The Newtown-New Fairfield co-op hockey team is hitting the ice for another exciting campaign at Danbury Ice Arena, led by first-year Head Coach Michael Campbell. The team will again compete in the South-West Conference/Southern Connecticut Conference and skate at Danbury Ice Arena.

“I have high expectations for this group, ultimately it is to win the States and SWC/SCC but before we get too far ahead I expect this squad to show up every day ready to work — treat it as a job and prove we are the best product day in and day out,” Campbell said.

The coach sees some good speed out of the group. “If we can clean things up on the flow and positioning we can be a tough team to keep up with,” he said halfway through the two-week preseason, which wrapped up this week. “Smooth is fast, we need to smooth things out over the season.”

Players to watch are center Quinn Harris, a grinder and playmaker; winger Vincent Schuchat, who provides a strong shot, winger Patrick Moody, a solid all around player; defenseman Andrew Sanchez, who provides defensive smarts; center Jack Meade, a playmaker with speed; and defenseman Luca Mora, who is strong and sees ice well, the coach said. Captains are Moody and Moura, and alternate captains are Sanchez, Harris, and Evan Kliczewski.

A Division III team, the Nighthawks play mostly D-III foes but do face a pair of D-II opponents early on: Daniel Hand of Madison and Branford, following the opener against the Housatonic co-op on December 18.

Among the more interesting matchups on the slate is a Wednesday, Jan 22 clash with the Bethel-Brookfield-Danbury-Immaculate squad in Danbury at 6 pm. Campbell served as an assistant coach with this co-op for eight-plus years.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.