Update: A correction to the article has been made to indicate that Jack O'Connell scored twice against Eastern Connecticut. 

What a weird and, for the Nighthawks, frustrating pair of outcomes following a rewarding streak-snapping triumph.

Newtown High School’s hockey team jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one period of play on the way to a 7-1 triumph over visiting Mt Everett High of Sheffield, Mass., at Danbury Ice Arena on February 7. Phil Makris scored a hat-trick, and David Brestovansky, Jack O’Connell, Andrew Gardner, and Aidan Bepko also scored. Brestovansky had three assists, and Michael McCann had an assist.

That win ended a four-game slide.

Then came a pair of road contests that the Nighthawks nearly pulled off despite some controversy.

Newtown suffered a disappointing 4-3 loss to Northeastern at Bolton Ice Palace in Bolton on February 9. The Nighthawks fell behind 4-0 then mounted a furious comeback to get to within a goal late in regulation. Having the comeback fall short is one thing, but the way in which Northeastern’s eventual winning tally came to be is what made this such a bitter pill for the Hawks to swallow.

“Somebody blew a whistle in the stands and our guys kind of pulled up,” recounted Newtown High Coach Paul Esposito, adding that he was told it was an adult among the fans who caused the confusion.

As they say, you don’t stop playing until you hear the whistle. The Nighthawks heard a whistle. When they thought game play had been halted, Northeastern kept playing and scored.

This off-ice unsportsmanlike conduct that brought new meaning to the word whistleblower, should have resulted in the goal being disallowed, Esposito believes, adding that from his position on the bench he, too, thought the whistle was blown by one of the officials on the ice.

Esposito said he was in the process of talking to administration to see if there is cause for a protest.

Brestovansky had a goal and two assists, giving him seven points in a two-game stretch, O'Connell scored twice, and Makris played a role in Newtown’s scoring.

Looking to shake off that tough loss, the Nighthawks packed their hockey bags for a trip to The Rinks At Shelton to take on the Southern Connecticut/ South-West Conference rival Masuk Panthers on February 11. Newtown fell behind 2-0 and scored twice late in the game, including McCann’s equalizer with just nine seconds showing on the scoreboard clock.

Trailing 2-0, the Hawks got on the scoreboard when Matthias Paltauf deposited a perfect cross-crease, back-door feed from just behind the goal line by O’Connell with 7:01 left. Brestovansky also assisted the goal.

McCann’s goal was set up when Aidan Bepko broke the puck free along the boards as the Panthers tried to stall and run out the clock. Bepko skated from the right corner around the back side of the goal and centered. Gardner got his stick on the puck and was credited with the primary assist after McCann sent a low shot from the slot inside the right post.

The Nighthawks created a few early overtime scoring chances, with Paltauf getting stopped in close and a Jonathan Radatovich hustling to a loose puck in the corner and centering to Bepko for redirection that was denied. After Newtown’s bids to win it were thwarted, the Panthers counter-attacked and won the game 1:23 into the eight minute OT stanza.

Esposito noted that an early-game apparent goal by the Hawks was waved off when the Masuk net came off its moorings, something the coach noted happened repeatedly. He believed the goal should have been allowed.

Even despite these bad breaks, Esposito believes his team will have to play better to have success in the upcoming postseason. Newtown certainly had its chances, as the Hawks outshot Masuk 38-17.

“It was a frustrating game. No complaint in terms of the effort. Just some execution things we’re not doing well that we should be doing well this time of the year,” said the Newtown coach, whose lineup has two regular-season tilts remaining before the playoffs.

“That’s a frustrating loss. We’re really fighting right now,” added Esposito, whose team stands at 7-10-1 and in position to qualify for the Division III state playoffs as one of the top 16 teams, but is losing ground in the state rankings and will not qualify as one of the top four teams in the combined SCC/SWC conference playoffs.

NHS wraps up the regular slate with home games in Danbury on Saturday, February 16 versus the Shepaug co-op team at 12:50 pm and Wednesday, February 20 when Daniel Hand of Madison visits at 7:50 pm. Newtown looks to gain some momentum heading into the postseason.

“We’re going to have to play a lot better hockey once the playoffs start if we want to do anything,” Esposito said.

When Newtown plays on February 16, the game will serve as a fundraiser for the Collin George Whitmore Foundation. There will be face painting, a tattoo station, Team Collin merchandise table, lollipop pick, cornhole games, and more, at Danbury Ice Arena, 1 Independence Way in Danbury, beginning at 11:30 am. Collin, who played hockey and was from Sandy Hook, passed away three years ago. Admission to all Newtown residents is free, and attendees are asked to consider making a donation of $10 or more. Proceeds go to the foundation to help raise awareness of Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) and provide financial assistance for research of AVM, as well as to provide financial aid for individuals in need to participate in youth hockey and golf.

Visit newtownhockey.com and collingwhitmore.org for information.