Things are starting to heat up on the ice for the Joel Barlow/Weston/Abbott Tech High (JBWA) hockey team as the 2023-24 season approaches.
Between the largest turnout of skaters in recent years, as well as a number of them with the ability to put the puck in the net, the Knights are once again looking to go far in the South-West Conference as well as state tournaments.
“We’re going to be pretty deep this year with the numbers we have and we look very strong,” said head coach Bob Stearns, now in his tenth season with the team. “The kids did a lot of hard work over the summer. I think we’re looking pretty good.”
Nearly two dozen players have come out for the program. Some will return to familiar roles on the ice while others will take on new responsibilities.
At practice since Nov. 27, JBWA has a couple of pre-season scrimmages to test its lineup. It officially starts the season on Wednesday when it visits Housatonic co-op at the South-Kent School Ice Rink at 8:40 p.m.
Posting a 13-10-1 record a year ago, the Knights reached the South-West Conference Division III championship for the second straight season before falling to Masuk. They also qualified for the state Division III tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals.
The Knights graduated a few key players since then. Two are former captains Spencer Thomas and Josh Gyolai.
A forward, Thomas scored a number of goals and was named an All-SWC first team selection. Gyolai saw time as a defenseman.
Tom Kane, an All-SWC second team selection as a defenseman, has also graduated, as have forwards Tom Berry and Kai Smith.
JBWA also returns a few key players, including senior captains Dylan Staunton and Emmet Arees (All-SWC second team), both of whom are on defense. Classmate Theo Spitzer will be up front at forward.
Also on defense is classmate Shane Morse. The Knights hope to get some goals from Henry Hoeffner again this season as well as Jack Zuch.
Back in goal is junior captain Connor Thomas. Also back is junior Max Krug.
The team will also count on a number of sophomores, including Wes Arees and Rob Krueger on offense. Dylan Hilario, who started out as a defenseman last year before moving to forward, will also see time on the ice, as will Sean Fenton.
The Knights will have a backup goalie this season, sophomore Tyler Varchick.
“We have a number of guys who should be doing very well for us this year,” said Stearns. “They’re very strong and should be very physical.”
With the talent it has, JBWA should be one of the stronger teams in the SWC. Stearns also expects Brookfield/Bethel/Danbury to be good and New Milford as well.
“I would say if we don’t make it back to the finals of the SWC that would be disappointing for me,” he said. “If we work hard, with the talent we have on the team and the physicality, we could have a very good year and go very deep in that tournament as well as the state tournament.”
