New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Pair of power-play goals powers Branford to title
WEST HAVEN — Two power-play goals made the difference in the SCC/SWC boys hockey Division II championship game. Spencer Engstrom’s goal with 8:08 left gave Branford a 2-1 win over Watertown/Pomperaug.
Engstrom, in front of the net, finished a passing play from Blake Kustra on the right to Jack Manware on the left, back to the middle. The goal came 54 seconds into the Hornets’ power play after their Max Bunton drew a holding penalty along the left-wing boards.
Jared Yakimoff made 22 saves, and his defense made sure a lot more rubber didn’t come his way. He was credited with just six saves in the second period, a lot of which was spent in his end.
The sophomore goalie was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
Top-seeded Branford (15-3-4, including a tie in the semifinals that was decided by a shootout) won its fourth SCC/SWC title. The team played in four SCC or SCC/SWC championship these games in a row, 201215, a year before this year’s seniors arrived, winning three of them.
Watertown/Pomperaug, ranked 10th in the GameTimeCT state poll, is 16-4-2. It fell in the final for the second year in a row; the Indians lost to Guilford last year.
It looked as if the Indians had taken a 2-1 lead with 37.1 seconds left in the first period. Troy Harwell put the puck from the right corner into the crease, and before Yakimoff could cover it, Zach Smith poked it home.
The Indians celebrated. The teams lined up at center ice. And as they did, the officials conferred. After a few seconds, one referee went to the scorer’s table and waved off the goal: The announcement said the net was off its moorings.
Branford struck first, at 3:44, on the game’s first power play. Jack Manware pounced on a loose puck in front and, one-on-one with Ryan Fleming, scored inside the left post.
Watertown/Pomperaug tied it with 2:01 left in the first period on a goal credited to defenseman Patsy Harris.
Yakimoff made a handful of big saves in the second. Fleming denied Kustra on a two-on-one with about three minutes left in the period after Kustra hit the crossbar earlier.
The teams could meet again in 10 days in the state Division II semifinals. Watertown/Pomperaug is the top seed, meeting No. 17 East Haven in the first round on Monday night. Fourth-seeded Branford starts off with 13th-seeded Woodstock Academy on Monday afternoon.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jared Yakimoff was named Most Oustanding Player after 22 saves.