Conard advances to Division III championship game again
The Conard ice hockey team has won their semifinal match against New Milford 3-1 and is now heading back to the Division III championship game. This victory took place on Monday night at Quinnipiac University. Conard, which won the title last year, has been to the semifinals for four years in a row. In three of those years, they made it to the championship match. Though they lost 11 players from last year's winning team, the returning players brought valuable experience to the game. In the semifinal, New Milford's John King scored first, but Conard's Jack Eisenberg tied the game on a power play. Bradan Gainey then scored to give Conard the lead, followed by an empty net goal from Torin McGoldrick. Conard outshot New Milford 36-20 during the game. Goalie Brendan Murphy played a crucial role, making 19 saves despite being a newer starter. He felt confident due to the strong defense in front of him. The team faced challenges this season but relied on their experience to push through. Conard's next match will be for the championship, scheduled for either Saturday or Sunday. Their journey has not been easy, but they are determined to fight for another title.