A New Top Team Leads Connecticut High School Boys Ice Hockey Poll

CONNECTICUT — New Canaan moved up three slots from its preseason ranking to lead the first Connecticut high school boys ice hockey poll of the new calendar year.

The Rams collected nine of 12 first-place votes from the panel of coaches and media members to edge Darien, which received the other three top nods.

Here are the top 10, with first-place votes and preseason ranking in parentheses, as well as all other programs earning support.

1. New Canaan (9) (PS: 4)
2. Darien (3) (PS: 3)
3. Fairfield Prep (PS: 1)
4. Notre Dame-West Haven (PS: 2)
5. Ridgefield (PS: 7)
6. Fairfield co-op (PS: 8)
7. Northwest Catholic (PS: 9)
8. Xavier (PS: 6)
9. Greenwich (PS: 5)
10. Hamden (PS: 10)

Also receiving votes: Sheehan, Simsbury, Trumbull, Immaculate, North Haven, West Haven.

Voters: Coaches: Mac Budd, Darien; Shaun Gallagher, Ridgefield; Matt Sather, Fairfield Prep; Larry Vieira, Notre Dame-West Haven. 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.
Compiled by Michael Fornabaio