HAMDEN - HYHA Squirt B's started off what turned into a weekend to remember with every hockey player's favorite kind of win: revenge.

After enduring a previous weekend that saw them drop two games to the always strong Southern program, there was some doubt if a third game would be competitive. “I knew if we played a full 36 minutes as a team we would get the W, there was no doubt on my end.” Said coach Raymond Mirando about his team's chances. “This team has zero quit.”

The doubt coach Mirando referenced was the rumblings that Southern was thinking of canceling the game, no doubt thinking 2 wins was more than enough & a third game wouldn’t be competitive “It was definite locker room material.” Said coach Larry Konareski. That material turned out to light quite the flame, a flame that led to a full out Hamden thrashing as the team came out flying. “We might have played our best game of the year.” Continued coach Konareski.

Hamden turned out the kind of performance that a year's worth of coaching & playing together provides. Starting with offense from Larry Konareski & Sebastian Pupello, and helped by a strong team defense composed of defensive twins Dash & Theo Kaye, Samantha McKinney, and Sawyer Mirando. And capping off the defensive route was the play of goalie Henry Smith-Wyckoff (previously featured here at HYHA) who earned himself a shutout. “It was a nice win.” Said coach Mirando with a little smile.

The momentum of the weekend continued the next day as Hamden faced rival Greater New Haven. “We’ve been right there with them all year. We needed that extra fire & today we got it from the Pupello's.” Said coach Jeffrey Haynes. The Pupello's are state champion sister Zooey and her brother Sebastian & they came to play in game two of the weekend. Both would score in the game and would lead Hamden to another revenge win against Greater New Haven. “The kids really came to play this weekend. Both wins were great.” Said coach Jeffrey Haynes.

When all was said and done the Squirts had 2 wins against strong opponents. And both were the kind all hockey players learn to love.