skip navigation

It's getting crowded at the top in the NHC

By Braeden Sample, 01/12/23, 1:00PM EST

Share

Two points separate top three teams in Red Division

League games started to take hold once again last weekend in the NHC.

It all started off with Northview hosting Bowling Green on Friday night. Led by two goals in the 1st period, three goals in the 2nd, and four in the 3rd, the Wildcats were able to easily get past the Bobcats in the 9-0 win. Tryston Harrell had a hat trick in the 3rd period as he jumped up to 3rd in NHC scoring, one point behind Andrew Tucker of St. Francis and teammate Drake Symbolik. Northview out-shot Bowling Green 46-21.

Also on Friday, Findlay hosted Perrysburg. In a tight, contested battle. Two goals were scored by each side in the 1st period, then the second was scoreless. A goal by Findlay’s Kellen Wetz opened up the scoring again and the Trojans added an insurance goal for a 4-2 win. Findlay outshot Perrysburg 23-15.

St. John’s played St. Francis in a rivalry game to finish out the Friday slate. St. John’s scored early in the 2nd period to get the game’s first goal and a 1-0 lead. The Titans kept this lead until the Knights scored halfway in the 3rd. The two teams exchanged a goal for the rest of the game and it went into overtime tied 2-2. With 7:28 left in overtime, Jamison Rose scored his 2nd goal of the game and gave St. Francis the win. St. John’s outshot St. Francis 46-32 throughout the game.

St. John’s turned around and hosted Findlay on Saturday. The Titans had a 3-0 lead heading into the 3rd period, before Findlay was finally able to score to try to pull off a comeback. However, it proved to be too late as St. John’s won 3-1.

For the final Red Division game of the weekend, Bowling Green hosted Perrysburg. It was tied after a goal each in the 1st period, and like the previous Perrysburg game, no one was able to score until the 3rd. Bowling Green scored early into the period to take the lead until Perrysburg scored twice in the period and won 3-2. Perrysburg outshot Bowling Green 38-25.

In the White Division, Clay was able to build, and maintain, a 3-1 lead heading into the 3rd period and that held up as the final. Also, Whitmer was able to get a 3-0 lead on Southview but the Cougars came back, scoring with three minutes left in regulation to tie the game 5-5 and send it to overtime. It was Southview’s own Noah Gromes who scored the game winner as Southview won 6-5.

In non-league play, Anthony Wayne traveled up to play Bedford [MI] and got the 3-2 win, they also challenged White Division opponent Lake and tied 6-6. Lake was also able to play Perrysburg but the Yellow Jackets got the 9-4 win.

Gilmour Academy, ranked #6 in the state played Bowling Green and St. Francis over the weekend. In a hard-fought battle, Gilmour beat the Bobcats 4-0 but the game against St. Francis was closer. The Knights held on to their own and defeated Gilmour 2-1.

Finally, Northview took it to St. Ignatius, ranked #1 in the state, winning 4-1.

LOOKING AHEAD

ANTHONY WAYNE (8-12-1, 0-4-0 RED DIVISION, 7TH)

Cleveland Jesuit Tournament
1/14 - Walsh Jesuit
1/15 - Rocky River
1/16 - TBD

Anthony Wayne was able to get a win and a tie over the weekend, hopefully bringing some confidence into the weekend as they play some tough opponents. Walsh Jesuit has split their series with Findlay and beat Bowling Green earlier this year, so this weekend could prove to be a tough test for the Generals. However a good weekend can help with momentum with the final stretch of league play games.

BOWLING GREEN (11-9-3, 1-3-0 RED DIVISION, T5TH)

Cleveland Jesuit Tournament
1/14 - Team Ohio Varsity “A”
1/15 – Benedictine
1/16 - TBD

Bowling Green once again plays in the Cleveland Jesuit tournament after previously going 1-2 last season. Bowling Green plays games that are very winnable for them and could help with momentum in the final weeks of the season. The Bobcats look to show that they are dominant in Ohio hockey and continue to climb the rankings.

FINDLAY (12-7-0, 1-3-0 RED DIVISION, T5TH)

Cleveland Jesuit Tournament
1/14 - Rocky River
1/15 - Team Ohio Varsity “A”
1/16 - TBD

Findlay is also joining the Cleveland Jesuit Tournament again this weekend after going 2-1 last season. The Trojans have a higher ranking than all of their opponents that they are scheduled to play this weekend, and big wins can help raise their rankings. The Trojans have not been too hot in league play games as they just got their first league win over the weekend. They look to keep up the stretch and make a push for first.

NORTHVIEW (11-7-1, 4-0-1 RED DIVISION, 1ST)

Mark Rasmus Memorial Tournament
1/13 - University School
1/14 – Moeller
1/14 - St. Xavier
1/15 - TBD

Northview plays in the annual Mark Rasmus Memorial Tournament hosted by St. John’s over the weekend. They play defending champs University School who went 4-0 last season, and a pair of Cincinnati high school teams with Moeller and St. Xavier. Northview is looking to continue their dominance of the NHC and of OHSAA hockey as this weekend is a great way to do that.

PERRYSBURG (11-8-1, 2-3-0 RED DIVISION, 4TH)

Pioneer Orange Tournament
1/13 – Hudson
1/14 - Olentangy
1/14 - New Albany
1/15 - TBD

Perrysburg travels down to Columbus for the Pioneer Orange Tournament. Perrysburg went 2-2 in the tournament last season and look to do even better this season, and maybe win. The Yellow Jackets had a 2-1-0 weekend and look to improve on that every weekend to keep on increasing their ranking. The Yellow Jackets see this weekend as an opportunity to get some good wins and carry the momentum for the rest of the season.

ST. FRANCIS (9-7-1, 4-1-0 RED DIVISION, 2ND)

Father Styles Tournament
1/14 - St. Charles
1/14 - Glenbrook North [IL]
1/15 - Upper Arlington

The Knights play in the Father Styles Tournament hosted by St. Ignatius this weekend. They will play two CHC opponents and a team from Illinois. St. Francis went 4-0 in this tournament last season, and they look to be undefeated yet again this season. St. Francis has been rolling as of lately and they look to continue that.

ST. JOHN’S (9-9-2, 3-1-1 RED DIVISION, 3RD)

Mark Rasmus Memorial Tournament
1/13 – Moeller
1/14 - St. Xavier
1/14 - University School
1/15 - TBD

St. John’s joins Northview in the Rasmus Tournament this weekend playing the same schedule as the Wildcats. The Titans look to make a late season push for the the NHC Red Division title. First, they have to get through this tournament and a good weekend can help them make that push.

WHITE DIVISION

Clay and the Blue Devils joins Perrysburg in the Orange Pioneer Tournament in Columbus, however in the JV portion. They will play each other in the last pool play game of the tournament while playing Olentangy Orange and Newark Generals JV teams along the way. Whiter and Lake will face Springboro this weekend as Whitmer plays them twice, and Lake once.

--- Braeden Sample (@SticksAndStats) for Ohio Hockey Digest

Sticks and Stats: A blog for hockey stats