The top four teams in the Ohio high school rankings each reside in a different region of the state playoff structure, leaving open the possibility of all four ending up in Columbus for the state tournament in March.
Saint Ignatius won a tournament at Notre Dame to solidify their status as the state's top-ranked team.
#2 Olentangy Liberty continued their dominance, posting three consecutive shutouts on their way to the Blue Jackets Cup title as tournament champions of the Capital Hockey Conference. The Patriots (33-1-1) have not lost since November.
Sylvania Northview defeated #5 St. Edward last weekend and, as a result, moved up to #3.
University School, now ranked #4, played in the Great Lakes Hockey League's tournament final for the sixth time in 10 years and won the Cleveland Cup for the first time, defeating #6 Gilmour Academy, 3-2.
There were upsets aplenty in the GCHSHL tournament as Benedictine won the Baron Cup for the first time since 1971, defeating Amherst in the championship game.
The unranked Comets knocked out #25 Rocky River and #16 Mentor before falling to the Bengals, while Benedictine also eliminated #23 Hudson in the semifinals.
There is no tournament in the Northwest Hockey Conference, but regular season champ Northview added to their resume with the road win at St. Edward.
And Beavercreek, ranked #34 in the state, defeated Elder and Troy to win the SWOHSHL tournament championship. The Beavers will open the regional playoffs in Columbus against Gahanna Lincoln.
Teams that saw a boost in their ranking this week in addition to Northview included Olentangy Berlin, Shaker Heights, St. Xavier and New Albany.
Baron Cup finalists Benedictine and Amherst sit just outside the Top 25 along with Western Reserve Academy, Dublin Coffman and Thomas Worthington.
I saw a few people re-tweet my article from a few years ago about a suggested alternate (16-team) format for an OHSAA "Division I" tournament so, just for fun, here is what the bracket would look like right now using the methodology laid out in that article:
SYLVANIA: 3. Northview vs. 14. Perrysburg; 7. St. Francis vs. 10. St. John's
COLUMBUS: 2. Liberty vs. 16. Mentor; 8. Padua vs. 9. Upper Arlington
BROOKLYN: 1. Saint Ignatius vs. 15. Shaker Heights; 6. Gilmour Academy vs. 11. Findlay
KENT: 4. University School vs. 13. Walsh Jesuit; 5. St. Edward vs. 12. Olentangy Berlin
The "Division II" tournament, meanwhile, would include the likes of St. Charles, Archbishop Moeller, Bowling Green, Dublin Jerome, Hudson and Rocky River
Click on the logos to access full-season schedule/results for each team.
W 6-1 Osseo Maple Grove (MN)
W 8-3 Lake Central (IL)
W 2-1 Culver Academy (IN)
W 3-0 Edina (MN)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Brooklyn #1 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Normandy-Westlake winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Benedictine, Amherst Steele
The Wildcats firmed up their #1 ranking by sweeping their way to the championship in the Hossier Classic at Notre Dame.
W 10-0 New Albany (CBJ Cup Quarterfinal)
W 8-0 St. Charles (CBJ Cup Semifinal)
W 3-0 Olentangy Berlin (CBJ Cup Final)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Columbus #1 seed; Sun. 2/19 vs. Mason-Troy winner. Their side of the bracket includes: St. Charles, Olentangy Braves
An upset on the other side of the bracket kept #2 seed Upper Arlington away from Liberty as they defeated three opponents by a combined 21-0 to win the Blue Jackets Cup and run their record to an astounding 33-1-1 on the season...but don't forget that UA was undefeated two years ago and lost in the district semis...
SOW 3-2 St. Edward
W 6-0 Meadville (PA)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Sylvania #1 seed; Fri. 2/17 vs. Southview-Whitmer winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Findlay, Bowling Green
Northview came from behind to beat #5 St. Edward on the road, then shut out Meadville to go into the playoffs on a high note with eight straight wins.
W 2-1 Shaker Heights (Cleveland Cup Semifinal)
W 3-2 Gilmour Academy (Cleveland Cup Final)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Kent #1 seed; Fri. 2/17 vs. NDCL-Kent Roosevelt Westlake winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Shaker Heights, Mentor
US claimed the Cleveland Cup for the first time in school history and heads into the Kent Region as the #1 seed.
W 3-2 Toledo St. John's
SOL 2-3 Sylvania Northview
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Brooklyn #2 seed; Sun. 2/19 vs. Parma-Avon winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Padua, Rocky River
The Eagles were without a league tournament to play in for the first time, but head into regionals as a #2 seed.
W 2-1 Padua Franciscan (Cleveland Cup Semifinal)
L 2-3 University School (Cleveland Cup Final)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Kent #2 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Orange-Nordonia winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Walsh Jesuit, Hudson
Gilmour was unable to claim their third Cleveland Cup in four seasons, losing to rival US in the final, but a Kent Regional title would work just fine instead for the Lancers.
SOW 3-2 Culver Academy
W 6-2 McDowell (PA)
L 1-6 Cathedral Prep (PA)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Sylvania #2 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Anthony Wayne-Clay winner. Their side of the bracket includes: St. John's, Perrysburg
The season starts for real this week for Coach Varga and the Knights, who were at Notre Dame last weekend as well.
L 1-2 Gilmour Academy (Cleveland Cup Semifinal)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Brooklyn #3 seed; Sun. 2/19 vs. Brecksville. Their side of the bracket includes: St. Edward, Rocky River
Padua suffered one-goal losses to Gilmour Academy to close out both their regular season and league tournament.
OTL 6-5 Dublin Coffman (CBJ Cup Quarterfinal)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Columbus #2 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Worthington Kilbourne-Archbishop Alter winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Berlin, Jerome
The Golden Bears never got their shot at Liberty in the league tournament, dropping their post-season opener to Coffman in overtime.
L 2-3 St. Edward
W 7-1 Anthony Wayne
W 5-3 Lenawee United (MI)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Sylvania #3 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Perrysburg. Their side of the bracket includes: Toledo St. Francis
St. John's Jesuit earned the #3 seed but end up drawing #4 Perrysburg in the opening game of the regional tournament.
W 9-2 Anthony Wayne
W 3-0 Bowling Green
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Sylvania #5 seed; Fri. 2/17 vs. Bowling Green. Their side of the bracket includes: Northview
A pair of convincing league wins to close out the season, but it wasn't enough to climb back into the Top 10.
W 10-2 Olentangy (CBJ Cup Quarterfinals)
W 10-0 Dublin Coffman (CBJ Cup Semifinals)
L 0-3 Olentangy Liberty (CBJ Cup Finals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Columbus #3 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Springboro-Olentangy Orange winner. Upper Arlington, Moeller, Jerome, Coffman
Berlin rolled into the CHC championship game with a pair of convincing victories, but was shut out by Liberty in the championship game.
OTL 1-2 Shaker Heights (Cleveland Cup quarterfinals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Kent #3 seed; Sun. 2/19 vs. Twinsburg. Their side of the bracket includes: Hudson, Gilmour Academy
Walsh headed into the post-season on a roll but was ousted in the first game of the Cleveland Cup.
L 2-4 Bowling Green
W 11-2 Lake Flyers
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Sylvania #4 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Toledo St. John's. Their side of the bracket includes: Toledo St. Francis
In the smaller Sylvania bracket, the Yellow Jackets are thrown right into the fire against St. John's.
OTW 2-1 Walsh Jesuit (Cleveland Cup Quarterfinal)
L 1-2 University School (Cleveland Cup Semifinal)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Kent #5 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Solon. Their side of the bracket includes: Mentor, University School
A pair of one-goal games in the GLHL league tournament are an excellent way to prepare for the regional playoffs.
L 1-2 Amherst (Baron Cup Semifinals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Kent #3 seed; Sat. 2/18 vs. Mayfield. Their side of the bracket includes: Shaker Heights, University School
The Cardinals finished in first place in the Red Division of the GCHSHL, and received a bye in the first round of the Baron Cup, but were upset in the semis by Amherst.
W 1-0 Archbishop Moeller (CBJ Cup Quarterfinals)
L 0-8 Olentangy Liberty (CBJ Cup Semifinals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Columbus #4 seed; Sun. 2/19 vs. New Albany-Columbus Academy winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Olentangy Braves, Liberty
The Cardinals will try to have short memories heading into the regional tournament after getting ousted from the Blue Jackets Cup by an 8-0 count.
0-1 L St. Charles (CBJ Cup Quarterfinals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Columbus #5 seed; Sun. 2/18 vs. Dublin Coffman. Their side of the bracket includes: Berlin, Upper Arlington, St. Charles
The Crusaders lost a tough one, 1-0, to St. Charles in the Blue Jackets Cup but might get another shot at the Cards in the regional tournament.
W 4-2 Perrysburg
L 0-3 Findlay
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Sylvania #6 seed; Fri. 2/17 vs. Findlay. Their side of the bracket includes: Northview
Findlay, which defeated the Bobcats in their regular season finale, also provide the competition in the opening game of the post-season.
W 8-0 DeSales (CBJ Consolation Bracket Quarterfinals)
W 4-1 Gahanna (CBJ Consolation Bracket Semifinals)
W 3-2 St. Xavier (CBJ Consolation Bracket Finals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Columbus #6 seed; Sun. 2/19 vs. Thomas Worthington-Bishop Watterson winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Upper Arlington, Berlin, Moeller, Coffman
Jerome failed to qualify for the championship bracket of the CBJ Cup but put together three wins to take the consolation bracket - not a bad way to create some momentum going into the regional playoffs.
W 10-0 Bishop Watterson (CBJ Cup Consolation Bracket Quarterfinals)
W 4-1 Thomas Worthington (CBJ Cup Copnsolation Bracket Semifinals)
L 2-3 Dublin Jerome (CBJ Cup Consolation Bracket Finals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Columbus #9 seed; Fri. 2/17 vs. Elder. Their side of the bracket includes: Olentangy Braves, St. Charles, Liberty
St. X went on a nice little run in the consolation bracket of the Blue Jacket Cup and should head into their first regional playoff game with some confidence as a result.
L 2-10 Olentangy Berlin (CBJ Cup Quarterfinals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Columbus #7 seed; Sun. 2/19 vs. St. Xavier-Elder winner. Their side of the bracket includes: St. Charles, Liberty
The Braves drop a spot after exiting the CBJ Cup in the quarterfinals.
W 11-1 Avon (Baron Cup Quarterfinals)
L 3-4 Benedictine (Baron Cup Semifinals)
REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Kent #6 seed; Sun. 2/19 vs. Chagrin Falls-Cleveland Heights winner. Their side of the bracket includes: Walsh Jesuit, Gilmour Academy
Hudson had a great regular season but came up short in the Baron Cup. It will have to get past a couple GLHL teams to reach the regional final.
L 0-10 Olentangy Liberty
The Eagles move up again after returning to the Top 25 last week. NA was not so much rewarded for their first-round loss in the league tournament as Rocky River was punished more for theirs.
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