Farmington joins co-op team with Avon, squad moves up

AVON, Dec. 9 — A year ago, Avon kept its hockey program alive by forming a three-team co-operative program with Windsor and East Granby. Called the WAVE, the squad went 17-6, captured the CCC South championship with an 8-0 record and advanced to the semifinals of the CIAC Division III tournament.

This year, a new team has joined the co-op. East Granby and its lone player has graduated. The squad will be a three-school co-op between host Windsor (six players), Avon (10 players) and Farmington (9 players).

Avon senior Nick Berns leads a talented group of impact players including Farmington senior Dominic Bazzano, Avon junior Jeff Demers and senior Max Leopold, Farmington junior Austin Grouten and sophomore Dan Quirk. Each is capable to scoring goals. Shoring up the defense is returning defenseman Tyler Stoll of Windsor, junior Al Georger of Farmington and sophomore Jack Wendler out of Avon. Farmington goalies Kyle Krajick and Tyler Bailey look to be solid between the pipes.

First-year coach Scott Percival takes over the squad that will be competing in the CCC East this winter with East Catholic, Wethersfield and Northwest Catholic. Thanks to its semifinal finish in Division III last year, Windsor/Avon/Farmington has moved up Division I in the CIAC tournament. Despite the loss of 12 seniors, Percival expects the squad to be competitive in the race for a CCC East title and qualify for the Division I tournament.

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