It’s always the first goal for a first-year head coach.
Get the first victory as soon as possible.
For Woodstock Academy boys’ hockey coach Kevin Bisson, the wait was pretty short, although getting it took a little longer than normal.
The Centaurs downed Tri-Town, 6-5, in overtime Dec. 15 at the Jahn Ice Rink at Pomfret School.
“To get that first one out of the way is definitely good. It was certainly not exactly the way we wanted to get it, come-from-behind and win it in overtime, but it also shows the determination that these kids have. They’re not going to get down-and-out, they’re going to keep battling for each other,” Bisson said.
The game was tied at four with fewer than two minutes left when Woodstock Academy was whistled for an infraction.
Right-wing Michael Shuman found the net on the ensuing power play for Tri-Town with 1:45 to play.
Bisson had no choice but to pull his keeper, Dylan Shea.
It almost ended the game had it not been for Connor Starr.
The Centaurs defenseman blocked a shot on the empty net.
“Without Connor putting his body on the line, we wouldn’t have come out with even a tie, never mind a win,” Bisson said.
The save by Starr also ignited the counter attack with the puck finding the stick of Matt Odom.
“Matt’s a guy that when the puck is put on his stick, he’s looking to shoot,” Bisson said.
Odom crossed the blue line, lined up the shot and put it past Tri-Town keeper Peyton Emrick for his second goal of the game which sent the game into overtime.
Odom also had a hand in the game-winner which came with just 2:10 left in the extra period.
Odom took a shot that bounced off a Tri-Town defender’s legs. The puck dribbled into the corner, was pulled out and passed to an oncoming Guerin Favreau.
“He was right there on the hash marks, in stride, walked in with the shot, picked up his head and put it in the top corner for us,” Bisson said.
Favreau added a pair of assists for the Centaurs while Doug Newton had a pair of goals and Starr added a pair of assists.
Defenseman Liam McDermott scored the first goal for the season for the Centaurs 5:27 into the game.
“I learned a lot about my players in this game, more than I was able to learn in the three weeks of practices. I think I was also able to hammer home what I want this team to look like, how I want them to play and how I want them to conduct themselves on and off the ice,” Bisson said.
The Centaurs return to the ice on the road at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 in E. Haven.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

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