GameTimeCT Top 10 hockey poll (Jan. 16): NDWH moves to No. 1

The former No. 1s, New Canaan and Fairfield Prep, rank third and fifth this week, with Fairfield in between them and picking up a first-place vote. Darien moves up a tick to No. 2, where the Blue Wave were before losses to two Rhode Island teams last weekend.

Xavier moved up from eighth to sixth after a couple of wins, including one over Northwest Catholic, which dropped a spot to become the new No. 8. Ridgefield falls to seventh after falling to Fairfield and Greenwich, the latter of which remained 10th. Hamden stayed in ninth after a couple of wins over Simsbury.

The 10 ranked teams have been the same all season so far, and that really coalesced even more this week, with only two other teams drawing votes. North Haven got a couple of 10th-place points, and St. Joseph, repeatedly competitive with top-10 teams, picked up one.

GameTimeCT Top 10 Boys Hockey Poll (Jan. 17)

TEAM

REC

PTS

LAST

CLASS

1. ND-WEST HAVEN (8)

6-2-0

114

2

I

Last Week: def. Immaculate 4-1; def. Mount Saint Charles (R.I.) 2-1.

This Week: Monday vs. Bishop Hendricken (R.I.) (Bennett), 2 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Ridgefield (Bennett), 6 p.m.

The Bottom Line:New Canaan beat the Knights in overtime. Darien beat New Canaan in OT. We're a Notre Dame OT win over Darien on Feb. 4 away from what Ned Griffen of the Day of New London calls a "CIRCLE OF STRIFE" (caps in original). Looks like the voters have placed their bets already, though.

2. DARIEN (3)

5-2-1

107

3

I

Last Week: def. New Canaan 2-1 (OT); def. Westhill/Stamford 5-1.

This Week: Monday vs. Xavier (Darien Ice), 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday at Fairfield (Wonderland), 8 p.m.; Saturday at Ridgefield (Winter Garden), 8:30 p.m.

The Bottom Line: Two Division-I teams remain unbeaten in-state coming into the week. They meet Wednesday in Bridgeport.

3. NEW CANAAN

5-1-2

94

1

I

Last Week: lost to Darien 2-1 (OT); def. St. Joseph 3-2.

This Week: Monday vs. Barrington, R.I. (Darien Ice), 2 p.m.; Wednesday at Hamden, 8 p.m.; Saturday at La Salle Academy (R.I.), 2:30 p.m.

The Bottom Line: An overtime loss, and down two spots: The top of the poll can be harsh. One ventures the Rams will be fine.

4. FAIRFIELD (1)

8-0-0

84

6

I

Last Week: def. West Haven 10-2; def. Ridgefield 5-2; def. Trumbull 8-0.

This Week: Wednesday vs. Darien (Wonderland), 8 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The state's last unbeaten, untied team has Darien twice in its next five games.

5. FAIRFIELD PREP

4-4-0

66

5

I

Last Week: def. Notre Dame-Fairfield 9-1.

This Week: Wednesday vs. West Haven (Wonderland), 6 p.m.; Saturday at Hamden, 4 p.m.

The Bottom Line: Aksel Sather is back... Luke Noonan is out. But the Jesuits will see if Saturday's big win lets them build any momentum.

6. XAVIER

6-3-0

58

8

I

Last Week: def. Notre Dame-Fairfield 1-0 (OT); def. Northwest Catholic 4-2.

This Week: Monday at Darien (Darien Ice), 4:30 p.m. Wednesday vs. St. Joseph (Champions), 3:10 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The Falcons were down 2-0 in the third but came back to beat Northwest Catholic on Saturday. Matt Reardon's short-handed goal broke the tie.

7. RIDGEFIELD

4-3-1

50

4

I

Last Week: lost to Fairfield 5-2; lost to Greenwich 4-3.

This Week: Monday vs. West Haven (Winter Garden), 1:20 p.m.; Wednesday at Notre Dame-West Haven (Bennett), 6 p.m.; Saturday vs. Darien (Winter Garden), 8:30 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The middle of the poll can be harsh, too. Another tough week, but the Tigers have played up to some tough competition at times.

8. NWC

5-2-2

34

7

I

Last Week: lost to Xavier 4-2.

This Week: Do not play.

The Bottom Line: The Lions more or less flip with Xavier, though Ridgefeld sneaks in between them. Northwest Catholic next plays Jan. 26 against Farmington Valley.

9. HAMDEN

5-3-0

28

9

I

Last Week: def. Hand 5-4; def. West Haven 6-3.

This Week: Monday vs. Greenwich, noon; Wednesday vs. New Canaan, 8 p.m.; Saturday vs. Fairfield Prep, 4 p.m.

The Bottom Line: Speaking of momentum, the Green Dragons have built a little since their last game against a top-10 team dropped them to 1-3. They've got three top-10 games this week.

10. GREENWICH

3-5-0

22

10

I

Last Week: def. St. Joseph 4-2; def. Ridgefield 4-3.

This Week: Monday at Hamden, noon; Wednesday at Notre Dame-Fairfield (Rinks at Shelton), 8 p.m.; Saturday at Trumbull (Rinks at Shelton), 7:30 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The Cardinals led Ridgefield 4-0 in Saturday's game and held on as they rebound from a tough start to the season.

Also receiving votes: North Haven (6-2-0) 2; St. Joseph (1-6-0) 1.

The Following Voted: Media: Erik Dobratz, WTNH-8; Michael Fornabaio, Connecticut Post; Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.; Greg Lederer, Meriden Record Journal; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Dan Nowak, New Haven Register; Pete Paguaga, GameTimeCT; Dave Stewart, New Canaan Advertiser/Darien Times. Coaches: Mac Budd, Darien; Shaun Gallagher, Ridgefield; Matt Sather, Fairfield Prep; Larry Vieira, Notre Dame-West Haven.