North Haven High School’s varsity boys’ hockey team opened up the 2011-12 season with a new head coach and four new captains. This year, former NHHS hockey player and Shelton High Coach Tom Roche took over lead coaching duties as the Indians try to erase last season's underachieving season which ended with a 7-13 record, and short of the playoffs.

The four senior captains are John Johnson, Mike Andreucci, Andrew Babbidge and Tyler DeMartin.

North Haven opened up the season last Wednesday on the road at the Freeman Athletic Center at Wesleyan University, as they took on Xavier in the first of two conference matchups with the Falcons. The Indians played a close, scoreless game into the third period before Xavier netted what proved to be the only goal in a 1-0 game. The Indians had chances, but could not put the puck in the net while suffering their first loss of the season.

On Saturday night, North Haven traveled up to the International Skating Center to take on the Simsbury Trojans. Mike Andreucci scored a pair of goals and Junior Jim Piscitelli added a goal and an assist as the Indians won their first game of the year, 4-1. Senior Mike Amrone had 17 saves in goal as North Haven evened their record at 1-1.

The Indians will play their first home game of the season on Dec. 23 versus Division II opponent Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury co-op at the Northford Ice Pavillion at 2 p.m.

Kevin Pataky is a professional photographer and longtime North Haven Citizen contributor. Website — KevinPataky.com