scored the web, making it a 4-3 sport with 2 minutes and 38 seconds left in regulation time.
However, the joy of Yellow Jackets followers shortly disappeared as Pepe accomplished his hat trick after being left alone within the field throughout a waning second on Cheshire’s energy play. Fritz introduced on a sixth attacker and with a minute left Pepe scored his fourth purpose of the sport into an empty internet.
Cheshire defeated East Haven 37-31.
The Rams gained their fifth state championship. The Yellowjackets, made up of gamers from East Haven, Morgan, Old Lyme, Sheehan, East Hampton and Valley space excessive faculties, had been looking for their first state title since 1998.
Photo: John Holt/CIAC
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