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Sports

Hilltoppers Ice Hockey Team Dominate Cranford

Cougars fall 8-2 to Summit.

The Hilltoppers Ice Hockey team dominated the Cranford Cougars on Monday night with an 8-2 victory at Warinanco Rink.

Riley Flynn's energizing first two goals of the game lead teammates Liam McLaughlin, Jeff Wyckoff, Michael Nyitray, Will Brenn and Michael Badgley to also slide past the Cougar’s goal line and score. The Hilltoppers held the Cougars during the entire game, losing their grip just three minutes before the end, which allowed Danny Murphy and Sean Feeney to score the only two goals for the Cougars.

It was the first time the Hilltoppers had more freshman playing than ever before. Eric Stabler, Frank Lawrence and Michael Santina were out due to injuries Coach Keith Nixon did not want to specify. But, he said “all are expected back to play.” Coach Nixon said their absence affected the game, but their teammates are stepping up to the plate and did what they needed to do.

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Brothers Jeff and Hunter Wyckoff were able to play together. Jeff, who is a senior said it was "great, and a lot of fun to watch my brother [Jeff] play."

Their father Chris said playing on the ice has been great for the brothers on and off the ice. He also said, "We have a great team this year.  A lot of players can play different lines making all the players able to play the entire game."

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The Hilltoppers are riding on a positive wave this season following their win over the Cougars in December during the  where they won the title after a 13-year hiatus.

The Hilltoppers play next in Montville.  

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