Brackets Released For CIAC Boys Ice Hockey State Tournaments

CONNECTICUT — The journey to the M&T Band Arena officially kicks off Monday, as pairings for the three Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) boys ice hockey tournaments were released Friday morning. The home of the Quinnipiac University Bobcats, currently ranked second in the nation, will play host to both the state semifinals and finals this year.

A total of 14 teams from schools in Hartford and Tolland counties will be competing for state championships. The top seeds among area teams are Simsbury (No. 3 in Div. I), the Newington co-op (No. 3 in Div. III) and Conard (No. 4 in Div. III).

Wethersfield (Div. II) and Newington (Div. III) will be seeking to duplicate last year's title runs.

Here are the first-round matchups for qualifying teams from the region. Click the class headers for complete brackets.

DIV. I
March 8

• No. 3 Simsbury, bye
• No. 11 Notre Dame-Fairfield at No. 6 Northwest Catholic (time TBA)

DIV. II
March 7

• No. 15 Glastonbury at No. 2 Woodstock Academy (5 p.m.)
• No. 12 North Branford at No. 5 Wethersfield (4 p.m.)
• No. 11 South Windsor at No. 6 Branford (5 p.m.)
• No. 9 Daniel Hand at No. 8 Farmington Valley (8 p.m.)

DIV. III
March 6

• No. 16 Southington co-op at No. 1 Masuk (6 p.m.)
• No. 15 Rocky Hill co-op at No. 2 New Milford (7 p.m.)
• No. 14 Brookfield co-op at No. 3 Newington co-op (6 p.m.)
• No. 13 E.O. Smith/Tolland at No. 4 Conard (7:20 p.m.)
• No. 11 Staples at No. 6 Enfield co-op (6 p.m.)
• No. 10 Newtown/New Fairfield at No. 7 Tri-Town (8:10 p.m.)
• No. 9 Hall at No. 8 Shepaug Valley co-op (6 p.m.)