Hockey Ratings: Ridgefield Replaces Xavier At No. 1

 

ter dropping from the top spot in The Courant state hockey ratings last week, Ridgefield is once again No. 1.

 

The Tigers, who have won three straight against teams in the ratings, defeated Wilton 7-0 Saturday for their ninth straight victory. Since losing to Xavier 3-2 in overtime on Dec. 23, Ridgefield has averaged 4.44 goals a game and shut out three of its last nine opponents. It was second in the ratings last week.

 

Xavier High of Middletown held the top spot last week, but falls to second after losing to Fairfield Prep for its first loss since Jan. 7. The Falcons remain the top area team in the ratings with a record of 5-1 against teams that have made appearances in the top 10 this season. New Canaan rounds out the top three once again.

 

Northwest Catholic High of West Hartford climbs to No. 4 after beating CCC North rival Simsbury 4-2 on Saturday. It plays Notre Dame-West Haven and Xavier this week in two of the biggest games of the week. The Lions have won five straight.

Farmington Valley makes its first appearance in the ratings. The Generals, the only co-op in the top 10, beat previous No. 8 East Haven 8-4 in a possible Division II championship game preview on Saturday.

 

1. RIDGEFIELD (10-1): Will look to improve to 5-1 against teams in the top 10 when it plays at Hamden Tuesday. Last week: 2. This week: at Hamden Tuesday; Darien Wednesday; at Trumbull Saturday.

 

2. XAVIER-MIDDLETOWN (9-3): Was held to just one goal for only the second time this season in loss to Fairfield Prep. LW: 1. TW: Northwest Catholic Saturday.

 

3. NEW CANAAN (9-2): Since losing to Xavier on Jan. 16, the Rams have averaged 7.3 goals in three straight wins against FCIAC competition. LW: 3. TW: at Trumbull Wednesday; at Darien Saturday.

4. NORTHWEST CATHOLIC-WEST HARTFORD (12-1-1): Start the week without a win against a top 10 team this season, but have a chance to make a statement with back-to-back games against teams in the top 5. LW: 5. TW: Notre Dame-West Haven Wednesday; at Xavier Saturday.

 

5. NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN (7-5): Outscored Bishop Hendricken (R.I.), Hamden and Greenwich in three straight road wins, 18-3. LW: 6. TW: at Northwest Catholic Wednesday; at West Haven Saturday.

 

6. HAMDEN (6-4): Snapped three-game losing streak to teams in the top 10 with a 4-2 victory over Fairfield Prep on Saturday. LW: 7. TW: Ridgefield Tuesday; St. Joseph Saturday.

 

7. FAIRFIELD PREP (6-4): After beating Xavier and losing to Hamden last week, Jesuits have 2-3 record against teams in the ratings this season. LW: 4. TW: Malden Catholic (Mass.) Monday; Notre Dame-Fairfield Saturday.

 

8. WEST HAVEN (8-3): Got back on track after losses to Fairfield Prep and Ridgefield with wins over Amity and Notre Dame-Fairfield. LW: 10. TW: at East Haven Monday; Suffield/Granby/Windsor Locks Wednesday; Notre Dame-West Haven Saturday.

 

9. FARMINGTON VALLEY (8-2): Generals picked up their biggest win of the season with an 8-4 victory over previously unbeaten East Haven on Saturday. LW: not rated. TW: South Windsor Wednesday; at Newington/Berlin/Manchester/Cromwell Saturday.

 

10. EAST HAVEN (9-1): Defense allowed more than three goals in a game for the first time this season in loss to Farmington Valley, but have an opportunity to rebound against three quality opponents this week. LW: 8. TW: West Haven Monday; Simsbury Wednesday; at Amity Saturday.