On Saturday January 25, the South Windsor Bobcats hockey team traveled to Champions Skating Center in Cromwell for a tilt with the Rocky Hill Terriers. The ‘Cats entered the game looking to snap their six game losing streak and upset the favored Terriers.
Rocky Hill got on the board early but it did not come easily. Senior captain Noah Sampson was shutting down the Terrier offense for much of the game.
In the middle of the opening period of play, Sampson made a jaw-dropping cross-body diving save on a breakaway that sent the away crowd into a frenzy.
First-year head coach Nick Gionfriddo had nothing but praise for Sampson. “Goaltending was solid, Sampson never lets us down but last night we were able to help him out and take some weight off his back by executing those little things,” Gionfriddo said.
The Bobcats would respond quickly to the goal from Rocky Hill when junior Cameron Lawler found senior captain Mason Trombley across the ice who was able to slip the puck past the Terriers all-state goalie Kyle Kundrath to knot the score up at one apiece.
Before the end of the period, the Terriers pushed an offensive attack that would succeed and score a late goal to head to the locker room ahead 2-1.
Following the first intermission, the Bobcats looked the polar opposite of what they’ve done all year. The offense became relentless and kept immense pressure on Kundrath, but the Terriers goalie made several spectacular saves to prevent the puck from ever getting into the net.

On the other side of the ice, Sampson did much of the same. Both goalies saw about 30 shots through the first two periods and made phenomenal saves that saw the score remain at 2-1 entering the final period of play.
Just a couple minutes into the third period, a penalty for elbowing was assessed to the Terriers, giving the ‘Cats their best chance to tie up the score. Junior Landon Ayotte fired a bullet that scorched past the Terriers defense and right into the net for a game-tying goal.
Not long after, Lawler would lead a two-on-one into the offensive zone and make a beautiful pass to his classmate Junior Heredia who sniped the shot past Kundrath and gave the ‘Cats a 3-2 lead.
For the next seven minutes of game time, the Terriers tried all they could to even up the score but the Bobcats defense and Sampson’s play in goal made that just too difficult. Rocky Hill would pull their goalie and send an extra skater onto the ice but it would be to no avail.
Those final few minutes were among the best in Gionfriddo’s eyes. The coach said “I thought we handled the final minute and a half the best we could’ve. When a team pulls their goalie for the extra skater in a one goal game to try and tie it up, there’s an insane amount of pressure on your back to dig down and do your job as a player and a team to protect the lead.”
The ‘Cats defense continued to send the puck past the blue line and would do so once more as the buzzer sounded and the team rushed Sampson to celebrate. “It was gritty. They had great goaltending but as we applied more pressure he eventually collapsed, leading to the comeback,” Sampson said.

Gionfriddo was fond of the ‘Cats ability to get the puck away from Sampson, “I always say to the team ‘A puck out of our zone is a good puck’ and they took those words last night to help lock down the win,” Gionfriddo said.
Lawler would be named the player of the game after finishing with an assist on every single goal. “With all the effort we’ve been putting in, it felt good to get a win for once,” Lawler said.
Following the game, The Prowl spoke to coach Gionfriddo. “We showed up to work. All of the little things we stress as a coaching staff, the boys executed. Blocking shots, being physical on the puck, having sticks in passing lanes are all little things that are game changing and it showed in this game,” Gionfriddo stated.
The power play success was something of note for the coach, “We took advantage of Terriers penalties, going 2/2 on the powerplay. When we capitalize on those situations, not only does it put goals up on the scoreboard, but it also builds trust in the process/system,” Gionfriddio said.
With the win, the Bobcats move their record to 2-9 for the season and stare down a potential path to the playoffs. The ‘Cats are back in action on Monday at home at 3:20, where they look to get their second consecutive upset victory and avenge the earlier defeat when they battle the Northwest Catholic Lions.