HAMPDEN – Two years ago, the Conard hockey team was on the ice here at Quinnipiac for the Division III championship game. The Red Wolves had a bit of a rough season and magically made it through the playoffs, but it wasn't supposed to be that year and they lost to Newington in the finals.
Last year, they advanced to the semifinals of the prefectural tournament. This year, they'll take it a step further, and on Thursday night they'll take the ultimate step. Conard defeated top-seeded Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury-Immaculate Co-op 4-1 in the Division III championship to win its first state title since 1996.
Aiden Emery, one of the team's 10 seniors, scored two goals, including one on a penalty shot, leading Conard (22-2-1) to its third title (1985, 1996). ).
“Everything is a relief at this point,” Conard coach Jason Olson said. “This group deserves it. They really fought two seasons ago, and they had a great run last year. This year, they were really great. This group deserves it, so make sure you do this.” I felt a lot of pressure to accomplish this.
“I'm relieved, I'm ecstatic, and the boys are ecstatic. They deserve every bit of this feeling.”
Two years ago was more of a “storybook” year, Olson said. The leadership and commitment shown by the seniors over the course of the season trickled down to the younger players who became seniors on the team this year.
“We were an average team, barely above .500,” Olson said of the 2022 group. “We have great seniors and they decided to turn things around. They just created a better environment and this group took advantage of it and continued to do it, getting more and more every year. It seemed like they were adding skills, and no matter what's going on at the youth level, they have to maintain that. It's made my life so much easier.
“Coming into this year, we had high expectations. To be honest, if we didn't win it all, we felt like we were bankrupt. We wanted it all. We knew this group could do it.”
Conard scored early Thursday. Junior Brady Nowras, who missed part of the season with an injury, returned and scored the first goal 5:46 into the game. Three minutes later, junior Luke Shafer made it 2-0.
“We're talking about it, getting off to a fast start and putting all the pressure on them,” Olson said. “Once we score the first one, we can relax and start playing a little bit and keep them on their toes and stress them out. We did a good job with that.”
Emery scored the next two goals. His first score came with 5:23 left in the second period. BBDI got things going with a goal from Giovani Smeriglio, and Emery connected with a penalty shot just over a minute into the third period.
The last time Conard played in a final at Quinnipiac, Emery was there.
“I can't believe it,” he said. “We've had this team for three years now. It started with the senior group we had back then. We've always had great leadership. Everybody's enthusiastic and everybody wants it. Masu.
“I know what it feels like to watch the other team throw up the glove after the game is over, how bad it is. It gave us energy. The dedication and effort tonight. It was extraordinary.”
