WATERBURY, Vt. — The Hartford High boys hockey team jumped out to a two-goal lead against Harwood in Saturday’s VPA Division II semifinal game, but the top-seeded Highlanders flipped the script midway through the contest to forge a 4-2 victory.
“We did everything that we talked about going into this game,” Hartford coach Todd Bebeau said after the No. 4 Hurricanes (15-7-1) were ousted from the postseason at the Ice Center in Waterbury. “We scored first, we scored early, we extended the lead. You know, you look at clock, there’s six minutes to go (in the second period) and it’s 2-0, but you knew they were going to make their push, right? And they did.”
Kyle Hamilton was first to light the lamp with an unassisted goal 2:29 into the game.
Hartford’s senior captain had spent the bulk of his shift pressuring Harwood’s defense and goalie, and it paid off. When the hosts tried to clear the puck from behind the net, Hamilton skated into the passing lane and one-timed it past Highlander goalie Liam Guyette (18 saves).
Hurricane freshman James McReynolds added an unassisted goal 4:49 into the second period before the tables turned.
“We had them on the ropes,” Bebeau said. “Our game plan, the kids followed it to a T. I think the turning point in the game was when we were up 2-0, we had that look in front of the net where we could have made it 3-0 (and) their goalie came up big on the save against my No. 10, Kyle Hamilton. From that point on, they seemed to have a different gear, a different level, and they showed why they’re the No. 1 seed.”
Harwood (19-3-0), which defeated the Canes, 3-2, in the two teams’ only regular-season meeting, scored its first goal (by Finn O’Hara) with 3:14 in the second period and then again two minutes later (Skylar Platt).
The Highlanders, who will move on to face either Milton or Burr & Burton in Wednesday’s championship game, got third-period goals from Jonathan O’Brien and Platt.
It was an impressive turnaround for a squad that initially came out flat.
“Expletives taken out of it, basically, ‘We need to hunker down and play our game,’ ” Harwood coach Jacob Grout responded when asked what he told his team after it gave up the contest’s first two goals. “We played nowhere near what our game was in that first period. Didn’t stick to the game plan. And it came down to attitude and effort, is what I told them. You can always control those two aspects 100%, and effort wasn’t where we needed it. And then they picked it up.”
Harwood’s early scoring draught also had a lot to do with Colby Boyce, Hartford’s standout freshman goalie, who posted 32 saves after stopping 43 shots against Lyndon in the quarterfinals.
“The late one in the second period that tied it up, you could tell, the kids, that affected them a little bit,” Bebeau said. “I think the reality is the better team won. They have more weapons. …
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t win, but again, it’s one of those things I told my kids: I’d take them. I love my kids. I’d take them up against anyone, win, lose or draw, and that’s what it’s all about. The relationships we have built with this group this year. This program is back on the map, we’re relevant and we’re not going anywhere. We’re going to be right back at it again next year.”
Grout expressed praise for Bebeau and the Hurricanes’ hockey program.
“That team right there is probably the best-coached team that you’re going to see in the state of Vermont,” he said. “The way those guys play their system is immaculate. And it’s a testament to how they held us to what they did tonight.”
Hartford graduates Hamilton, alternate captain Kaj Boeri, Cody Chapman, Charlie Scribner, Matt Roberts and Nehemiah Arnold.
Notes: Harwood received one penalty on Saturday and the Hurricanes were whistled three times. … The Ice Center parking lot was busy before the game with both teams using it for exercise as a smattering of fans tailgated.