The Lyman Hall boys' hockey team faces Wallingford cross-town rival Sheehan at the Whalers Hockey Fest outdoor hockey event today at 4 p.m. at Rentschler Field. Lyman Hall forward Adam McKay said he and his teammates are very excited about playing in the event.

"We are very excited to play in the Whaler’s Hockey Fest and we have been looking forward to this game since September," McKay said. "We've been fundraising and selling tickets to get this chance to play in this game and our team and our whole school is very enthusiastic. We are especially excited with the fact that we are playing our cross town rivals Sheehan.
"Adjusting to the outdoor temperatures may be a little tough in the beginning but as the game progresses it will feel just like we’re playing on our home rink. Most of the guys on the team have skated on the few outdoor rinks in the state before but this is going to be completely different. Playing at a rink that seats thousands of people will be incomparable to the rinks that we’re used to and the experience will be something that we will remember forever."
Lyman Hall prepared for playing outdoors when coach Tim Belcher recently scheduled a morning practice at Ralph Walker Ice Rink in New Haven.
"Other than than our outdoor practice at Ralph Walker Rink, we prepared for this game like it was any other game versus Sheehan and we are prepared to play with intensity from the first whistle to the last," McKay said. "Personally I feel honored to be playing on the same ice surface as Whaler greats along with current professional athletes from the Connecticut Whale.
"I think that this event is one of the greatest events in Connecticut hockey. It allows us to remember the Hartford Whalers and celebrate the talented high school hockey that we have in our state. I can’t wait to see the other high school games being displayed along with prep school games. I plan for this experience to be very enriching and I can’t wait to step on the ice Monday night (today) and be able to play old time, pond hockey."