Darien falls to Rhode Island power Bishop Hendricken

DARIEN — The Darien boys ice hockey team is facing a veritable gauntlet of powerful teams this week. And for coach Mac Budd, it couldn’t come at more opportune moment. “These are tough games” Budd said. “I think for us it comes an at absolutely fantastic time in terms of our development as a team. We’re going to come out of this, one way or the other, knowing where we stand as a team and what we need to work on. It’ll make us a better team when it counts at the end of the year.” Kicking off that stretch, the second-ranked Blue Wave scored two late goals to make it interesting but dropped a 3-2 decision to Bishop Hendricken (RI) Saturday at the Darien Ice House. Darien will take on LaSalle Academy (RI) at 3:40, Sunday, with rival New Canaan, the top-ranked team in the GameTimeCT poll, on tap for 4:20, Wednesday. The Hawks scored once in the first period and twice in the final 3:25 of the second to take a 3-0 lead. Darien averted the shutout when Grafton Ely clanged a shot off the crossbar during a power play with 2:17 remaining. Bobby Whittaker then ripped in a goal from the top of the circle to make it a one-goal game with 54.6 seconds on the clock. The Hawks’ defense and goalie Colin Murray held off the Wave’s final push for the victory. Michael Soscia, Colton Whitfield, and Dylan Cappelli scored Bishop Hedricken’s goals. Budd was happy with the late rally, but said the Wave’s offense has to find a way to put more pucks in the net. “We did have some opportunities tonight, but without more high-quality scoring chances, it’s going to be difficult,” Budd said. “We’re playing very good team defense, but it’s not reasonable to think that you’re going to be able to continually win 1-0 or 2-1 games. We’re going to need to score more goals.” Murray, a freshman, was making his first start for Bishop Hendricken and delivered with 20 saves, allowing only two late goals with one coming on the power play. “He did a great job,” Bishop Hendricken coach Mike Soscia said. “It’s his first high school start so we couldn’t have asked for anything more.” IN HONOR OF TEDDY Before the game, the Blue Wave and Hawks held a moment of silence for St. Luke’s sophomore Teddy Balkind, who died from an injury suffered during an ice hockey game at The Brunswick School in Greenwich on Thursday. The teams stood in a circle at center ice, alternating players from either team, a poignant gesture which added to the hockey community’s outpouring of emotions during the past two days. “It’s a really, really difficult time,” Budd said. “Everyone in the hockey community, which is very close-knit with a lot of togetherness, is absolutely heartbroken. You play hockey, it’s such a great sport, and you go out there to have fun, and something like that is distressing. My thoughts are with the family and the St. Luke’s and Brunswick communities.” PLAYER OF THE GAME Colin Murray, Bishop Hendricken: The freshman goalie made his first start a good one, making 20 saves to help the Hawks take a 3-2 win. QUOTABLE “We took some penalties and Darien capitalize, so we just had to bear down and do the little things to survive that at the end.” — Bishop Hedricken coach Mike Soscia BISHOP HENDRICKEN (RI) 3, DARIEN 2 BISHOP HENDRICKEN 1 2 0 — 3 DARIEN 0 0 2 — 2 Scoring: First period: BH — Michael Soscia (Andrew Smith), 7:47; Second period: BH — Colton Whitfield (Jack Hornstein), 11:35; BH — Dylan Cappelli (Matthew Moretti, Whitfield), 13:15; Third quarter: D — Grafton Ely (Billy Branca, Charlie Schwind), 11:49; D — Bobby Whittaker, 14:06. Goalies: BH — Colin Murray 20 saves; D — Chris Schofield 21 saves. Records: Bishop Hendricken 4-1, Darien 3-1-1.