Sports

Tri-Town Hockey Holds off Wildcats, 3-1

Third period goal breaks 1-1 tie and lifts Tri-Town to its second straight win.

Mike Hanna scored a breakaway goal with just over nine minutes to play, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving Tri-Town a 3-1 victory over Suffield in Northern Hockey Conference action Thursday at the Enfield Twin Rinks.

Hanna's goal came after a Wildcats giveaway in the neutral zone. Zach Palmer and Ronnie Williams assisted on the tally.

"We've been working in practice on how to cause turnovers, because with this being such a small rink, a turnover at the red line can be a goal," said Tri-Town coach Paul Dowe.

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Williams had given Tri-Town a 1-0 lead with the only goal of the first period, poking the puck past Suffield netminder Mitch Crosby after a scramble in front.

The Wildcats tied it with less than a minute remaining in the second period, when Steve Zaczynski deflected a shot by Anthony Munson through the legs of Tri-Town goaltender Mitch Diresta.

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After Hanna's tiebreaking goal, Suffield had a chance to tie the game, but a hard slapshot by Tyler Powers clanged off the left goalpost.

The Wildcats pulled Crosby in favor of an extra attacker in the final minute, but were unable to capitalize. Ian Leiching iced the contest for Tri-Town with an empty-net goal in the waning seconds.

Tri-Town outshot the Wildcats, 26-20.

"Our goaltender did a great job, and our defense cut off passes left and right," said Suffield coach Nick Boorman. "If the puck bounced a few different ways and their goalie didn't make so many saves, it may have gone a different way."

Tri-Town (2-0) hosts Greenwich Wednesday at 3 p.m., while Suffield (1-2) entertains Fermi Monday at 3:10 p.m.


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