BOYS HOCKEY TOP 10

TEAM REC PTS LAST CONF

1. Fairfield Prep (3) 13-6-2 108 1 SCC/SWC

This Week: This week: Monday at New Canaan (Darien Ice House), 6 p.m.,; Wednesday vs. Ridgefield (Wonderland of Ice) 5:45 p.m.; Saturday at Darien (Darien Ice House), 3:50 p.m.

The Bottom Line: With teams not being allowed to go out of state, for now, the Jesuits will play an All-CT schedule this season. Will we see the Jesuits do what they do normally do to in-state opponents?

2. Darien (6) 18-5 107 2 FCIAC This Week: This week: Wednesday vs. Greenwich (Darien Ice House), 6:10 p.m.; Saturday vs. Fairfield Prep (Darien Ice House), 3:50 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The Blue Wave ended last season with a bad taste in their mouth, losing in the FCIAC finals. The core of the team are seniors, who many have thought could have taken home a state title last year, with no state tournament the best they can do is get revenge in the FCIAC title game.

3. ND-West Haven (3) 14-7 98 4 SCC/SWC This Week: This week: Monday vs. Immaculate (Bennett Rink), 4 p.m.; Wednesday vs. New Canaan (Bennett Rink), 4 p.m.; Saturday at Greenwich (Dorothy Hamill), 5:45 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The Green Knights took Fairfield Prep to a shootout in the SCC Division I finals. Some said they were hitting their stride going into the state tournament. With a lot of returners the Green Knights will challenge for the SCC Division I title.

4. New Canaan 19-2-1 89 3 FCIAC This Week: This week: Monday vs. Fairfield Prep (Darien Ice House), 6 p.m.; Wednesday at Notre Dame-West Haven (Bennett Rink), 4 p.m.; Saturday vs. Ridgefield (Darien Ice House), 6 p.m.

The Bottom Line: Despite being ranked behind Darien, the defending FCIAC champs are the ones with the target on its back. We will know a lot more about the Rams after their first four games. It’s going to be a doozy.

5. Greenwich 13-7-1 77 5 FCIAC This Week: This week: Tuesday vs. Fairfield co-op (Dorothy Hamill), 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday at Darien (Darien Ice House), 6:10 p.m.; Saturday vs. Notre Dame-West Haven (Dorothy Hamill), 5:45 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The third time in what many believe will be a three-team race for the FCIAC title has returners up and down the ice, including in net. Will the play in the crease be enough to lead the Cardinals to the top?

6. Ridgefield 12-10 43 7 FCIAC

This Week: Wednesday at Fairfield Prep (Wonderland Ice), 5:45 p.m.; Saturday at New Canaan (Darien Ice House), 6 p.m.

The Bottom Line: Last year was a rebuilding year for the Tigers, coming off a great season by a senior team in 2019. Will having a lineup with more experience make the FCIAC race a four-team one?

7. Xavier 10-7-3 36 6SCC/SWC This Week: Wednesday at Hamden (Lou Astorino), 3:45 p.m.; Saturday at Hand (Northford), 7:30 p.m.

The Bottom Line: One of the strengths for the Falcons will be the play in net.

8. ND-Fairfield 10-8-2 32 9SCC/SWC

This Week: Thursday at St. Joseph (Shelton Sports Center), 3 p.m.

The Bottom Line: Year two under Richie Minnix figures to be one where the Lancers take a big step forward. 9. Hand 18-3-1 16 NRSCC/SWC

This Week: Wednesday vs. Sheehan (Northford), 3:50 p.m.; Saturday vs. Xavier (Northford), 7:30 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The Tigers dropped out of the poll at the end of last season, though they probably would have found their way back in the top 10 after the state tournament. Most of that team is back.

10. Simsbury 13-7-1 12 10 CCC This Week: Monday vs. South Windsor (Simsbury Farms), 8:15 p.m.; Saturday at Northwest Catholic (ISCC), 6:30 p.m.

The Bottom Line: A lot the Trojans lineup graduated, but it seems like the Trojans are turning the corner into a consistent. program.

Dropped out: Branford (8).

First-place votes in parentheses and points tabulated on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

NOTE: Records from last season

Others receiving votes: Fairfield co-op (12-9-0) 10; West Haven (11-8-1) 10; Hamden (8-12) 9; Northwest Catholic (813) 6; Branford (20-2-1) 4; North Haven (13-7-3) 2; Farmington Valley (19-3-1) 1

The following voted: Media: Luke Devoe, CTHSHockey.org; Erik Dobratz, WTNH-8; Ben Klein, CTHSHockey.org; Greg Lederer, Cheshire Herald; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Dan Nowak, New Haven Register; Pete Paguaga, GameTimeCT; Dave Stewart, New Canaan Advertiser; Jim Stout, MaxPreps.com. Coaches: Shaun Gallagher, Ridgefield, Matt Sather, Fairfield Prep; Larry Viera, Notre Dame-West Haven.

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