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Darien’s James Conway (18) and Hamden’s Robert Celentano (3) mix it up behind the goal during a boys ice hockey game in Hamden on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019.
Photo: Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaDarien’s James Conway (18) and Hamden’s Robert Celentano (3) mix it up behind the goal during a boys ice hockey game in Hamden on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019.
Darien’s James Conway (18) and Hamden’s Robert Celentano (3) mix it up behind the goal during a boys ice hockey game in Hamden on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019.
Darien’s James Conway (18) and Hamden’s Robert Celentano (3) mix it up behind the goal during a boys ice hockey game in Hamden on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019.
The Darien boys ice hockey team started its weekend road trip in Rhode Island with a bit of a roller coaster ride on Saturday afternoon.
After a slow start which had them chasing three goals, the Wave scored twice in the second period before eventually falling, 3-2, to Bishop Hendricken at Schneider Arena in Providence.
Bennett McDermott and Teddy Dyer scored Darien’s goals and the Blue Wave outshot the Hawks, 30-19, in the loss. Albert Lian, James Conway and Danny Lowe had assists.
“The poor start really hurt us, however, once we got going, I was happy with how we played,” Darien coach Mac Budd said. “Bishop Hendricken is a young team but good speed and skill. It was a fun game to play and it will help us get better.”
It was just the third loss of the season for Darien, which is 8-3 and has been ranked No. 1 in the last three GameTimeCT polls. Bishop Hendricken is a perennial Div. I contender in Rhode Island.
The Hawks grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first period and added a goal early in the second frame for a 3-0 lead.
McDermott started Darien’s rally with a goal midway through the second period, and Dyer added another goal less than a minute later to make it 3-2.
Budd said the Wave played with more intensity in the second period and, after the Hawks scored the third goal, Darien was able to maintain consistent pressure.
“For the rest of the period we turned it on and quickly scored two goals,” Budd said. “We had a number of very good chances for the rest of the game and, obviously, came up a bit short.”
The Wave will continue its Rhode Island road trip with a game against LaSalle Academy in Smithfield at 5:30 p.m., Sunday.
Darien and LaSalle will be playing for the third straight year and LaSalle has taken the first two meetings, including a 3-2 overtime victory in the Wave’s season-opener at Twin Rinks in Stamford last winter. In that game, Jack Gannon scored the game-winner with 10 seconds remaining in OT.
david.stewart@hearstmediact.com; @dstewartsports
