NHS Skaters Fight For Playoffs; Promote Youth Hockey

Newtown High School’s hockey team is still one win away from qualifying for the Division III State Tournament following a pair of nail-biting defeats this past week.

The Nighthawks lost 4-3 in overtime to Joel Barlow on February 3 and fell 3-2 to Hall-Southington on February 6. Newtown carried a 7-6-1 record into the Saturday, February 13, game at Norwich Free Academy. Newtown’s possible playoff-clinching celebration faced a weather delay, with snow postponing the NFA game, originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 10.

The Nighthawks have six games remaining and need just one win or tie to clinch a playoff berth.

The Hawks, in the overtime loss to Barlow, were eliminated from the South-West Conference Division II playoff picture. Newtown’s prospects for a state tourney berth, however, look good given the fact the Hawks already defeated Norwich Free Academy 4-2 and have another game with the Shepaug-Litchfield-Wamogo team, which they defeated 8-0 earlier this season. Newtown will host EO Smith-Tolland-Windham Monday, February 15 at 5:40 pm at Danbury Ice Arena.

The Nighthawks and their booster club are inviting all Newtown/Sandy Hook hockey families to the February 15 game free of charge. Information about spring and summer Jr Nighthawk Tournament hockey teams will be available and the first 30 youth hockey players (through grade 8) in attendance will receive a Newtown hockey T-shirt.

Correction

It was incorrectly reported in the February 5 issue of The Bee that Sean Kennedy was called for a major penalty in a game with Bethel-Brookfield-Danbury. Alex Kelly was the player who was penalized. Kelly returned to the lineup for the Hall-Southington game and created scoring opportunities. Kennedy, a solid force on defense, used his physical play to support the efforts of sophomore goaltender Mike Allwein. Kennedy also had the assist on Newtown’s first goal of the game.