By Andy Hutchison

MILFORD — Cooper Paul netted a hat-trick and goaltender Mason Mountain kicked aside 36 shots to lead the Staples High hockey team to a 4-3 win over the Norwalk-Brien McMahon co-op Monday at Milford Ice Pavilion.

This marked the Wreckers’ second victory over Nor-Mac this winter; the Wreckers won 7-3 on the road Jan. 17.

Harry Goodburn also scored for the Wreckers. Jameson Russell assisted two of Paul’s net-finders, including the eventual winner that gave Staples a 4-2 lead in third period.

Goodburn, Trey Wilson and Derek Wolgast also had assists.

Nor-Mac scored a late shorthanded goal and kept the pressure on after pulling its goalie for the extra attacker, but Mountain the Wreckers fended off their forays.

Staples improved to 6-7 for the season and has a little time off before the Suffield-Granby-Windsor Locks squad comes to Milford on Saturday for an 8 p.m. faceoff. (Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest CIAC updates.)

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s.