Wethersfield Blanks North Haven To Claim Division II Hockey Title

HAMDEN, CT — A pair of timely power play goals, stellar goaltending by sophomore Matthew Ruck and a critical mistake by North Haven with two minutes to play combined to bring Wethersfield a 3-0 win in the Division II boys ice hockey finals Monday at the People's United Center on the campus of Quinnipiac University.

Ruck stopped 22 shots, including four during a North Haven power play early in the third period, to earn the shutout for the Eagles.

North Haven had the best scoring opportunity during the first period when Owen Quick clanged a slapshot off the left post. Jack Millen finally dented the scoring column with what proved to be the only goal the Eagles would need 8:07 into the second period.

With 1:05 to play in the middle session, Colby Quinn took a drop pass from Shane Mazur and fired a shot over Jared Anderson's left shoulder on a power play to give Wethersfield a 2-goal advantage. Anderson kept it close by making a great save off Millen in close just past the midpoint of the third period.

With two minutes to play, Anderson skated to the North Haven bench in favor of a sixth attacker; however, when Wethersfield gained control of the puck near center ice, Anderson did not enter the bench, resulting in a costly penalty for too many men on the ice. William McCarter cemented the victory for the Eagles by cleaning up the rebound of a shot by James Socha with 1:17 left,

Wethersfield won its second hockey title in school history, and first since 2007.