Doug Reilly
Sports Editor
On Monday night at Darien Ice Rink, the boys hockey team continued their remarkable season, defeating the Ridgefield Tigers 6-1. As they enter the midway point of the season, the Rams are the state’s only undefeated team, sitting at the top of the standings at 10-0.
Early on, in last night’s rematch of last year’s FCIAC championship, Ridgefield looked like the state’s number one ranked team. Thanks to sophomore goalie Tim Nowacki, the scoreboard didn’t show it. The Ridgefield Tigers, second in the FCIAC standings, out shot the New Canaan Rams, 19-2, in the first period. However, the Tigers couldn’t capitalize on any of those 19 shots, and the period ended with the score tied, 0-0.
The Rams turned it on in the second period, however, as senior captain Henry Corcoran opened the scoring with a power play goal just 3:35 into the second period off passes from sophomore Charlie Corcoran and senior Reed Harper. Six minutes later, while shorthanded, the Rams added another goal to their lead as Charlie assisted on Henry’s second goal. All of Ridgefield’s momentum had disappeared after just a few minutes in the second period.
Minutes later, junior Dylan Hart made it 3-0 Rams when he buried a rebound past Ridgefield goalie Eric Seel. Sophomore PT Prins and Junior Tyler Manchuck had the assists.
Dylan Hart was named Male Athlete of the Week by the New Canaan News after the game, having scored three goals in the past two games, two against Greenwich on Saturday night, and another Monday night.
Still in the second period, with the Rams on their fifth penalty kill of the game, Henry Corcoran found senior Reed Harper a step behind the defense. Harper, the state’s leading scorer, having scored at least once in every game this season, sniped his wrist shot on the breakaway off the cross bar and in and the Rams held a commanding 4-0 lead. Ridgefield had no choice to pull the struggling goaltender, and the Tiger coaching staff replaced Seel with the backup goalie, who held his own for the remainder of the game.
But, with 20 seconds remaining in the period, a goal by Ridgefield’s Vin Gella got them on the board, sneaking a rebound past Tim Nowacki, and woke up the Tiger bench and faithful as the second period ended with the Rams leading 4-1.
The third period had a similar script, as the Rams continued their dominant play. Nowacki continued his phenomenal play as he stopped 33 total shots on the night.
Midway through the period, Reed Harper netted his second of three goals, when he deked over to his right and shot the puck off the top right corner of the goal and in, and the Rams held an insurmountable 5-1 lead. With just a few minutes remaining in the period, Ridgefield took a penalty and the Rams went on another power play. On the ensuing faceoff, Charlie Corcoran won the puck and passed it directly to Harper, who ripped a shot over the goaltender’s shoulder, completing his hat trick.
The 6-1 final score was the same as last year’s FCIAC championship, where the Rams also defeated Ridgefield to take the crown.
The Rams’ next game is on Thursday against Notre Dame-Fairfield (1-5-1) at Darien Ice Rink. The Rams look to continue their undefeated season and maintain their number one ranking in the state.
