Boys' Hockey: Wednesday's Top Games (2/23)

I apologize if it seems like I have been lacking a bit on my hockey posts lately.  With the basketball post-season upon us, I have been spending a lot more time on that and things will get crazy these next few weeks as girls states, then boys conferences and then boys states and then boys hockey are all going on!  Keep reading and I'll keep giving you everything you need all in one place; now back to the ice:

Catholic Memorial (MA) @ #1 Fairfield Prep @ 1pm
-Don't flip out if Prep loses this one; MA schools are such great competition in preparation for what we got down here in CT.  If you want to see some HOCKEY, stop in at the Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport for this at one p.m.

#8 West Haven @ Tri-Town @ 4
-Tri-Town is good and with the way WH has been playing lately, an upset is definitely a possibility at the Enfield Twin Rinks in this one.  The WH Blue Devils would love to get back on track with getting quality wins, especially going into their match-up with #5 Xavier on Saturday but Tri-Town has other ideas as they finish the season with two quality opponents of their own after this: at #7 South Windsor Saturday and then at Conard next Tuesday!

Winchester (MA) @ #3 Hamden @ 6
-I am literally going to copy and paste what I said for Prep: Don't flip out if Hamden loses this one; MA schools are such great competition in preparation for what we got down here in CT.  If you want to see some HOCKEY, stop in at the Lou Astorino Rink in Hamden for this at six p.m.  You can catch both games!

#5 Xaveir @ Conard @ 730
-This one is featured for a lot of reasons.  To start, you never know exactly what level of gameplay you are going to get from either of these teams this year.  The potential for an upset should be reason enough to get out to Veteran's Memorial Rink in West Hartford for this.  In addition, both team would love the 9 points they get for beating the other to get a better seed in the state tournament.  Finally, this is a huge game for both schools as four-year Xavier Coach Scott Gainey returns to face the team he was coaching just four years ago.  Although none of the Conard players would have ever had him as a head coach, youth hockey is a definite possibility.  It should be a special night for Coach Gainey!

Two interesting lower-level games: Trumbull, a top DII team, at Staples-Weston-Shelton, my favorite to win DIII, @ 8pm; Westhill @ Wilton @ 830 (both DII contenders, would be huge for Westhill to get a win while a win for Wilton shows they're ready to win the DII title in March).

#6 Ridgefield @ #9 St. Joseph @ 9
-Certainly the best game of the day and night that features only CT teams.  The winner is officially #2 in the FCIAC and St. Joseph, with their weaker out of conference schedule, would love to show they are better than the team accordingly ranked ahead of them, Ridgefield.  It may be a late start but once the puck drops, you will have no problem staying awake for this FCIAC battle at the Shelton Rinks!