Unanimous Top Choice Leads High School Ice Hockey Preseason Poll

CONNECTICUT — Regular season play begins later this week for ice hockey teams across Connecticut, and Notre Dame-West Haven will be looking to not only defend the state championship it won in March, but to justify its selection as the unanimous top choice of all 12 voters in the annual preseason poll.

The Green Knights won the Div. I title with a 4-2 victory over Darien at Quinnipiac University, earning them the honor of being the preseason favorite to repeat. Darien was second in the balloting of coaches and sports media members, while Fairfield Prep was third.

Here are the top 10, as well as all other programs receiving votes.

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

Also receiving votes: Hamden, Simsbury, Wethersfield, Branford.

Voters: Coaches: Mac Budd, Darien; Shaun Gallagher, Ridgefield; Dave Harackiewicz, Newington co-op; 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