What to know for the 2023-24 CIAC boys hockey season

The 2023-24 CIAC boys hockey season gets underway on Monday with two games and two more Tuesday.

Here’s what boys hockey fans should know about rankings, key games and more.

2022-23 champions: Fairfield Prep (Div. I), North Haven (Div. II), Masuk (Div. III)

2023-24 season opens: Monday, Dec. 11

Key games (many of which have second meetings): Greenwich at New Canaan (Darien Ice House), Monday, 6 p.m.; Fairfield Prep at Ridgefield (Winter Garden), Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.; Fairfield Prep at New Canaan (Darien Ice House), Friday, 4 p.m.; Northeastern at Conard (Veterans), Saturday, 2:45 p.m.; Pope Francis (Mass.) at Notre Dame-West Haven (Martire), Saturday, 5:30 p.m. (tournament with Don Bosco (N.J.) and Boston College High (Mass.)); Amity at Westhill/Stamford (Conners), Saturday, 8 p.m.; Simsbury at Northwest Catholic (ISCC), Dec. 30, 4 p.m.; Woodstock Academy at Fairfield (Martire), Jan. 3, 5:15 p.m.; North Branford at North Haven (Northford), Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m.; Fairfield Prep at Notre Dame-West Haven, Jan. 6, 1 p.m.; Darien at New Canaan (DIH), Jan. 13, 4:15 p.m.; Masuk at Amity (Bennett), Jan. 24, 4 p.m.; Conard vs. Newington co-op (Veterans), Feb. 14, 7:20 p.m.

You should know: Two of the state’s most legendary programs, winners of most of the CIAC Division I championships through the late 1970s, have moved to Division II. West Haven (which is in the second year of a co-op with three other schools) and Hamden dropped one level for the first time. A side effect of that: Only 12 teams remain in Division I.

Also:

Only 11 of those 12 teams in Division I will compete for the CIAC championship in March. The Fairfield Warde/Fairfield Ludlowe co-op has for the third year in a row opted out of the tournament to remain together. The Eastern Connecticut Eagles also opted out for the second year in a row.

Immaculate, winner of two CIAC championships, has been folded into the Brookfield/Bethel/Danbury coop. The Mustangs skipped last season with low numbers just four years after they had to opt out of the tournament in the last year of a co-op with New Fairfield.

The divisions otherwise stayed about the same, with finalists North Haven and Woodstock Academy back in Division II and finalists Masuk and the Newington coop remaining in Division III.

After a handful of relatively stable years, the coaching carousel spun a little faster the past couple of offseasons: At least nine teams have new bosses from this time last year. Notable names stepping aside included statechampion coaches Greg Maxey at Trumbull and Randy Craig with the Eagles. A couple of interesting hires included coaches moving from other teams: Andy Townsend, off a Division III title to cap a long stint at Masuk, is the new Amity coach, and Brian Gonsalves, after a few strong years at Hand, took over at Trumbull.

Defending CIAC Division I and SCC/SWC Division I champion Fairfield Prep and runner-up in both Notre Dame-West Haven are neck-and-neck atop the GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll again this year. They’ve combined to win the past four contested CIAC titles and gone headto-head for it two out of those four years.

While looking to defend its third CIAC Division II crown, North Haven is seeking its fourth consecutive SCC/SWC Division II title. Masuk will try to defend its first CIAC Division III championship as well as its first SCC/SWC Division III title since 2015.

Simsbury wrested the CCC North title away from Northwest Catholic after two years. Darien took the FCIAC championship, and Westhill/Stamford won a reborn FCIAC Division II/III tournament named in honor of late coach Doug Robinson. The Newington coop claimed the CCC South title, while Woodstock Academy was the Nutmeg Hockey Conference champion. 2023-24 CIAC tournament: first round — March 4-6. 2023-24 CIAC championship finals: March 14 (Div. III), 18 (Div. II), 19 (Div. I).