The Woodstock Academy Centaurs boys’ ice hockey team has been very proficient about a couple of things; scoring in bunches and coming from behind.
The formula has been pretty successful as the Centaurs downed the Housatonic-Northwestern-Wamogo-Torrington cooperative, 6-3, Jan. 5 at the Jahn Ice Rink at Pomfret School to raise their record to 5-1.
It was their first and only game of the New Year’s week.
“It seems to be our M.O., at this point, to learn in the first period, take advantage in the second and really try to close it out in the third,” said Woodstock Academy coach Kevin Bisson. “I wish we would learn without letting them score on us, but if we can keep that resiliency that we have –we don’t get down when we’re down on the scoreboard – and battle back consistently, it’s a still a nice thing to see. We have that fight factor.”
The game against the Mountaineers was just another example.
Senior center Jack MacAuliffe and junior forward Luke Mollica scored in the first period for the Housatonic co-op.
The Centaurs cut the deficit in half when senior Matt Odom scored on an unassisted goal with 39 seconds to play in the period.
Odom then knotted things up just 50 seconds into the second period off an assist from Sean McCusker.
That was two goals in 1:30 of playing time.
The Mountaineers took the 3-2 lead on a goal by Owen Byrne halfway through the second period.
Odom finished up his hat trick with 3:13 left in the period off an assist from Ethan Thorpe and, true to form, went ahead to stay on a goal by Doug Newton 2 ½ minutes later.
“I would love to have the stat because when we score, we seem to do so in bunches. I’m curious about the time between goals average that we must have at this point. When we score one, we usually score two, which is great. We see the blood in the water and attack,” Bisson said.
The goals were a little more spread out in the third period with Liam McDermott scoring 4:53 into the period with help from Odom and Thorpe. Odom got his fourth goal and the final one for Woodstock Academy in the game while the Centaurs were shorthanded with 1:25 to play.
“You need a big player in big moments,” Bisson said. “We’re down, we need some momentum and he provides it. That short-handed goal really sealed the deal for us.”
Odom now has 10 goals and 12 points for the Centaurs, both are team bests.
Newton is next with seven goals and two assists thus far. Despite the 5-1 record, Bisson said there are things to work on.
“We have pretty strong starts. We pin them in their end and the puck doesn’t cross the red line for long portions of the start of games, but when it does, all of a sudden, we have these breakdowns and they wind up putting it home. We identify what we need to work on. We have certain strengths that we can continue to develop but we have to be aware of what we need to improve on and we certainly have some key areas in the defensive zone to clean up,” Bisson said.
Unfortunately, the Centaurs won’t have much time to work on much of anything this week.
They opened with a game at the Eastern Connecticut Eagles on Monday and travel to Suffield for a Wednesday afternoon game before finishing up the week on Friday at Tri-Town.
“I was watching the (Boston) Bruins the other day and they were talking about the NHL coaches griping that there is never time to practice, they never can seem to practice enough. Here we are and we’re basically looking at that,” Bisson said.
Bisson gave his team Sunday off and they will also take Tuesday off after a Monday night game, leaving only Thursday to practice.
“We’re looking at four games and one practice and that leaves a lot of drawing on the white board and hope they fully understand without going through the physical motions of it. It’s going to be a tough week. They are all away games,” Bisson said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

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Melissa Aucoin Pelletier
NEWINGTON — Melissa (Aucoin) Pelletier, 49, of Richard St., died Jan. 1, 2019. She was the wife of Robert Pelletier. Born in 1969 in Putnam, she was the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Aucoin.
Melissa received her master’s degree in education from St. Joseph University. She was a dedicated and well liked educator for various schools and published a book titled “The Secrets of the Wee People.” Her true passion was the performing arts. She enjoyed singing and acting with numerous theater groups. Her beautiful voice was evident while singing at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wethersfield. Melissa will always be remembered for her vivacious personality and her bright smile.
In addition to her parents and husband, she leaves four children: son Devon Dusseault (Ashley) of Windsor Locks; daughters, Jillian Dusseault Clark (Dave) of Suffield (granddaughter Elouise Clark), Rowan Pelletier of Newington and Willow Pelletier of Newington; her sister, Allison Darigan (John) of Woodstock; her nieces, Meghan and Hannah Darigan; and her nephews, Jeter and Rory Darigan, all of Woodstock; her aunt, Lorraine Bazinet; and grandmother, Florence Aucoin. She is predeceased by her son, Brendan D. Dusseault; and her uncle, Theodore Bazinet.
Services were private. Donations: N.A.M.I (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) 3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Gertrude M. Latici
WOODSTOCK — Gertrude M. (Moynihan) Latici, 99, of Roseland Park Rd., died Jan. 5, 2019, at the home of her daughter.  She was the wife of 66 years to the late Bruno N. Latici who died on Sept. 24, 2011.
Born in 1919 in Dorchester, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Henry Joseph and Ethel Agnes (Mellavin) Moynihan.   
She was a 1938 graduate of the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing.  One of her first assignments was to tend victims of the infamous Coconut Grove Nightclub fire.  
Mrs. Latici worked as a nurse anesthetist at Day Kimball Hospital for 30 years and Framingham Union Hospital for 10 years.
In 1963, Gertrude and her husband Bruno purchased their beloved cottage, “Tuckaway” on Nantucket Island, which they generously shared with their friends and family. After her retirement, they moved to the Island and remained there until 2009. While on Nantucket, she was a member of the Nantucket Anglers Club, a volunteer at the Hospital Thrift Shop and the annual daffodil show where she won many ribbons for her prized daffodils. Gertrude was an avid skier, reader, gardener, and enjoyed listening to music and bird watching. She was also active in the Woodstock and Pomfret communities serving as a member of the Woodstock Theft Detecting Society, Woodstock Fire Department as an EMT, the Pontefract Boat Club, past president of both the New England and Connecticut Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and along with her friends, had a seat at the Boston Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years.
She leaves two sons, Steven Latici (Laura) of Gilmanton, N.H., and Renald Latici of Woodstock; three daughters, Cristina Latici (Justin McAvoy) of NYC, Elena Latici of Bologna, Italy, and Jennifer Latici of Woodstock; a sister, Phyllis Coulp of Hampton, N.H.; a brother-in-law, Donald Latici of Montvale, N.J.; five grandchildren, Justin Latici, Margot Stern, and Finn, Blaise, and Millicent Latici-McAvoy; and three great-grandchildren Emma and Alden Latici and Joslin Stern; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Fred Moynihan and three sisters, Elaine Herindeen, Barbara Drinan, and Helen Moynihan.
A Memorial Mass at Most Holy Trinity Church will be held in the Spring. Donations: Day Kimball Homecare- visiting nurses, 320 Pomfret Street Putnam, CT 06260; or the Nantucket Land Council, P.O. Box 502, Nantucket, MA 02554. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Chong Kozlowski
DAYVILLE — Chong S. Kozlowski, 70, of Dayville, Jan. 3, 2019, at Brookside Nursing Home in Webster.
She was born April 9, 1948, in North Korea, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sook (Son) Kim. She was the wife of Paul T. Kozlowski. They were married on Aug. 11, 1978, in Dayville.
Chong was a homemaker and enjoyed trips to the casino. She loved to crochet and garden — her flowers were beautiful.
She leaves her husband of 40 years, Paul T. Kozlowski of Dayville.
Visitation is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 9 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. A Funeral Service will be at 10:30 at the funeral home with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville.

Cynthia Libby
PUTNAM — Jan. 3, 2019, Cynthia Whitney Libby, 84, of Putnam put away her rolling pin and lasagna pans, turned off the Hallmark Channel and left to join her husband of 54 years at the big party in the sky.
Born Aug. 5, 1934, in Houlton, Maine, she was the daughter of Dr. Arthur and Gladys (Morehouse) Whitney and the younger sister of Arthur, Jr. (Sonny).  She graduated from Old Town High School where she joined forces with a group of merrymakers called the Jolly Juniors, with whom she rendezvoused in New England coastal towns 60 years past graduation. Cynthia attended the University of Maine where after falling asleep face down in a book too many times, she shelved her own books and went on to shelve others in the university library. There she entranced a young country boy with squeaky shoes and a funny name (Seabury Byron Libby). She married him, raised three children and worked alongside him in Libby’s Supermarket.
Cynthia’s adventures in retail (Kmart —where she was literally their biggest cheerleader) and at the Brooklyn Public Schools where she was a teacher’s aide, served as a backdrop to her true passion as the consummate hostess. A quintessential extrovert, with an enormously generous heart, she loved entertaining people in and outside her home.
She leaves daughters Karen and Diane (husband Paul, children James and Katherine) and son Kevin who will miss her apple pies, bunny cakes, lobster feasts, over the top holiday decorations and “You want it, get it” approach to life.
A brief goodbye was Jan. 7 at Smith Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial in Grove Street Cemetery. Donations: Day Kimball Hospital Healthcare or Hospice of Northeast Connecticut, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.

Robert A. Regis
BROOKLYN — The Lord has called Robert home, dying peacefully Jan. 4, 2019, at home.
He was the husband of Patricia (Renaud) Regis. 
Born in 1938 in Danielson, he was the son of the late Lucien and Phyllis (Piette) Regis.
Robert attended St. James School and Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School.  As a young man, he worked for many years in the laborer’s union.  Bob would later go on to work for Rogers Corp.  He started and operated his own business, Bob Regis Line Striping. He was a communicant of St. James Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed playing the drums for many bands at local restaurants, Treasure Island, Stables, Perrini’s, and the Irish American Club.  He also enjoyed playing the organ at home, riding motorcycles, playing pool, driving his Camaros, cookouts at his sister’s beach house in Jerusalem, R.I., and spending time with family at Alexanders Lake at his parents’ cottage.
In addition to his wife Patricia, he leaves his daughter, Brenda Cotnoir (Jeffrey) of Putnam; a son, Gary Regis (Bonnie) of Woodstock; a granddaughter, April Regis of Woodstock; a brother, Richard Regis (Naomi) of Brooklyn; and two sisters Nancy Lohbush (Rudy) of Danielson, and Ann Crowe (Howard) of Valencia, PA; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Michael Robert Regis, his brother, Raymond Regis, and sister, Lorraine Breault.
Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 12 in Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 p.m. at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. 
Donations: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. 

Claire M. Yargeau
PUTNAM — Claire M. Yargeau, 80, of River Rd., died Dec. 23, 2018.  She was the wife of the late Roland “Pete” Yargeau, who died Feb. 9, 1991.  Born in 1938 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Edgar and Juliette (Larose) Durand.
Claire’s life was hallmarked by a deep selfless love for her family while working a full-time job in positions related to accounting/payroll.  She loved caring and serving wonderful meals as well as sending meals to those in need around her.  Her character was one of deep respect, loyalty, love, hard work and integrity.  She enjoyed a clean house, camping, playing cards, living on Quassett Lake and evening campfires with family and friends.  She enjoyed her past 20 years living on Flagler Beach in Florida.
She leaves her children, Donna Abend (Dick) of Danvers, Mass., Debbie LaBonte (Steve) of Putnam, Peter Yargeau of Woodstock, Daniel Yargeau (Michelle) of Putnam; her brother, Edgar “T-Boy” Durand (Charleen) of Putnam; her sister, Lorraine Moser (William) of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Mass of Christian Burial is at 10 a.m. Jan. 19 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in Quassett Cemetery in Woodstock. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Marilyn Delvalle
DAYVILLE — Marilyn (Suaraz) Delvalle, 53, died Dec. 31, 2018 at the Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass.
She was born in Bronx, N.Y., daughter of the late Carmello Suaraz and Santa (Heredia) Suaraz and had lived in Danielson and New Britain.  She enjoyed crocheting, cooking, Spanish soap operas, and board games. 
She leaves three sons Henry Delvalle (Kayla Goulette) of Dayville, Joseph Delvalle of Attleboro, Mass., and Daniel Delvalle and Kellie Kilpatrick of Brooklyn;  two daughters, Erica Delvalle and Joshua Headen of Danielson and Ashley Delvalle of Dayville; 13 grandchildren. 
She was predeceased by one sister, Bernice Alicia.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ashford Center Rd, Ashford.
Donations may be made to the church. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

Adele Harrelle
PLAINFIELD — Adele L. (Olson) Harrelle, 74, died Dec. 13, 2018, at the Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam.
She was born in San Francisco, daughter of the late Milton Olson and Iola (Mcloughlin) Olson and lived in Plainfield for the past 12 years.
Adele was a LPN and worked in health care most of her life.
 She was a member of the Plainfield Sr. Choir, St. John’s Church Choir. 
She leaves two sons, Scott T. Harrelle of Santa Rosa, Calif., Ryan J. Harrelle of Danielson; two daughters Michele L. Kelsey of Cranston, R.I., and Jeanine M. Tarca of Pittsburg, Calif.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; a brother and three sisters.
A Memorial Mass will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 12 at St. John the Apostle Church, Plainfield. Donations: American Cancer Society. 
Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

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Wed. Jan. 9
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present its winter art show and sale through Jan. 13 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. 860-928-4948.

Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Library are sponsoring the Art @ the Library series at the Thompson Public Library with the exhibit “Pourtuitous” by Sarah Sabka through Jan. 31.

Fri. Jan. 11
Winter Weekend
POMFRET --- The Windham Tolland 4-H Camp Winter teen Weekend will run from 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 through 9 a.m. Jan. 13 for teens 13-17.  $50. Preregister by Jan. 5: 860-974-3379.

History Program
CANTERBURY --- The Canterbury Historical Society will present historian Eric Lehman discussing his book about Tom Thumb following a brief business session at 7 p.m. at the community Room of the Town Hall. All welcome. Free.

Sat. Jan. 12
History Hike
PUTNAM --- The Last Green Valley and Putnam’s Boy Scout Troop 21 hosting Putnam history hike for the public from 10 a.m. to noon starting at the bandstand in Rotary Park. It covers 3.5 miles. Putnam Town Historian Bill Pearsall will be showing off the living history of Putnam that many people never notice nor appreciate. Participants will see and learn the history of, among other things, Cargill Falls, one of the first cotton mills in New England, the former Morse Mansion, the Rhodesville neighborhood, the spot where the former Putnam Technical High School once stood, the building that once held Putnam’s first hospital, historic Main Street, the site of a devastating fire in the 1960s, a memorial to the heroism of Putnam’s only Medal of Honor recipient and Putnam’s downtown before the 1955 flood washed it away. Free. All welcome. Registration not required. Rain date: Jan. 19. 860-928-7241.

Mon. Jan. 14
Exercise Group
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Senior Exercise Group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday in the Woodstock Town Hall large meeting room on the lower. Minimum fee. Local seniors welcome. Please check the town website www.woodstockCT.gov for current schedule or call 860-928-6595.

Tues. Jan. 15
Survival Program
DANIELSON --- The Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse and the Northeast District Department of Health will have Derek May and Linda Colangelo give a presentation, “Until Help Arrives,” at 9 a.m. at the QVCC Campus. Free. All welcome. dvcoffeehouse.com.

Thur. Jan. 17
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Monthly Bird Walk” at 1 p.m. starting from the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Sat. Jan. 19
Benefit Concert
THOMPSON --- The Veterans Coffee House Benefit Concert will be held with cocktails starting at 6 p.m. at the Raceway Restaurant & Golf Club. The Real Wives of Windham County is hosting the event to raise money and awareness for the Veterans Coffee House in Danielson. The Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory are the corporate gold sponsors. Cash bar and free light refreshments. $20 at: WINY, The Gilman Funeral Home, the Veterans Coffee House.

TLGV Program
DANIELSON --- The Last Green Valley’s Member Program Series, “Bald Eagles in The Last Green Valley” will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon at TLGV offices on Main Street. Snow date is 1 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 28. Geared to adults. Two-part program. Chief Ranger Bill Reid. Ranger Bill will provide updated information on local eagles as well as information and results from the Jan. 12 Midwinter Eagle Survey, a Connecticut program for which The Last Green Valley helps coordinate volunteers. Following the presentation, participants are invited to drive to the Quinebaug Valley Trout Hatchery with Ranger Bill in hopes of seeing bald eagles. Free to TLGV members; $10 for non-members.

Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp will hold an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at the camp on Taft Pond Road. 860-974-3379.

Pastor’s Dinner
PUTNAM --- The Congregational church of Putnam, downtown, will present Pastor Tom’s Pasta Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Free. For info: 860-928-4405.

Chicken Parm Dinner
PUTNAM --- Boy Scout Troop 25 of Putnam will host a Chicken Parmesan Fund-raising Dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus in Putnam. Takeout available.  $10. At door or through FB https://www.facebook.com/events/592984297798480

Sun. Jan. 20
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Trail Wood Reflections – Reception and Reading” from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Free. 860-928-4948.

Mon. Jan. 21
Nature Film
POMFRET --- In partnership with the Pomfret Green Team, the Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “A Plastic Ocean” at 6:30 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Free. Snow date, Jan. 22. 860-928-4948.

Fund-raiser
DAYVILLE --- Dining for a Cause will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. at 99 Restaurant in Killingly Commons to benefit PAWS Cat Shelter.

Sat. Jan. 26
TLGV Adventure
WOODSTOCK --- The Last Green Valley’s Acorn Adventure: Eagle Eyes will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Roseland Park.  Children and their families are invited to join The Last Green Valley’s Chief Ranger Bill Reid and Ranger to experience bald eagles.  Bring binoculars or a spotting scope if you have them. Acorn Adventures are free, thanks to the sponsorship of Putnam Bank.
 
Bean Supper
E. WOODSTOCK --- The East Woodstock Congregational Church’s Ham & Bean Supper will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. with continuous seatings at the church.  $10 for adults; kids under 10 admitted free. Take out available. Benefits annual budget and heating needs. Entertainment. For tickets: 860-928-2731 or at the door.

Wee Walk Wander
WOODSTOCK --- The Wyndham Land Trust will present a WLT Wee Wander from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Rapoport/Spalding Preserve and scenic Taylor Brook. Take Joy Road to end of Calkins Rd. Snacks provided. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sun. Jan. 27
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present the new “Trail Wood Non-Fiction Book Club” at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road, from 2 to 5 p.m. Free for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Sat. Feb. 2
February Freeze
POMFRET --- The PCS February Freeze 5k Run/Walk will start at 1 p.m. at the Pomfret School – Parsons Lodge. Snow date Feb. 3. $30 per person. Register at www.pomfretcommunityschool.org/februaryfreeze. Proceeds to go Pomfret Community School 8th grade class trip to Washington D.C.

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