Boys Hockey Clips T‑Birds 6 – 3

It shaped up to be a very close game last week at the Northford Ice Pavilion with the North Branford Thunderbirds with a record of 9 – 2 going into the game facing the Branford Hornets who were 9 – 1.

And for two periods it was as close at it could be with the clubs tied at three goals each. It was Branford’s home game even though both teams play there.

Branford had built a 3 – 1 lead midway through the second period when the T‑Birds scored two goals within a minute to create the tie.

Whatever Hornet coach Adolf Brink said to the team at the break worked and triggered three unanswered goals in the third period, two by sophomore Zach Withington, giving him a hat trick for the game, and an empty netter by Aidan Deane with 1:42 remaining when North Branford pulled the goalie.

Branford opened the scoring in the first period when Scott Klouda scored at 5:36. North Branford responded shortly after on a goal by Alec Martone at 4:38. Withington got his first goal of the game at 1:04 on assists from Tyler Criscuolo and William Benni to give the Hornets a 2 – 1 lead at the end of the first period.

Cooper Bunton on an assist from Nick Johnson increased the lead to 3 – 1 when he scored at 9:59 of the second but the T‑Birds responded on goals from Adam Burkle at 6:51 followed by the tying goal by Brian McKee thirty seconds later at 6:21.

Branford outshot North Branford 37 – 23. Branford goalie AJ Brink recorded 20 saves and North Branford’s Will McEwen had 32.

The Hornets improved to 10 – 1 while the T‑Birds fell to 9 – 3. It is the only meeting of the season between the two rivals. Branford’s next home game will be today at 4 p.m. against Watertown-Pomperaug. 

Northford Ice Pavilion is the home of both Branford & North Branford

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