Carrano Cup raises money, lifts spirits, celebrates life

MILFORD,  Conn. - Frankie Carrano would have been proud. The Notre Dame-Fairfield junior varsity hockey tournament and memorial fund that were established in his memory have grown beyond all expectations. Dozens have benefited, many more will do so in the future.

The spirit can be an inexorable force. The hockey community knows nothing less.

"I don't think we could have accomplished what we have without the strong support and caring of the people who are involved in hockey," said Carrano Cup tournament director George Burr.

"You see a lot of scholarship funds, raffles and other types of efforts come and go. They're difficult to maintain. This one has only grown in strength, and we have the great people of the Connecticut hockey community to thank for that."

The ninth-annual Carrano Challenge Cup runs Dec. 23-30 at the Milford Ice Pavilion, where Frank Carrano played his high school hockey and served as a popular tri-captain of Notre Dame-Fairfield's 1999 CIAC Division I championship team. He finished his career with over 100 points and played in one of the most fabled state finals ever held for his last game, but died in an automobile accident a month after graduation.

The Frank Carrano Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by the Carrano family soon after that to help benefit Notre Dame students in need. Combined with a raffle, an annual golf tournament and the eight years of the Carrano Challenge Cup, the fund has raised over $250,000 and contributed $175,000 in student aid.



And oh yes, the tournament itself. With seven of the state's elite hockey programs competing this season, along with Seton Hall Prep of New Jersey, the Carrano Cup has emerged as one of the top sub-varsity events in any sport, in any state. After several tries at holding an annual JV state tournament fell short in Connecticut, the Carrano Cup has become the state's signature sub-varsity showcase. 

It's just how Frank Carrano would have wanted it. His jersey No. 66 hangs from the wall at the closed end of the Milford Ice Pavilion, overlooking the goal that Notre Dame defends in the first and third periods of every home game.

"Frankie loved hockey, and was always an outgoing, well-liked kid with a lot of friends, and a very good player" said Burr. "That group of kids he played with at Notre Dame won a national Pee Wee championship in Quebec for (Coach) Marty Roos when they were young, and then won a state high school championship in 1999."

The latter championship, the last game Frank Carrano ever played in, remains one of the most storied events in Connecticut high school playoff history, the epic five overtime victory by Notre Dame-Fairfield against New Canaan, a game at Yale's Ingalls Rink that required two days to complete.

"He played in that New Canaan game with his shoulder wrapped because he'd been injured," Burr recalled. "I remember him saying at the time 'nothing is going to keep me out of that game. Nothing.' And it didn't."

That was in March," Burr added. "In July, he was gone."

But the Carrano spirit lives on.

"At this time of year, Frankie seems to really come home as the hockey season picks up and the holidays arrive; it brings everyone together," said his father and Scholarship Fund chairmen Frank Carrano IV. "I'm sure he's playing some role in all of this from where he is."

In addition to Seton Hall Prep, this year's Carrano Cup field includes the JV teams Fairfield Prep, Hamden, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Notre Dame-West Haven, Ridgefield, St. Joseph's and Xavier.

For more information about the Frank Carrano Memorial Scholarship Fund, e-mail CarranoFund@gmail.com or see the Fund's page on Facebook or go to the Scholarship Fund home page.

Jim Stout is the CBS MaxPreps Media Manager for the Eastern U.S. He may be reached at 845-367-2864 or jim.stout@cbsi.com.