The CHSGHA Championship Game

New Canaan and Darien before the opening faceoff

I've talked extensively about calling the girls hockey state playoffs over the past few days, which concluded today with the championship game.

New Canaan -- the dominant team all season -- finished their mission with a 3-1 win over their arch-rivals Darien.

For my money, it was definitive. There's no doubt that Darien will be a force to be reckoned with in 2019-2020 due to their youth, but the Rams were the best team all year.

A few thoughts:

- As I've stressed, this is a labor of love for Mick McGowan and me. Mick brought wife Gretchen and son Finnbar with him, and I had Sean with me. I started the process of securing that we would be on the call back in December, yet nobody at Bennett Rink had any clue that we'd be there today. Mick and family were stopped at the front gate, and Sean actually had to go vouch for them. I don't blame Bennett Rink, to be clear, and everything turned out fine. Lesson learned: I've got to do this stuff myself.

- Speaking of the gate, where was everyone? Yes I know, the game was roughly 35 miles from each town, but this is the deal. Unlike the football championship, which is arranged by the CIAC, there was no Plan B for this game. The site was set as Bennett Rink, and it's a great facility with plenty of seating. You also can't just throw a hockey game at any old site. These girls work hard to get here. I (and others) keep banging the drum for girls hockey to get respect, and yet there were full seating areas that were practically empty. I've said it before: the girls deserve better.

- That being said those who were there cheered their lungs out. Good for them.

- Speaking of empty, when they presented the all-state team before the game, there were roughly five people in the stands and a few others near the main entrance. Among those in the stands: Gretchen, Sean, and Finnbar. Not exactly three people who know a lot about Connecticut girls hockey.

- These athletes deserve an audience, and thanks to those who spread the word about the game and the broadcasts. For those who might say people not in attendance were listening or watching: Nope. Not buying that. I saw the audience numbers. So clearly our message isn't getting around.

- Media-wise, Damian Andrew and the Darien Athletic Foundation were there with their video broadcast. CT Sports Now was there also shooting highlights. Dave Stewart was there, representing Hearst (New Canaan Advertiser and Daren Times). Read Dave's game story here. Otherwise, er, that was it (besides us, of course). West Haven was a veritable hub of hockey today, with two CIAC boys games after we left.

I'll repeat: the girls deserve much better.

Call us "A Team of Hockey" (per Mick's request)

Let none of this take anything away from New Canaan, as the title belongs to them. Let none of this deter from the three consecutive titles that Darien had won.

They gave us a good show. Darien tried to climb back to make it 3-2 in the third period. Bennett Rink would have been loud had it gotten there, but the New Canaan defense, led by the wonderful Jess Eccleston, shut everything down. They're a worthy champion.

Two great coaches -- Rich Bulan of NC and Jamie Tropsa of DHS. Two squads loaded with talent. Nearly forty wins between the two squads.

They battled from December until today.

I salute them.

*****
Download the game broadcast here.

 
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