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Creek, Alter headline SWOHSHL Tournament

By Scott Harrington, 02/10/21, 9:00PM EST

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Post-season hockey reaches Southwest Ohio Friday

The Southwest Ohio High School Hockey League tournament takes place over three days this weekend at South Metro Sports in Dayton.

The format for the six-team tournament calls for the top two teams to get a bye into the semifinals, which seems appropriate this season as two teams have separated themselves at the top of the standings.

Beavercreek (20-7-1, 9-0-1) and Archbishop Alter (17-6-1, 8-1-1) ran the table against the other four schools in the SWOHSHL in league play. Creek defeated Alter, 5-2, on December 20 and the two teams played to a 2-2 tie in a re-match on January 28. Their head-to-head series over the last five years is as even six wins apiece with two ties.

It would seem like a forgone conclusion that the Beavers and Knights will meet again in Saturday’s championship game but that, as they say, is why we play the games. In Friday’s quarterfinals, Troy (4-8-0, 4-6-0) will take on Sycamore (3-8-1, 3-7-0) at 7:00 p.m. at South Metro while Mason (6-10-0, 5-5-0) takes on Elder (0-10-0, 0-10-0) at Northlands Ice Center at 7:30 p.m.

Mason head coach Matt Tramonte concedes that Alter and Beavercreek have been the cream of the SWOHSHL crop this season but says the rest of the league has been closing the gap all season and it’s first-things-first for the Comets as they prepare for a quarterfinal match-up with Elder.

“We’re focused to not look past the Panthers,” said Tramonte.  “Our losses have taught us a lot about our strengths and weaknesses and the players have been focused on improving each day. They’re looking forward to the challenge of playoff time.”

SWOHSHL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

QUARTERFINALS; Friday, February 12
#4 Troy vs. #5 Sycamore, 7pm
#3 Mason vs. #6 Elder, 7:30pm (@ Northlands)

SEMIFINALS; Saturday, February 13
#1 Beavercreek vs. Troy-Sycamore winner, 12pm
#2 Alter vs. Mason-Elder winner, 2pm

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME; Sunday, February 14
semifinal winners, 12pm

Mason has relied on the leadership of Blake Mahoney, Jason Clabbers, Will McDonald, Nicky Das and Gavin Tramonte.

Matt Tramonte says he has also been pleasantly surprised by the energy and effort provided by newcomer Aiden Albers.  

The Mason-Elder winner advances to play Alter while Beavercreek awaits the winner of the Troy-Sycamore tilt.

Beavercreek head coach Greg Gutterman says you can’t take any games for granted in the SWOHSHL because every team is led by a passionate coach that will have his team ready to play.

The Beavers dress just 11 skaters, but Gutterman is proud of the gritty, team-oriented culture they have established.

“Senior captain Braden Cox has done a great job leading the team, but especially our defensemen this season,” said Gutterman.  “Our Great defensemen work together to protect the house for Junior Goalie Ben Duford who’s been awesome between the pipes.  Junior Thomas Bush and Sophomore Riley Hanson have really created some offensive synergy and lit the lamp for us this year.”

Note: Greg Gutterman wanted to thank the Ohio Hockey Community for all the thoughts and prayers for a Beavercreek sophomore player that went into the ICU with serious life-threatening illnesses in December. Gutterman reports he is still recovering, but he’s back at home and in school.

“We continue to pray for his full recovery and his return to the ice next season!” said Gutterman.

 

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest