Xavier Stays Near Top of Latest Ice Hockey Poll

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Ridgefield High School retained the top ranking in the most recent weekly ice hockey poll of Connecticut sports media and coaches.

The Tigers (9-1) received 11 of 16 first-place votes in this week's balloting, consisting of 10 media members and six coaches.

Xavier High School (9-2) retained the second position in the latest rankings.

Here are the top 10 teams, with records through Jan. 23:

1. Ridgefield (9-1)
2. Xavier (9-2)
3. New Canaan (8-2)
4. Northwest Catholic (10-1-1)
5. Notre Dame-West Haven (6-5)
6. Fairfield Prep (5-3)
7. Hamden (5-3)
8. Suffield/Granby/Windsor Locks (8-2)
9. East Haven (8-0)
10. West Haven (7-3)

Also receiving votes: Simsbury (5-4), Notre Dame-Fairfield (2-7-1), Darien (4-5), Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe (7-3), Woodstock Academy (9-0).

Voters: Media: Mike Fornabaio, Connecticut Post; Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.; Matt Conyers, Hartford Courant; Sean Patrick Bowley, GameTimeCT.com; Dan Nowak, New Haven Register; Don Boyle, SportingNewsCt.com; Greg Lederer, Cheshire Herald; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Peter Vander Veer, HAN Network; Jim Stout, MaxPreps.com Northeast Regional writer-editor.

Coaches: Matt Sather, Fairfield Prep; Nick Boorman, SGWL; Ken Barse, Glastonbury; Tim Belcher, Notre Dame-West Haven; Shaun Gallagher, Ridgefield; Larry Vieira, New Fairfield/Immaculate.

Patch file photo