The top-end of the Capital Hockey Conference was strong and balanced this season. Four CHC teams ranked in the top 10 in the state and two of them – Olentangy Liberty and Upper Arlington – meet again in Saturday’s Columbus Regional championship game.

Liberty won both regular season meetings between the two teams in rather convincing fashion and has put together an astounding 20-1-1 record over its last 22 games. Their only loss in that time was to Olentangy Berlin in overtime of the Blue Jackets Cup Final.

The Patriots lost twice at the season-opening Cold Turkey Shootout and then only four losses since: three times to Berlin and once to St. Edward.

But you can throw the records out the window when you get to March.

Upper Arlington has not lost back-to-back games all season and their only loss (11-1-0) since MLK Weekend was also in the Blue Jackets Cup to Berlin.

Both the Patriots and Golden Bears have three regional championships in school history (UA’s most recent was last year) and one of them will claim #4 on Saturday. Neither team, however, has ever won a game at the state tournament.

Game time is 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Health Ice Haus.