Branford Tallies Late Goals to Win Division II Championship

NEW HAVEN, CT - For more than 41 minutes of Monday's Division II ice hockey championship game between Branford and Glastonbury, it appeared as if neither team would get anything past their opposing goaltenders. Finally, with 3:36 to play in regulation time, Branford's David Engstrom found the back of the net, setting up the Hornets' 2-0 victory and first title in more than three decades.

Jack Manware added an empty-net goal with 31 seconds remaining, assisted by his brother Max, to clinch the championship. Branford last won a state hockey title in 1988.

Goaltender Jared Yakimoff stopped 20 shots to earn the shutout for the Hornets.

Both teams had prime scoring chance go by in the opening period. Just 30 seconds into the contest, Glastonbury's Keane Smith missed the net on a partial breakaway. Branford had a golden opportunity when the Tomahawks' Matthew Andriola was assessed a 5-minute major penalty for kneeing, then gained a 5-on-3 advantage for 39 seconds due to another Glastonbury penalty, but the Tomahawks killed it off.

Late in the period, it was Glastonbury's turn to have a two-man advantage, but Branford's defense held tough and killed off that opportunity.

Yakimoff came up big in the second period, stopping a breakaway by Adam Poetto. His counterpart in the Glastonbury net, Brendan O'Connor, robbed Zachary Jones in close during the waning seconds of the session.

O'Connor finished with 21 saves for the Tomahawks.

Glastonbury puts pressure on Hornet goaltender Jacob Yakimoff late in the third period.

Photo and video credit: Tim Jensen