Tomahawks finding strengths at season's midpoint

Glastonbury's Jack Pizzo competes for the puck with a Wethersfield opponent in the Tomahawks' 6-0 rout of the Eagles on Jan 19. Photos by Steve Smith.

After a 6-0 rout of Wethersfield on Jan. 19, coach Ken Barse said the game was an example of the Glastonbury High School hockey team playing their brand of hockey most effectively. Barse said his team has had trouble scoring, but has been good on defense and goal-tending. They seemed to put it all together with a full, 45-minute game on the ice, which included a goal with just under three seconds in the game, showing that even while more-than-comfortably ahead, the team can keep fighting.

Barse said he uses four lines and gets a lot of players some ice time, in part because the team's perennial success may have had some players feeling overconfident. “We've been so successful over the years, and some of our seniors have gotten a little too comfortable in their positions,” he said. “We've got a lot of hungry sophomores and juniors. No one's job is in granite. You've got to work for it every single day.”

The side effect of that message to his seniors, Barse said, is that he had four lines of fresh legs working hard toward the net.

Still, Barse said the team has a great top line, and senior Avery Clair – the team's top goal-scorer – leads the way. Sophomore defenseman Logan Underwood has stepped up his game and is a nice complement to senior Tyler Walles, who has good skills.

“He's been a total rock for us back there,” Barse said. “He's consistent and gets the puck to the net.”

Junior Conner Thompson and sophomore Shane Mack have also had great first halves of the season.

The plan to get to the post-season, Barse said, is to continue to play within a system made for the team. “We're going to be in the playoffs, and we're going to be a contender,” he said. “You want to try to exploit your strengths and correct your weaknesses. Our weakness has been team defense and playing good, solid, fundamental hockey. We've tried to dance around people and that doesn't work. But, when you pass the puck deep, good things are going to happen.”

The Tomahawks will face Fermi/Enfield/East Granby/Stafford on Jan. 26 and then travel to Conard on Feb. 6. For a complete schedule, visit www.casciac.org.