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How the Top 10 Fared (1.06.20)

By Scott Harrington, 01/06/20, 9:15AM EST

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Saint Ignatius, Upper Arlington still undefeated

The top two teams in the state have yet to lose a game this season, and should feel secure in their current positions, but the next three teams in the Ohio High School Hockey Coach’s Poll suffered losses last week, and that could result in some shuffling when the new poll comes out tomorrow.

#1 Saint Ignatius – The top-ranked team in Ohio won two more games against A21 Academy from Ontario.  As a point of reference/common opponent, A21 defeated St. Edward, 4-0, earlier in the season (def. A21 Academy (ON), 3-2; def. A21 Academy (ON), 5-0).

#2 Upper Arlington – The #2 Golden Bears came out on top in their showdown with #3 Gilmour Academy at the Brother James Memorial Tournament with the only goal being scored during 2-on-2 play in overtime.  The game is officially a tie, which would probably be enough for voters to keep them where they are, but the win – official or otherwise – should remove any doubt (def. Orchard Park (NY), 4-1; tied #3 Gilmour Academy, 0-0; def. Baldwin (PA), 8-2).

#3 Gilmour Academy – They will both go in the books as ties officially, but the Lancers suffered OT losses in both 2-on-2 (!) and 1-on-1 (!!) formats during their Brother James Memorial Tournament.  It will be interesting to see if voters punish them for that peculiar result.  The 0-0 tie against #2 UA goes down as their sixth straight shutout and shouldn’t hurt them in the poll, but they also couldn’t beat Orchard Park (NY) (defeated Baldwin (PA), 6-0; tied #2 Upper Arlington, 0-0; tied Orchard Park (NY), 2-2).

#4 Olentangy Liberty – Andrew Vidrick posted a 22-save shutout against #10 St. Charles on Thursday, but the Patriots were knocked off by New Albany on Saturday and that could bump them down a few spots (def. #10 St. Charles, 4-0; lost to New Albany, 3-1; def. Olentangy, 8-1)

#5 Toledo St. John’s – Played NHC Red Division newcomers Anthony Wayne and Perrysburg for the first time as division foes and won both games to keep themselves in first place in the league standings (def. Anthony Wayne, 5-2; def. Perrysburg, 4-1).

#6 St. Edward – The Eagles picked up a pair of league wins and moved into a tie for first place in the Great Lakes Hockey League.  Since returning from a trip to Ontario in mid-December, they are 4-1-2 with the only loss coming to #1 Saint Ignatius (def. Walsh Jesuit, 5-0; def. Shaker Heights, 2-1).

#7 Mentor – Mentor also made gains in their league standings with wins over a pair of GCHSHL Red Division rivals.  The Cardinals have won 13 of their last 14 games with their only setback during that time a 1-0 loss to Shaker Heights in the championship game of the Thornton Park Tournament on December 15 (def. Hudson, 6-0; def. Cleveland Heights, 6-1).

#8 Sylvania Northview – The Wildcats picked up a big two points in league play with a win over Bowling Green, but then dropped a non-league game to Shaker Heights on home ice that could cost them some Top 10 votes (def. Bowling Green, 5-1; lost to Shaker Heights, 2-1).

#9 University School – University School went to sudden-death to defeat Cathedral Prep in their only game of the week.  The Preppers have just one regulation win in their last seven games (def. Erie Cathedral Prep (PA), 4-3 OT).

#10 St. Charles – The loss to Liberty could knock the Cardinals out of the Top 10 just a week after they appeared on this list for the first time.  We’ll see if voters are convinced by their response – defeating off Jerome over the weekend (lost to Olentangy Liberty, 4-0; def. Dublin Jerome, 4-3).

 

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest