In addition to the massive human toll, physical and mental toll that the pandemic continues to inflict on everyone, it continues to affect the world of sports in some extraordinary ways.
Many colleges haven’t played at all in 2020-21, like Yale and the rest of the Ivy League, before returning to competition in the fall. Others played in front of little or no audience, although these restrictions were relaxed little by little as winter turned into spring. A similar process continued in high school sports, where limited winter fan suits gave way to a fairly regular outdoor audience in the spring. Bridgeport’s NCAA men’s regional hockey game, which has drawn at least 4,000 (and usually more) on each of its five previous visits to the city, is closed to all but about 100 invitees from each team.
Some teams have been quarantined at the worst of times; COVID protocols led to the SCC canceling the boys’ hockey tournament, which could have challenged Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame-West Haven for first place in the state. Since there were no winter tournaments, teams played only for conference titles, and many teams had to withdraw from those competitions early.
There were other strange consequences. Many college sports eventually entered the spring, so it seemed like local colleges were practicing each sport at the same time. Sacred Heart has managed to win the Northeast Conference Football Championship twice in seven months, winning an exceptional playoff in April at Duquesne to complete a short “2020” season and then the regular title 2021 season to win.
Webster Bank Arena also acquired a temporary tenant when Westchester Knicks moved in; Their yard has been designated for coronavirus vaccination.
Here’s a look at some of the most interesting sports stories at Greater Bridgeport in 2021.
New bars, new rent
Two long-awaited campus projects began in 2021.
On the Western Campus of the Sacred Heart, under the office once owned by General Electric CEO Jack Welch, rises $70 million in the Martire Family Arena, home to the school’s hockey, field hockey and figure skating programs. You are also playing the role of high school games host.
Across town in Fairfield, Alumni Hall has vanished, taking over the $45 million convention center and plaza. The school plans several uses for the building, as well as a basketball and volleyball court for the Fairfield’s and Fairfield Prep teams.
Schools plan to complete both arenas in the fall of 2022, although the first Sacred Heart Games at the new rink will take place in January 2023.
Meanwhile, Bridgeport is building the current home of Fairfield basketball and men’s hockey for Sacred Heart after 20 years. The city council approved a $28 million deal to maintain and renovate Webster Bank Arena, with arena operator and primary tenant, Bridgeport Islanders (who changed their name in May after 20 years as Sound Tigers), and promised the AHL in the city for another 10 years.
Back to high school tournaments
After CIAC got through the short winter season for high school sports, it promised a full spring season, as usual, to athletes who missed the entire Spring 2020 season. With vaccinations rolled out early in the year and the laxity of quarantine rules that followed, it was just that, and the fall season has kept up the good fortune.
Teams can play to determine the CIAC champions, and this year no fewer than 14 people from the region have done so, including four on the St. Staples won the boys’ and girls’ tennis titles in the spring, then shared the Girls’ Football League title with Wilton after a goalless draw.
Masuk softball, Seymour softball, Derby Boys Outdoor and Golf Fairfield Prep also finished their seasons with the state title. Up to ten other players took second place in their sports division.
The Olympic Race of Nahir
Alyssa Naher of Stratford made a triumphant comeback in July, playing for the US national football team at Renchler Field in two games against Mexico before leaving the team for Japan and the Olympics. Once there, she had an excellent quarter-final against the Netherlands with several great saves, both in regulation and on penalties.
But the semi-finals brought havoc: Naher was forced to leave the match against Canada in the first half, after sustaining a knee injury, later diagnosed with hyperextension that ended the Olympics. Canada scored in the second half and won the match 1–0, although the United States recovered to win the bronze medal.
purple covenant
The University of Bridgeport, a university transferring to Goodwin University, has faced financial difficulties due to the pandemic causing an uproar that players of the Purple Knights may take a big hit and may even disappear.
Then he became a familiar face to bring it back, and boy, was Jay Moran everywhere before and after his last stint in the South End. Moran became UB’s vice president of athletics on July 1, a decision announced in January.
He served as Bridgeport’s athletics director for ten years until 2014 and worked in Southern Connecticut until December of last year. He has also served as Mayor of Manchester since 2014.
The Purple Knights announced this month that they will participate in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, the second division in New York and Philadelphia in 2022-23.
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