Shooting gallery

Don't really know much about the Sound Tigers game tonight besides what's in the box score: Spent the day at Ingalls for the CIAC finals tripleheader. So, some thoughts (which I'll try to make pertinent):

--All three lower-seeded teams won, and all by the same 3-2 score.

--Great final between Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame-Fairfield, as recounted by Emmett Spillane. (Actually, they were all good games, but this one was outstanding.) Prep had the better of the play but the Lancers caught some breaks at good times and twice tied the game. Sean Patrick Bowley does a fine job capturing the atmosphere in his column, although he only hinted at my favorite exchange between the sides of the rink. Notre Dame's star goalie is Hubert Morin; his twin brother, Sam, is the top-line right winger. They're from Quebec. At the start of the second, Prep's side chanted "Where's your passport?" "Where's your girls?" replied the co-ed ND side.

--On St. Patrick's Day, only one team wore green: New Milford. The Green Wave lost.

--In the two years since the CIAC went from two divisions to three tournaments, the Division III champion in each year (Cheshire and now Wethersfield) has barely qualified at 8-12, then won four in a row to become a state champion at .500.

--Covered Barlow's girls basketball team last week, with coach Nikki Tartaglia leading the team to its first state title since she was a sophomore. Tonight, Immaculate won its first state title since its coach, Mike Bonelli, was -- wait for it -- a sophomore.

--Tip of the cap to New Milford coach Bob Greco, who announced his retirement tonight after the game. He was always good to us, even though we barely covered them. Assistant Rory DeRocco will take over.

--New Milford had one penalty shot -- Stephen Kirkwood scored -- and came a borderline call away from at least two others. The Green Wave went just 1-for-8 on the power play, though, and that was costly. (East Haven went 1-for-7 against Immaculate, which was equally costly.)

--Four of the six teams -- Notre Dame (26), East Haven (23), New Milford (21) and Wethersfield (17) -- had as many or fewer shots in 45 minutes as Norfolk did in the first period tonight against Bridgeport. None of the three games had as many total goals as Norfolk did tonight. (See? Told you I'd make it pertinent.)

LINEUPS
NOTRE DAME-FAIRFIELD
F: Capelli-Nebel-S.Morin
Broderick-C.Schmarr-Doughan
Conniff-Canfarotta-Moleski
D:Allen-Penna
Molyneux-Miller
Hotchkiss-T.Schmarr

FAIRFIELD PREP
F: Cox-Cotter-Summerlin
Hayes-Osipow-Ralston
Horvath-Mignone-Lavoie
Tropsa-White-Zeiss
D: Wirkus-Dishon
Bean-Improta
Tapia-McGarrity
Lomas


Cam McCaffrey and Ken Magowan scored, which is at least a little bright spot for Bridgeport. Doesn't look like much else, from the box score. Had to figure Norfolk would be ticked off.

Edmonton to Springfield will be announced Monday, Fran Sypek reports in the Springfield Republican.

Ben Guite's second NHL goal was a winner tonight.

Edit: Forgot to include this story from Peoria, noting how Peter Ferraro has a knee injury that will keep him out four to six weeks.

First came Fairfield County's Chris Drury with the Hobey Baker, and now Fairfield's Julie Chu wins the Patty Kazmaier as the best player in women's college hockey.