The Register All-Area fall sports teams will be announced in a special section in the New Haven Register on Jan. 12.

Quinnipiac University's TD Bank Sports Center will host "Neighborhood Night" on Wednesday (Jan. 4) with a boys' and girls' hockey tripleheader. The Cheshire boys' hockey team will face SCC foe No. 3 Notre Dame-West Haven at 3 p.m., followed by the Hamden girls' hockey team against SCC foe Guilford at 5 p.m. The No. 2 Hamden boys' hockey team concludes the event with a game against No. 1 Fairfield Prep at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the TD Bank Sports Center ticket office at 203-582-3905 or by visiting the arena at 305 Sherman Ave., Hamden, CT.

By Mike Madera
Elm City Sports Writer

It has often been said adversity builds character. While others may falter from adversity, others prosper. Consider West Haven’s Danny Granfield as one who has prospered.

Overcoming numerous obstacles in his life, Granfield has turned those bumps in the road into something positive — showing one can get stronger through adversity.

Granfield’s story is unique.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

By Mike Madera
Elm City Sports Writer

WEST HAVEN — The West Haven hockey team waited more than an hour for Trinity Catholic to arrive for its game Wednesday night. Turns out the Westies could have waited all night for the Crusaders to get out of traffic.

Scoring twice in the first period and adding two more goals in each of the final two periods, the Westies defeated the Crusaders 6-2 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink for their third straight win to open the season.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

North Haven first-year coach Tom Roche and junior varsity coach Bill Augur have organized a “Bring a Toy to the Game” event to kick off the teams’ first home game against Brookfield/Bethel/Danbury on Friday at the Northford Ice Pavilion at 2 p.m.
Anyone bringing a toy worth $5 or more to the game will receive free admission. All the toys collected will be delivered to Yale New-Haven Hospital’s Children Hospital following the game by members of the North Haven varsity and junior varsity teams.

The Amity boys' hockey team was scheduled to host No. 2 Hamden on Wednesday at the Bennett Rink in West Haven at 8:15 p.m. following the Trinity Catholic at West Haven game scheduled to start at 6.
But a lengthy traffic backup on I-95 north delayed Trinity Catholic's trip from Stamford, forcing a later start to the West Haven game. This would have moved the start of the Amity-Hamden game to after 9 p.m.
As a result, the Amity-Hamden game has been rescheduled for today (Thursday) at Bennett Rink at 5:15 p.m.

By John J. Ruggiero
Elm City Sports Writer

NORTH HAVEN — Opening night at the Fred Kelly Gymnasium in North Haven between the host Indians and Jonathan Law was a tale of two halves.

For 16 minutes both teams tried to shake the cobwebs of the first game of the season and despite North Haven’s 25-21 lead at halftime, it looked like it would be anyone’s game in the second half.

The Indians came out full throttle in the third quarter and cruised to a 59-35 victory on Wednesday night.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

By Mike Madera
Elm City Sports Writer

WEST HAVEN — When the Amity boys’ basketball team traveled to play Notre Dame–West Haven in Wednesday night’s season opener, the key to the game was going to be experience.

The Spartans returned three starters from last year’s team while the Green Knights were young and had some injuries to deal with.

Amity showed just how big experience is, fighting off a late Notre Dame charge and holding on for a 62-56 victory at Notre Dame.

Click here for the full story

Kyley Reed of Rocky Hill is the Gatorade Connecticut Volleyball Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter led the Terriers to an 18-4 record and the Class M state title this past season. Reed recorded 578 kills, 460 digs, 133 service aces and 31 blocks while posting a hitting percentage of .598.
A 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armour First Team All-American selection, Reed was the Class M State Tournament MVP and a three-time all-state selection. She concluded her career with 1,517 kills, 1,097 digs and 362 service aces.
Reed has maintained a 3.37 GPA in the classroom and has orally committed to play at Rice University next fall. She has volunteered locally as part of a fundraising campaign to benefit breast cancer research and on behalf of a park beautification project.
Kyley's mother, Dorothy Franco-Reed, used to coach volleyball at Foran.

Click over to ctpostchronicle for a feature story on Lyman Hall running back Joe DeSandre, who recently closed out his high school career as the Trojans' all-time leading rusher.

Girls basketball has already started, the rest of the winter sports begin on Wednesday.

To check out who is No. 1 in our preseason hockey poll, click here.


To check out the top 25 CIAC players for hockey, click here.

And check out all of our area hockey capsules.

The boys' basketball previews will be online Tuesday and in Wednesday's editions. Follow along on this and the boys basketball blog at nhregister.com all season long for updates!

The season is over. Our final poll is out.

To view the final top 10 teams in the state, click here.

Former Notre Dame-West Haven soccer player Tyler Turner scored two goals over the weekend, including the game-winner against Brazil Sunday, to help the U.S. National Under 17 Mens’ soccer team capture the Nike International Friendly in Lakewood, Fla.
In the championship game against Brazil, Turner broke a 1-1 tie with a goal in the 31st minute.
Turner also scored the US teams’ first goal in a 2-1 win over Turkey on Friday.
In addition to beating Brazil and Turkey, the United States team tied France in the three-game Nike International Friendly.
For more information on the games or the Under 17 Mens’ National Team, including videos of Turner’s goals, please visit their official website at http://www.ussoccer.com/. Information is also available at http://www.southcentralpremier.com/.
Turner played his freshman season at Notre Dame before being selected for the US Under 17 National Team. Turner trains with the team at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. and attends school at St. Stephen’s Episcobal School. Turner will participate in this program for his sophomore and junior academic years and is expected to return to Notre Dame for his senior year in 2013-2014.

Hand goalkeeper Tucker Hackett and Bunnell forward Zach Zurita were among three Connecticut soccer players named to the 2011 NSCAA Boys High School All-America Team.
Zurita finished with 43 goals and 14 assists to lead the Bulldogs to their first Class L state championship. Hackett saved 96 percent of the shots he faced this season.
Matt Barry of Wethersfield is the third Connecticut soccer player to be honored. The 77 athletes will be recognized at the annual All-America Luncheon, to be held in the Kansas City Convention Center's Grand Ballroom on Saturday, Jan. 14, in conjunction with the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

Click here for Ray Curren's column breaking down the SCC's performance in the state semifinals plus the annual awards for the SCC's finest this season.