Eastern CT Eagles Capture First State Hockey Title

NEW HAVEN, CT — After dropping two of three contests to the Eastern CT Eagles co-op team during the season, Tri-Town was hoping to even the season series in the game that counted most - the championship tilt of the CIAC Division III boys ice hockey tournament.

The seven-school program from the southeast portion of the state was not to be denied, however, jumping to a quick 3-0 lead en route to a 7-3 victory at the Ingalls Rink at Yale University for Eastern's first state title.

Quenten Dean, Will Cannella and Evan Tower scored in a seven-minute stretch of the first period to provide the Eagles a 3-0 advantage.

Tri-Town had two opportunities to shift momentum its way, but on both occasions, it was the Eagles who answered the call.

Trailing by three, Michael Shuman scored with 10 seconds left before the first intermission to send Tri-Town to the locker room on an emotional high. That enthusiasm was quickly dampened, however, when Eastern's Kevin Close scored his first of three goals early in the second period.

Andrew Gaines cut the deficit to two with a power play goal at 10:47 of the middle session, but Kyle Jacobson restored the Eagles' three-goal margin just 71 seconds later.

Close added a pair of goals in the third period to salt the game away for the Eagles. Tri-Town's Alex Knisley closed the scoring with 2:06 remaining.

Rylin Fowler made 26 saves to earn the victory in goal for the Eagles.

Fifth-seeded Eastern finished the season with an 18-3-3 record, while Tri-Town, the number three seed, closed with a 16-9-1 mark.

Photo credits: Leah Gesualdi
Video credit: Tim Jensen