By Rich Chrampanis
Cliffy Hockey is taking Boston by storm. No one would have thought that rookie defenseman Connor Clifton would be making headlines in the Stanley Cup Final. Yet the former CBA Colt provided an amazing spark in the Bruins quest for hockey’s ultimate prize. With Boston trailing the St. Louis Blues 2-0 in game one of the best-of-seven series, Clifton left his defensive position and attacked the net. Taking a feed from Sean Kuraly, the Bruins defenseman was able to get his stick on the ice and redirect it off his skate and into the net for Boston’s first goal. The roll of the dice paid off in a big way and sparked the B’s to a 4-2 win over the Blues in game one. Clifton was also instrumental in the game-winning goal as he was able to keep possession of the puck and set the stage for Kuraly’s game-winner.
“I guess I saw a 3-on-2 and I just saw an opportunity to go to the net and luckily it hit off my foot and went in,” Clifton said about his goal. “Honestly I didn’t see it go in but the celebration was good so I didn’t really care.”
The rookie’s nickname originated in the minor leagues, but the veteran Boston Bruins have embraced it. “We call it ‘Cliffy Hockey,’ ” Bruins defenseman Torey Krug said. “Because he just goes out there and plays like no one else and he thrives off instincts.
“He’s been a great addition to this D group.”
No one would have predicted that a rookie defenseman would be such a critical part of the Bruins amazing postseason run. After all, Clifton began the season in the AHL with the Providence Bruins. He made his NHL debut in November and got the chance to play in nine games before the club’s blue line corps got healthy and sent him back down to the minor leagues. Injuries opened the door for another opportunity in March and Clifton has never looked back.
“He’s certainly not afraid to get involved,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said in the post-game press conference. “We noticed that when we first saw him. It was almost a detriment at times. He’s learned when to go (and) when to be a great support person on the rush. He’s certainly a guy that can add some offense to the back end. A sneaky kind of guy, he’s not the kind of guy you notice a lot, not flashy, but he can certainly get up there.”
Clifton’s goal Monday night was the second of his young career. Your first NHL goal is always a moment, but scoring number one in the playoffs makes it even more special. Similar to his Stanley Cup finals goal,
Clifton left the blue line and scored from close range against the Carolina Hurricanes on Mother’s Day. And fittingly enough, Connor’s mom Joan was in the stands in Boston to witness the moment and that special puck became the ultimate Mother’s Day gift.
The Clifton brothers have made an indelible mark on CBA hockey and Quinnipiac University. Youngest brother Corey is the last Clifton on the roster of the college hockey power. Tim and Connor played together in college and both players started the season in the AHL. Ryan Bogan, who was recently dismissed as the head coach at CBA, built a remarkable program in Lincroft producing a number of NHL players. Trevor van Riemsdyk’s name is already on the Stanley Cup as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. Connor Clifton hopes to be the second Colt to be forever etched in hockey history.
