Commissioner Tony Morris of the Southwest Ohio High School Hockey League (SWOHSHL) confirmed that there will be changes next season in the league. First, the league will shrink to eight fully-participating teams due to St. Xavier leaving for the Capital Hockey Conference (CHC).

The league will continue to have two divisions, an upper and a lower division for the regular season. However all eight teams will compete in one post-season tournament with a 1-8 seeding coming from the regular season results.

LaSalle is an independent member of the league, meaning teams have the choice to schedule games with the Lancers if possible.

All Red and Gold Division teams will play 10 league games, playing each divisional opponent twice and the other divisional teams once. The Red division will consist of Archbishop Alter, Beavercreek, Centerville and Talawanda. The Gold division will consist of Elder, Mason, Sycamore and Troy.

Sycamore, Talawanda and Troy will all have new head coaches. Details and names will come later this summer.

Mr. Morris is pleased with the OHSAA initiatives to reduce injuries. He cited the conditioning period changes and the training provided to players by reinforcing proper checking techniques at the beginning of the season.

--- Michael Schemmel