Tri-Town Tames Wildcats In Season Opener

Zack Palmer scored three goals to lead a balanced Tri-Town offense in a 9-1 rout of Suffield-Granby-Windsor Locks in Northern Hockey Conference action Saturday at the Enfield Twin Rinks.

Six different Tri-Town players lit the lamp, and nine players tallied at least one point in the season opener for both squads.

"We've got a lot of guys who can put the puck in the net," Tri-Town coach Paul Dowe said. "We've got to work a lot on our defensive play, but our goaltending is strong. We got a lot of bounces that went our way tonight."

Four goals were produced on special teams: three on the power play, and one shorthanded.

"As a coach, I've never really looked that much at the power play and penalty killing, I always just kind of go with the flow," Dowe said. "The first three weeks, we've really concentrated on it, and our power play looks good."

Cody Roy got it started nine minutes into the contest, scoring off an assist from Billy Chevalier. Ronnie Williams made it 2-0 with 1:32 left in the first period, set up by Palmer.

Ryan Kertanis cut the deficit in half just 25 seconds after Williams' goal, but that proved to be the only time the Wildcats would find the net. Suffield had a number of good scoring opportunities throughout the game, but was unable to finish them off.

"We have a good team, we had a great first period, but I give Tri-Town credit," Suffield coach Nick Boorman said. "They came out real hard in that second period, and got stronger and stronger."

Tri-Town put the game out of reach with a five-goal explosion in a 6:20 stretch of the second period. Chevalier and Palmer each scored twice in that span, with Palmer's second goal coming with his team playing a man short. Cullen Roberts also found the net in the middle session.

Mitch Cobb scored on a power play 44 seconds into the third period, and Palmer completed his hat trick with just under 10 minutes remaining.

"My guys never quit, we will get better and it will be different the next time we play them," Boorman said.

Tri-Town (1-0) plays at East Haven Thursday at 7:30 p.m., while Suffield-Granby-Windsor Locks (0-1) travels to Darien to face Norwalk/McMahon Wednesday at 8:40 p.m.

Scoring Summary

Tri-Town
Goals: Zack Palmer (3), Billy Chevalier (2), Cody Roy, Ronnie Williams, Cullen Roberts, Mitch Cobb.
Assists: Roberts (3), Chevalier (2), Nick Binkowski (2), Palmer, Cobb, Cole Henry, Ryan Gaidos.

Suffield-Granby-Windsor Locks
Goals: Ryan Kertanis.