Wild Weekend

Where to begin...
Capital Conference.   Olentangy Orange, my personal favorite, and seemingly odds on favorite to repeat has begun to stumble?  After shredding Watterson 10-0, they droped a game they needed to win, against Upper Arlington.  Now Upper is no slouch in the Capital Conference, but Upper is not in the same class as Orange.  This loss is a disappointment, and at 5-1 its out right embarrassing.  Champions win games they need to win, they win the games they are supposed to win.  This is what we are looking at across the state right now.  Heading into district play there are gross break downs of in team disiplan, players being ejected and DQ'd, teams not playing to their potential.  This is the time when Champions are in full stride, and ready to roll.  The odds on State Champion favorite this is tracking on a perfect course.
Orange will advance to States

In the NHC Toledo St. Johns is that odds on favorite.  Mike Hays and the Titans have to be laughing at the Sylvania Northview loss to Findlay.  Down 2 players who were DQ'ed for the weekends games,  banned from practice and one gone for the year on the heels of his 2nd DQ.  The Wildcats as predicted fell to the Trojans 4-3.  There is just not any foreseeable waythe defending champions will be able to make out of district play.  Findlay has lost a player now to a DQ that occurred during the BG-Findlay game.  All this when BG is getting their stride.  A stride that has eluded them in the past years.  Goalie Tanner Fausnaugh plays a true hybrid style in net. Playing well outside the paint, with good angles he leaves to little are for shooters.  His form nothing like that of Nate Gays big body, playing a bit a deep.  People can argue, but Fausnaugh now has an impressive .91 Sv%.   The BG forwards are skilled, swift skaters unafraid to shoot and battle in the corners, or behind the net.  I will not doubt that BG makes an interesting run in the district games, and next year you ought to just make they are in the top three to start the year.
Toledo St. Johns will win the State Title.

Cleveland...oh Cleveland.  Your killing me!  HaHa.  Every year your coaches all do so well getting your teams to peak at this point.  It really messes with the predictions, and just proves how wide open the conferences are. So again a wild weekend.  We have US over Eds 5-2 and 1-0  over Shaker.  Eds over Ignatius 5-2, Holy Name over Hudson 2-0 and Hudson  over Mentor 5-4 OT.
League Stats have Walsh and Holy Name Tied at 7-2-1 for first, with Walsh way out ahead in GF at 48 and Holy name at 35.  I have to say Rocky River I had my hopes, but its just not be this year, youve improved, and are looking to remain a threat, but sorry, not this year.  As much it really could happen, Walsh will be heading to states, and will play SJJ for the Championship

North west Cleveland.  Aye, yi, yi.... oh what a tight race with in districts, St Ignatus and Eds again at the top, with the Red Raiders tied with Eds for Second.  The Raider did falter, loosing to both Ignatius and US in their last two outings.  Any of these three teams is capable of reaching states.  Ignatius and Ed's have the clear advantages with culture.  While all indicators now point at Ignatius being in states, my gut is me telling Shaker. 
Shaker will reach states but fall to Walsh.


So my final Rankings are
1. St. Johns  (1-1)
2. Walsh    (4-1)
3. Shaker   ( 10-1)
4. Olentangy Orange ( 27-1)
5. St. Ignatius ( 5-1)
6. Holy Name  (24-1)
7. Sylvania Northview (30-1)
8. Olentangy Liberty    (50-1)

MY HOCKEY RANKINGS 2-2-2013

You just have to appreciate the work and love for the game he shows with this site.
Numbers just dont lie, and if your team is not paying close attention to here, its doubtful they are on the ice.

Ohio High School Hockey Rankings - by MyHockey

The end of January, 29th 2013

The Red Raiders were themselves raped and pillaged, by a hoard of Wildcats.  St Ignatuis expertly dismantled the Raiders in a commanding 4-0 shut out on the 26th.  This game you would have thought was an Ignatius home game.  The Wildcats have heaping loads of winning tradition and fan base.  While the Wildcats now have a firm grip on the Red Norths regular season title, I still believe the Red Raiders have it in them to unseat the Wildcats.  The Raiders keep improving and learning at every turn, and when these two face each in likely district play it will be some game.
Walsh has the commanding lead on the side.  With 49 goals for and 11 against in league play, Walsh is the Dominate #1 team in Cleveland.

Northwest Ohio finds the number one team in the state, Toledo St. Johns prepairing for district play and their run for another State Title.  The hands down favorite Titans have yet to play to their full potential.  League nemesis Sylvania Northview heads in to this weekend reeling after near loss to Bowling Green.  The Bobcats, the states team of record, have not been the same since the early 90's but they are not down, and not out.  They were trailing the Wildcats 3-1 heading in the the thrid where the Bobcats struck quickly and tied up the game.  Pushing the Wildcats into a corner.  A physical contest and very heated.  Then at the sound of the final horn, the Wildcats up 5-3, a bit of fisticuffs broke out.  Leaving Sylvania down 3 players heading in to this weekends wrap up of league play.  1 player is done for the season having had his final DQ.  Odds are the Trojans will take down the Wildcats when they face off at the Cube this weekend.  A team to watch, that is heating up, is Bowling Green.  Fausnaugh faced 50+ shots in this game, and if he gets rolling, could be a Nate Gay second coming. Which when you add in the developing fire power up front, you end up with Bobcat contenders. 



Rankings 1-29-13
1. Toledo St. Johns Titans (22-8-0, GF 141, GA 52)
2. Walsh Jesuit (7-1-1 49 Gf, GA 11)
3. St. Ignatius ( 20-6-3 GF 105, GA 53)
4. Olentangy Orange (26-5-0 GF 160, GA 51)

5. Shaker Heights Red Raiders (19-4-0 GF 111 GA 34)
6. Sylvania Northview (18-7-0 GF 110, GA 51)
7. Olentangy Liberty
8. Hudson


Raw Rankings
1. Toledo St. Johns
2. Shaker Heights
3. St. Ignatius
4. Walsh
5. Sylvania Northview



Last week
1. Toledo St Johns Titans
2. Shaker Heights Red Raiders
3. Hudson
4. Olentangy Orange

5. Walsh Jesuit
6. St. Ignatius
7 . Sylvania Northview
8. Olentangy Liberty.

Orange rolls on

Olentangy Orange just keeps on rolling down in the Capital Conference.  Orange squared off against Olentangy Liberty and Findlay on January 8th and 9th.  Orange Pioneers rolled past Capital Conference foe, rival and would be front running Liberty in a 1-0 game.  The next night the Pioneers battled with Northwest Ohio's Findlay Trojans.  Where they won the  2-1 contest.
The Pioneers are the defending Capital Conference Champions and have a solid grip on a repeat effort.
In Cleveland on the 23rd Lake Catholic downs University School 3-2 in overtime.
Walsh Jesuit wins handily over Holly Name 4-1

Looking at the way State is shaping up,  I thought it might be fun to look at what the line could be right now on the State High School Championship.  I was unable to find any line on High School hockey so, based on historic performance and current trending this seems reasonable.
Toledo St. Johns 3/1
Shaker Red Raiders 7/1
Walsh Jesuit 8/1
St. Ignatius 12/1
Olentangy Orange 31/1
Sylvania Northview 14/1
Hudson  25/1
Olentangy Liberty 50/1
University School 30/1
Rocky River 24/1

Competitive Ballance & Private Vs Public Schools.

There has been a lot going on about Private Schools Vs. Public Schools where Ohio State Championships are the topic of conversation.  There should be.  The Reality is when you take a school that has open access to entire regions population, and in some cases the whole of the USA.  Then have those teams squaring off against teams created out of the population of 5 square miles you will not be able to reach any kind of balance.  Private schools are supposed to be better, in academics, college placements and athletics. Public schools are handicapped by every thing from the Federal to the grossly over funded state pension plans, that not only take money from education, but athletics and all after school enrichment programs.
I am not going to attempt, to tread on any topic other than Ice Hockey.  Hockey, is what I write about.  Competitive balance in ice hockey in Ohio is far more close than not.  Again the steps that need to be taken are straight forward.
1. Ohio High School hockey needs to Join USA hockey.
2. Establish TWO (2) Championship levels.  AA and A  Where by the teams in the AA level would or should include.  Toleod St. Johns, Toledo St. Francis, Sylvania Northview, Bowling Green, Findlay, Anthony Wayne ( a stretch they need to take), Walsh, Shaker Heights, Rocky River, St. Ed's, Gilmour, Universty School, Strongsvill, Lake Cathloic, St.Ignatius, Mentor, Padua,  Holly Name, Hudson, Olentange Libery, Olentangy Orange, Dubline Jerome, Dublin Coffman, Upper Arlington, Cincinati Moeller.
Two Divisions Red and Blue   the look would be
Red:
1. Toledo St. Johns, 2. Walsh, 3. University School, 4. Shaker heights, 5. Olentangy Liberty, 6. lake Cathloic, 7. Strongsville, 8. Dublin Jerome,9. Findlay, 10. St. Eds, 11. Upper Arlington 12. St Francis

Blue
1. Sylvania Northview 2. St. Ignatius, 3. Bowling Green, 4. Anthonywayne, 5. Rocky River, 6. Olentangy Orange, 7. Hudson, 8. Dublin Coffmann, 9. Mentor, 10. Padua, 11. Holly Name, 12. Gilmour 13 Cincinati Moeller.

The season should consist of two starting tournaments.  Where by Red and Blue would each face other, in some random selection. Then League play where each team, in each league would play each team once.  Followed by 5 cross division games.  Then each division would play a play off to determine rank. Following the playoff the teams who finish #1&2 each receive first round byes.  Teams finishing #1 will remain as host teams, #2 teams will be placed in the other divisions brackets as #2 seeds.  Then those teams ranked 3-8 will be placed in round 2 brackets. Teams 9-12 will be placed into round 1 play in brackets where the winners of those games will play teams Ranked 1 and 2 in round two.  All teams that finish in blue ranked 3-8 are placed in the blue bowl, all Red teams 3-8 are in the red bowl, each bracket in round two consists of one red, and one blue drawn randomly.  Teams will then commence playing down until the final team from either side is remaining for championship. Where by said Champion would be eligible for the USA hockey High School Championships and represent Ohio.

 As far as a few other tweaks go, for hockey, it is only fair to allow any student who so transfers from any none AA school to a AA to be allowed to play imitatively if that transfer is completed prior to the start of the academic school year.
That any student who so transfers from a AA  Public to a AA private, or AA private to a Public be forced to sit out one full season unless that transfer takes place prior to his Freshman year, but not applying should the student transfer from AA to A or A to AA ever in any circumstance.
That at the conclusion of every season, AA teams must declair their intent to return to AA, that any A team may apply for AA status. 
That a board of Governors be established and its membership be maintained as 4 head coaches from each division.  That said board may vote to remove any team from AA for lack of performance.  That said board would also server as a Rules committee considering their understanding and love of the game.

Hockey is unique among all sports.  Ohio Hockey has not been modernized since the 80's.  This lack of attention has had negative impacts on our student athletes.  Its time to make some sweeping changes, and adaptions to achieve competitive balance in hockey. 

January 22 2013 Ohio High School Rankings

 In order to have a good begining, its important I feel to see where have been.  So here are our rankings from  1-14-2013
1. Toledo St. Johns
2. Shaker Heights Red Raiders
3. Walsh Jesuit
4. Olentangy Orange

5. Sylvania Northview Wildcats
6. St. Ignatius Wildcats
7. Hudson
8. Olentangy Liberty


This weeks rankings are * again based upon in large the current play off structure.  The top four are your likely state semi final teams.  We do however see some interesting movement, with Hudson jumping up to 3rd and Walsh sliding.  But more interesting, is that Sylvania Northview has slid to 7th. While still the models clear Northwest Ohio's likely runners up. Should they manage to up end the Titans in district play, there is no model that shows the Wildcats repeating a state Championship.  So Sylvania fans should enjoy the banner raising at Tamoshanter this Saturday, as it may be a while before the next one.   Sylvania is just incapable of keeping pucks out of their net, and incapable offsetting that with what is only acceptable scoring up front. 
1. Toledo St Johns Titans
2. Shaker Heights Red Raiders
3. Hudson
4. Olentangy Orange

5. Walsh Jesuit
6. St. Ignatius
7 . Sylvania Northview
8. Olentangy Liberty.

Top eight teams in the state * again these are the best 8 High School programs in the state, calculated mathematical as to how they would likely finish based upon a quality playoff system where each divisions champ, stayed home, and hosted one teams from each of the remaining 3 districts, allowing the top 4 teams from each district to play in a "sweet 16" in stead of just granting passage to each districts champ to states, considering how weak some districts are as a whole, but still granting play off spots to those teams and the opportunity to earn their way.

1. Toledo St. Johns
2. Shaker Heights
3. Walsh Jesuit
4. Hudson
5. St. Ignatius
6. Rocky River
7. Sylvania Northview
8. University School.

Big games this weekend:
1. Husdon at Walsh 5:45 pm at Kent State.  This game has huge implications as a win by Hudson will  solidify their position in that top four
2. 1-26 Is another big game, huge.  Shaker and St. Ignatius.  Have the Red Raiders cultivated enough of a winning tradition, and the confidence to up end the Wildcats and solidfy themselves at top the Cleveland teams?

BGSU 4 Notre Dame 1

BGSU is developing talent. They likely wont be a good first half, or first quarter team for a few more seasons. Yet, BGSU may just be one of the most dangerous teams in the CCHA right now. They are moving the puck well. They are seeing the ice well. They have solid goal tending. They are relentless, just battle and have far more skill than is apparent. As BG's third and fourth lines gain confidence with every shift, and the staff with them BG is acquiring depth.  Depth they lack at the start of every season. It is from this depth they are gaining the ability to play 3 periods with any team, any time, any where. It will not be a surprise to see BG knocking on the doors of the final CCHA  Mason Cup. A prize, which for the Falcons would be fitting, as it was under his own guidance that BGSU's era's of dominance began, so it would be only fitting that the final resting place for the Mason Cup, be with the CCHA's, own Ron Mason founding Falcons.


I know this is a bit out what I normally put up here on the site.  You must understand, that I was at last weeks BGSU's Win over Niagra, last weeks upending of the Wolverines, and now at this dismantling of the Irish.  As my son comented " if you put a big red tomatoe on top of Jackson suit, you would not mis seeing his face, its that red."  That red, all night, in fact " Jeff, you may need to visit your Dr....seriously, that's just not healthy." 
Now I know schools like the Irish put a lot, I mean a lot into their pregame scouting and prepairations.  I am just shocked. Shocked by how the Irsih played.  They had to know BGSU goalie Andrew Hammond's GAA is at its lowest when teams are crashing the net and him.  He just gets off on it.  Yet they dumped him twice each period.  The Falcons skated with a level of determination and skill that the had last year in thier run to the Joe.  A level of skill they had in the glory days of the greats that graced ice.  BGSU is back friends, and now is the time to secure seats, for as they enter the new WCHA you can bet on one thing.  Lots of NCAA appearances.
BGSU is up against another solid Western MI squad this weekend.  Friday @ BGSU, Saturday @ Western.  A quality weekend for the Falcons would be taking half these points as Western is coming off a split with Lake State.  BGSU will then be at Miami, hosting the Lakers ( a sweep would be solid), home and home with MSU ( again Sweepable), at Ferris ( a likely split based on history) hosting Northern ( a likely split) then finishing at the Irish.  BG is in posiiton to host a first round game best I figure, and last year battled all the way to the CCHA final, and nearest in a long time NCAA birth.