Four from West Hartford were inducted into the Connecticut High School Ice Hockey Hall of Fame this year.

Former Hall/Conard coach Bruce Woolley and his wife, Meg. Courtesy of Frank Usseglio

By Ronni Newton

This has been a standout year for ice hockey in West Hartford, with the Hall High School boys team winning the Division III CIAC State Championship, the Conard High School boys team making a championship run all the way to the final game in the CIAC’s Division II, and the Hall/Conard girls team making it to the finals of the 2026 Connecticut High School Girls Hockey Association State Tournament.

It’s also a year when four from West Hartford were inducted as members of the Connecticut Ice Hockey Hall of Fame – representing both girls and boys teams.

On April 2, former Hall/Conard coach Bruce Woolley and former player Emily Corrales were inducted into the Connecticut High School Girls Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. Woolley coached West Hartford’s girls co-op team from 2000 through the 2014-15 season, and the Hall of Fame induction was recognition of the team’s 2012 state championship, a 3-2 overtime win over New Canaan.

Image from “X” of former Hall/Conard girls hockey coach Bruce Woolley, who was inducted into the CT High School Hockey Girls Hall of Fame.

Corrales, a 2013 Conard High School graduate, scored the winning goal in the 2012 championship game. While she was not able to attend the induction ceremony, family members were in attendance and her sister, Catlin, accepted the award on her behalf.

Emily Corrales’ sister, Catlin, accepted the award on her behalf. Courtesy of Frank Usseglio

On April 8, inductions into the Connecticut High School Ice Hockey Hall of Fame were held on the boys side at a ceremony at the Cascade Banquet facility in Hamden.

Inductees were John Grisevich, a captain of Conard’s 1985 boys hockey team who scored the winning goal to defeat Westhill High School (Stamford) 5-4 in double overtime in the CIAC Division II – giving not only Conard but West Hartford its first hockey state championship.

The 1985 team was coached by the late Frank D’Annolfo, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Wednesday. His wife, Suzi D’Annolfo – West Hartford’s former athletic director – accepted the award on her behalf.

According to Suzi D’Annolfo, the 1985 team finished the season 19-4, with eight of the wins coming in overtime. Grisevich, the son of two former West Hartford Public Schools teachers, who made the journey to accept the honor from his home in Utah, was also a standout baseball player at Conard.

Frank D’Annolfo, who passed away in 2024, had previously been named Connecticut Ice Hockey Coach of the Year (1985) and was inducted into the Conard Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012. According to Suzi D’Annolfo, he had also served for numerous years on the CIAC Ice Hockey committee and was instrumental in establishing the “no fighting” rule, coached the Conard boys soccer team to their first and only state championship in 1970 – prior to there being any divisions or classes – and took the team to the finals in 1971 and 1972, when they ended the season as runners-up.

Members of the 1984-85 Conard ice hockey State Championship team at the Hall of Fame induction. From left: John Grisevich, Alan Flint, Brett Soucy, former Athletic Director Suzi D’Annolfo, Jimmy Shea, former coach John Donohoe, Lou Castanho, and Rob Johnson. Courtesy of Suzi D’Annolfo

Many former members of the 1984-85 Conard boys hockey championship team traveled to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony. Pictured above, from left to right, they included Grisevich, who was an All-State athlete; Alan Flint, who according to D’Annolfo introduced “We Will Rock You” as the team’s theme song; Brett Soucy, a former All-State goalie who later succeeded Bruce Woolley as coach of the Hall/Conard girls hockey team and led the team to the 2012 championship; Suzi D’Annolfo, who in 1985 was West Hartford’s athletic director; Jimmy Shea, a former All-State hockey player who won a gold medal in skeleton in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City; John Donohoe, who was assistant coach in 1985-84 and then head coach who went on to lead his team in 1996 to Conard’s second state championship title; Lou Castanho, a former All-State player who was founder and chef of Pasta Vita; and former All-State athlete Rob Johnson.

Coach Frank D’Annolfo and the 1985 Conard High School boys hockey team was honored by the Board of Education. Courtesy of Suzi D’Annolfo

John Grisevich scored the winning goal in 1985 boys hockey championship. Courtesy of Suzi D’Annolfo

John Grisevich winning goal in 1985 boys hockey championship. Courtesy of Suzi D’Annolfo

Conard yearbook photo. Courtesy of Suzi D”Annaolfo

Connecticut High School Ice Hockey Hall of Fame induction. Screenshot

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