By Mike Madera
Elm City Sports Writer

NORTHFORD — It is often said special teams, defense and goaltending win games. That trifecta proved to be true for the Xavier Falcons Saturday night.

Scoring once on the power play, denying North Haven’s power-play unit seven times and riding the 25 save effort of goaltender Shane Baldwin, the Falcons defeated North Haven 2-1 at the Northford Ice Pavilion.

Xavier improved to 7-4-1, while North Haven fell to 5-7.

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The West Haven Football Alumni Association will host “A Roast of Coach Ed McCarthy” Friday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m. at West Haven IA Club, 85 Chase Lane.

The WHFAA will roast the longtime West Haven football coach which should prove to be an entertaining evening. Tickets are $35 ($30 for members) and includes ziti dinner, beer, wine and soda and can be obtained by calling Tinker Blake at 203-934-3820 or Bert Siclari 203-934-0051.

Any corporate sponsors or table sponsors would be welcomed. Advanced ticket purchases are advised.

All proceeds support the West Haven football program.

Click here for the list of roasters

Both the West Haven and Notre Dame-West Haven hockey teams posted victories on Wednesday. The Westies defeated Milford 9-2 on the strength of three goals by Mike Troiano (click here for the story). The Green Knights, ranked No. 3 in the New Haven Register Top 10 Poll, cruised past ninth-ranked East Haven 5-0 (click here for the story).

Despite the loss to West Haven, Milford (a Division II team) is enjoying a bounce-back year and is closing in on a playoff berth. Click here for a story recapping the first half of Milford's season.

By Dan Nowak
Register Staff
dnowak@nhregister.com
A week ago, legendary high school boys’ hockey coach Marty Roos shocked the Connecticut scholastic hockey world by deciding to step down in mid-season as Notre Dame-Fairfield coach. The only comment forthcoming from Roos the past week regarding the move was a brief statement in a press release distributed by the Notre Dame-Fairfield athletic department.
In an exclusive interview with the Register this morning (Tuesday), Roos’ first interview with the media since stepping down, he echoed his sentiments in the press release but went a step further, including his desire to put to rest some rumors.
“It was just my time to move on,” said Roos, 76. “I always told you when the time was right to step away from coaching I would know. It was a decision I had to make, I made the decision and once I made the decision I moved forward and didn’t look back.
“What I want to do now is spend my time with the little people, helping youth players develop and play the game that I love. I read stories where I might come back to coach high school hockey. That is not my plan. My focus right now is on youth hockey.”
Roos spent 41 years coaching boys’ hockey, first with Fairfield Prep and then took over for the Lancers in the 1991-92 season. He owns the record for most wins by a Connecticut high school coach with a 536-301-19 career record (both schools combined). He won six CIAC state titles.
There have been rumors that his decision was due to health or due to problems with Lancers’ players and parents. Roos emphatically denied that was the case.
“Hey, I feel great,” Roos said. “I grew up on a farm and I’m in good health. This decision had absolutely nothing to do with what was going on with the team. I had no problems with parents and I had no problems with players or the school.
“I just felt it was time to move on.”
Roos, who owns the Milford Ice Pavilion and Northford Ice Pavilion in North Branford, said he doesn’t plan to be a recluse and will have a bigger public presence at his rinks.
“I love to skate and that’s something I’ll always do,” Roos said.
Follow Dan on Twitter @NHRDanNowak. To receive breaking news first, simply text the word nhsports to 22700. *Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

Notre Dame-Fairfield legendary coach Marty Roos has stepped down as the Lancers’ coach.
A press release from Notre Dame-Fairfield athletic director Rob Bleggi confirmed Roos has stepped down effective immediately. Assistant coach Steve Hetherman will be the new coach. Calls to Hetherman’s cell phone were not returned.
Roos has coached for 41 years, first with Fairfield Prep, and he then took over ...for the Lancers in the 1991-92 season. At age 75 he owns the record for most wins by a Connecticut high school coach with a 536-301-19 career record. He has won six state titles.
"I always felt that when it came time to step down from coaching I would know that it was time," Roos said in the Lancers' press release. "Even though Notre Dame is mid-season, I believe that now is the right time."
Notre Dame-Fairfield will face No. 4 Hamden today at the Milford Ice Pavilion at 6 p.m.
The story was first reported on Twitter by @FairfieldConnSports and later confirmed by a report in the Fairfield Citizen.

Sacred Heart Academy senior Caitlin Baker has been named the school’s 2011-2012 Scholar Athlete. Recognized for her cumulative grade point average, varsity sport participation, community service as well as her self-discipline and leadership, she will be honored at the 29th Annual Connecticut High School Scholar Athlete Awards Dinner in May.

Baker, a Shelton resident, participates for both the cross country and track teams for the Pacers.

By Mike Madera
Elm City Sports Writer

WEST HAVEN — The Ridgefield Tigers traveled to West Haven knowing they were playing a team that had just come off a tough loss against Fairfield Prep. The Tigers, ranked No. 4 in the New Haven Register Top 10 poll, were up to the challenge.

Behind the goaltending of Nathan Gliedman and the scoring of John Christensen and John Tregurtha, the Tigers upset No. 2 Notre Dame 2-1 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink Wednesday night.

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Seven new members will be inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame at the annual induction ceremony on January 28 at the Marriott in Farmington.
The inductees are: Steve Coxon, an ex-All-New England performer at Central Connecticut State University who went on to coach the Farmington girls' soccer team to a pair of state championships; Gary Cronin, a former standout at both Sheehan High and Southern Connecticut State University; Carlos Parra, a two-time Parade All-American and Register All-Area selection at Hamden High; Vanessa Pruzinsky Peterson, a former Register Area MVP from Trumbull who went on to play at Notre Dame; Jack Testani, a Hamden resident who played in the Connecticut Soccer League with the Bridgeport Italians and the Waterbury Zimmitti; Max Zieky, a former All-American at Glastonbury High who went onto become a two-year captain at UConn; and Tony Lepore, a former standout at Farmington High.
Information regarding tickets and program sponsorships can be obtained by calling CSHF at (860) 306-6822.

To read more about new Guilford baseball coach Brian Hayden, check out the story here

The 80th New Haven Register All-State football team will be published on Sunday.

The all-area football team, along with the other all-area teams from the fall, will be published in a special section on Thursday, January 12.

We appreciate your patience in this regard and hope you retain both publications as a keepsake!