Gilmour Academy, which won the Cleveland Cup in 2020 & 2021, is coming in hot to this year's tournament as they look to qualify for the championship game for the fourth year in a row. The Lancers defeated Padua, Shaker and Walsh Jesuit over the weekend to grab a share of the regular season title, and now chase their third GCHL tournament championship...Gilmour defeated their Cleveland Cup semifinal opponent, Padua, in both league games this season. Matthew Bauman scored all three goals and Caden Gerke stopped 26 of 28 shots in Friday's win that denied the Bruins the outright points title...GA kept their hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Shaker Heights on Saturday in which Bauman again supplied all the offense and Evan Underwood allowed just one of 17 shots to elude him...The Lancers completed the sweep in a 5-2 win over Walsh Jesuit on Sunday in which Bauman scored two more goals giving him seven over three critical games.

KENT REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: The Lancers will open regional action on February 18 against the winner of Nordonia-Orange. GA is on the same side of the bracket as GLHL rival Walsh Jesuit and Baron Cup contender Hudson.

Padua Franciscan earned a share of the regular season championship - their first league title in the Great Lakes League Era - but hope to take things one step further with their first Cleveland Cup championship later this week beginning with Friday’s semifinal bout with Gilmour Academy...Despite Friday's loss to Gilmour in their regular season finale, the Bruins head into the post-season with a 14-5-0 record since December 4 and a #7 OHSAA ranking in the most recent MyHockeyRankings...Senior forward Shane Helman has multiple-point efforts in each of his last four games, collecting 10 points (6-4-10) in the process...The Bruins won four Baron Cups in the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League (1975, 1988, 1995, 2005).

BROOKLYN REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: The only GLHL team playing out of the Brooklyn Region, the Bruins face Brecksville (2 wins) in their first game on February 19, but the road gets tougher immediately after that. Rocky River is their likely opponent in Round 2 and 11-time state champion St. Edward could follow in what would be a regional semifinal at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Shaker Heights entered the post-season with just one win in its last seven games (1-4-2), but that win came against their Cleveland Cup quarterfinal opponent Walsh Jesuit: 4-3 in overtime on January 7. Gavin Richards scored the OT game-winner in that one, and on Tuesday it was Jack Camp finding the net :29 into sudden death to move the Red Raiders on to Friday's semifinal...The Raiders' continued success in the post-season could very well hinge on their ability to start generating more offense. They were held to a single goal in four of their last six regular season contests and lit the lamp just once in regulation in Tuesday's elimination game...Beginning with that early-January OT win over Walsh, in which he stopped 37 of 40 shots, Cooper Mears owns a .929 save percentage over his last 12 appearances (11 starts).

KENT REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: The Red Raiders drew Solon as their first opponent on February 18, but the Mentor Cardinals will likely stand between Shaker and a trip to the regional semifinals at FirstEnergy Stadium the following weekend - no small task in what will be a big-time rivalry game with HUGE stakes.

University School had to share the regular season title with Padua and Gilmour Academy but earned the #1 seed for the Cleveland Cup based on their league-best +11 goal differential over eight GLHL games. As a result, the Preppers draw the quarterfinal winner (Shaker Heights) in Friday's semifinal...University School defeated Shaker in both of their previous meetings, which came early and late in the regular season: 3-1 in the Nov. 20 season opener and 4-1 on Jan. 27 at Thornton Park...Sam Wade collected his 100th career point with a first period power play goal against Medina in the regular season finale…Luke Palmer has points in nine of his last 10 games with 12 goals and 16 points over that stretch...Samonte Martin scored twice against Medina and has now put the puck in the net in six of his last nine games...With a win on Friday, University School would advance to the Cleveland Cup Final for the sixth time in 10 years. The Preppers previously reached the championship game in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 & 2019.

KENT REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: US is the #1 seed for the regional bracket and will face GCHSHL Blue and White Division teams in the first two rounds. Winning those two games will secure a spot at FirstEnergy Stadium for the Preppers, who are on the same side of the bracket as Shaker and Mentor.

Walsh Jesuit headed into the post-season on a 5-2-1 run that included wins over two Top 10 teams in Ohio (US and Gilmour) and a tie with the #2 team in the state, Olentangy Liberty. Even though Walsh was knocked out of the Cleveland Cup with an overtime loss to Shaker Heights on Tuesday, it will be a threat to go on a run in the regional playoffs...The Warriors have been consistent and well-balanced both offensively and defensively. Walsh scored at least two goals in each of those last eight games regular season games, has not been shut out since January 6, and has five players with 9+ goals on the season. Tavian Parks, meanwhile, has allowed more than 3 goals just once (4, January 7 vs. Shaker) in 10 starts since December 17.

KENT REGIONAL PLAYOFFS: Twinsburg of the GCHSHL Blue South is the first opponent for Walsh in the regional playoffs on Feb. 19, but a much tougher match-up against Red Division contender Hudson could be on tap after that.

Adam Mindzora, Padua Franciscan
Dominick Calleri, Walsh Jesuit
Nate Abbott, University School
Luke Brandon, University School
Josh Brown, Shaker Heights
Rocco Hice, Gilmour Academy