What a day today (Wed.) for Connecticut hockey and in particular Southern Connecticut Conference Division I hockey.
Heading south at the Bridgeport Wonderland of Ice, unranked but resurgent Fairfield Prep played host to Massachusetts' No. 1 team Catholic Memorial at noon. The Jesuits lost 7-3. But playing against such an elite team certainly helped in the development of Prep coach Matt Sather's youthful team.
The most intriguing matchup takes place tonight.
Hamden, ranked No. 1 in Connecticut in the Register Top 10 poll, plays host at 6 p.m. to Mount St. Charles, ranked No. 1 in Rhode Island, at Lou Astorino Rink in Hamden. Both teams are ranked No. 1 in their respective states for a reason - both have exceptional talent front to back.
A matchup like this is reminiscent of the forearm shiver/hit 'em hard Eddie Shore hockey days of the old New England Tournaments of the 1940s and 1950s, back when old timers like Red McDonough of New Haven, the late Art Crouse of West Haven and late Lou Astorino of Hamden would muck it up with the best in New England.
Back then the top teams from the New England states would converge for one of the most exciting high school events of the season. And when the dust settled in the New England Tournament title game, one team could call itself New England champion.
For Connecticut fans, the Hamden-Mount St. Charles matchup is as close as it gets when it comes to determining New England bragging rights. Especially since Mount St. Charles is coming off a huge 5-4 upset over Catholic Memorial on Friday. With Mount St. Charles defeating CM, it would stand to reason the winner of this matchup could brag it was king of at least the tri-state area of Massachusetts-Connecticut-Rhode Island.