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

2019-20 Boys Hockey Storylines to Watch

Michael Fornabaio | December 19, 2019

ROPE-A-DOPE

Many teams that begin their season 0-2, 1-4 and 3-6 can make plans elsewhere for mid-March. Not Fairfield Prep, which could trademark its way of building and teaching an inexperienced team, testing itself through a tough regular-season and out-of-state schedule and being ready to go to Ingalls Rink. The Jesuits once again have some building to do and have promoted their backup goalie to No. 1. We’ll see where they are after nine or 10 games.

THE PRESEASON 2019-20 GAMETIME CT TOP 10 HOCKEY POLL

NEW COACHES, BIG SPOTS

Four of the 15 Division I teams have new coaches for 2019-20. Rich Minnix, fresh off a Division III title with LHK, is the new boss at Notre Dame-Fairfield. Karl Sundquist takes over Xavier. Immaculate, independent again after a decade’s co-op with New Fairfield, is led by Brian Lugo, who actually took over for a few games at the end of last season. And West Haven has a new coach for the first time in over two decades, as assistant Steve Harris takes over for Joe Morrell. Five other teams have new coaches as well.

CO-OPED UP

Another year, another set of co-op drama. E.O. Smith re-added Tolland after a year on its own, but the Bucks won’t be going all the way this year: Their participation numbers make them ineligible for the Division II tournament, much like Suffield/Granby/Windsor Locks and New Fairfield/Immaculate last year. Both of those teams are back eligible this year: SGWL in Division III, and Immaculate, minus New Fairfield, in Division I. Probably the most interesting other co-op news is that the Redhawks, based out of Norwich Free Academy, are no more; three of their players joined the Eastern Connecticut Eagles, who have players from 11 different schools.

HORNETS STING TWICE

OK, not everybody is back in Branford, but a lot of the core of last year’s Division II champions does return, and the Hornets return as a Division II team. It’s a notoriously difficult division in which to repeat, for a number of reasons, but Branford is a favorite. Rivals like WMRP, a semifinalist last year, or Westhill/Stamford, returning a lot of talent, will have a say.

TITAN-IC SEASON

With 2018-19 Division III champion Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug moved up to Division II, it could be runner-up and crosstown rival Sheehan taking over as favorite. The Titans have tons of offense: See their opener, when they beat JBWA 10-7. Standout goalie Tyler Robertson has graduated along with a couple of key performers. Someone like the Newington co-op, the other Division III semifinalist that remains (Hand also moved up and, with a deep team, could make noise in Division II), could challenge, too.

About Michael Fornabaio

Slam Dunk 2

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.

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Winter 2021 Preview Links

Winter Sports 2021 Links

BOYS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 CIAC PLAYERS TO WATCH
5 STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
5 STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
BOYS HOCKEY
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
GIRLS HOCKEY
15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
BOYS SWIMMING
25 SWIMMERS TO WATCH
GYMNASTICS
15 GYMNASTS TO WATCH

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

Who has the best jerseys?

Loading ... Loading ...
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC