Lyman Hall wins its first state ice hockey title since 2019

HAMDEN – Lyman Hall’s Liam Laffin was the winning pitcher as a freshman in the Trojans ’ Class L state championship game last spring. Friday night, Laffin scored a third-period goal and had an assist to help Lyman Hall win another state title, this time in hockey, with a 5-2 victory over Conard in the Division II championship game at Quinnipiac’s M&T Bank Arena. “I knew we were going to have great teams,” Laffin said.

“We work very hard all year in both sports and this is what we get for all our hard work. ” Lyman Hall last won a title in 2019 when the Trojans were part of a co-op with Haddam-Killingworth and Coginchaug. They beat Sheehan 6-2 that year for the Division III championship.

This year, Lyman Hall, the fourth seed, beat top-seeded Cheshire, last year’s Division II runner-up, 4-1 to advance to the final. Conard, the 11th seed and the two-time Division III champion, knocked off last year’s Division II champion East Haven in the semifinal. “No one expected us to win that game, so it was awesome,” said Liam’s brother Jeremy, a junior who scored the first goal for Lyman in the first period Friday.

“Then coming out here, winning the championship – it’s the greatest feeling ever. ” Lyman Hall senior goalie Owen Hamm made 25 saves – 13 in the third period. “In that third period, they threw everything at us – without Owen, it would have been a completely different game,” Lyman Hall coach Dave Sagnella said.