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Friday, March 5, 2010
The puck drops tonight for defending state champs U. School
Tonight when the clock reaches half past 7, Kent State University arena will be rocking. University School the defending state champions will be squared off against Gilmour Academy in the first game of this weekends regional district finals, or what could be better called the state quarter finals as the bracket to the Championship has been well known. The victor in this match up advances to play the winner of the Ignatius, Padua game in the semi finals, next Saturday at Nation Wide Arena. The following article is from Cleveland.com
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click to enlarge.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Regional finals set. Let the predicitions come.
Most of what you will find here is nothing new from me, with the exception of my Wildcats, Trojans prediction.
Lets start down in the South West, the Columbus district. The Dublin Coffman Rocks will be playing the Centerville Elks on March 6th at 5pm at Nation Wide arena. Here we have the MyHockey ranked 16th in the state Dublin Rocks team and the #23 Centerville Elks team. This year there is no information on these two meeting, but in looking at who they both played and those outcomes on the screen the Rocks are a soild bet to win this game. Dont get me, wrong the Elks have been getting stronger every year and are consistantly one of the strongest down in the SW. I however have to pick the Rocks on this one and I will say that even with emotions running high we are looking at 4-2, 5-2 victory for the Rocks.
Over in the South East, Kent District we have Hunting Valley University School and The Gilmour Academy Lancers.. We are looking at very strong, consistently strong University School team, and defending state champions. This abundance of strength is well reflected in their #2 MyHockey State Ranking. U. School came out this year stumbling, loosing their first 4 games, then pounding Walsh 7-0, only to come back and be shutout by Padua 3-0 in their next outing. That is not sounding great for U. School, but this team developed, and since loosing the ST. Francis Knights on January 16th have not lost a single game, putting them 15-0 coming in to the March 5th 730pm regional Final. Their opponent the Lancers are ranked 7th in the state, who I picked originally to loose to Walsh, and I had Walsh winning the district. Well, Walsh is clearly out. I picked Walsh knowing it would be tough row to hoe for them to beat Gilmor, but if they had I was sure they would beat U. School. Well for Gilmour, I am going to go with the defending state champs U School. Its not going to be an easy ride by any means the Lancers are play to hard, and seem to be peaking right now, where as U. School peaked long ago and may well be on the ride down.
I am picking U. School over the Lancers in an OT Win 4-3
Up in the North East we have #3 St. Ingantius and #8 Padua facing off on March 6th at 6pm. From the start of the season until the first week of January Padua was beating every team they played, loosing only to: a hot Lake Catholic team, and Meadville, earning ties with Sylvania Northview and Meadville twice, and Ignatius. Since that ride and prior to the playoffs it was a mix of losses and ties. All of which were between what looks like at a glance the top 10 teams in the state, so a rough second half for Padua. In the playoffs, Padua has won with a commanding style of team that has peaked for the playoffs, with lowest margin of victory being 4 goals. St. Ignatius heads in as #3 in the state. Having played Padua twice this season, once early ending in a 2-2 tie, and the second time being a commanding 3-0 shut out win. Ignatius has played well all season long being one of the only teams to beat the St. Francis Knights and doing so authoritatively 5-2. It takes no stretch of the imagination to pick Ignatius in this one, or to even boast a rout in the process. I am saying I don't see it that way. Just as the Findlay Trojans toppled the Knights, Padua will scrap out a victory in this hotly contested battle. 3-2 Padua wins.
In the North West we have the #5 Sylvania Northview Wildcats and the #10 Findlay Trojans.
The Findlay Trojans are ridding high beating what others call the odds, I call it a quality win. You see the way I called it the Knights came out this season amazing. they had it all, a fast tempo of play, high power offensive weapons, a mobile quick defense and solid goalie. This team was and will be remembered as one of the best in NW Ohio; however, they did not improve as the other teams do. The Trojans nearly dealt them a loss early. The Knights then shut them out latter in the season. The Trojans went on to improve and peak in the playoffs and came out won a huge game over Knights, in OT, and while the score was lower than I predicted, I called it right an OT win for the Trojans. For the Wildcats its been a season of mostly highs and few lows. Beating big teams and loosing to lesser teams like when they were shut out against the Bobcats, after having beaten a strong Gimour club.
Upon entering the playoffs the Wildcats have been riding high. Playing what is perceived as the most challenging rout to regional finals, having played Bowling Green and St. Johns, now having to play a hot Findlay team. Northview like Findlay is playing in top form right now. While the Wildcats have beated the Trojans twice this season this is a very different Trojan team than from those two meetings.
Add in to this what happened to the Wildcats playing the Trojans last year in the playoffs, getting a big lead early then giving up numerous late goals nearly loosing the contest. That will only happen again if the Wildcats look past the Trojans. I dont see how any sensible player will do that, no lead is big enough, and heaven forbid you must play from behind in this one. The Northview memories of those mistakes are far to recent and Northview is playing their best hockey as well right now. In the end only one team can win to advance. I have a feeling the Wildcats finish on top of the Trojans by a score of 4-2, and make their first appearance in the final four, since 2006.
Lets start down in the South West, the Columbus district. The Dublin Coffman Rocks will be playing the Centerville Elks on March 6th at 5pm at Nation Wide arena. Here we have the MyHockey ranked 16th in the state Dublin Rocks team and the #23 Centerville Elks team. This year there is no information on these two meeting, but in looking at who they both played and those outcomes on the screen the Rocks are a soild bet to win this game. Dont get me, wrong the Elks have been getting stronger every year and are consistantly one of the strongest down in the SW. I however have to pick the Rocks on this one and I will say that even with emotions running high we are looking at 4-2, 5-2 victory for the Rocks.
Over in the South East, Kent District we have Hunting Valley University School and The Gilmour Academy Lancers.. We are looking at very strong, consistently strong University School team, and defending state champions. This abundance of strength is well reflected in their #2 MyHockey State Ranking. U. School came out this year stumbling, loosing their first 4 games, then pounding Walsh 7-0, only to come back and be shutout by Padua 3-0 in their next outing. That is not sounding great for U. School, but this team developed, and since loosing the ST. Francis Knights on January 16th have not lost a single game, putting them 15-0 coming in to the March 5th 730pm regional Final. Their opponent the Lancers are ranked 7th in the state, who I picked originally to loose to Walsh, and I had Walsh winning the district. Well, Walsh is clearly out. I picked Walsh knowing it would be tough row to hoe for them to beat Gilmor, but if they had I was sure they would beat U. School. Well for Gilmour, I am going to go with the defending state champs U School. Its not going to be an easy ride by any means the Lancers are play to hard, and seem to be peaking right now, where as U. School peaked long ago and may well be on the ride down.
I am picking U. School over the Lancers in an OT Win 4-3
Up in the North East we have #3 St. Ingantius and #8 Padua facing off on March 6th at 6pm. From the start of the season until the first week of January Padua was beating every team they played, loosing only to: a hot Lake Catholic team, and Meadville, earning ties with Sylvania Northview and Meadville twice, and Ignatius. Since that ride and prior to the playoffs it was a mix of losses and ties. All of which were between what looks like at a glance the top 10 teams in the state, so a rough second half for Padua. In the playoffs, Padua has won with a commanding style of team that has peaked for the playoffs, with lowest margin of victory being 4 goals. St. Ignatius heads in as #3 in the state. Having played Padua twice this season, once early ending in a 2-2 tie, and the second time being a commanding 3-0 shut out win. Ignatius has played well all season long being one of the only teams to beat the St. Francis Knights and doing so authoritatively 5-2. It takes no stretch of the imagination to pick Ignatius in this one, or to even boast a rout in the process. I am saying I don't see it that way. Just as the Findlay Trojans toppled the Knights, Padua will scrap out a victory in this hotly contested battle. 3-2 Padua wins.
In the North West we have the #5 Sylvania Northview Wildcats and the #10 Findlay Trojans.
The Findlay Trojans are ridding high beating what others call the odds, I call it a quality win. You see the way I called it the Knights came out this season amazing. they had it all, a fast tempo of play, high power offensive weapons, a mobile quick defense and solid goalie. This team was and will be remembered as one of the best in NW Ohio; however, they did not improve as the other teams do. The Trojans nearly dealt them a loss early. The Knights then shut them out latter in the season. The Trojans went on to improve and peak in the playoffs and came out won a huge game over Knights, in OT, and while the score was lower than I predicted, I called it right an OT win for the Trojans. For the Wildcats its been a season of mostly highs and few lows. Beating big teams and loosing to lesser teams like when they were shut out against the Bobcats, after having beaten a strong Gimour club.
Upon entering the playoffs the Wildcats have been riding high. Playing what is perceived as the most challenging rout to regional finals, having played Bowling Green and St. Johns, now having to play a hot Findlay team. Northview like Findlay is playing in top form right now. While the Wildcats have beated the Trojans twice this season this is a very different Trojan team than from those two meetings.
Add in to this what happened to the Wildcats playing the Trojans last year in the playoffs, getting a big lead early then giving up numerous late goals nearly loosing the contest. That will only happen again if the Wildcats look past the Trojans. I dont see how any sensible player will do that, no lead is big enough, and heaven forbid you must play from behind in this one. The Northview memories of those mistakes are far to recent and Northview is playing their best hockey as well right now. In the end only one team can win to advance. I have a feeling the Wildcats finish on top of the Trojans by a score of 4-2, and make their first appearance in the final four, since 2006.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
St Ed's falls to Padua
Eds falls to Padua by a final score of 5-1. Wow. Padua went to work and figured out how to win again, after coming off a loosing streak prior to the playoffs.
Did I call this win? Go back and read my predictions and find out.
Did I call this win? Go back and read my predictions and find out.
Big Scoring Falcon recruit recieves honors
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Bryce Williamson recorded 107 pts this season, averaging 1.8 points a game. He is also the St. Albert franchise record holder of most goals in a season at 41, most assists at 66 and most game winning goals at 8. As well as most carrer goals at 102, most carrer assists at 136 and most carrer points at 238.
Bryce is excited about joining the BGSU Falcons for the 2010-2011 season. He will be bringing some of the needed offensive speed and scoring the team lost while in turmoil last summer.
The Falcons have had a fantastic recruiting season under coach Williams, and news of the Universities and Fan commitment to the team, and rink renovations. This class includes the following players:
Name Position last team height weight
Jacob Sloat LD Owatonna(NAHL) 5'11 175lbs
Scott Zacharias G PEmbroke(COJHL) 6'3 180lbs
Brett Mohler RW TRI-City(USHL) 6' 175lbs
Andrew Wallace L-C Surrey (BCHL) 5'10 180lbs
Ryan Viselli RW PEnticton(BCHL) 5' 10 180lbs
Bryce Williamson RW St. Albert 6' 173lbs
Wyatt Galley G Neapean(COJHL) 6' 175lbs
Chad Sumsion RW-C Neewmarket(CCHL) 6' 190lbs
Kyle Sucher D ST. Louis Midget 5'9 170lbs
Mike Montrose LD TRI CIty (USHL) 5'11 171lbs
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
No Polls here, lets look at how MyHockey ranked them
In looking at who we have still standing, University School is set to play Gilmour. That is #2 playing #7, good match up. We have Sylvania Northview #5 playing Findlay #10, another good match up. We have # 3 ST Ignatius playing either #6 St. Ed's or #8 Padua, which will no doubt all be good match ups. We also have down in the Columbus district # 17 Dublin playing #25 Centerville, which will be a very hotly contested match. While the schools in the Columbus district as whole are not on the same level as the rest of the state. Teams like Dublin and Centervill are coming on in recent years and have become very competitive, they are not push overs by any means and win big games, Im sure the consistency will keep on building in those top Columbus district programs.
Now if we could have a tournament with all the members of the the ten, via random draw. Two pools of 5, top two advance to the finals from each pool, WOW, that would really hot. That is something that would sure get people excited and talking a lot more about HS hockey. Maybe, just maybe something like could be planed for mid season. At any rate we have worked on down, to the picks, of the litters. The teams playing at their peaks are advancing and those who are not are going home. There is absolutely no room for error, the pressure is high. We are going to end up with one excellent final four field. You cant ask for more from March Hockey.
Ignatius downs Broadview 4-1
Ignatius advances to the finals after a dominating game and controlling the play by a score of 4-1. Broadview was out matched from opening drop with Ignatius controlling play the whole game. I got this one right, lets see how the rest go.
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