D/FW HS Hockey Playoffs

With the AT&T Metroplex HS Hockey Playoffs starting tomorrow night and we are already into the postseason in the Houston Area. Here's a look at how the playoffs are shaking up in Dallas and Houston as the race for the AT&T Metroplex HS Hockey Championship.

Also the race for State Tournament Births and the first ever USA Hockey HS Hockey National Championship Tournament that will be taking place in Mid April.

In the Dallas Area, the league is divided into 2 Tiers as the Gold Tier will have 8 of their 10 teams making the playoffs. While the Silver Tier will have 12 of the 17 teams making the playoffs in the Lower Tier.

If you ask me as well, the Silver Tier is going to have the better drama as the Gold Tier for the most part has been pretty straight forward this season. Also in the Both Tiers, the teams only played 23 games out of 24 due to the Snowstorm that cancelled action back on 2/11. The following games were eventually cancelled after the record snowstorm last month.

I should be at the AT&T Metroplex HS Hockey Championship Games on March 24 which will be at the Dr. Pepper Starcenter in Farmers Branch Starcenter. Also look for updates on HS Sports Shows like HS Game Time on WFAA Channel 8 and on High School Spotlight on FSN hosted by Neil Beasley.


Gold Tier

Southlake Carroll VS. Flower Mound @ Farmers Branch Starcenter

Plano Senior VS. Frisco ISD @ Frisco Starcenter

Highland Park VS. Plano West @ Plano Starcenter

Dallas Jesuit VS. Mckinney ISD @ Mckinney Starcenter

Allen VS. Coppell @ Plano Starcenter


Silver Tier

Southlake Carroll VS. Bishop Lynch @ Richardson Ice Training Center

Plano Senior VS. Arlington Martin @ Euless Starcenter

Richardson ISD VS. Grapevine @ Farmers Branch Starcenter

Plano West VS. Garland ISD @ Richardson Ice Training Center

HEB-Birdville VS. FM Marcus @ Frisco Starcenter

Midlothian VS. Colleyville Heritage @ Euless Starcenter

Denton Co. Spartans VS. Keller ISD @ Farmers Branch Starcenter

Mansfield ISD VS. Rockwall @ Mckinney Starcenter


It's pretty much being finalized that the State Hockey Tournament will be back in the Dallas Area this season after being in Houston and Austin areas the last 2 seasons. Fore more info on the Amateur Hockey State Wide, log on to the Texas Amateur Hockey Association Website.

Here's a look at the Playoff Formats for both the D/FW Gold & Silver Tier Playoff Matchups.

D/FW Gold Tier: The top 8 teams make the playoffs and will start in a best of 3 Quarterfinals Series as the games will be played on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday if needed. After the Quarterfinals are over, the 4 first round series winners will advance to play in a Single Game Formats in both the Semifinals and the Championship that will be played on 3/22 & 3/24 that will help crown the AT&T Metroplex League Champions.

Dates
Quarterfinals: Game 1 3/9, Game 2 3/11, Game 3 3/13 (If Necessary)
Semifinals: 3/22
Championship: 3/24 @ Farmers Branch Starcenter


Best of 3 Quarterfinal Matchups

#1 Southlake Carroll VS. #8 Frisco ISD
Game 1: 7:00 PM @ Euless Starcenter
Game 2: 6:30 PM @ Farmers Branch Starcenter
Game 3: 2:45 PM @ Euless Starcenter (If Necessary)

#2 Allen VS. #7 Dallas Jesuit
Game 1: 7:00 PM @ Plano Starcenter
Game 2: 8:15 PM @ Farmers Branch Starcenter
Game 3: 6:45 PM @ Mckinney Starcenter (If Necessary)

#3 Plano Senior VS. #6 Flower Mound
Game 1: 8:45 PM @ Plano Starcenter
Game 2: 7:00 PM @ Plano Starcenter
Game 3: 8:30 PM @ Mckinney Starcenter (If Necessary)

#4 Coppell VS. #5 Plano West
Game 1: 7:00 PM @ Farmers Branch Starcenter
Game 2: 8:45 PM @ Plano Starcenter
Game 3: 4:30 PM @ Euless Starcenter (If Necessary)

3/22: Semifinals

#1 Seed VS. #4 Seed 6:15 PM @ Farmers Branch Starcenter

#2 Seed VS. #3 Seed 7:00 PM @ Plano Starcenter


3/24: Gold Tier Championship 8:00 PM @ Farmers Branch Starcenter


D/FW Silver Tier: 12 of the 17 teams make the playoffs with the 3 Division Champions and the best 2nd place team getting first Round Byes and getting automatically to the Quarterfinals. The first Round will have the #5 VS. #12, #6 VS. #11, #7 VS. #10 & #8 VS. 9 where winners will advance to the Quarterfinals to play the top 4 teams. Then Winners will advance to the Semifinals and Final which will be played on 3/22 & 3/24.

If your wondering why they is such a long gap between the Quarterfinals and Semifinals. That's because a majority of teams school districts are on Spring Break and will have different State Tournaments for players that play Travel Hockey as well that week.

Dates
1st Round: 3/9
Quarterfinals: 3/11
Semifinals: 3/22
Championship: 3/24 @ Farmers Branch Starcenter


3/9: 1st Round

#5 Midlothian VS. #12 Mansfield ISD 8:45 PM @ Euless Starcenter

#6 Plano East VS. #11 Arlington Martin 8:45 PM @ Richardson Ice Training Center

#7 Richardson ISD VS. #10 Southlake Carroll 7:00 PM @ Richardson Ice Training Center

#8 Denton Co. Spartans VS. #9 Grapevine 8:45 PM @ Farmers Branch Starcenter


3/11: Quarterfinals

#1 Garland ISD VS. #8 Seed 6:30 PM @ Richardson Ice Training Center

#2 Keller ISD VS. #7 Seed 7:00 PM @ Euless Starcenter

#3 FM Marcus VS. #6 Seed 8:45 PM @ Euless Starcenter

#4 Rockwall VS. #5 Seed 8:15 PM @ Richardson Ice Training Center


3/22: Semifinals

#1 Seed VS. #4 Seed 8:00 PM @ Farmers Branch Starcenter

#2 Seed VS. #3 Seed 8:45 PM @ Plano Starcenter


3/24: Silver Tier Championship 6:15 PM @ Farmers Branch Starcenter

Belarus and Sweden Rosters for World Jr. A Challenge

The rosters for the Sweden and Belarus squads for the World Jr. A Challenge is now out.

For Sweden, they are making their team debut at this event and are looking to grow their strength at the Junior Levels as the Junior teams in Sweden have exploded in strength in recent years. This could be a warm up as Sweden teams have come up just short in recent U20 and U18 World Championships as they look to win their first World Championship in the Junior Levels. Nearly all the Swedish Players play in the Swedish U20 Elite Leagues.

For Belarus, this one of the biggest events of the year for them to be on the world spotlight as they won't by playing in the World Junior Championship this season. However, they could competiting for spots when they host the World U18 Championships coming later in the season coming up in April which will be in the countries capital of Minsk.

Most of the players for Belarus will be coming from the Belarusian National League with a couple in the USA Junior and Canadiean Junior A leagues.

I'm hoping to find the Russian Roster soon as they will most likely be the final team to revel their roster.

Belarus Roster

Goaltenders

1. Artynski Stanislau, HC Younost Minsk (BLR)

2. Baradulia Aliaskandr, HC Younost Minsk (BLR)

3. Volkau Dzmitry, HC Khimvolokno (BLR)


Defensemen

4. Bahaleishia Siarhei, HC Neman Grodno (BLR)

5. Hrybko Dzianis, HC Younost Minsk (BLR)

6. Zholudzeu Kanstantsin, HC Khimik (BLR)

7. Nagachev Evgeniy, HC Shakhtar (BLR)

8. Raitsou Viachaslau, HC Khimvolokno (BLR)

9. Sadovik Aliaksei, HC Kkimik (BLR)

10. Kharamanda Mikhail, HC Gomel (BLR)

11. Sheleg Siarhei, HC Younost Minsk (BLR)

12. Bojarskih Valeri, HC Younost Minsk (BLR)

Forwards

13. Brykun Kiryl, HC Metallurg Zhlobin (BLR)

14. Drozd Siarhei, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

15. Karolik Siarhei, HC Younost Minsk (BLR)

16. Kachan Aliaksandr, HC Gomel (BLR)

17. Makritski Viacheslau, HC Shinnik (BLR)

18. Malinouski Raman, HC Khimik (BLR)

19. Maliauka Siarhei, HC Neman (BLR)

20. Remezov Nikita, HC Neman (BLR)

21. Siomachkin Aliaksandr, HC Keramin Minsk (BLR)

22. Silik Ilya, St. Jerome Panthers (LHJAAAQ)

23. Stas Siarhei, HC Shinnik (BLR)

24. Susla Mikalai, HC Gomel (BLR)

25. Famin Aliaksandr, Val-dor Foures (WHL)

26. Feaktsistau Mikita, HC Neman (BLR)


Sweden Roster


Goaltenders

1. Johan Gustafsson, BK Skare (SWE)

30. Jonas Gunnarsson, HV 71 Jonkoping (SWE)


Defensemen

2. Johan Alm, HC Frolunda (SWE)

3. Victor Berglind, IF Brynas (SWE)

4. Adam Almquist, HV 71 Jonkoping (SWE)

5. Nlis Andersson, IF Bjorkloven (SWE)

6. Karl Johansson, IF Brynas (SWE)

7. Patrik Nemeth, IK AIK (SWE)

8. Petter Granberg, AIK Skelleftea (SWE)

9. Mattias Backman, HC Linkopings (SWE)


Forwards

11. Mathias Frazen, IF AIK (SWE)

12. Johan Larsson, IF Brynas (SWE)

14. Sebastian Ottosson, HC Linkoping (SWE)

15. Adam Pettersson, AIK Skelleftea (SWE)

16. Ludvig Rensfeldt, IF Brynas (SWE)

17. Joakim Nordstrom, IK AIK (SWE)

18. Jesper Fasth, HV 71 Jonkoping (SWE)

19. Erik Thorell, BK Skare (SWE)

20. Jonathan Johansson, HC Frolunda (SWE)

21. Victor Ohman, Malmo Redhawks (SWE)

22. Calle Jarnkrok, IF Brynas (SWE)

23. Johan Sundstrom, HC Frolunda (SWE)


Texas HS Update

We are a few weeks into the AT&T Metroplex HS Hockey League. In the Gold Tier, the Allen Eagles are on top with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Just below them is a gridlock of teams with 6 points which are seperate 2nd through 5th. One of the big surprizes is the Flower Mound Jagaurs as the defending league champions at 1-1-2 which sit in 7th place and have played in 3 OT games already this season. Bringing up the bottom of the Gold Tier, include Highland Park which are still winless after finishing 4-19-1 last season.

As for the invindual races, Zack Halle is leading the scoring race with 8 points which include 6 assists, while players like Mitchell Rausch from Flower Mound and Marcel Toure for SL Carroll are just behind them with 7 points so far this season.

In the Silver Division, the Denton Co. Spartans are looking very strong so far with a perfect 5-0-0 record and will be looking to run away with the Central Division with a 5 point lead over SL Carroll.

In the East, Garland ISD has looked very strong after being out for a couple of years are 4-0-0 with a strong +17 GD with Richardson ISD just 2 points and are looking very storng. A very imporant game could be coming up just before Thanksgiving as Richardson will play Garland on November 21 and could play a huge roll towards who's going to have control of the East Division.

Out West, Keller and Midlothian are going to be running away with the division as Keller, Arlington Martin and HEB/Birdville will be struggling this season.

Here's a look at the current standings in D/FW.

Gold Tier

1. Allen 4 GP 4-0-0 8 PTS 20-12

2. SL Carroll 4 GP 2-0-2 6 PTS 24-12

3. Coppell 4 GP 3-1-0 6 PTS 16-13

4. Frisco ISD 4 GP 3-1-0 6 PTS 18-18

5. Plano Senior 4 GP 3-1-0 6 PTS 13-4

6. Dallas Jesuit 4 GP 2-2-0 4 PTS 6-10

7. Flower Mound 4 GP 1-1-2 4 PTS 11-14

8. Mckinney ISD 4 GP 1-2-1 3 PTS 12-21

9. Plano West 4 GP 1-3-0 2 PTS 10-17

10. Highland Park 4 GP 0-3-1 1 PTS 4-13


Silver Tier

West Division

1. Keller ISD 4 GP 4-0-0 8 PTS 25-8

2. Midlothian 4 GP 3-1-0 6 PTS 19-11

3. Arlington Martin 5 GP 1-4-0 2 PTS 16-21

4. Mansfield ISD 4 GP 1-3-0 2 PTS 9-21

5. HEB/Birdville 4 GP 1-3-0 2 PTS 7-21


Central Division

1. Denton Co. Spartans 5 GP 5-0-0 10 PTS 30-12

2. SL Carroll 4 GP 2-1-1 5 PTS 10-8

3. Grapevine 4 GP 2-2-0 4 PTS 16-21

4. FM Marcus 4 GP 2-2-0 4 PTS 17-16

5. Colleyville Heritage 4 GP 1-1-2 4 PTS 12-16


East Division

1. Garland ISD 4 GP 4-0-0 8 PTS 24-7

2. Richardson ISD 4 GP 3-1-0 6 PTS 18-13

3. Plano East 4 GP 2-2-0 4 PTS 20-14

4. Bishop Lynch 4 GP 1-2-1 3 PTS 9-16

5. Rockwall 3 GP 1-2-0 2 PTS 20-22

6. Plano West 5 GP 1-4-0 2 PTS 15-30

7. Plano Senior 4 GP 1-3-0 2 PTS 8-18

Amarillo Gorillas Hot Start

It's only 6 games into the season, but the Amarillo Gorillas are quickly beginning to show the Central Hockey League that the Gorillas are looking very tough and dangerous in the first couple of weeks into the season.



Last week was a great example as the Sundogs out shot the Gorillas 46-22 during the game. However, the reining goaltender of the week had another stellar game by stopping 44 of 46 shots in the 5-2 win over the Sundogs back on Wednesday night by the help of a great PP by going 2-6 in the game including opening the scoring and put the game away in the final minutes.

Their penalty killing was also very strong by only allowing 1 PP Goal and Jake Morrissette scoring short handed midway through the 3rd period with great assists by James Jernberg and Austin Sutter.

Their top players are leading the way, including Joe Guenther who's leading the league with 7 goals through 6 games so far. This past weekend, he also had 2 goals in the 3-2 win over the Missouri Mavericks back on Saturday night. Some other important forwards that have been off to good starts include Jake Morissette with 5 goals and Anthony Bataglia who already has 4 goals in the young season.

If Amarillo wants to prove that the Gorillas are for real this year and that the start is not just a fluke after finishing with the worst record in the league last year by winning only 19 games all of last season. They will need to get rid of the culture of losing that's plagued the team the last few seasons, players like Joe Guenther who's shaping up to be a contender for the CHL Scoring title this season, along with Anthony Bataglia and Stuart Macrea to help put the puck in the net.

On defense, Andrew Smale has been great on the blue line where he's expected to be a big play maker and Neil Smith who's expected to bring the physicality where he racked up over 100 penalty minutes last season.

So far on defense, the team already has a very strong +8 goal differential (24 GF 16 GA) which is a far cry from having the worst GD last season with a -101 (193 GF 294 GA) which was the worst in the league by a pretty sizable margin, as from what we have seen so far, this stat is going to be much much better this year.

One of the players that's going to be under the radar that will have a big season include defensemen James Jernberg who's going to be one of the most physical defensemen on the ice and will be an important part of the special teams where he got all 3 points in the 5-2 win against Arizona.

Speaking of Special Teams, being in the penalty box has been no problem for the team as the team has been a solid 85.37 % on the Penalty Kill. With the exception of the game on October 24 against the Odessa Jackalopes where they gave up 4 PP Goals in a 9-4 loss, this is been a very solid part of their game and they entered the off season looking to improve greatly after being near the bottom on the Penalty Kill last season.

In goal, Mike Brown who's had a great start to the season which included being the leagues goalie of the week during the opening weekend has been rock solid. A shutout against the Wichita Thunder gave them a spring board to early success which also include impressive wins over the Odessa Jackalopes and the Arizona Sundogs. After not having a solid reliable goalie last year, Brown has been off a good start which includes a 3-1-0 record and a 2.33 GAA and a .938% SV.

His backup, Tuomas Lothander has been off a 2-0 start and a 3.12 GAA with him looking to lower that stat as the season goes on and has a .895 SV%. If both goalies can even come close to help them get off to the fast start, they could be a lot of long nights for opponent's this season in Amarillo and across the league.

This is a team that's looking to get back and battle with the elite in the Central Hockey League and with the way they playing so far, they will be roaring up the standings and look to battle with the best in the Southern Conference like the defending champion Texas Brahmas and South Texas Powerhouse Laredo Bucks.