With due respect to forwards Mike Pierne, Jim Burt, et al, how dangerous would Hamden be if it had a high-scoring line? The front line succeeds because of its chemistry but it rarely scores more than three goals a game, like it did on Saturday when it beat SCC foe Xavier 3-1 in the CIAC Division I quarterfinals.
One reason Hamden can succeed with a low-scoring output is goalie Anthony Avitable who has only allowed one goal in the last seven periods. He had 30 saves in the win over Xavier. The other reason is the on-ice defense that sacrifices body and soul in making Avitable's life as easy as possible between the pipes.
Guys like Pierne, forward P.J. Vakos and defenseman Mike Berezecky were throwing their bodies on the ice and blocking shots throughout the game for Hamden. In the defensive zone, Hamden plays with a passion and with little thought of being pelted with the puck in lying on the ice and blocking shots.
This kind of dedication, desire and passion on defense will bode well for the Green Dragons in the semifinals on Wednesday against Fermi at Ingalls Rink (at 5:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.).

DIVISION II: ENFIELD VS. SCC

As predicted, Division II is being dominated by Southern Connecticut Conference schools. No. 6 Lyman Hall faces SCC foe and No. 2 Cheshire in the semifinals on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Ingalls Rink and No. 4 Amity, the D-II defending champ, faces northern power and No. 1 seed Enfield in the other semifinal at 7:30.
Both games will provide a lot of excitement and Enfield won't have it easy. If it gets by Amity it will have its hands full with either Cheshire goalie George Donnarumma or Lyman Hall goalie R.J. Negri in the final.