Congratulations to the Staples High School football team!
The Wreckers — seeded #1 in their division — dominated #5 Southington 41-0, in yesterday’s soggy state LL (extra large schools) semifinal game.
The blue-and-whites advance to the final for the first time since 2011. They face #3 West Haven — 26-13 victors over Greenwich — on Saturday (December 9). Kickoff is 5 p.m., at Central Connecticut State University.
The match-up is a sportswriter’s dream. The Westies defeated the Westportes 33-23, in the first week of the season. It’s Staples’ only blemish. They’ve reeled off 12 straight wins since then.
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Injuries — and deaths — of ice hockey players resulting from skating injuries have highlighted the importance of neck guards.
Dr. Lynn Wilson — executive vice chair and clinical director at Yale University’s Department of Therapeutic Radiology, and the Westport father of an NCAA D-III hockey player — has teamed up with Rob Stevenson, an NHL Florida Panthers executive, and former Amherst College hockey captain and Navy SEAL, to create a neck laceration protection device.
It “provides superior anatomic coverage, designed with military, hockey and commercial experiences top of mind,” Wilson says.
The pair hope to create a new standard of neck laceration protection for hockey players around the world.
Wilson and Stevenson were introduced by another Westporter, Mike Hayes — Stevenson’s former SEAL commanding officer.
For more information, email lynn.wilson@yale.edu.
Dr. Lynn Wilson
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The leaves are nearly gone from the trees.
But that did not stop dozens of blackbirds from landing outside Johanna Keyser Rossi’s window yesterday morning.
Just as quickly, they were gone. But before they flew off, she snagged this photo for our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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And finally … you knew this was coming, right?
(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Dan or someone else – if you have information on where non-locals, or locals, can listen or watch online, please post.
Arute Field (CCSU) has only 5500 seats. We drew over 9000 for the 2011 championship game at Rentschler (UConn). West Haven fans come out in force. So, as they say: Get your tickets now! This particular team is such a great group of kids, I hope we get busloads to fill every possible place to stand as well. Yes, the game will be streamed– but the best way to honor such an amazing achievement and support the kids is to go there and cheer your loudest.
Also, congrats to Dr. Wilson– saving lives in more ways than one. Impressive!