By Doug Phipps:
Across the nation, football and basketball are the biggest high school sports around. They are the most popular sports in America that have the quickest paths to the pros. But in Darien, ice hockey rivals those two sports as one of the most relevant in the town. After many successful years and an unexpected Cinderella finish in the state tournament last year, the Wave comes into the 2010-'11 season with high expectations, as junior captain Nick Bruno sets big goals of an FCIAC and State title for the team.
The 2009-10 Darien Blue Wave Hockey team came out of nowhere, pulling upset after upset to reach the state semifinals. During the regular season, the Wave suffered a disappointing record of 12-13, or below .500. To even reach the state tournament, the boys had to take care of business in a play-in game against New Fairfield. That was easily accomplished, as the Wave won, 5-1. The next game was against a much tougher opponent, top-seeded West Haven. But the Blue Wave pulled a huge upset, and beat the Blue Devils, 4-3. Darien then crushed Tri-Town High School from Ellington, Conn. in a six-goal performance, and went on to play Hamden in the state semifinals. There, the Blue Wave finally lost, 3-2, despite 42 impressive saves by Class of ’10 grad William Love. That ended the 2009-10 Darien ice hockey season.
After an impressive finish to a disappointing regular season, the Blue Wave goes into the 2010-11 season with high expectations. Bruno feels that the Wave can return to States. The team’s goal is to win FCIACs, and then make a run to the state championship, according to Bruno. He also statedthat the team needs to work hard, play as a team, and avoid penalties. Bruno said that he thinks that “everyone should get a decent amount of ice time, and we’re looking for a freshman defenseman to step up.” If all that works out, the Blue Wave looks poised to win both FCIACs and States.
Senior Evan Rogers expects a lot out of the Blue Wave. “The team has a lot of guys coming back at forward, so that should be our strongest area, led by senior captains Richard Gregory, Bruno, and senior assistant captain Garren Fritts,” Rogers said. “The defense will be anchored by senior captain Doug Miller. The goalies have big shoes to fill after all-state senior Willy Love’s graduation, but (juniors) Hunt Bartram and Max Rothston will step in and pick up where he left off.”
Along with being a huge Wave hockey fan, Rogers and fellow senior Alex Bruno have brought the Blue Wave Super Fans Facebook group back to life, and are coordinating cheers for hockey games. “Blue Wave Hockey is a classic and will most certainly be the go to cheer,” Rogers said.
“In addition, we have a couple of new ideas for this year. At the beginning of every power play, we will do the ‘everybody, shots, shots, shots…’ chant. And then yell ‘on goal’ at the end.” Rogers still has more ideas. “At a game this year we are going to make a giant easy button sign, and after a Darien goal the player will skate over to the glass, slap the sign, and the student section will yell ‘THAT WAS EASY,” Rogers said. “We have a few more ideas for the year, but we’re going to keep those secret for now.”
When the Blue Wave begins playing in 2010-'11, it's going to be gunning for state and conference titles.
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