No. 1 seed Masuk and No. 3 seed Newington Co-op both netted victories Monday night, setting up a showdown in the CIAC Division III boys hockey final. This will be the Panthers’ first trip in eight years, while the Nor’easters are bidding for their second straight title.
Top-seeded Panthers topple Conard
Masuk beat No. 4 seed Conard 3-1 Monday night to return to the Division III finals for the first time since 2015. The top-seeded Panthers are seeking their first state championship. Julian Schneider scored for Conard, but Maddex LaFountain was otherwise perfect in net for Masuk.
Behind two goals from Drew Scalia and one from Luke Kondub, the Panthers picked up their eighth straight win. They will head into the Division III finals against the Newington Co-op riding a 22-game unbeaten streak dating to December. Conard was a runner-up last season.
Newington Co-op ends Rocky Hill’s Cinderella run
Newington Co-op is on the brink of a championship repeat in Division III after knocking off No. 15 seed Rocky Hill Co-op, 3-2.
Trailing by two goals early in the third period, the third-seeded Nor’easters scored three times in under four minutes to complete their comeback. Tanner Jorczak netted the tying goal, and Harrison Ranger put them ahead for good with a short-handed tally just moments later. Dominick Violette and Vincent Howley each scored for Rocky Hill, which was seeking its third straight upset after beating second-seeded New Milford and seventh-seeded Tri-Town.
Newington beat Conard 3-1 in last year’s final.
Division III FinalMarch 20 at Quinnipiac University:
7 p.m. No. 1 Masuk vs. No. 3 Newington Co-op
