Cheshire Hockey Uses 'Powers' Play To End Eight-Year Skid

January 28, 2010 by Greg Lederer

Cheshire High School ice hockey head coach Jim Riccitelli spoke about confidence leading into their Jan. 23 game at North Haven. Three days earlier, Cheshire suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to North Branford. Frustration was evident, as three of four losses have come by a single goal.
Cheshire entered the same rink at the Northford Ice Pavilion, however, this time they produced the complete effort they had been looking for all season. Cheshire (4-4 record) went toe-to-toe physically against their Division I rival, killing nine penalties during a 6-0 shutout. The Rams, sparked by two goals from junior Ryan Powers, scored three times in the final three minutes of the second period and realized their first win over North Haven since 2002.
“That is the team I knew we had in the pre-season,” recalled Riccitelli. “We made our own breaks tonight.”
The physical tone was set immediately. Cheshire and North Haven combined for 17 penalties and six of them came during the first period. Whistles on both sides negated power play advantage. Freshman Owen Powers and his brother, Ryan, were offensive catalysts. Owen had a pair of point-blank shots saved in the first five minutes and Ryan drew a penalty during a breakaway down middle ice.
A hustle play from Ryan Powers gave Cheshire the only goal they would need. The Rams were penalized for slashing with 3:58 left in the first period, but they didn’t stop being aggressive and ended up scoring 42 seconds later. Ryan Powers forced a miscue and he needed just one move to convert short-handed past goalkeeper Mike Amarone.
“Coach always tells us to pressure the puck on power play kill,” said Ryan Powers. “I followed the kid down and when he lost the puck down low, I had my chance.”
Cheshire’s power play kill, along with the play of sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Carbone, frustrated the Indians. Two penalties in the opening three minutes of the second period moved a 5-on-3 advantage to North Haven. Carbone countered with three saves, while Ryan Powers made a key deflection to keep the 1-0 lead intact.
“I told them we had to be aggressive tonight,” Riccitelli added. “That 5-on-3 was a big penalty kill.”
The Rams didn’t miss their opportunity to break the game open. Following penalties for hooking and interference, Cheshire had a 5-on-3 advantage at the 4:06 mark. Senior right wing Nate Gaudio charged toward the net and lofted the puck toward the right post, where classmate Mike Diglio stepped in precisely for a 2-0 advantage.
“Nate and I have great communication. It comes down to all the years we’ve played together,” stated Diglio, who shares the captain’s title with Gaudio, J.D. Keegan, and classmate Drew Cunningham.
The Powers family helped extend the lead to 4-0 in the second period. Ryan tallied his second goal and then 37 seconds later at 1:02, Owen found senior Mike Devine for his team-best 12th goal.
“We started (playing hockey) at four-years-old, but didn’t play on the same team until this year,” said Ryan Powers. “It’s a second family.”
“It’s interesting. We are getting used to it,” Owen Powers added.
Cheshire compiled a 23-12 shot-advantage over North Haven and their defensemen closed out the scoring. Sophomore John Cunningham buried a deep shot in the first minute of the final period and Keegan netted a slap shot a little under three minutes later.
“It feels really good. This has to be the turning point of our season,” said Diglio.
The victory was redemption, after what transpired three days earlier. North Branford senior Chris McNeil converted two power play goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and win the game. Cheshire out-shot the Thunderbirds, 28-21, but a cross checking penalty hurt them in extra time. McNeil fired the golden goal with 5:43 left.
Regulation was a goalkeeping battle between Carbone (19 saves) and North Branford senior Cody Moorcroft (27 saves). Cheshire received a pair of first-period power plays, yet they were unable to take advantage. Carbone made eight saves in the second period, including a shot caught between his legs.
“You have to focus and keep your head up,” stated Carbone, a first-year starter.
Cheshire snapped the stalemate behind Devine, who has scored their first goal in six of eight games. Devine settled a pass from Owen Powers at middle ice, made a move to pull out Moorcroft, and converted with 4:51 left. A tripping penalty was key in the opening two minutes of the third period. North Branford needed just four seconds for McNeil to tie the score, 1-1.
Cheshire visits Guilford tonight, at 7:30 p.m.