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NHC Red Division Back Bigger Than Ever

By Scott Harrington, 05/23/19, 11:30AM EDT

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Healthy seven-team loop geared up for 2019-20

When the storied Bowling Green Bobcats program went dark a year ago, the top flight of the Northwest Hockey Conference (NHC) was down to four teams for the 2018-19 season.  That was a disturbing sign for those familiar with the Ohio high school hockey landscape.

As the league looks forward to next season, however, there is not only re-alignment on the horizon, there is a renewed optimism about high school hockey in Northwest Ohio.

Findlay, St. Francis, St. John’s and Sylvania Northview will have some company as the six-time state champion Bobcats return to the ice and Anthony Wayne and Perrysburg move up a level, creating a seven-team Red Division.

NHC Commissioner Markus Rasmus explained that the moves, which include a re-alignment from three divisions to two at the varsity level, provide value to all of the league’s 14 members.

“As a conference, we are trying to grow high school hockey in Northwest Ohio,” said Rasmus. “We think this structure provides an opportunity for more teams to compete against four of the best teams in Ohio. It also provides for more competitive balance in the White Division.”

The new White Division will include holdovers Clay, Maumee, Southview and Whitmer along with three USA Hockey teams – Fremont, Lake and Springfield – who competed in the Blue Division by themselves last season.

There will be a new head coach behind the bench when the Bobcats return next winter, but it will be a familiar face.  Jamie Ruffner, a presence in BG hockey circles for 40 years as a player and youth hockey coach, is the man entrusted with leading the Bobcats back onto the ice.

“It was a complete shock that we canceled last season,” said Ruffner.  “Our town has always been a ‘hockey town’ with the BGSU Falcons and the fact that our high school has won six state championships.  It was a huge setback for our program, school, and our community.”

The shuttering of the Bowling Green team last season may have sent shockwaves through the high school hockey scene but, according to Ruffner, it appears that it was a one-year anomaly in participation numbers.

“Looking at the fifth through eighth grades we have solid numbers in each class,” he said.  “Not only should we be strong each year for the varsity level, but I project within three years we will have a JV team as well.”

Ruffner has already assembled his staff, which includes three more BGHS grads serving as associate coaches:  Zach Martin, Conner Rogowski and Nate Gay, who will also serve as the goaltending coach.

“We are extremely excited and proud to be leading this program,” Ruffner said on behalf of his staff.  “We realize it will be a challenge this first year, but we look forward to the process.”

It may be a challenge to set goals for the re-booted program.  Ruffner admitted he will have a young roster, but thinks they can surprise some teams in the upcoming season.

“We want to push our program to get better and the only way for that to happen is to play better competition,” he said.  “We will work to set strong but obtainable on ice goals for our team as we approach next season.”

The return of Bowling Green, which has been to 12 state title games – winning six – restores an iconic high school hockey program to the region.  In turn, Perrysburg head coach Kevin Fisher thinks the NHC holds a special place in Ohio high school hockey lore, and he is excited that his program has an opportunity to play a larger role the league.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“I want to thank the teams from the Red Division who have embraced this change and made adjustments to their schedules in an effort to grow the game in our area.”
Markus Rasmus, Commissioner
Northwest Hockey Conference

“We realize it will be a challenge this first year, but we look forward to the process.”
Jamie Ruffner, head coach
Bowling Green

“Our high school is second to none.  We truly believe that, and within that environment, our intention is to continue building a hockey program to match.”
Kevin Fisher, head coach 
Perrysburg 

“We look forward to the challenges of playing the elites of our area regularly and hope to continue to elevate high school hockey in Northwest Ohio.”
Steve Boehme, head coach
Anthony Wayne

“As part of the new White Division, Springfield will be able to play more games against teams that we were competitive with last season. This is another step in our journey to return Springfield to varsity hockey status.”
Butch Leon, head coach
Springfield

“It’s a good sign for participation numbers in Northwest Ohio that BG is back at the High School level and that both Anthony Wayne and Perrysburg now have JV teams in their programs,”
Matt Bollinger, head coach
St. John’s

NORTHWEST HOCKEY CONFERENCE 2019-20 ALIGNMENT

NHC RED DIVISION

Anthony Wayne
Bowling Green
Findlay
Northview
Perrysburg
St. Francis
St. John’s

NHC WHITE DIVISION

Clay
Fremont
Lake
Maumee
Southview
Springfield
Whitmer

JUNIOR VARSITY

Anthony Wayne JV
Findlay JV
Northview JV
Perrysburg JV
St. Francis JV
St. John’s JV

“This area of the state – this conference specifically – has had a great impact on Ohio’s high school hockey history,” said Fisher.  “We don’t take this inclusion for granted, nor do we intend to rest on our laurels.”

Fisher sees the Yellow Jackets joining the Red Division as a stop along the road on a longer journey for his program. He knows it will not be easy, but he cannot wait to get started.

“We’re excited for the challenge,” said Fisher.  “That’s exactly what it’s going to be – and what it should be. Getting admittance – promoted if you will – wasn’t the end goal.  This is merely the next step toward competing on the highest stage week in and week out and that’s what these boys are hungry to do.”

Anthony Wayne Generals bench boss Steve Boehme echoes Fisher’s excitement.

“The Anthony Wayne hockey program is honored and excited to be a member of the new NHC Red Division,” said Boehme.  “Teams like AW and Perrysburg joining the Red Division is a huge step in establishing a stronger, deeper pool of high school teams and talent in Northwest Ohio.”

The St. John’s Titans finished atop the NHC standings last season and won the Sylvania District of the OHSAA tournament – breaking a four-year run by St. Francis.  Head coach Matt Bollinger says the rest of the Red Division welcomes the Bobcats, along with the Yellow Jackets and Generals, with open arms.

“It’s a good sign for participation numbers in Northwest Ohio that BG is back at the High School level and that both Anthony Wayne and Perrysburg now have JV teams in their programs,” he said.  “The addition of these three teams into the Red division will make for an interesting league schedule next year mainly due to the timing of the move and some teams having nearly full schedules in place. However, I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out in the years to come.” 

Each team will play the other teams in its division twice.  The exception, for the 2019-20 season only, is where some teams have already committed to a full non-conference schedule and do not have 12 games remaining for the expanded Red Division schedule. As a result, not all games between Red Division teams will be counted in the league standings for the upcoming season.

The NHC schedule will be announced in June.

 

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest