Nationals Notebook Day 3
AAA OBJ clinch quarterfinal berth, Gilmour eliminated
After losing their opening game in Maryland Heights, MO on Wednesday, the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets picked up their second win in a row, 4-1, over the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders (CO) to earn a spot in the quarterfinals of the USA Hockey Tier I 18U National Championship tournament.
Ryan Williams got things rolling with a goal in the first minute of the game against an 0-2 RoughRiders team that had already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Ohio led, 2-0, after two periods and closed it out with goals from Kory Diponio and Graham Broadfoot in the third. Noah Holt also scored in the game for Ohio.
Even with the win, the Blue Jackets had some scoreboard watching to do. A regulation win for the Maine Nordiques over Rochester Youth Hockey (NY) later in the day would have created a three-way tie for the two playoff spots in the group, but Rochester prevailed, 4-3.
One thing that a team needs to make a run at a national title is strong goaltending and Ohio has certainly gotten that, allowing just a single goal in each of their last two games – both wins.
The Blue Jackets will attempt to take the next step towards a national title on Saturday when they take on the storied Shattuck St. Mary’s (MN) program - the #1 ranked 18U team in the country - in the quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. CDT.
"We are looking forward to the opportunity to play Shattuck and move on to the semis," said head coach Darryl Noren.
Click the microphone below to hear from Seanna Conway (Gilmour Gladiators), Darryl Noren (Ohio AAA Blue Jackets) and Patrick Metzger (Team Ohio) on this week's Ohio Hockey Digest podcast!
Team Ohio 16U stays alive with OT loss
Tavian Parks made 49 saves to keep Team Ohio’s 16U team in the game against the Philadelphia Blazers on Friday afternoon. It was not ultimately enough to steal a win, but the Ohioans picked up an important point in the standings before the Blazers won the game in overtime.
John Homoki, Nicholas Ciura and Josh Szopo scored for Team Ohio, which is now tied with Philadelphia for second place in the group going into the final round of preliminary action on Saturday.
Team Ohio will close out preliminary round play with a 10:00 a.m. EDT puck drop tomorrow against Cazenovia Park (NY). A regulation win in that game will guarantee Team Ohio a berth in the quarterfinals of the Tier II 16U tournament
Team Ohio 18U Gets Title Defense Back on Track
Team Ohio, the defending (2019) national champions in Tier II 18U, got into the win column with a 3-0 victory over the Littleton Hawks (CO) on Friday afternoon and, in the process, gave themselves a chance to advance to the quarterfinals with a win on Saturday.
Three different Team Ohio players scored goals and Jeffrey Fillion (University School) posted a 25-save shutout.
"Fillion had his best game since October," said head coach Patrick Metzger. "He was laser-focused and we're going to ride him today as well."
Brock Bisler (Holy Name), Erik Galauner (Saint Ignatius) and Noah Schultz (St. Edward) scored the goals.
"It was good to see them play that way with their backs to the wall," Metzger said about his team. "We can still improve in a few areas but, overall, we were much better today."
Team Ohio will face Cheektowaga (NY) Saturday at 12:30 p.m. CDT. The winner of that game will claim second place in the group and move on to the playoff round on Sunday.
GILMOUR GLADIATORS ELIMINATED FROM CONTENTION
Second period goals from Lyla Tsu and Alaina Giampietro – her second of the game – pulled the Gilmour Gladiators even, but Minnesota Elite Vegas (MN) scored a pair of third period tallies for a 5-3 win.
The loss eliminates the Gladiators from playoff contention in the USA Hockey Tier I 16U National championship tournament in West Chester, PA.
The Gladiators close out their preliminary round schedule Saturday against Team Colorado in a 3:00 EDT game. The winner will finish third in the group.
--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest
