Lots of games on deck for Saturday, not as big as some past Saturday's this season, but for two teams it is the day they can clinch a spot in the CIACI Division I State Tournament and there are some revenge games from last season being played today.
Daniel Hand @ Conard @ 1pm
-Why I'm interested in this one is that Conard has shown some instances of potential this year in a 3-2 win over South Windsor and a 3-2 win over Fermi/Enfield (I guess also a 2-3 loss to Simsbury). They now face a good DII team in Daniel Hand but Hand did lose to Fermi/Enfield 2-4. Also, the Tigers are on a three-game losing streak (all DI opponents, they are 3-1 with an OT loss in DII). However, this is their best chance of ending that streak since they will face #9 East Haven and Milford co-op next week. I really can't wait to see who wins this game.
Notre Dame-Fairfield @ #2 Notre Dame-West Haven @ 1
-I like this game for a lot of reasons. First, at 7-2, a win here means ND-WH would qualify for states and I don't really doubt that they will. However, ND-F upset them last year and no one saw that coming either and if ND-WH doesn't get over their loss to Ridgefield and channel that anger into getting better, the Lancers have the talent to do it again. The other interesting aspect to this game is that these two schools would face each other on a more regular basis if CT created a private school league for athletics. I contemplated it a bit during lacrosse season since both MA and NY (and I think NJ) have one but it has been discussed in earnest, mainly with a focus on basketball by my colleague Dave Rudden (of the CT Post). I personally am against it because of how spread out the teams are (Manchester to Stmaford) and the inequality amongst them (in all sports) but it is still an interesting discussion.
Pawling (NY) @ Joel Barlow @ 150
-Pawling is 6-3-1 and 4-2-1 in Conference I of Section 1 in NY (4th place) so they are probably a good team. Barlow could use the out-of-state test to get some more experience and back to their winning ways. The CIAC has Pawling as a "tier 2 out-of-state opponent" meaning they are equivalent to a DII team in terms of points for a victory (4, 2 for a tie) and remember the bonus points (2 in this case) are automatically awarded if Barlow wins, regardless of if Pawling qualifies for their state tournament.
Hingham (MA) @ #3 Hamden @ 230
-Another big out-of-state opponent for Hamden since Hingham beat them 4-0 last year. The Hingham Harbormen are #5 in Massachusetts with a 6-2 record. For reference, St. John's (Shrewsbury, MA) that Hamden just lost to 1-2 on Friday night, is ranked #22 at 6-3-1. Springfield Cathedral that Fairfield Prep beat 5-0 is #23 (Prep has #2 Boston College High at the Prudential Center and #6 Catholic Memorial in Bridgeport on their schedule still this year and those rankings can still change). Ranks were generated on 1/8/12 and there are 206 teams; we have 58 in CT (23 in DI, 18 in DII, 17 in DIII).
#7 North Haven @ Amity @ 315
-After W Haven's loss to Simsbury, N Haven needs more good wins to bolster their resume once again. Amity does not have the best record but I feel like they are ready to pull an upset just like they did last year over ND-WH; they played Cheshire to a 2-3 loss two games ago and only lost 1-3 to #1 Prep in their last game. NH should watch out but they do know this rink (Bennet Rink) after playing two games there for the West Haven Christmas Tournament earlier this season.
Watertown/Pomperaug @ Brookfield/Betherl/Danbury @ 4
-The Icecats are 6-3, 3-3 in-state, 2-0 SWC and 1-1 in DIII (their division) and this yet another SWC game and also their second game against a DII opponent (first was a 2-1 win, New Milford). The defending DIII champs (now in DII), W-P, are struggling with their tough schedule at 3-7, 1-3 in DII and 0-1 in the SWC (lost to a very good DII team, Newtown). This is W-P's chance to start turning things around but the Icecats will be looking to keep on rolling through the SWC.
Guilford @ Branford @ 515
-This is going to be a good one! The Guilford Indians, the favorite but runner-up last year in both DII and the SCC-II tournament will be taking on a formidable Branford team that has proved to be one of the best in DII thus far and will be looking to avenge a 1-4 loss in last year's SCC-II tournament semifinals. Guilford has already topped Cheshire 3-2 but Branford has more in-state and the home ice advantage for the only meeting between these two in the regular season. I couldn't tell you who is going to win this game and that is what makes it one of the best on the day; get out to Northford Ice Pavilion, one of my favorite rinks, if you can!
Simsbury @ #6 Glastonbury @ 6
-Simsbury is on a three-game winning streak (Fermi/Enfield 2-1, Conard 3-2, #8 West Haven 3-1) so it's legitimate, but just barely. If the Thomahawks want to prove their number six ranking, they will put an end to this streak and do so in convincing fashion (>2 goal margin of victory).
Staples/Weston/Shelton @ Trumbull @ 730
-Another good DII and conference game (FCIAC not SCC this time); that means there is a lot on the line. S-W-S is competing in DII for the first time this year after finishing second in DIII last year and they are off to a 5-0 start with four of those being good wins. Trumbull is 5-2 themselves only losing to DI Trinity Catholic and 4-5 to another top DII team, North Branford. They have a big 7-6 OT win over Branford, two of the same wins as S-W-S (W-P and Lyman Hall) and then a good 3-1 win over Newtown, another team around the top of DII. I'm sure S-W-S doesn't want to lose their first game (they are the only undefeated team left in any division, although Prep has not lost in-state) but this game is larger than that as it counts for FCIAC (and DII) tournament qualifying and then seeding.
Newington/Berlin @ Northwest Catholic @ 745
-Get ready for a battle here as arguably the top two teams in DIII (certainly top five) duke it out in Simsbury at the ISCC. N-B beat DII Wethersfield 4-0, Brookfield/Bethel/Danbury 6-2 and then two other DIII teams 5-0 and 4-1. NWC topped Hall/Southington 4-3, DII East Catholic 3-2, DI Simsbury 4-2, St. Bernard/Bacon/NFA 7-4 and Rocky Hill/RHAM/Middletown 8-2. They lost 2-5 to Wethersfield though whereas N-B lost 1-2 to St. Bernard/Bacon/NFA though. I'd say these two teams are pretty evenly matched but if I had to pick I'd go with Northwest because they have been on fire in their past two games, scoring 15 points to their opponents 6 and N-B has won 5 straight so I think they may be getting a little complacent. I think both teams know what is on line though and we might just see the best game each team has played all season.
#8 East Haven @ Farifield Ware/Ludlowe @ 8
-As the Easties continue to try their luck against DII team (5-5 tie with Stamford, 5-4 win against Milford co-op on Thursday and FWL is another good one), this one is especially important considering they will qualify for the DI state tournament with either a win or tie (they are 7-1-1). They did not qualify until 2/5 last year but being the (presumably) third team to qualify this year will put them in pretty good position.
Stamford @ New Canaan @ 840
-NC is on a little bit of a streak with a 6-1 win over St. Joseph (did not count for FCIAC record though) followed by a 9-1 win over fellow FCIAC member Norwalk/Brien McMahon in their past two games. Stamford is coming off a close 4-5 loss to FWL in their first official FCIAC game but they have the potential to give the Rams a good one on Saturday night.
St. Joseph @ #4 Ridgefield @ 850
-Another game that might not be that close but St. Joseph knows how to win, they are 5-3 with some good wins (Guilford and Greenwich). Also, they only lost to top teams (#6 Glastonbury, New Canaan, "#11" South Windsor). Ridgefield did beat #5 Glastonbury by three goals and is coming off a 2-1 win over #2 Notre Dame-West Haven but this is a big conference game now and St. Joseph did surprise New Canaan in last year's DI tournament after losing to them 3 times and being a huge underdog in the game. Also, I think it is key for Ridgefield to show how they play coming off such a big win and how much they will now distance themselves from lesser teams. Every little factor counts in the new rankings coming out on Sunday!
Funny DII game:
Wilton @ Westhill @ 640
-The bottom of DII, both these team are win-less (0-7 and 0-5-1 respectively) so there's a good chance that will end Saturday night...but is could be a close one haha.
No comments:
Post a Comment