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HAMDEN – Last year, Ryan Miller had 24 saves in a state semifinal win over Amity en route to Cheshire’s first hockey title in 15 years.
He was only a sophomore.
This year, as a junior, he’s that much better.
Miller stopped 34 shots in Tuesday night’s Division II semifinal game, once again against SCC rival Amity, and Cheshire won 2-0 at Quinnipiac’s M&T Arena to advance to its second straight state final.
The top-seeded Rams (20-5) will play the winner of North Haven and East Haven Co-op in the Div. II state championship either Saturday or Sunday at a time to be determined at Quinnipiac.
“We’re not standing here right now with a win if not for Ryan Miller,” Cheshire coach Anthony Giust said.
“Over the last few years, look at any big game we’ve played, whether it was last year’s state final – some of the big games we had to win this year, Ryan’s kept us in every game. You can tell when he’s dialed in, a game like today, he’s tracking the puck so well. He made some huge saves especially in that second period when they had the better of the play. He played absolutely fantastic in this game.”
Cheshire got a goal in the second period from sophomore Mark Laskin and sophomore Zachary Hooper scored the second goal on an empty net with less than a minute left in the game.
Amity outshot Cheshire 34-17.
“Miller was unbelievable,” junior defenseman Charlie Golden said. “He’s the reason we won that game.”
Cheshire split with Amity earlier in the season, winning the first game 3-1 Jan. 8, then losing to Amity in the SCC Div. II semifinals, 4-2.
“That’s a good team right there,” Miller said. “I’ve had trouble with them the five times I’ve played them in my career. They have a lot of good players.”
Cheshire beat the East Haven Co-op 6-3 in the state championship game last year and finished its best season ever at 24-1-1. It was the program’s 50th season; the Rams hadn’t won a title since 2011.
The Rams lost many key seniors from that team, including Biagio Pepe, who scored four goals in the final. But Miller, who made 24 saves, was back and others have stepped up to fill the void.
“I worked really hard in the offseason,” Miller said. “I knew what I wanted to do. I stayed focused on getting better.
“A state championship is good but two would be even better.”
Continue reading...
He was only a sophomore.
This year, as a junior, he’s that much better.
Miller stopped 34 shots in Tuesday night’s Division II semifinal game, once again against SCC rival Amity, and Cheshire won 2-0 at Quinnipiac’s M&T Arena to advance to its second straight state final.
The top-seeded Rams (20-5) will play the winner of North Haven and East Haven Co-op in the Div. II state championship either Saturday or Sunday at a time to be determined at Quinnipiac.
“We’re not standing here right now with a win if not for Ryan Miller,” Cheshire coach Anthony Giust said.
“Over the last few years, look at any big game we’ve played, whether it was last year’s state final – some of the big games we had to win this year, Ryan’s kept us in every game. You can tell when he’s dialed in, a game like today, he’s tracking the puck so well. He made some huge saves especially in that second period when they had the better of the play. He played absolutely fantastic in this game.”
Cheshire got a goal in the second period from sophomore Mark Laskin and sophomore Zachary Hooper scored the second goal on an empty net with less than a minute left in the game.
Amity outshot Cheshire 34-17.
“Miller was unbelievable,” junior defenseman Charlie Golden said. “He’s the reason we won that game.”
Cheshire split with Amity earlier in the season, winning the first game 3-1 Jan. 8, then losing to Amity in the SCC Div. II semifinals, 4-2.
“That’s a good team right there,” Miller said. “I’ve had trouble with them the five times I’ve played them in my career. They have a lot of good players.”
Cheshire beat the East Haven Co-op 6-3 in the state championship game last year and finished its best season ever at 24-1-1. It was the program’s 50th season; the Rams hadn’t won a title since 2011.
The Rams lost many key seniors from that team, including Biagio Pepe, who scored four goals in the final. But Miller, who made 24 saves, was back and others have stepped up to fill the void.
“I worked really hard in the offseason,” Miller said. “I knew what I wanted to do. I stayed focused on getting better.
“A state championship is good but two would be even better.”
Continue reading...
