The result fully met the anticipated expectations Wednesday night as the Hamden boys' hockey team, No. 1 in the Register Top 10 poll, played host to Mount St. Charles, ranked No. 1 in Rhode Island. The teams played to a 2-2 tie at Lou Astorino Rink with both teams providing some of the best end-to-end action seen this season in Connecticut.
There were a lot of heroes on both sides but on the Green Dragons' side forward Matt Hickman gets the first star of the game, the defense led by Pat MacGregor and Tom Roche gets a 1A star and goalie Anthony Avitable a 1AA star.
Hickman showcased the overall speed of Hamden's front line, scoring 18 seconds after the Mounties took a 2-1 lead in the third period. He scored off the ensuing faceoff and if you blinked you probably missed the tying goal. (I didn't blink, my job requires me never to blink when I cover a game....ever.)

Hickman grabbed the puck off the boards, flew in on goalie Jason SanAntonio and flicked a quick wristshot while passing in front of the net.
The goalies rebuffed any further scoring attempts although MacGregor appeared to score the game-winning goal with 3 seconds left in overtime. His wide open shot from about 12 feet in front of the net seemed to fly into the back netting of the goal. But after a conference at the red line the officials confirmed it wasn't a goal. The hard rising slap shot apparently bounced off the goal, going backwards behind the net and bounced off the backboards through the back netting, giving it the appearance of a goal scored. It kind of reminded me of that supposed "magic" bullet in the Kennedy assasination nearly 45 years ago that passed through Kennedy, turned left, veered up and down, turned right, zig zagged and then hit Gov. Connolly.
Okay, I exaggerated a bit in that Kennedy description but you get my point. It was a crazy, exciting finish to a game between two elite teams.
Bottom line: If you weren't there you missed a great game.

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.