Ridgefield Edges Darien 3-2 To Win FCIAC Boys Hockey Title

The redemption tour for the Ridgefield boys hockey team is complete.

Sean Wilkinson scored the tiebreaking goal 4:22 into the third period as the Tigers defeated Darien 3-2 Saturday night in the finals of the FCIAC tier one playoffs at the Terry Conners Rink.

Ridgefield (20-2) avenged a 4-2 regular-season loss to Darien that snapped the Tigers' 14-game winning streak.

In the semifinals on Wednesday, the Tigers blanked St. Joseph 6-0 to even the score after two postseason losses to the Cadets last year, one in the FCIAC playoffs and the other in the quarterfinals of the Division I state tournament.

"There's something about competing against the same guys every year for the FCIACs," Wilkinson said. "There's something special about winning."

Despite the loss, Darien coach Chris Gerwig had few complaints.

"I'm lost for words because it was a tough loss but at the same, and I didn't think I would ever say this, I'm pleased with the way we played," Gerwig said. "We can't play any better than we did. That's a good hockey team over there. They haven't beaten Notre Dame of West Haven on the road and Xavier and South Windsor without a reason."

Wilkinson used his speed to dominate against the Cadets with two goals and an assist. Against Darien, he was pretty much held in check -- until scoring the goal that gave Ridgefield its first FCIAC title since 2007.

"I was happy to be part of a big game and to be on top," Gallagher said. "Regular season games, we tell the kids, are practice for the postseason. It does feel real good to get back (at Darien)." 

Christopher Morrow, who scored Ridgefield's first goal Saturday, set up the winner with a rush down the right wing. Morrow's shot from the faceoff circle was kicked aside by Darien goaltender Max Rothston.

But the puck bounced to Wilkinson, who was open on the left doorstep, and he banged in the rebound to put Ridgefield ahead for the third time in a spirited game played before a vocal crowd.

"The last time we played them, they kind of keyed on me and shut me down a little bit," Wilkinson said. "This game, I worked hard, got in the right place at the right time."

No one on the Ridgefield bench was suprised that Wilkinson got the winning goal, including Gallagher.

"He's come through in big spots all year, why would I be surprised," Gallagher said. "If it wasn't him on the  goal, it would have been him on the assist, I'm sure."

Wilkinson pointed to the chemistry he and his linemates have developed.

"Me, Timmy Kelly and Chris Morrow have been coming together as a line for the past month or so," Wilkinson added.  "We kind of molded at the right time. We're moving the puck really well. We know what each other is going to do. Timmy might have dropped it back to Chris, he took the shot, nice far-side shot. It came out to my stick and I just buried it."  

After a scoreless first period, play opened up in the middle stanza as the teams combined for four goals. Darien answered a pair of goals by the Tigers to send the contest into the third period tied at 2-2.

Morrow, who had two goals in Ridgefield's 6-0 win over St. Joseph in the semifinals, opened the scoring just 30 seconds into the second period.

After taking a centering pass from Kelly, Morrow's one-timer from the slot trickled under the legs of Darien goaltender Max Rothston and crossed the goal line.

Less than two minutes later, Darien Nick Bruno tied it while on a rush as his wrister from inside the blueline beat Ridgefield goalie Nate Gliedman low to the stick side.

The goal energized the Blue Wave, who registered eight of the first 10 shots in the period.

However, Ridgefield regained the lead on what appeared to be an innocent play. John Christensen intercepted a clearing attempt and beat Rothson from 10 feet inside the blue line

But before the Ridgefield fans had stopped cheerleading, the back-and-forth contest was deadlocked again. Just 12  seconds later, Owen Koorbusch corraled a loose puck in front and slammed it into an open net.

Then it came down to Ridgefield's best player making a play.

"The kid goes to the net, they shoot the puck, the puck caroms right to his stick and that's what happens with good goal scorers," Gerwig said. "They find ways to get to the net."

Remarkably, there were no penalties called in Saturday's game.

"They have a terrific power play, so that might have worked to our advantage, but the refs let us play and the fans got their money's worth," Gerwig said. "That was one of the best games I've ever been a part of."