Boys ice hockey beats St. Joe’s Cadets 4-3

Dan Popper
Sports Editor

Last night in front of a packed house at Terry Connors Ice Rink, the boys’ ice hockey team won an overtime thriller in their FCIAC semifinal matchup against the St. Joseph Cadets with a score of 4-3. With 3:06 remaining in the 15 minutes of overtime, sophomore defenseman Ryan Begoon’s wrist shot, opened up by a cross-zone pass by senior captain forward Andrew Leslie, whooshed by St Joseph goalie Zach Carrano during a Ram’s powerplay for the game-winning goal. Bussey’s Bomb Squad stormed the ice.

Throughout regulation, the game went back and forth between the two teams. Despite a St. Joe’s goal only 1:30 into the first period, great puck work between senior captains forwards Sam Stanton and Kris Nugent eventually led to a pass to junior forward Henry Corcoran to beat Carrano for the tying goal.

The battle continued into the second period as the teams traded goals again. Nugent struck puck first for the Rams after putting a rebound past Carrano. Yet, the Cadets showed resilience as they scored with 1:39 remaining, sending the game into a 2-2 tie.

Each team scored again in the third period, sending the game into a 3-3 tie and eventually overtime, and Nugent scored his second goal of the game on a Cocoran assist.

Freshman goalie sensation Tim Nowacki stayed strong with 24 saves well into overtime.

Begoon’s game-winner in overtime sent the Rams to the FCIAC final, where they will face Ridgefield at Terry Connors Ice Rink at 7 pm on Saturday night.