The CHSGHA uses a complicated formula to produce the rankings that decide the 14-team state tournament field. And we’re entering the time of year when Connecticut girls’ hockey teams are really paying attention to it. Teams earn 10 points for a win and five for a tie. But for every opponent they beat, they also...
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The CHSGHA uses a complicated formula to produce the rankings that decide the 14-team state tournament field.
And we’re entering the time of year when Connecticut girls’ hockey teams are really paying attention to it.
Teams earn 10 points for a win and five for a tie. But for every opponent they beat, they also earn those teams’ points, tallied as “bonus points.” The combined total is then divided by the team’s number of games played for a final score. This means that a win can gain value — if that opponent starts stacking wins — or lose value — if it starts stacking losses.
That’s how the state’s only undefeated team is currently the No. 2 seed, and how a 3-10-0 team is the last team in the field, while a 5-9-1 team is the first team out of it. The formula also creates plenty of crucial matchups (and plenty of scoreboard watching) as the regular season enters its final month.
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Those crucial matchups start this week, when our No. 1 and No. 2 teams meet again.
Let’s dive into our rankings.
1. New Canaan (12-0-1)
Previous rank: 1 Conference: FCIAC Coach: Rich Bulan Next: vs. Fairfield Ludlowe, Feb. 3, 8:10 p.m.
Bulan’s team still isn’t dominating games as often as New Canaan is used to, but the Rams just keep winning. They were outshot by the East Catholic Co-op, 27-12, on Saturday, but impressive freshman goalie Reeve Burley conceded only once, allowing senior captain Izzy Janiga to drop the hammer in a 4-1 victory. She scored twice and provided a gorgeous assist on freshman Lina Kivikko’s third-period sealer. That was NC’s biggest test since the 4-1 victory over Darien before Christmas, and the Rams found a way to pass it. But a rematch with the Wave looms on Saturday…
2. Darien (10-1-0)
Previous rank: 2 Conference: FCIAC Coach: Gray Weicker Next: vs. New Canaan, Feb. 7, 6:40 p.m.
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Darien is actually beating out New Canaan for the top spot in the CHSGHA’s rankings, as we wrote about in our midseason report. A 2-0 win over third-ranked Hall/Conard in the season’s second game is helping out a lot in that formula, but even beyond the math, Weicker’s team has a very strong argument for our top spot. Darien is crushing everyone in its path and has six players, led by junior Adrian Gromelski (17 goals, 11 assists), above 1.5 points per game. If the Wave defeat NC at home on Saturday, the top spot in our rankings is theirs, and the top seed in the state tournament is likely theirs too.
3. Hall/Conard (12-2-0)
Previous rank: 4 Conference: CCC Coach: Jared Cohane Next: at Simsbury, Feb. 4, 4:20 p.m.
Hall/Conard probably had the best week of anyone in the state. When senior captain Claire Reidel scored the overtime winner against the East Catholic Co-op last Saturday, she ended a seven-game losing streak for H/C team against its CCC rival. “That was a big monkey off our back,” texted Cohane, whose team will likely face East again in the league or state tournament. H/C followed it with a 5-0 win at Woodstock Academy and a 3-2 win over Mercy. Junior Paige Sweeney recorded her third hat trick of the season to power that latest win, and rock-solid defender Fiona Campbell provided impressive assists in both victories. After starting 0-2, H/C is undefeated in 12 games.
4. East Catholic Co-op (11-5-0)
Previous rank: 5 Conference: CCC Coach: Frank Usegglio Next: at Avon Co-op, Feb. 4, 4:25 p.m.
If you don’t believe in quality losses, skip this. Because Usegglio’s team lost twice in two days on Friday and Saturday, and its rising a spot in our rankings. East doubled up No. 1 New Canaan — more than doubled up, actually — in both shots on goal (27-12) and shot attempts, but just couldn’t take advantage, and the Rams were expectedly ruthless at the other end. That was after the Eagles gave No. 2 Darien a real run on Friday, trailing 2-1 late in the third before they leaked a goal as they pushed to equalize. That was a noticeable improvement from Dec. 20’s 4-0 loss to the Wave. East is looking more and more like a legitimate contender.
Previous rank: 3 Conference: SCC Coach: John Peschell Next: vs. Masuk Co-op, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.
The Amity Co-op ran into some trouble last week, dropping two in a row to the Masuk and East Catholic Co-ops, but the Blades have had no problems getting back on track, with three straight victories over Mercy, Daniel Hand and Trumbull by a combined 14-2. Peschell’s top forwards, specifically senior Maybelle Caron (13-13-26), are still rolling, but watch out for sophomore Eva Hall (6-7-13), who’s scored in each of the last two games.
In the hunt: Avon Co-op (8-4-1), Suffield Co-op (10-5-0), Masuk Co-op (8-3-1), Greenwich (9-5-1), Wilton Co-op (6-4-1)
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1. New Canaan (12-0-1)
