DANBURY — Blake Ballard had a hat-trick and goaltender Max Browne earned his first shutout as the Newtown-New Fairfield high school co-op hockey team skated to a season-opening 6-0 win over Fox Lane of New York, at Danbury Ice Arena, on December 13.

Senior captain Ashton Albert got the party started late in the first period on an unassisted goal that he sent through traffic from the top of the circle to the right of the Fox Lane goalie.

Ballard, a senior assistant captain, found the net the unconventional way on the power play for the first of his three when sophomore newcomer Jack Meade stepped into one from just inside the blue line and found Ballard’s shin pads for the deflection as he cruised through the slot looking for the tip-in. Ballard followed with his second of the night down low off a feed from senior Jack Albano to put the Hawks up 3-0 midway through the contest.

Senior Sebastian Cilia almost took the roof off the net with a blast that popped the water bottle off the net a few moments later. With the Nighthawks buzzing in the offensive zone Cilia took a feed from junior Luca Mora and left no doubt with the rocket from the left faceoff circle over the Fox Lane goaltender’s shoulder. Senior captain Alex Schmidt also assisted on the play. The period ended with a 4-0 NNF lead but not before goaltender Max Browne was called upon when a Fox Lane forward got behind the defense for a breakaway that Browne played well, turning the hard shot aside and gaining confidence at the same juncture.

The third period saw continued improved play from NNF as most of the play was in the Fox Lane end. Meade placed a perfect shot from the high slot over the glove of the Fox Lane goalie at the mid-point of the period for his first high school goal. The play came on a nice feed from Cilia who dished from the boards. The final tally came off Cilia jumping into the rush with Moura and Ballard and the three boys being relentless at net front. As the Fox Lane goalie failed to cover, Ballard rammed it home for the hatty. Cilia and Moura picked up assists on the play.

This was a great effort and good start for a squad with high aspirations this season. “There was a lot to like out there tonight, but more work to be done,” Coach Paul Esposito said. The pulse of the team indicates a willingness to listen and learn and work to be better every shift of every game, Nighthawk coaches noted.