The result fully met the anticipated expectations Wednesday night as the Hamden boys' hockey team, No. 1 in the Register Top 10 poll, played host to Mount St. Charles, ranked No. 1 in Rhode Island. The teams played to a 2-2 tie at Lou Astorino Rink with both teams providing some of the best end-to-end action seen this season in Connecticut.
There were a lot of heroes on both sides but on the Green Dragons' side forward Matt Hickman gets the first star of the game, the defense led by Pat MacGregor and Tom Roche gets a 1A star and goalie Anthony Avitable a 1AA star.
Hickman showcased the overall speed of Hamden's front line, scoring 18 seconds after the Mounties took a 2-1 lead in the third period. He scored off the ensuing faceoff and if you blinked you probably missed the tying goal. (I didn't blink, my job requires me never to blink when I cover a game....ever.)

Hickman grabbed the puck off the boards, flew in on goalie Jason SanAntonio and flicked a quick wristshot while passing in front of the net.
The goalies rebuffed any further scoring attempts although MacGregor appeared to score the game-winning goal with 3 seconds left in overtime. His wide open shot from about 12 feet in front of the net seemed to fly into the back netting of the goal. But after a conference at the red line the officials confirmed it wasn't a goal. The hard rising slap shot apparently bounced off the goal, going backwards behind the net and bounced off the backboards through the back netting, giving it the appearance of a goal scored. It kind of reminded me of that supposed "magic" bullet in the Kennedy assasination nearly 45 years ago that passed through Kennedy, turned left, veered up and down, turned right, zig zagged and then hit Gov. Connolly.
Okay, I exaggerated a bit in that Kennedy description but you get my point. It was a crazy, exciting finish to a game between two elite teams.
Bottom line: If you weren't there you missed a great game.