Northwest Catholic Falls in Hockey Finals

NEW HAVEN, CT — The last time Ridgefield High School won a state ice hockey championship, no players from the current roster were old enough to have even laced up skates yet.

The Tigers won the Division II title in 2002, crushing Milford by an 8-3 count, but Monday night at Ingalls Rink at Yale University, their sights were set on the state's highest prize - the Division I championship.

A magnificent 24-second stretch late in the first period sealed the deal for Ridgefield, as the second-seeded Tigers netted three goals in that stretch en route to a 6-2 victory over top-seeded Northwest Catholic.

Goals in rapid-fire succession by Nick Culinan, Matteo van Wees and Jeff Pracella broke open a scoreless deadlock in the final four minutes of the opening session.

Ridgefield appeared to gain even more of an advantage with a pair of consecutive 5-on-3 opportunities, but Northwest Catholic kept the Tigers off the board during that stretch, then broke into the scoring column themselves on an Anthony Ceolin goal.

Paul Arel cut the deficit to one with exactly a minute remaining in the second period, sending the Lions to the locker room with a renewed sense of confidence and momentum.

"I think the kids were pumped, they said we can do this," Lions head coach Don Melanson said.

Ridgefield broke that momentum by netting a goal just 53 seconds into the final period, when a blast by Will Forrest found the top of the cage with such precision it knocked goalkeeper Cal Skwara's water bottle all the way to the boards.

"Let the second period go, put it behind you and move forward - that's what they told each other," Ridgefield coach Shaun Gallagher said. "Will made a great shot there and everyone refocused. It was a mental toughness thing."

Jack Stafford and van Wees completed the scoring for the Tigers.

Sean Keegans earned the victory in goal by stopping 29 shots.

"The defense was really solid tonight, letting very few quality chances get through, and when they did, Keegs was there," Gallagher said. "He's been incredible all year."

Photo credits: Tim Jensen