Ridgefield Boys Hockey Holds Off Wilton 4-2

Sophomore Jack Christensen scored a spectacular goal with under three minutes remaining, lifting the Ridgefield boys hockey team to a 4-2 victory over Wilton on Thursday afternoon at the Winter Garden Arena.

With the contest tied 2-2, Christensen broke in from the blueline and tallied an unassisted goal while holding off a Wilton defender draped on his back.

Christensen chipped the puck past Wilton goalkeeper Kevin O'Connell with 2:45 left to give the Tigers (5-1, 9-3) a 3-2 lead.

"I just tried to ward off their defenseman as I cut to the net," Christensen said. "He tried to poke check me, and I knew the goaltender was having trouble moving side to side, so I just tried to chip it toward the post and it went in."

For the third straight year, Ridgefield captured the Winter Garden Trophy, which is awarded to the winning team. Both teams play their home games at the the Winter Garden Arena.

Christensen was named Ridgefield's MVP while O'Connell earned the honor for Wilton, keeping the Warriors (4-2, 8-3-1) in the game with some stellar goaltending (36 saves). 

“This was my first game-winner ever and it was pretty exciting with a great turnout and the rivalry with Wilton," Christensen said.

Hunter Alicea scored his second goal of the game, an empty-netter, with seven seconds remaining to clinch the victory. Sean Wilkinson assisted on Alicea's clinching goal.

“The kids were excited because of the rivalry," Ridgefield coach Shaun Gallagher said. "Their goalie O’Connell played great. A chip or bounce here or there and they could have been in the lead. It wasn’t like we were throwing the puck right at him. We were shooting for the corners and he made some tremendous glove saves."

At the 8:26 of the first period, Ridgefield freshman Callan McCormick scored his first varsity goal to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Corey Dunn picked up the assist. 

Wilton, however, had no intention of making this an easy game for Ridgefield, which was unable to score on two power plays during the first period despite outshooting the Warriors 10-5.

In the second period, controversy developed as Wilton came out determined to be more physical and put a lot of pressure on the Tigers.

At 4:29 of the second, Wilton's Kamil Gosiewski was scored a goal that appeared to ring off the crossbar, but the goal counted and the contest was tied, 1-1. 

Two minutes later, Alicea countered for Ridgefield with an unassisted goal, stealing the puck and rifling a shot over O’Connell’s glove.

With 1:23 left in the period, Wilton's Jordan Meissner beat Ridgefield goaltender Nate Gliedman with a shot through the legs to tie the contest against. Matt Kobyea earned the assist.

Early in the third, the Warriors had a chance to take the lead, but Kobyea was stopped on a breakaway.

Shortly thereafter, Ridgefield received a tripping penalty and Warriors captain Pat Holland ripped a drive from the point the narrowly missed the crossbar. 

It deflected so hard that it hit Aidan Scott in the back of the head and he had to be assisted off the ice. Scott appeared to be okay and later returned to the game.

Ridgefield regrouped and ended up dominating the final period, outshooting the Warriors 18-4.

“They (the Warriors) gave a heck of an effort, played tough and competed," Wilton coach Brett Amero said. “While the loss was disappointing, they don’t have time to sulk. They need to put it behind as we have games (Friday) and Saturday to get ready for.”