GIRLS HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS
TOP PERFORMERS
Mackenzie Chapman, Simsbury: Chapman scored both goals to help Simsbury defeat ETB 2-0 in a key CCC match-up on Saturday. She put the Trojans on top in the first period and added an empty-netter in the third.
Chelsea Donovan, Darien: Donovan scored four goals and had one assist in the Blue Wave’s 6-0 shutout of the West Haven/SHA co-op on Tuesday at Bennett Rink. She also scored the tying and go-ahead goals in a 4-1 victory over Westchester (N.Y.) on Saturday at the Darien Ice House.
Alyssa Gioia, Stamford/Westhill/Staples: Gioia had six points on three goals and three assists as the Stamford/ Westhill/Staples co-op won back-to-back games over Greenwich 5-1, and Masuk 8-0. The senior had one goal and one assist against Greenwich, and two goals and two assists against Masuk. The SWS team is 9-1.
Elsa Haakonsen, Trumbull/St. Joseph: Haakonsen, a sophomore, amassed 56 saves in a 6-1 loss to New Canaan Saturday at the Darien Ice House.
Peyton Jelinek, Greenwich: The junior had a hat trick in the Cardinals’ 9-3 win over the Fairfield co-op on Saturday.
Maddie Kloud, New Canaan: Kloud racked up nine points on three goals and six assists in three games last week. That included a five-point performance in a 6-1 win over Trumbull/St. Joseph on Saturday. Her line had eight goals and 10 assists in those three games, with Jade Lowe getting two goals and four assists, and Caitlin Tully scoring three goals.
Mary McKiernan, ETB: McKiernan netted the winning goal in the Storm’s 1-0 victory over West Haven/SHA on Friday. The senior defender has surpassed 60 career points with ETB, with 34 goals and 27 assists. McKiernan was also instrumental in the ETB defense’s performance while limiting Simsbury to just 12 shots during a 2-0 loss on Saturday.
Kaitlyn O’Brien, Simsbury: The Simsbury senior collected 33 saves to earn the shutout in the Trojans’ 2-0 win over ETB in a key CCC match-up on Saturday.
Eva Smith, Masuk co-op: Smith racked up 39 saves to lead the Masuk co-op to a 5-1 victory over the Amity co-op on Monday.
Maddie Tully, New Canaan: The freshman defender shifted to offense and had a natural hat trick in the third period of the Rams’ 5-0 win over the Suffield co-op on Monday.
GAMES TO WATCH
New Canaan at Greenwich (Hamill Rink), Thursday, 8: Two of the FCIAC’s perennial contenders clash for the second time this season. The Rams won the first meeting in December, 5-2.
Simsbury at Suffield co-op (International Skating Center), Friday, 6: Simsbury just picked up a big victory over ETB on Saturday, and had five days to prepare for this CCC showdown. Suffield was shut out by the Trojans 3-0 earlier this season, but has two wins and a tie in its last four games.
LaSalle Academy (RI) at ETB (Newington Ice Arena), Friday, 8:30: The ETB Storm doesn’t shy away from outof-state powers, and has four such opponents on this year’s schedule, including Rhode Island championship contender LaSalle Academy. The Storm lost to Notre Dame Academy (MA) 3-2 in December, and has Bishop Guertin (NH) and Matignon (MA) still to come.
New Canaan at West Haven/SHA (Bennett Rink), Saturday, 1: New Canaan has been ripping through its schedule with an 12-0 record and 23 straight wins dating back to last winter. They’ll travel to Bennett Rink to take on defending SCC champion West Haven/SHA, which entered the week 6-4.
Simsbury at Guilford (Milford Ice Pavilion), Saturday, 7: The first of three straight out-of-conference games for Simsbury. Guilford is 3-1, and has had five postponements, creating a jam-packed schedule the rest of the way.
Trumbull/St. Joseph at Darien (Darien Ice House), Saturday, 8:30: The start of a big weekend for the Trumbull/St. Joseph co-op, as they take on two traditional FCIAC powers in as many days. Outside of a 3-1 loss to New Canaan, Darien has won every game by at least three goals.
Greenwich at Trumbull/St. Joseph (Rinks at Shelton), Sunday, 2: When the Trumbull/St. Joseph co-op broke through with a winning season last year, its signature game was a 2-1 victory over Greenwich early in the season. This game looms large in the hunt for one of four FCIAC tournament berths.
Avon co-op at Suffield co-op (International Skating Center), Tuesday, 7:50:
Suffield ended Avon’s season with a 1-0 decision in the CCC semifinals last winter. This is the first meeting since and they’ll play again on Feb. 9.
Simsbury at Darien (Darien Ice House), Wednesday, 3:40:
An enticing match-up between two state powers. Their last two meetings have gone the home team’s way, with Simsbury winning 3-2 in 2018-19, and Darien winning 3-1 in 201920. The Trojans will try to change that trend.