First Round
Sunday
No. 8 Clarkstown (10-9) vs. No. 9 Kennedy/Putnam Valley/Haldane (11-8-1)
4:15 p.m.
Palisades Center Ice Rink
Keep an eye on: Mike Gillespie is averaging nearly two goals per game for Clarkstown.
Scouting report: The Mallers can run four lines against most opponents and seem to have the offense up and running again after dealing with a string of injuries and suspensions. That’s important because they have some goalie issues. KPVH has some talent, but will need Joey Molfetta to have a memorable outing between the pipes. Kennedy is leaning toward joining the CHSAA next season, and this could very well be the program’s final game in Section 1.
Prediction: Clarkstown 5, Kennedy/Putnam Valley/Haldane 2.
Looking ahead: Winner plays Suffern
No. 4 White Plains (13-6-1) vs. No. 13 Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville (8-12)
6 p.m.
Brewster Ice Arena
Keep an eye on: Kevin McGee is a threat each time he skates into the offensive zone with the puck.
Scouting report: It’s been nearly a month since White Plains last defeated a winning team, but that’s not a concern because the Eagles struggled all season after playing for the Division 1 championship a year ago. The Tigers won the first meeting of the season 6-2. ETB has some firepower on the first line, but will struggle to get through a defensive-minded opponent.
Prediction: White Plains 6, ETB 1
Looking ahead: Winner plays Carmel or New Rochelle.
No. 5 New Rochelle (12-6-2) vs. No. 12 Carmel (5-10-3)
1:30 p.m.
Ice Hutch
Keep an eye on: Chris Ramondelli is the leading goal scorer in Section 1
Scouting report: New Rochelle is almost off the radar, and the Huguenots probably aren’t unhappy about that development. They like sneaking up on top seeds and remain a dangerous offensive team. Carmel had an early-season tie against Somers/North Salem, but has not beaten a winning team all season. Scoring is sometimes an issue for the Rams, who are going to have to keep the lanes clear so Gray Barns can see what’s coming his way.
Prediction: New Rochelle 9, Carmel 2
Looking ahead: Winner plays White Plains or ETB.
No. 7 Lakeland/Panas (12-7-1) vs. No. 10 Nyack/Tappan Zee (11-7-1)
Forfeit
Looking ahead: Lakeland/Panas plays Somers/North Salem.
No. 3 Mamaroneck (13-7) vs. No. 14 North Rockland (6-13-1)
8:15 p.m.
Hommocks
Keep an eye on: Teddy Bellis is the hyperactive forward that energizes the Mamaroneck offense.
Scouting report: The Tigers are 8-2 since the New Year and have played in six games decided by a single goal in that span. Pressure seems to inspire this group. Trey Herlitz-Ferguson, Peter Conley and Bellis have all been reliable scorers and are difficult matchups for different reasons. North Rockland has improved a great deal since the first month of the season, too, and can be a royal pain to score on. The issues are all in the offensive zone.
Prediction: Mamaroneck 7, North Rockland 2
Looking ahead: The winner plays Mahopac or RTH.
No. 6 RyeTown/Harrison (10-7-2) vs. No. 11 Mahopac (9-11)
7 p.m.
Ice Hutch
Keep an eye on: Brian Ketchabaw ranks among the goalies capable of stealing a game, and he’s made good on that potential a number of times for RyeTown.
Scouting report: The Titans only have four seniors on the roster, and sometimes plays like a young team. RTH scored just seven goals in the last four games of the regular season, but there have been some impressive upsets along the way. Wins over Rye and Greeley late in the season opened some eyes. Mahopac has not been living up to expectations, but is a dangerous team when everything falls into place.
Prediction: Mahopac 3, RTH 2 OT
Looking ahead: The winner plays Mamaroneck or North Rockland.
15 Comments
The first big name casualty of the playoffs – state finalist from last year Pittsford the #2 seed. They lose in first round game to Penfield in Sec V. Penfield was a low seed 8 or 9 I believe. This opens the door for eithe Fairport or McQuaid to play Greece in section final.
In Sec VI one of the favs to win section Lancaster gets up early and nearly colapses against WillyNorth but holds on 5-4. You knew WN wouldn’t be down long. A bad year by their standards but made great progress throughout the season. They will be back strong.
We’re off and runnng
I love hockey
Great post SH. Penfield was a 7 seed. They scored with 1:12 left to tie the game and won it in the second overtime. Frontier also squeeked by Orchard Park 1-0, scoring with just over a minute left in the game.
I love playoff hockey!
Interesting news from upstate! Anything can happen in the play-offs. Section 1 games could be wild ride.
Forget Sweet Home, Outstanding post by the real b!!!!
BTW, Mike really went out on a limb with those bold picks. He also predicts the sun will come up tomorrow.
Pac in ot go mike
Another upstate shocker. #3 seed Greece Athena beat by #6 seed Webster-Schroeder 4-3. Greece outshot Webster 39-12.
Clarence 17 Lockport 1
Niagara Wheatfield 6 Niagara Falls 1
SNS just got a pass to semis. LP goalie is suspended, i beleive academic reasons. LP wqithout their goalie has no shot of beating SNS with a modified goalie in net, will be a cakewaLK TO SEMIS FOR sns
blue line – sometimes teams play harder when they know the last line of defense is not as strong as it normally would be. I am looking for a closer game than one would think under these circumstances.
Wow what an acheivement you should be so proud.
If the rumors are true about the LP goalie that is to bad, the LP goalie and his parents are really dedicated and good people.
Pac over RTH in OT? Do you know anything about hockey or do you just troll and poll. I commend you on your effort towards High School hockey reporting, but your humor and knowledge of the game are a disgrace. You need to step it up or shut it up. Clown.
Feel awful for NTZ. I heard the star forward Corey Aronson who was in the paper was heating up and would’ve easily blown by LP, especially without their starting goalie. They gave a good fight to SNS in a weaker string of their season, at the point they were at, I feel they would have made a run to semis, at least.
It would have been a good game leave it at that easily blown away I think not,
Lp would have won by, 2