Southlake Carroll Dragons at HS Hockey Nationals

The newly created HS Hockey National Championships will be getting underway tomorrow in Chicago as the Southlake Carroll Dragons will represent Texas as the Dragons will be going up against the Nations best to fight it out and to be crowned the nations first HS Hockey National Championships. After Southlake clinched the State Championship with a win over the Allen Eagles on back on March 28.

In addition to Allen, the Dragons beat Fair/Creek of the Houston Area in the QFS, then in the Semifinals, it was revenge as the Dragons beat the Coppell Cowboys who beat them in the Metroplex Semifinals earlier that week.

Southlake has a boat load of talent which includes the Offensive trio of Marcel Toure, Drew Cossu and Connor Morrow who combined for nearly 130 points during the regular season. The playoffs continued that trend as the goal streak continued during the Metroplex Playoffs plus the State Tournament.

On Defense, Shane Piggott was named the D/FW Defensemen of the year who can beat you both major ways. He can hit and transport the puck, but on offense has the ability to join the attack and be a scoring threat.

After having 22 points during the regular season (8G 14A). During the playoffs, his ability turned much more defensive as the Dragons went through the playoffs. However, when the team goes up against the best in the country. Theirs no doubt that they will need Piggott to be a threat on offense when needed.

In net are Will Talkington & AJ Smith who have been splitting time this season and both goalies had GAA of just over 2.00 and have sv% of just under 89% during the regular season. Talkington took over the goalie position in the post-season as he had a .933 SV% during the post season which averages out at around 91% for the post-season (Both Metroplex Playoffs & State Tournament).

Overall the Dragons are stocked with talent and should be looking to Texas proud and have a shot of advancing out of the Group Stage to have a shot of possibly winning the National Championship which begins tomorrow in Chicago.

Southlake Carroll has been placed in a group with teams from Illinois, Colorado & Pennsylvania. With all 3 states known for having great hockey, Southlake Carroll will have a tough road to the national Championship. But it has proven to take on tough tasks of all kinds during the season.

The Dragons begin against New Trier (Illinois), with the state of Illinois hosting the tournament, expect a huge crowd for the two host teams for this event. Next up on Thursday is Brophy of Colorado, the State of Colorado was able to get 2 teams in the event due to USA Hockey National Rankings. Finally, the Dragons will wrap up the group stage against Shaler Area of Pennsylvania which could be the make or brake game depending on the standings.

In all 24 teams will be playing in the tournament. In order to advance to the Quarterfinals, Southlake will either need to win their group, or be one of the top 2 Group Runner Ups.

If the Southlake Carroll Dragons provide Game Stories, I will post them on the site throughout the tournament.

Here's the Southlake Hockey Website: www.southlakehockey.com


Here's some of the other rules of note during this tournament.

Offside- High School Rules- Tag Up

3 Minute Wram Up

17 Minute Periods

Ice Cuts before each game and after 2nd period

Overtime rules and ties will follow USA Hockey National Tournament Rules.


Southlake Carroll Nationals Schedule

4/14: Southlake Carroll VS. New Trier (Illinois 2) 5:00 PM

4/15: Southlake Carroll VS. Brophy (Colorado 2) 4:00 PM

4/16: Southlake Carroll VS. Shaler Area (Pennsylvania) 5:00 PM


American Bracket


Group A1

JSerra (California)

Grandview (Colorado 1)

Loyola (Illinois 1)

John Jay (New York)


Group A2

Brophy (Colorado 2),

New Trier (Illinois 2),

Southlake Carroll (Texas),

Shaler Area (Pennsylvania)


National Bracket

Group B1

Marquette (Missouri)

St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida)

Lakota East (Ohio)

Woodbridge (Virginia)


Group B2

Norte Dame (Arizona)

Fishers/HSE (Indiana)

Des Moines Capitals (Iowa)

Monroe (Wisconsin)


International Bracket

Group C1

North Gwinnett (Georgia)

Skyline Idaho (Idaho)

Allen (Tennessee)

Skyline Utah (Utah)


Group C2:

Huntsville (Alabama)

St. Xavier (Kentucky)

Tulsa Union (Oklahoma)

Fort Dorchester (South Carolina)


Here's the Link to the Full Schedule: www.oswebs.com/usah/public/dir.asp?dir=rpt&lg=USA+Hockey+National+High+School+Championship&k=-1&t=5