Going into the weekend, Miami has the number one seed, but momentum is not on their side. Since the new year, Miami is 2-9-0, far less impressive than their 17-4-1 run in the first half. Even with the bumps in the road, they are confident the team can find a way to bounce back this weekend.

“We definitely feel confident that we can move forward. We know that we are well prepared.” Head coach Mike Rooney said.

The player to watch for Miami is first line center Hunter Wallace. Wallace is 17-11-28 in 31 games played for the Redhawks this year and has the ability to take over the game when he gets going.

As for goaltending, all signs point to starter Colt Hanks to lead Miami this weekend. Hanks has been big for Miami with a .920 save percentage and 2.81 goals against average, good for a 10-5-2 record.

Ohio University starts off their tournament against Louisville. OU is coming off a pure domination of Xavier, winning games 11-2 and 12-2, a nice bounce back from the series against Kentucky the week prior. They swept Louisville earlier in the season, but their message this week was that it is hard to beat a team three times in a row. They know Louisville is hungry, and the bottom line is the team that wants it more will be the team that walks away with the win.

A possible matchup for them is Kentucky if both teams win their Friday matchups.

“The main focus is obviously Louisville, but there has been a little chatter about playing Kentucky again and getting our redemption. That would be awesome.” Captain Brendan Callura said.

Ohio is a team that has a lot of depth and can score and defend with anyone that they put on the ice at any time.

“OU has got a good team, very, very talented. They will be a factor in this tournament and they will be a factor in the regional tournament. They are just a good team” said University Of Kentucky head coach Tim Pergram.

The Wildcats are fresh off two huge wins against Ohio University, and a series split with a competitive Michigan team. Kentucky is 7-5-2-0 in league play, and they are known for being a gritty, hard-working team. They are extremely difficult to play against.

Gabe D’amico is without a doubt the most gifted offensive player in the “T-Show”, and he really proved it this year with 61 points in 31 games. He is going to be a huge problem for whoever has to play against him this weekend.

“He’s got a lot of skill, he’s very fast, but he still plays a 200-foot game.” Tim Pergram said.

Gabe is tied for the TSCHL lead in goals, and he leads in points, assists, and shorthanded goals.

All eight teams are more than capable of winning, and it looks to be the most competitive tournament that the TSCHL has ever put on.

Come out and cheer on these teams at OhioHealth Chiller North for the quarterfinals and semi-finals, and Taft Coliseum for the championship. You can find the schedule here.

--- Ian Phillips for Ohio Hockey Digest