BIDDEFORD, ME– Hockey is a game of responses. How does a team bounce back from a bad shift? A bad game? As the old adage goes, adversity reveals character.
After suffering a crushing loss with 5.6 seconds remaining in regulation time Saturday evening, the Danbury Colonials bounced back with commanding force as the black-and-orange brigade exacted revenge on the Maine Wild to the tune of a 6-0 shutout.
Alex Fernandes stopped all 33 shots that came his way, including a flurry of seven shots in the final frame to earn the first clean sheet in Danbury Colonials history.
Defenseman Ryan Wojciechowski opened the scoring with 25 seconds remaining in the first period as a seeing-eye shot from the blueline snuck its way to the back of the net. Danbury found breathing room in the second frame as Kolby Donovan ripped a shot from the slot to give his team a 2-0 lead. Kyle McEnany and Misha Mshar would also tally in the period.
Kolby Donovan added his 11th of the season and Nate Mastrony fired a laser under the bar in rapid succession late in the third period to seal the 6-0 victory.
“It feels great,” Fernandes said of earning the historic shutout. “The boys really bounced back from yesterday and played really well in front of me. We got great penalty killing and a great overall effort from everyone.”
“I’m thrilled for Alex,” commented Danbury head coach Kevin Cunningham. “He played very well, particularly early in the game while we got our legs going and offense on track.”
Donovan continues to be a standout for the Colonials, registering two more goals to extend his goal-scoring streak to five games. In those five games, four of them have been multi-goal outings.
“Kolby continues to be one of the hottest players in the league, in large part because he brings energy and enthusiastic effort to every shift,” lauded Cunningham.
“After last night’s loss, the guys knew that the game today was going to be an important one to win,” Donovan explained. “Every point matters in this league. I think we showed we can handle adversity and turn things around when they’re not going the way we want them to.”
The Colonials will be on the road this weekend, first stopping in Raynham, Massachusetts for a matchup with the New England Knights on Friday, then visiting the Murray Athletic Center for a rematch with the division-leading Elmira Jr. Soaring Eagles.
