Farmington Valley Moves Up in Boys Ice Hockey Poll

FARMINGTON VALLEY, CT — Two big wins over Division I opponents last week enabled the four-school Farmington Valley boys ice hockey team to move up a notch in the latest weekly poll of coaches and media members.

The Generals (7-1) placed ninth in the most recent balloting, remaining the only Division II team to crack the state's top 10. Farmington Valley defeated East Catholic and Simsbury last week, and return to action Saturday night at Trinity College, facing Glastonbury.

Fairfield Prep (8-0) swept all 16 first-place votes to remain atop the rankings.

Here are the top 10, plus all other programs receiving votes, with records through Jan. 16:

1. Fairfield Prep (8-0)
2. Greenwich (5-1)
3. Notre Dame-West Haven (5-4)
4. Ridgefield (6-2)
5. Hamden (5-2)
6. Xavier (7-3)
7. Notre Dame-Fairfield (6-2)
8. New Fairfield/Immaculate (4-1-1)
9. Farmington Valley (7-1)
10. Northwest Catholic (5-2-1)

Also receiving votes: Darien (3-6), New Canaan (3-5), Watertown/Pomperaug (6-1-1).

Voters: Coaches: Matt Sather, Fairfield Prep; Nick Boorman, Suffield/Granby/Windsor Locks; Tim Belcher, Notre Dame-West Haven; Shaun Gallagher, Ridgefield; Larry Vieira, New Fairfield/Immaculate. Media: Mike Fornabaio, Connecticut Post; Don Boyle, SportingNewsCT.com; Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.; Sean Begin, Hartford Courant; Sean Patrick Bowley, GameTimeCT.com; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Dan Nowak, New Haven Register; Greg Lederer, Cheshire Herald; Luke Devoe, CTHSHockey.org; Peter Vander Veer, HAN Network; Jim Stout, MaxPreps.com.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen