Sheehan claims first SCC Division II crown

By Dan Nowak
New Haven Register Staff
March 3, 2007

Sheehan players celebrate their win in the SCC Division II championship game.

NORTH BRANFORD, CT - Sheehan-Wallingford boys' hockey coach Ralph Shaw had a simple game plan against Branford going into the Southern Connecticut Conference Division II final on Saturday — constantly pressure the Hornets and wear them down. With the Hornets having played nearly 65 minutes of hockey in a physically-demanding double overtime semifinal game 24 hours earlier, the game plan had merit.

Vinnie Nguyen scored twice, Brendan Kane had three assists and goalie Cameron Sidwell made 12 saves to lead No. 3 seed Sheehan to a 5-2 win over No. 4 Branford for its first SCC Division II championship in front of an estimated crowd of 900 at the Northford Ice Pavilion.

After Branford starting goalie Jen Platt made two outstanding saves on breakaways, the Titans scored two goals 66 seconds apart to take a 2-0 lead in the first period. Nguyen, the tournament's most valuable player, scored at 8:48 and Derek Huelsman made it 2-0 at 9:54, and the Titans (17-4-1) never trailed.

"We wanted to jump on them early," Shaw said. "It was an advantage that they went into double overtime the night before. We wanted to constantly attack them, make them skate and wear them down. The key was to win each period and keep our feet moving.

"Cameron was solid for us in goal. He's really come on the last few games and has been there for the big stops in the big games."

Branford coach Larry Vieira credited Sheehan's tenacity for its win.

"Physically, we were a little tired," Vieira said. "Sheehan certainly outplayed us tonight and made us tired. They didn't stop hitting, they didn't stop forechecking and they made us work for everything.

"Anytime you allow two quick goals it's tough to turn the tide. But Jen has been great for us and she made some great saves. But after the second goal I felt I needed to make a change and put the hot goalie in."

Branford goalie John Pappacoda made 61 saves in the semifinal win over Amity-Woodbridge and Vieira wanted to give him a rest after the double overtime game. However, Pappacoda replaced Platt after Huelsman's goal and kept the Hornets in the game. But the constant Titans pressure continued to take its toll.

In the second period, Branford's Zach Bassett scored off a wrist shot from the left circle to cut the lead to 2-1 at 6:13. But Sheehan's J.J. Ritchcote responded off a high shot over Pappacoda's left shoulder to make it 3-1 at 9:12.

With the teams in a 4-on-4 situation, Timek scored his goal off a rebound to pad the lead at 4-2 with 3:02 left in the second period.

In the third period, Matt Kuhn and Andrew Whitney each had a pair of point-blank chances to make it a one-goal game. But Sidwell made four stick saves to preserve the lead.

"It's always easier to play with the lead and getting two quick goals in the first period took some pressure off," Sidwell said. "It gave me a lot of confidence. We were constantly on the attack and all I had to do was keep our team in the game."

Nguyen scored late in the third period for the 5-2 final.

Branford dropped to 11-11. Platt had nine saves and Pappacoda 18.

The Hornets were without forwards Justin Hucul and Miles Krischtschun who were serving one-game suspensions.