Game Recap: Hat Tricks Win Home Opener 5-2, Split Weekend Series with Watertown

DANBURY — The Hat Tricks topped the Wolves 5-2 tonight in the Home Opener to split the opening weekend series with Watertown.

Watertown overcame two two goal deficits on Friday night to best Danbury 6-5 in the season opener. Tonight, the Hat Tricks lost a two-goal lead early in the third period but managed to rattle off three consecutive scores in a 1:32 span to seal the victory.

Following the 2023-24 team introduction, Championship banner unveiling, and ring ceremony, the Hat Tricks wasted no time getting on the board. Captain Jonny Ruiz wristed a shot towards goal and forward Nick DiNicola swatted a rebound out of the air and into the back of the net just 12 seconds in to erupt an already amped Danbury Arena crowd. 1-0 Hat Tricks.

Later in the period, forward Brandon Stojcevski did his best DiNicola impression and baseball batted a rebound at waist-high level past the Watertown goalie Josh Rosenzweig to make it 2-0 at 13:30 of the opening frame.

The second period didn't see a score until the final minute when Tate Leeson fired one home for Watertown at 19:37. The forward came into the game tied for the team lead in points with five (2g, 3a). Despite the lack of scoring in the middle frame, there were plenty of fights to go around. Three fights broke out in the middle frame, all won by the Hat Tricks. First, Johnny Bonta took down Chris Borgan, then Daniel Amesbury got the best of Joshua Tomasi, and finally Alex Soucy pummeled Trevor Lord to ignite the Danbury faithful.

29 seconds into the final period, Leeson struck again - building off his late second period tally - to tie the game at 2.

With all the momentum in Watertown's favor, Captain Ruiz stole it back for the Hat Tricks with a one-time bullet inside the right post at 6:32 to give Danbury a 3-2 lead. 23 seconds later, d-man Michal Sivek picked up his first goal as a Hat Trick to re-gain the two-score advantage.

The Hat Tricks weren't done as forward Jacob Ratcliffe got on the score sheet at 8:04 to push the lead to 5-2. Hat Tricks goalie Frankie McClendon shut the door on any other Wolves scoring chances to preserve Danbury's first win of the season. The Hat Tricks improve to 1-1 on the young campaign while the Wolves fall to 1-1.

The Hat Tricks host the Black Bears Friday, Oct. 20 in the first game of a home-and-home series with Binghamton.

The Hat Tricks' cup defense is underway and we want you to be a part of it! Season and single-game tickets are available for purchase. Season packages can save fans up to 30% and include benefits such as FREE parking and season passes to the Danbury NAHL/NA3HL Hat Tricks games. Call Herm Sorcher at (973) 713-7547 to secure yours today or press here to learn more. To buy single-game tickets press here.

To stay up to date on all things Danbury Hat Tricks hockey, go to www.danburyhattricks.com and follow the team on social media.