CTHS Hockey's Top 10 1/30

January 30, 2012

By: Luke Devoe


This week sees the top four stay the same while great shifting occurs a bit lower.  South Windsor seems to have been exposed and will need to step their game up after two bad losses.  Darien and New Canaan enter the rankings after continued impressive streaks.  

1. Fairfield Prep (11-2-0)- Prep won the inaugural Jesuit Shootout at the Prudential Center in New Jersey this past weekend and added a beatdown of Cheshire to go 3-0 on the week.  David White and AJ Unker are as steady as they come and with the defensive brand they've been playing (allowed only two goals in three games this week, including a shutout of perennial power BC High of Mass) Prep is the easy favorite to win state this year.
PAST WEEK: Cheshire W 5-0, Boston College High W 2-0, St. Peter's (NJ) W 3-2
2. Ridgefield (11-1-0)- The Tigers keep rolling and have run off 11 straight wins following a season opening loss to Prep.  They took care of a couple of cupcakes this week, though I'm sure they would've liked a little more separation against Warde/Ludlowe than a one goal game.
PAST WEEK: Trinity Catholic W 6-2, Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe W 3-2
3. Notre Dame-West Haven (11-2-1)- Not an easy week for the Knights and they responded admirably demolishing an overmatched East Haven squad and matching Hamden step for step in the state's best game of the year on Saturday.  
PAST WEEK: East Haven W 5-0, Hamden T 3-3

4. Hamden (7-3-1)- If it wasn't for Notre Dame opting to go with Luc Amatruda in the third period, Hamden would have probably won on Saturday.  Hamden is getting scoring from all over the roster and at all different times including two shorties on the same penalty kill from sophomore Jeremy Germain and freshman Tyler Carangelo on Saturday.

PAST WEEK: Notre Dame-West Haven T 3-3

5. Glastonbury (8-2-0)- If it wasn't for a weak third period against NDWH, the Tomahawks could be looking much mightier at this point in the season.  The boys have skills regardless and received goals from six different skaters in a hard fought win over Conard this week.PAST WEEK: Conard W 6-5
6. West Haven (8-3-0)- West Haven took out some serious frustrations after the Prep blowout by tallying 9 goals against Milford this week while also getting a hat trick and five point game from senior Mike Troiano.  Took care of business against Amity as well.  They seem to be fine.
PAST WEEK: Milford Co-op W 9-2, Amity W 5-2
7. East Haven (9-2-2)- After gathering quite a few D2 wins early in the year the Yellow Jackets needed a good showing against the Knights, they didn't get it.  However, they put together a complete game against borderline D1 opponent Windsor/Farmington/Avon.
PAST WEEK: Notre Dame-West Haven L 5-0, Windsor/Farmington/Avon W 3-1
8. New Canaan (8-3-1)- The Rams are 6-0-1 in their last seven and have outscored their opponents 37-7 during that span.  Circle the date Wednesday night when they take on the #2 Ridgefield Tigers.
PAST WEEK: Notre Dame-Fairfield W 4-0, Greenwich W 3-1
9. Darien (8-3-0)- Like New Canaan, Darien carries quite the win streak heading into this week.  The Blue Wave has run off seven straight after starting the season 1-3.  They, too, have a tough matchup Wednesday night against St. Joseph as the FCIAC tries to dethrone the SCC as top ice hockey conference, they have a long way to go however. 
PAST WEEK: Staples/Weston/Shelton W 8-0, Norwalk/McMahon W 9-2
10. Xavier (7-4-2)- Xavier still needs to take off.  They pulled out a tight victory over North Haven on Saturday.  They'll have a chance to announce their presence as they take on the #1 Jesuits Wednesday at the Wonderland.
PAST WEEK: North Haven W 2-1

Dropped Out: #5 South Windsor, #10 Guilford
On the Bubble: St. Joseph (9-4-0), South Windsor (8-4-0), Daniel Hand (6-4-1)