By Andy Hutchison

MILFORD — STORMAC (Staples/Norwalk/Brien McMahon) co-op hockey team is in the midst of a tough stretch, having dropped four in a row. 

After a strong start, the high school icemen have slipped to 6-8 overall this winter.

STORMAC had two games with Milford in a little more than a week in early February, dropping a 5-2 contest Feb. 3 and a 3-2 nail-biter Feb. 10. STORMAC also lost 4-0 to host New Milford on Feb. 5, despite 45 saves by goaltender Mason Mountain.

In the first clash with Milford, STORMAC carried a 2-1 lead into the third period before the game got away from the locals. 

Cooper Paul and Devin Harris scored. Mac Lawton had two assists and Jakub Laskovsky and Harry Goodburn also assisted tallies. Mountain made 35 saves.

In the rematch, STORMAC led 1-0 after one period and trailed 2-1 going into the third. Paul had both goals, Goodburn recorded two assists and Shane Power had one assist. Mountain stopped 25 shots.

Paul tied the game early in the third period, but Milford’s goalie played strong and the Mariners scored the game winner with about three minutes left in the game.

STORMAC was scheduled to play the Bethel/Brookfield/Danbury/Immaculate co-op on Wednesday but that game got postponed. The next scheduled contest is Monday when Newington visits Milford Ice Pavilion at 12:30 p.m. (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.