Norwich — The Eastern Connecticut Eagles defied every single odds-maker to win their first Division III hockey state championship in program history in 2017-18, entering this season with a roster filled with returning talent and hopes of keeping things rolling.

And then the Eagles, a team designed as a cooperative program with players from eight local high schools, promptly lost their season opener Wednesday to Wethersfield/Middletown/Rocky Hill/Plainville.

"It was tough to lose that game," said Eastern Connecticut's Ryan Huta, a Waterford High senior. "We wanted to come out and prove what we are. That's not how we wanted to open it."

On Saturday, the Eagles remedied the situation, beating the Redhawks, another local cooperative program, 7-2 at RoseGarden Ice Arena.

Evan Tower finished with three goals and two assists, Huta two goals and one assist and Will Cannella and Devyn Jordan each had a goal and two assists for the Eagles, who draw players from Fitch, East Lyme, Ledyard, Stonington, Waterford, Wheeler, Griswold and Hale-Ray.

Huta, Eastern Connecticut's right wing, scored the game's first goal on a crisp pass from Tower from left to right and Tower made it 2-0 prior to the end of the first period, scoring off a rebound.

It was one road game for which the Eagles didn't need a bus, with the game being played at the rink each of them has played at many times during their youth hockey days.

The Redhawks roster consists of players from Norwich Free Academy, Bacon Academy, Killingly, Lyman Memorial, Montville, Norwich Tech and St. Bernard, making it a game between familiar opponents.

"Yeah, for sure. The ultimate goal is to go back to Yale," said Huta, whose team has moved up into Division II this year after going 19-3-3 with the Division III title. "But every game you've got to come out and prove it. You've got to work hard no matter what."

The 2-1 season-opening loss to WMRP came against somewhat of a rival for the Eagles, with WMRP having similar success a year ago and also faced with the move to Division II.

"The team we played in the opener, we played them twice last year. They beat us bad last year, 10-2," Eastern Connecticut coach Randy Craig said. "It was a tough loss (this week). We had to kill a lot of penalties in the third period. These guys, they know that's kind of a rival team.

"... The competition is only going to get better. We told the guys, 'win the ones you're supposed to win and then maybe a few of the ones you're not supposed to win.'"

The Eagles begin the season missing two top defensemen. Riley Jordan, whom Craig said would have been a shoo-in as an all-state selection, is out for the season with a knee injury he suffered during the soccer season at Fitch. Jake Verbridge is also missing from the back line with an ankle injury, but is expected to return soon.

The Eagles have 26 players, allowing the program to field a junior varsity team, as well, a luxury Craig hasn't always had.

"We've got some young guys that are talented, but are getting used to the high school game as opposed to the youth game," Craig said.

Craig, whose friends that coach back in the Pittsburgh area where he grew up, all tease him for having hour-plus bus rides for the Eagles to compete in high school games. But those lengthy trips are something Craig enjoys as his players, especially being from different schools, get to know each other better.

"They're playing the right way," Craig said. "The leadership group last year built that culture. They show up on time. They work hard. It's being carried forward. ... Every kid that plays for me, I want them to love hockey as much as I do when they're my age, when you're in your 50s."

The Eagles led 4-1 after two periods Saturday before adding three more to start the third. Rylin Fowler had 10 saves in the victory, as Eastern Connecticut outshot the Redhawks 45-12.

Steve Turchetta and Chris Samek scored for the Redhawks (0-2) and Joe Cafro and Alex Grandolfi had assists. Spencer Flynn made several tough saves in goal.

v.fulkerson@theday.com