HNIB News High School Hockey's Best Coverage | Est. 1972
New Canaan and Greenwich both had to work extra hard to pull upsets of higher-seeded teams in Thursday night’s Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division 1 semifinals.
Jack Johnson banged home a centering feed from Boden Gammill, and fourth-seeded New Canaan stunned No. 1 seed Darien, 2-1. Gammill tucked the puck toward the end boards away from a pair of Blue Wave defenders, then slipped a pass back to the front of the net, where Johnson quickly snapped it home at 6:17 of the extra session.
The Rams trailed heading into the stretch before Jack Eccleston notched the tying goal with 6:25 left in regulation. Beau Johnson played a strong game in the New Canaan net after giving up a goal to Darien’s Teddy Dyer on the power play at the 12:20 mark of the first period.
Meanwhile, No. 3 Greenwich continued its late-season run with a 3-2 win over second-seeded Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe. Liam Mathews had the game-winner just 44 seconds into overtime for the Cardinals, who twice had one-goal leads in regulation only to see the Mustangs battle back.
Jack Hutchins gave Greenwich a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the game, but Rhys Davies brought FWL back with a second-period power play tally. It stayed that way until Wes Zolin gave Greenwich a 2-1 lead with 5:11 left in regulation, but the Mustangs soon got a power play opportunity and Davies again converted to tie the game and force overtime.
Saturday, March 27 — Division 1 Championship
- No. 3 Greenwich vs. No. 4 New Canaan (Dorothy Hamill, TBA)
FCIAC DIVISION 2/3
Second-seeded Staples put up a valiant fight with only six skaters available, but No. 3 Norwalk-McMahon overcame an early two-goal deficit and pulled away for a 6-3 victory. Finn Cullen notched his 100th career point as part of a two-goal performance to spark the comeback for NorMac.
Cullen’s second goal snapped a 3-3 tie in the third, then Will Coale and Michael Widmer put it away. But before that, NorMac had to fend off the Wreckers, who took a 2-0 lead after 15 minutes on power play goals from Owen Sherman and Andrew Gebicki. NorMac surged ahead, 3-2, after two as Nat Gibson scored twice sandwiched around Cullen’s first goal, but Zach Schwartz and the Wreckers kept fighting and tied it early in the third.
Saturday, March 27 — Division 2 Championship
- No. 1 Westhill-Stamford vs. No. 3 Norwalk-McMahon (Milford, 5:30 p.m.)
SCC/SWC DIVISION 3
Edward Faircloth’s goal with 10:20 left was the difference for No. 3 Newtown/New Fairfield in its 3-2 win over second-seeded Milford in a semifinal matchup.
Cam Gouveia and Giovanni Cucco added goals for the Nighthawks. Milford had tied the game, 2-2, early in the third period as captain Kyle Kosh buried a carom off the end boards on the power play. Chad Stryker gave the Mariners an early 1-0 lead before Newtown/New Fairfield responded.
Saturday, March 27 — Championship
- No. 1 BBD vs. No. 3 Newtown/New Fairfield (Bennett, 1 p.m.)
CCC SOUTH
Friday, March 26 — Championship
- No. 3 Newington vs. No. 4 Tri-Town (Newington, 8:30 p.m.)
CCC NORTH
Friday, March 26 — Championship
- No. 1 Northwest Catholic vs. No. 3 Simsbury (ISCC, 8:20 p.m.)
SCC/SWC DIVISION 2
Saturday, March 27 — Championship
- No. 3 North Haven vs. No. 5 Cheshire (Bennett, 4 p.m.)
SCC/SWC DIVISION 1
According to a report by GametimeCT, the championship game between No. 1 Fairfield Prep and No. 2 Notre Dame-West Haven was canceled because of COVID protocols. The Jesuits and Green Knights will be declared co-champs, the report said.
Jim Clark
Latest posts by Jim Clark (see all)
- Connecticut HS Boys Hockey – Division 3 Final Top 8: Newington Goes Wire-To-Wire; BBD A Strong No. 2 - April 1, 2021
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- Connecticut HS Boys Hockey – Final Division 1 Top 8: Fairfield Prep Edges Out Notre Dame-West Haven - March 31, 2021
