CIAC releases divisions, but Wilton to sit out season

The CIAC unveiled the division alignment for its 2021-22 boys hockey tournament this week, but one Division III team won’t be competing.

Short in numbers, Wilton won’t play boys hockey this season, coach Mark Mangino confirmed Friday, though he’s optimistic that the Warriors will be back next year.

“We kind of struck out on a goaltender,” Mangino said. “We had no goaltender. We were looking for co-ops but couldn’t find one.”

The team plans to return in 2022-23, provided that the school gives the goahead.

“Next year we’re looking for 14 incoming freshmen,” Mangino said. That’s more players than were on the team’s entire roster last year.

“The numbers look good in current eighth-graders and even better in seventhgraders.”

Two co-ops that didn’t play high school hockey last season because of COVID-19 protocols, the Eastern Connecticut Eagles and the Shepaug co-op, appear set to return.

Since the 2020 tournament that was cut short by the pandemic shutdown, a handful of teams have changed divisions. Sheehan moved up from Division III to Division II.

The new Southington/ Coginchaug/Westbrook co-op is in Division III; Southington had been in a co-op with Hall. Conard and E.O. Smith/Tolland have moved down to Division III. The Rocky Hill/ Middletown/Plainville/HK co-op that debuted last season would’ve been in Division II had there been a CIAC tournament last season; that co-op is in Division III this time around.

There are 20 teams expected to play in each Division II and Division III. The 15-team Division I remained intact, though the Fairfield co-op has opted out of the CIAC tournament because its numbers exceed CIAC limits.