GameTime CT

Connecticut's premier high school sports website

  • GIRLS SPORTS
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
  • BOYS SPORTS
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling
  • Schools
  • Newspapers
    • CT Post
    • The Danbury News-Times
    • Greenwich Time
    • The Middletown Press
    • New Haven Register
    • The Norwalk Hour
    • The Register Citizen
    • The Stamford Advocate
  • Polls
    • Baseball Top 10
    • Boys Basketball Top 10
    • Girls Basketball Top 10
    • Football Top 10
    • Hockey Top 10
    • Boys Lacrosse Top 10
    • Softball Top 10
    • Other Polls
  • Scores & Stats
Boys Hockey

Darien eager for a chance to play again after last season’s FCIAC loss

Dave Stewart | December 1, 2020

11
Darien's Jamison Moore shoots on the breakaway during the second period of their boys hockey game with Fairfield Prep at the Darien Ice Rink in Darien, Conn. on Monday January 19, 2020.
1of11

Darien's Jamison Moore shoots on the breakaway during the second period of their boys hockey game with Fairfield Prep at the Darien Ice Rink in Darien, Conn. on Monday January 19, 2020.

Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Darien coach Mac Budd
2of11

Darien coach Mac Budd

Contributed photoShow MoreShow Less
3of11
Darien's Sam Erickson (7) slaps a shot in for a goal against Notre Dame-West Haven goalie Connor Smith in the first period of a CIAC boys hockey match up at the Darien Ice House in Darien, Conn. on Jan. 11, 2020. Erickson hat trick on the night, along with two more Bluewave goals topped Notre Dame-West Haven Green Knights 5-2.
4of11

Darien's Sam Erickson (7) slaps a shot in for a goal against Notre Dame-West Haven goalie Connor Smith in the first period of a CIAC boys hockey match up at the Darien Ice House in Darien, Conn. on Jan. 11, 2020. Erickson hat trick on the night, along with two more Bluewave goals topped Notre Dame-West Haven Green Knights 5-2.

Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Darien's Luke Johnston (26) plays the puck off the board against Stamford Westhill Co-op's Eddie Zelikmen (11) in the second period of an FCIAC boys hockey game at the Darien Ice House on Jan. 22, 2020 in Darien Connecticut. Darien won 5-4 in OT.
5of11

Darien's Luke Johnston (26) plays the puck off the board against Stamford Westhill Co-op's Eddie Zelikmen (11) in the second period of an FCIAC boys hockey game at the Darien Ice House on Jan. 22, 2020 in Darien Connecticut. Darien won 5-4 in OT.

Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
6of11
Darien's Jamison Moore (17) breaks out with the puck during a boys ice hockey game against Ridgefield at the Darien Ice House on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.
7of11

Darien’s Jamison Moore (17) breaks out with the puck during a boys ice hockey game against Ridgefield at the Darien Ice House on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Darien's Jamison Moore (17) and Sam Erickson (7) celebrate after Erickson scored 12 seconds into a boys ice hockey game against Ridgefield at the Darien Ice House on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.
8of11

Darien’s Jamison Moore (17) and Sam Erickson (7) celebrate after Erickson scored 12 seconds into a boys ice hockey game against Ridgefield at the Darien Ice House on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
9of11
Darien's Luke Johnston (26) skates with the puck during a boys ice hockey game against Ridgefield at the Darien Ice House on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.
10of11

Darien's Luke Johnston (26) skates with the puck during a boys ice hockey game against Ridgefield at the Darien Ice House on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
11of11

Darien spent much of last winter as the top-ranked high school boys ice hockey team in the weekly GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll.

The No. 1 spot, as well as a legitimate shot at a state title, evaporated when the Blue Wave were upset by New Canaan 4-3 in March’s FCIAC championship game, and the CIAC tournaments were canceled three days later with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After putting the drive for a state crown at the heart of its season, Darien was left with a mixture of disappointment and anger, exacerbated by the narrow loss to its arch rival in the league final.

It has this year’s Blue Wave players reevaluating the focus.

“Last year, we spent pretty much our entire preseason and season focusing on our biggest goal which was winning a state championship,” senior co-captain Luke Johnston said. “Then when it got canceled it left us feeling like the whole season was for nothing. That taught us a lesson for this year.”

For the moment, the Blue Wave, along with the rest of the state, is again playing the waiting game, as the CIAC pushed the start of the winter season to Jan. 19.

When, and if, a season does finally start, it will certainly be shorter and will look different, as there is currently a mandate from Gov. Ned Lamont for participants in medium-risk indoor sports such as ice hockey to wear masks while competing.

And as coach Mac Budd pointed out, the season will no longer be a 20-plus-game marathon.

“They’re in a good frame of mind, all things considered,” Budd said of his players. “There’s no point in worrying about things now, we can’t fix (the Jan. 19 start), it’s done and it’s not going to change. What we need to do is look forward to that date and find a way to stay prepared and focused so that when we hit the ice we’re ready to go, because it’s going to be a sprint to the finish.”

With just seven seniors on last year’s team, and the return of several key players, including captains Johnston, Jamison Moore and Sam Erickson, Darien would likely be at or near the top of the rankings again this winter.

The Wave are just hoping to have a chance to prove their lofty status is justified.

“We’re continually thinking about the opportunity to go out and prove that we are the best team in the state,” Moore said. “This year especially, we are very strong. We have 10 or 11 seniors and we’ve been playing together since we were in youth (leagues). This is our last hurrah together so we’re all very motivated to have as much of a season as we possibly can.”

Budd said he’s been involved in several CIAC conversations, and feels the CIAC will do everything in its power to give the players a season.

“I get the sense that the CIAC is going to try and find a way to play the winter season,” Budd said. “That’s what their intent is and if there’s any way possible, they’re going to do it. Of course, there are some things you can’t control, but I’m optimistic as I can be based on that.”

Many of the Blue Wave players have been gearing up for ice hockey during the fall, skating with travel teams or training individually, according to Budd, who said he’s been pleased with the positive vibes during a negative time.

“It’s clear that the kids love playing hockey, and it’s clear that during this very difficult time, it really brings them a lot of happiness,” Budd said. “It gets them back inside of their own world. It’s something they’re familiar with, they’re with their friends and even if there’s things that are different, when you’re on themice, you’re bonding and you’re competing against another team, there’s nothing better.”

The first faceoff of what would be the 2021 winter season would go a long way towards helping Darien put away for good the memory of its last game in 2020.

“That would be our last hockey game for the seniors, and that’s the worst possible way to go out,” Johnston said. “Personally, I think we were the best team in the state last year, and we all thought we’d win a state championship, and this year, I truly think we’re better. We’ve been training even harder and we’re all connected as a team because we all share that anger from what happened last year. We just want to play.”

 

david.stewart@hearstmediact.com; @dstewartsports

 

About Dave Stewart

Newsletter Signup

Don't strike out on CT high school sports news. Sign up for The Whistle newsletter from GametimeCT

You agree to our Terms of Use. Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.

Spring Sports Quick Links

Spring Sports Quick Links

BASEBALL 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
SOFTBALL 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
BOYS LACROSSE 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO WATCH
Spring Sports Schedules

Winter 2021 Preview Links

Winter Sports 2021 Links

2021 ALL-STATE TEAMS

CHSCA: GIRLS BASKETBALL | GYMNASTICS | BOYS HOCKEY | CHSGHA: GIRLS HOCKEY

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

BERKSHIRE | CCC | CRAL | CTC | ECC | FCIAC | NCCC | NVL | SCC | SHORELINE | SWC

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Fall Sports Quick Links

Fall Sports Quick Links

2021 FOOTBALL COLLEGE RECRUITING LIST
2020 GAMETIMECT ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS SOCCER
GIRLS SOCCER
FIELD HOCKEY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
2020 LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:
Central Connecticut
Fairfield County
Shoreline Conference
Southern Connecticut
South-West Conference

Twitter

Tweets

Polls

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC