Staples Boys’ Varsity Hockey lost to Milford Co-op, 3-2, on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Tied at 2-2 with just over five minutes left, Milford clinched the victory with a goal to take a 3-2 lead.

“I think the game went OK,” captain Jacob Stanford ’19 said. “I think we just underestimated Milford and they played a good, hard game. I think the team needs to work on sticking together and playing a complete 45 minute game.”

Halfway through the first period, Milford struck first with a goal from right below the blue line. The goal was set up by Milford’s strategy of continuously placing a player in the crease, blocking the sightline of goalie Dylan Mace ’19.

Two minutes later, the Wreckers responded, with a goal from Ben Epes ’22. At the end of the period the game was tied 1-1.

In the second period, Milford capitalized on a short-handed Wrecker squad, scoring for the second time. The score at the end of the second period was 2-1.

Despite many penalties, Staples held off Milford’s offense for the majority of the third period. Brian Krawiec ’19 was able to score a perfectly placed wrist shot for a goal to make the score 2-2 with under ten minutes left. However, Milford ultimately was victorious.

“As a first year player, our team is out there fighting all game. The more we play together the better we are going to get and we improve each week,” Zach Schwartz ’22 said.

Despite the loss, the Wreckers are looking forward to the playoffs.

“We are completely capable of making a run deep into the playoffs, and if our team comes together the way we did in games past, and play the way we know how to play, we will be fine,” Mace said.

The CIAC website shows the Wreckers placed at 11th in the state, meaning they will advance to the state tournament along with 15 other teams.

“The team’s goal is one thing and one thing only, to win a state championship,” Krawiec said. “We will do whatever it takes to get it.”