The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Fairfield Prep No. 1 in final poll
Entering the season, Fairfield Prep hockey coach Matt Sather was optimistic.
He had 16 returning players from the previous season, including 12 seniors, and the expectations were balanced scoring on offense and an exceptional defense led by goalie Jack McGee and defenseman Cole Casl.
“If we buy into the team concept and continue to improve throughout the year,” Sather said in early December, “we should be a tough team to beat in the tournament.”
The team bought into the team concept and certainly improvcd throughout the year, because not only were Jesuits tough to beat in the CIAC Division I tournament, they were tough to beat throughout the season.
The Jesuits set the tone for the season during the Christmas vacation break. Prep defeated Franklin (Mass.) 3-2 in double overtime in the championship game of the prestigious Mount St. Charles Holiday Face-Off tournament in Rhode Island. Prep went on to defeat Notre DameWest Haven 5-0 in the SCC/SWC Division I championship game on March 3 and defeated Greenwich 4-2 in the CIAC Division I final on Saturday.
Overall, Prep was a perfect 17-0 against state teams. As a result of its success, Fairfield Prep is a unanimous No. 1 selection in the season’s final Register Top 10 Hockey poll with 13 first place votes and 130 points. Greenwich is No.2 with 112 votes and Ridgefield is No. 3 with 108.
“I’m very surprised at how well we did against state competition,” Sather said. “Our in-state schedule was tough, and I knew we were going to be strong with 12 seniors on the roster, but I expected a few setbacks along the way.
“We were fortunate to stay very healthy during the regular season. The flu never went through our team, and once Carter Kral came back from his ankle injury sustained in the fall, we had no significant injury issues this year. To have a season like this, you need a lot of luck.”
The Jesuits, who finished the season 22-2-1 overall, dominated on offense with 11 players producing double-digit points. Kevin Oricoli led the way with eight goals and 21 assists along with Joe Mancini (14 goals, 13 assists), Ryan Eckert (11 goals, 15 assists) and Carter Kral (17 goals, eight assists).
Finishing the season No. 1 in the poll has its special place with Sather.
“The poll is a reminder of how many teams in Connecticut had tremendous seasons and how many players and coaches did special things this year,” Sather said.