Photo:  Victoria Layne

All games at Brooklyn Recreation Center, 7600 Memphis Avenue
(District Championship Game Saturday, March 3 @ 1:00 p.m.)

Early-round highlights:  North Olmsted took Padua Franciscan to overtime before the Bruins advanced…The Avon Lake Shoremen had a nice run.  The Baron Cup III champs took out both Baron Cup II finalists, defeating Amherst Steele (in OT) and Olmsted Falls before falling to Rocky River…Avon and Chagrin Falls played to a scoreless tie in the opening round before the Avon won it in sudden-death…The Strongsville Mustangs, won their first two games by shutout, and took a 2-0 lead into the third period against #8 Holy Name, before falling, 3-2.

Saturday, Feb. 24 @ 2:00 p.m.

1. Saint Ignatius (25-5-2, ranked #1 in Ohio) vs.
4. Rocky River (23-7-3)

The Saint Ignatius Wildcats, two-time defending state champions, have played out-of-state competition for most of the year except for the Padua Holiday Hockey Tournament where they ran the table, including a 6-1 win over Toledo St. Francis in a re-match of the 2017 state championship game, and a 3-0 shutout of Sylvania Northview in the tournament final.  Three of their five losses game in a two-day span Feb. 9-10 at a tournament in Canada.  Ignatius is always tough, but senior goaltender Benny Savarino has been especially hard to beat this season:  1.89/.927/5 shutouts.  Rocky River posted 20+ wins for the 11th straight year and won their third Baron Cup I (2014, 2015 & 2018).  This is the eighth all-time meeting between these two schools.  Every meeting has been in the post-season.  Rocky River has just one win against the Wildcats, that coming in the 2013 district semifinal (3-1) on their way to the state tournament.  Saint Ignatius won a re-match in the 2014 district semifinal, 4-3, in OT.

Saturday, Feb. 24 @ 5:00 p.m.

2. St. Edward (20-13-3, ranked #5 in Ohio) vs.
3. Holy Name (19-11-5, ranked #8 in Ohio)

The St. Edward Eagles have won 20 games for the eighth consecutive season, are hunting for their 12th state championship…The Eagles have been led by a pair of impressive freshmen, forward Tanyon Bajzer (19-35-54) and defenseman Tyler Fowles (8-16-24), both of whom were named to the All-Star Team for the Great Lakes Hockey League.  Senior goaltender Andrew Stewart has been outstanding as well, posting a 1.71 goals-against average and .921 save percentage against a challenging schedule…Holy Name entered district play on a four-game winless streak (0-2-2) which included a quarterfinal exit in the Cleveland Cup at the hands of St. Edward (4-1)…Sophomore defenseman Patrick Ehlert has back-to-back three-point games…The Green Wave have two viable options in goal – junior Ross Conforto and senior Anna Cvitkovich, who has allowed more than two goals just twice in her last nine starts, posting three shutouts in that span…Holy Name bench boss Tim Sullivan was named Coach of the Year in the GLHL…This is the only district semifinal game this weekend between two teams both ranked in the Top 10 in the most recent Ohio High School Hockey Poll.