Division II hockey: Cheshire falls to East Haven in state final rematch
HAMDEN – Cheshire ice hockey coach Anthony Giusto knew that after last year’s loss to the Rams in the Division II championship game, the East Haven co-op would have Sunday circled on the calendar.
It was the date of the Division II state final and once again, Cheshire would face East Haven at Quinnipiac’s M&T Bank Arena.
The result was very different this time around, however – East Haven dominated top-seeded Cheshire, 7-3, to win its first title since 1998.
Shane Ruggiero and Lorenzo DeFilio each had two goals for second-seeded East Haven, which beat Cheshire earlier in the season 5-4.
“They came out with so much intensity, and I don’t think we did a great job matching it early on,” Giusto said. “We knew they had this game circled on the calendar a long time before they even knew if they were playing in it or we were playing in it.
“We knew they were going to come out with something to prove, we saw the way they played in the semifinals, nine goals against North Haven. They were very driven after last year. They outworked us, they outplayed us, they deserved this win tonight.”
Last year, Cheshire won the title 6-3 over East Haven and finished its best season ever at 24-1-1 but lost a number of key seniors from that team.
East Haven led 3-0 after the first period and 6-0 after two periods. The Yellowjackets outshot Cheshire 34-16.
“As much as we challenged them and told them, ‘You’re going to get punched and you got to punch back,’ we are a young team, and I thought that showed a little bit at times. especially early on when we didn’t match their speed and intensity,” Giusto said. “We kept battling throughout the game. I loved the way we played in the third period. It says a lot about a team when you don’t hang your head and you just keep playing.”
Cheshire (20-6) finally got on the board in the third period when Mark Laskin scored and Devin Kelly and Liam O’Dea also had goals for the Rams.
Cheshire goalie Ryan Miller, who had 34 saves in the Rams’ semifinal win over Amity, had 25 saves.
“We kind of hung him out to dry too many times,” Giusto said. “He made some big saves early on to keep it 3-0 after the first period. The scoreboard does not reflect his efforts tonight.”
Topics
-
Div. II ice hockey: Defending champ Cheshire defeats Amity, advances to final once again
HAMDEN – Last year, Ryan Miller had 24 saves in a state semifinal win over Amity en route to Cheshire’s first hockey title in 15 years. He was only a sophomore. This year, as a junior, he’s that ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Boys hockey: St. Thomas sticks to game plan to win Div. II championship
Mar. 16—MANCHESTER — The game plan for the St. Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team in the NHIAA Division II championship game on Saturday was no different than it had been all season. The Saints wanted ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16 -
Westerville North boys basketball cruises to OHSAA Division II state championship
Micah Young's 24 points and eight rebounds led Westerville North to a 78-46 win over Massillon Perry in the OHSAA Division II state final Friday.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Video replay review used for first time in MIAA hockey state championship
After a controversial ending in last year's MIAA Division 1 boys hockey final, replay review was added. It didn't take long for it to get used.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16 -
Ohio State Women's Ice Hockey falls to Wisconsin in National Championship Game
The Ohio State Buckeyes Women's Ice Hockey team lost to Wisconsin in the National Championship Game, 4-3 in overtimeYahoo Sports - 1d -
Washburn men's basketball advances to NCAA Division II Central Region semifinals
After a dominant performance on Saturday, Washburn men's basketball is set to play in the NCAA Division II Central Region semifinals on Sunday night.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16 -
Oyster River girls basketball team falls to No. 2 Milford in Division II championship game
"We were up for the challenge. (Milford) just kept grinding it down and they got us at the end," Oyster River girls basketball coach Bryan Wall.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Alijah Arenas' final game in Chatsworth uniform ends in defeat in Sacramento
Alijah Arenas surpasses 3,000 career points, but Chatsworth falls to Jesuit 66-53 in Division II state finalYahoo Sports - Mar. 16 -
Can Maine men's hockey win it all? Bears inch closer to goal
Mar. 21—One step closer. By reaching the Hockey East championship game, that's what the University of Maine men's ice hockey team is. Just one step closer. The Black Bears entered the Hockey East ...Yahoo Sports - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Reporter says UConn staffer apologized for men's March Madness incident, 'life rolls on'
Local North Carolina reporter, Joey Ellis, said Tuesday that UConn staffer, Bobby Mullen, and him spoke after a March Madness confrontation Sunday.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
David Brooks saves Joe Allen’s blushes in Wales’ World Cup qualifier
David Brooks salvaged Wales a precious 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against North Macedonia with almost the last kick of the match in Skopje.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
David Brooks saves Joe Allen’s blushes in Wales’ World Cup qualifier
David Brooks salvaged Wales a precious 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against North Macedonia with almost the last kick of the match in Skopje.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Savannah James Sends 9-Word Message After Major Bronny James News
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James received a message from his mother.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Savannah James Sends 9-Word Message After Major Bronny James News
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James received a message from his mother.Yahoo Sports - 15m
More in Sports
-
Pain Index: Whose 2025 NCAA tournament loss hurt most?
Some losses are understandable; others will haunt us forever. Let's break down the 2025 men's NCAA tournament defeats.ESPN - 6m -
'Gotta carry it like a battle scar': Can Yankees bounce back from fifth-inning World Series nightmare?
Starting with their historic Game 5 meltdown, the road to Opening Day in the Bronx has been a rough one.ESPN - 8m -
Premier League stars are tough, but criticism can hurt them and their loved ones
In his latest column, ESPN FC analyst and ex-Man City defender Nedum Onuoha reveals how much attention players pay to all the negative talk about them.ESPN - 10m -
France fix issues, reach Nations League finals. Next? World Cup
France have belief to go with their talent and, after righting the ship to beat Croatia, can look toward 2026.ESPN - 10m -
Champions Argentina qualify for 2026 World Cup
Argentina will get the chance to defend its World Cup title in 2026 after becoming the first South American team to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.ESPN - 13m