SCC DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 1 Hand (10-5-3) vs. No. 2 Branford (11-6-2)

WHEN: Today, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Quinnipiac’s High Solutions Arena, Hamden

ON THE AIR: The game will be broadcast live at CPTV Sports and on WELI-960, 960WELI.com, iheart radio

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Two of the hottest teams in Division II face off in a rematch of last season’s SCC Division II final (Branford won 5-4 in OT). Like the SCC Division I final, these finalists mirror each other in every phase of the game. Both teams possess some of the most talented goalies in Division II state-wide with Hand led by Chase Briggs and Branford led by A.J. Brink (Coach Adolph Brink’s son) and Alex Sarno. The Hornets are led on offense by Tyler Hackett (16 goals, 19 assists), Tyler Criscuolo (17 goals, eight assists), Rob Klouda (five goals, 17 assists) and Tony Pascale (11 goals, seven assists). Rob Petrillo (five goals, 12 assists) and Robert Denhardt lead the strong on-ice defense. Hand is led on offense by forwards Danny Braumann (13 goals, 18 assists), Ben Solin (15 goals, 13 assists) , Sam LaFontaine (nine goals, 11 assists), Ryan Bell (12 goals, five assists) and Matt Oman (three goals, eight assists). Will Lavin and Connor Bell are among the strong defensemen.

CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: Branford makes its fifth D-II championship appearance with a title in 2012 and Hand makes its third straight appearance with a title in 2011.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Branford defeated Hand 2-1 in the season-opening game and the teams tied 2-2 on Jan. 23.

— Dan Nowak

SCC DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 1 Fairfield Prep (19-1) vs. No. 2 Notre Dame-West Haven (15-4-1)

WHEN: Wednesday, 8 p.m.

WHERE: Quinnipiac’s High Solutions Arena, Hamden

ON THE AIR: The game will be broadcast live at CPTV Sports and on WELI-960, 960WELI.com, iheart radio.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The two best teams in the state face off for the third time this season. Both teams are strong in every phase of the game.

The Jesuits have depth at goalie with Matt Beck, Chris Gutierrez and Jack Taubl with Beck likely to start tonight. The on-ice defense is led by Sean Henry, Kevin Brown and Andrew Hatton. There is a long list of quick, high-scoring forwards led by David White (19 goals, 24 assists), Connor Henry (15 goals, 18 assists), Nick Bargiello (eight goals, 19 assists), Matt Wikman (14 goals, 10 assists) and Dean Lockery of New Haven (11 goals, 11 assists). Notre Dame-West Haven is led between the pipes by Luc Amatruda of North Haven and Paul Sliwinski of Guilford with Amatruda the likely starter tonight. Darren Capobianco of Branford, Cameron Hotchkiss of West Haven and Lou Iannotti of Durham are among the deeply talented defensemen. The fast-paced balanced offense is led by Bill Vizzo of Shelton (24 goals, 26 assists), Greg Zullo of Branford (11 goals, 22 assists), Ryan Lynch of Milford (seven goals, 13 assists), Kyle Thibault of Guilford (nine goals, seven assists) and Kyle Lynch of Milford (eight goals, eight assists).

CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: Notre Dame makes its fourth SCC Division I championship appearance and Fairfield Prep makes its third appearance. Notre Dame won a title in 1999 and Prep won in 1997. The SCC Division I tournament was held from 1997-99 and discontinued until this season.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Fairfield Prep defeated Notre Dame 3-1 and 1-0 in the regular season.

— Dan Nowak

Southern Connecticut Conference Winter Sports All-Conference Teams:

Cheerleading

Taylor Ardito (Hand), Maggie Bruno (Mercy), Alehsia Ceste (Sacred Heart Academy), Jenay Coleman (West Haven), Angelica Coppola (East Haven), Angelina DeMarco (East Haven), Hayley DiGianni (Sacred Heart Academy), Cassie Franco (Branford), Kelli Gibson (Hillhouse), Jeannie Holst (Foran), Tiffany Kaufmann (Daniel Hand), Alicia Knox (West Haven), Nicholas Markus (Shelton), Jessica Marvel (Hamden), Ashley Mauro (Shelton), Cassie Murillo (West Haven), Alicia Predom (Hamden), Kristine Pakalnis (Sacred Heart Academy), Maddy Sharretto (Branford), Briana Quintiliano (Shelton)

Gymnastics

Kimmy Megargee (Hand), Meghan French (Shelton), Stefani Taschner (Hand), Yarden Tepper (Shelton), Kendall Jerzyk (Hand), Maia Smith (Hand), Cynthia Lerman (Branford), Val Coleman (Law), Maggie Naclerio (Hand), Kayla Gyger (Foran), Abby McGuirk (Hand), Danielle Novak (Law), Maria Iennaco (Hand), Marie Facin (North Haven), Brittany Webb (Hamden).

Boys Basketball

All-Hammonasset: Andre Anderson (Hillhouse), Bobby Bynum (Hillhouse), Rich Bronson (Hillhouse), Ryan Florentine (Hand), James Richetelli (Foran), Austin Woods (Foran)

All-Housatonic: Zac Campbell (Amity), Nate Howard (Cheshire),Jack McCarthy (Lyman Hall), Brian Murphy (Sheehan), Christian Pierre (Shelton), Kevin Ruys (Lyman Hall)

All-Oronoque: Kenny Armstead (Career), Nick Dummar (Branford), Kyle Holmes (Wilbur Cross), Billy McDonald (North Haven), Treyvon Moore (Career), Dylan Palluzzi (Branford)

All-Quinnipiac: Tim Butala (Fairfield Prep), Jovan Santos-Knox (Xavier), Tieron Jackson (West Haven), Mike Jennings (West Haven), Wesley Johnson (Hamden), Terry Tarpey (Fairfield Prep)

Girls Basketball

All-Hammonasset: Bria Holmes (Hillhouse), Kelsey Cuddy (Hand), Kim Legen (Law), Colleene Smith (Hillhouse), Jasmin Rodriguez (Foran), Teneya Mclaughlin (Foran)

All-Quinnipiac: Natalie Bastian (Sacred Heart Academy), McKenzie Farquharson (West Haven), Jayva Johnson, West Haven, Jordyn Nappi (Mercy), Morgan Rams (Hamden), Maria Weselyj (Mercy)

All-Housatonic: Missy Bailey (Cheshire), Sam Smith (Sheehan), Chloe Brinton (Amity), Kelsey Pendagast (Shelton)

Maria Blois (Cheshire), Olivia Sutherland (Lyman Hall)

All-Oronoque: Aaliyah Robinson (Wilbur Cross), Tanaya Atkinson (Career), Alyssa Alston (Career), Danielle Polvan (East Haven), Amanda Bradley, East Haven), Ashley Franklin (Career)

Wrestling

First Team: Mark Failla (Shelton), Will Chowanec (Xavier), Will Crisco (Hand), Sean Kellett (Shelton), Ed Hunt (Shelton), Brendan Butler (Xavier), Jake Savoca (Hand), Nishan Valentini (Xavier), Tyler Cunningham (Xavier), Elliott Antler (Xavier), Ray Sherwood (Guilford), Mark Lisitano (Guilford), Sean Marinan (Xavier), Joe Demichele (Hand)

Second Team: Matt Elias (Hand), Jonah Lewis (Hand), Brian Manes (Law), C.J. Luth (Foran), Justin Elias (Hand), Nick Litwin (Amity), Ryan Butler (Xavier), Conor Ward (Fairfield Prep), Tim Homan (Cheshire), Kevin Wivell (Daniel Hand), Shane Dempsey (Fairfield Prep), Jake Whelan (Xavier), Nick Crowle (Fairfield Prep), Daykwion Aleman (New Haven)

Boys Ice Hockey

Division I First Team: Colby Cretella (Notre Dame), Joe Bianchi (Amity), Mike Troiano (West Haven), David White (Fairfield Prep), Tom Worsford (Fairfield Prep), Kyle Leyerzapf (West Haven), Andy Varga (Hamden)

Division I Second Team: Jeremy Germain (Hamden), Stephen Marsico (East Haven), AJ Unker (Fairfield Prep), Dan Dupont (Xavier), Johnny Johnson (North Haven), Mike Lee (Hamden), Tyler Carbone (Cheshire)

Division II First Team: Craig Wargo (Milford), Rob Celentano (Branford), Jarrett Rennie (Hand), Jack Fitzgerald (Guilford), Ryan Kiernan (Sheehan), Ryan Moore (Guilford), Kenny Cairns (Lyman Hall)

Division II Second Team: Cody Albert (Sheehan), Billy Ring (Guilford), Mitch Brown (Hand), Kaden Batzinger (Lyman Hall), Mike Deane (Hand), John McLenithan (Milford), Dan Tagliarini (Hand)

Girls Ice Hockey

First Team: Abigail Lange (North Haven/Amity/Cheshire), Laura Yablecki (Simsbury), Jess Werle (Simsbury), Bailey Amenbar (West Hartford), Savanna Reilly (Hamden), Jordan Ruocco (North Haven/Amity/Cheshire), Jordan D’Aurio (Notre Dame of Fairfield)

Second Team: Nicki Pierne (Hamden), Alyssa Maddern (West Haven), Kate Ullman (Lauralton Hall), Kelly D’Ancicco (Daniel Hand), Julianna Molloy (Guilford), Alyson Alissi (West Hartford), Allie Zarillo (Guilford)

Boys Swimming

200 yard Medley Relay: Notre Dame (Anthony DeFilippo, Paul Monaco, Nicholas Celestin, Tyler Dietter); Fairfield Prep (Edward Stolarski, Keith Dougherty, Bryce Keblish, Bjorn Davis)

200 yard freestyle: Dylan Swanepoel (Amity), Nicholas Wargo (Fairfield Prep), Matthew Hellauer (Shelton)

200 yard IM: Eric Holden (Amity), Alan Pite (Amity), Bryce Keblish (Fairfield Prep)

50 yard freestyle: Tyler Dietter (Fairfield Prep), Kyle Neri (Lyman Hall), Bjorn Davis (Fairfield Prep)

100 yard butterfly: Nicholas Celestin (Notre Dame), Bryce Keblish (Fairfield Prep), Richard Enders (Foran)

100 yard freestyle: Kyle Neri (Lyman Hall), Tyler Dietter (Notre Dame), Bjorn Davis (Fairfield Prep)

500 yard freestyle: Dylan Swanepoel (Amity), Matthew Hellauer (Shelton), Brandon Cole (Fairfield Prep)

200 yard Freestyle Relay: Fairfield Prep (Nicholas Wargo, Keith Dougherty, Bryce Keblish, Bjorn Davis); Amity (Jacob Laser, Charles Pite, Kyle Lemere, Alan Pite)

100 yard backstroke: Nicholas Celestin (Notre Dame), Edward Stolarski (Fairfield Prep), Richard Enders (Foran)

100 yard breaststroke: Eric Holden (Amity), Joshua Bjornberg (Sheehan), Alan Pite (Amity)

400 yard Freestyle Relay: Notre Dame (Alexander Tubis, Paul Monaco, Nicholas Celestin, Tyler Dietter); Fairfield Prep (Nicholas Wargo, Keith Dougherty, Bryce Keblish, Bjorn Davis)

Diving: Paul Cyr (Hamden), Conor Makepeace (Lyman Hall), Jake Bowtell (Fairfield Prep)

Girls Indoor Track

Joya Helander (Hand), 55 meters; Precious Holmes (Hillhouse), 300 and 600 meters; Kellie Davis (Hillhouse), 1000, 1600 and 3200 meters; Brianna Sims (Hillhouse), 55 meter hurdles; Hamden (Erin Harpe, Adriana Carrasco, Devone Pommils, Ashley Moxom), 4 x 200 relay; Hillhouse (Johnnesse Peterson, Sydney Curtis, Precious Holmes, Jayvona McDaniels), 4 x 400 relay; Hillhouse (Whitney Curtis, Johnesse Peterson, Jayvona McDaniels, Sydney Curtis), 4 x 800 relay; Hillhouse (Alethia Moore, Jaliyah White, Lanaja Carr, Nia Ruth), 1600 sprint medley Relay; Becki Golia (Sacred Heart Academy), high jump; Selina Sampieri (Cheshire), pole vault

Alexa Eldracher (Amity), long jump; Katherine Simon (Amity), shot put

Boys Indoor Track

Darryn Horner (Hillhouse), 55 meters; Anthony Genovese (Shelton), 300 meters; Alexander Neumann (Amity), 600 meters; Tom Lupoli (Sheehan), 100 meters; Clark Shurtleff (Amity), 1600 meters; Connor Rog (Fairfield Prep), 3200 meters; Danny Lewis (Hillhouse), 55 meter hurdles; Notre Dame (Earl McCoy, Mike Miranda, Anthony Denos, Andrew Madsen), 4 x 200 relay; Amity (James Bonvicini, Clark Shurtleff, Sean Beaulieu, Alexander Neumann), 4 x 400 relay; Xavier (Russell Stevens, Mitchell Brown, Sebastion Herrera, David Pugliese), 4 x 800 relay; Xavier (Graham Gilarde, Casey Blank, Dillon McCarthy, David Pugliese), 1600 sprint medley relay; Jake Scinto (Cheshire), high jump, long jump; David Gomes (Cheshire), pole vault; Matthew Marcarelli (North Haven), shot put

http://www.casciac.org

Due to today's snowstorm all local hockey games have been postponed. As a result, the Southern Connecticut Conference Division II Boys' Hockey Tournament semifinals on Thursday have been moved to Friday (see updated schedule below).

Here are the rescheduled hockey dates :
Rockville/Manchester/Stafford at Lyman Hall today PPD to Thursday, 3:30 p.m. at Northford Ice Pavilion
East Catholic at Milford today PPD. to Thursday, 8 p.m. at Milford Ice Pavilion
Branford at St. Bernard/BaconAcad/NFA today is PPD to Thursday at 4 p.m. at Norwich Rink
Xavier at ND-Fairfield today is PPD to Thursday at 6 p.m. at Milford Ice Pavilion
Hamden at ND-West Haven today is ppd. to Thursday,4 p.m. at Bennett Rink
West Haven vs. Cheshire at Northford Ice Pavilion today is PPD. not rescheduled yet says a Northford official

NOTE: The SCC tournament semifinals scheduled for Thursday at Bennett Rink have been moved to Friday, 5:30 p.m./7:30 p.m. to accommodate the Hamden/ND-West Haven makeup game.
SCC SEMIS: No. 1 Hand vs. No. 4 Guilford at 7:30 p.m.; No. 2 Milford vs. No. 3 Branford at 5:30 p.m.

Earlier this week it was reported by this reporter that boys' hockey coaches in the Southern Connecticut Conference two weeks ago voted unanimously to discontinue the SCC Division II tournament.
Athletic directors of the SCC originally were going to decide the ultimate fate of the SCC Division II tournament at a meeting on Wednesday. However, because many SCC athletic directors can't make that meeting due to their teams playing in the CIAC state tournaments (D-I, D-II and D-III), they have decided to meet in April after the season ends to discuss the tournament's fate.
"It makes sense to put the decision on hold because you want all the ADs to be available," SCC commissioner Al Carbone said. "I'm glad the decision will wait until then because I also want to have one or two coaches at the meeting to give their reasons for discontinuing the tournament."
There is no SCC Division I tournament.
The SCC Division II coaches voted to discontinue the event to avoid playing league teams three or even four times a season. They also were concerned with playing the semifinals and finals on back-to-back days and wanted to have a break before the CIAC state tournaments.
No. 3 Hand defeated No. 1 Guilford 3-1 today (Saturday) in what potentially could be the final SCC Division II championship game.

For years the Division I hockey teams in the Southern Connecticut Conference have opted not to have a post-season tournament, mostly to avoid playing a team for a third or fourth time in the CIAC Division I tournament.
The move also allowed the teams to schedule non-conference scrimmage games against opponents of their choosing the week prior to the state tournament to prepare for the postseason.
SCC commissioner Al Carbone confirmed that two weeks ago at a SCC hockey coaches meeting the Division II coaches voted to discontinue their tournament after this season as well for the same reasons.
This season’s SCC Division II tournament begins on Friday at Bennett Rink with No. 1 Guilford facing No. 4 Branford at 5:30 p.m. and No. 2 Cheshire facing No. 3 Hand at 7:30 p.m. The championship is Saturday at Bennett Rink at 6 p.m.
“We D-II coaches wanted to be in concert with the D-I teams as far as beating ourselves up so close to the tournament,” Branford coach Adolph Brink said. “Depending on how things shake out, we could end up playing Hand four times this year and two times in tournament settings within a week.
“I feel that having some time to get healthy and prepared for the CIAC tourney is just to tough when you are possibly playing two games the weekend before a Tuesday round one game in the CIAC tournament.”
The SCC schools’ athletic directors will determine the final fate of the SCC D-II tournament at their annual meeting on Wednesday.
“I understand all the arguments the coaches have for doing this, but the decision to discontinue or continue the tournament will be made by the athletic directors,” SCC commissioner Al Carbone said. “It’s a little disappointing. The thing is we reinstituted the tournament four years ago at the urging of the coaches.
“One concern coaches have had is holding the semis and final on back-to-back days like we are doing this season. In the future we can do it earlier in the week, maybe with a Wednesday-Saturday schedule. Thing is this is all about the kids and giving them more games to play. Let’s make changes but let’s make changes for the better.”
The SCC Division II coaches in the tournament who were contacted had their concerns. Guilford coach Ralph Russo, Cheshire coach Jim Riccitelli and Hand coach Mark Andreucci said they and their players were all excited about playing in the SCC tournament, something that was a team goal in the preseason.
In an earlier interview for an advance story on the SCC tournament, Russo said, “There might be some talk about the games being too close to states which a lot of coaches do not favor. But we are looking at a chance to play some clean competitive hockey before states. Our players are looking forward to the games.”
Ultimately, the future of the SCC D-II tournament will lie with the league’s athletic directors next week.