I’m not picking one, but Scarsdale is very capable of sending Brewster home for the season. We are covering three of the games in some fashion. I’m heading to BIA for John Jay-Pearl River and Brian Heyman is going to the Ice Hutch to see Pelham-Greeley. Both of those games will make the paper. I’m going to watch Brewster-Scarsdale while I write, and do an online story on that game since it’s going to end past deadline. You can find it here in the morning. I’ll tweet updates throughout.

Wedsnesday, Feb. 22

Division 2 quarterfinals

No. 1 Brewster vs. No. 8 Scarsdale
8 p.m. at Brewster Ice Arena
Storyline: Brewster was in control during the first meeting, a 7-2 win, but that came when Scarsdale was struggling to find an identity. A lot has changed since. If the Bears play a smart game and use their physical advantage without landing in the penalty box, they are still a slight favorite.
Prediction: Brewster 6, Scarsdale 5

No. 2 Pelham vs. No. 7 Greeley
6 p.m. at the Ice Hutch
Storyline: It’s a learning experience for a young Greeley team that aspires to be what Pelham is, and while enthusiasm helps, it’s not enough to overcome the depth of talent possessed by the Pelicans.
Prediction: Pelham 7, Greely 2

No. 3 John Jay vs. No. 6 Pearl River
6 p.m. at Brewster Ice Arena
Storyline:John Jay needs to eliminate the defensive lapses that have cost the Indians against good teams, and this will be an opportunity to practice sound principles. Pearl River has to be perfect since it doesn’t have the same kind of firepower up front.
Prediction: John Jay 5, Pearl River 1

No. 4 Rye vs. No. 5 Yorktown
7:45 p.m. at Playland Ice Casino
Storyline: Rye is back to playing balanced hockey after some midseason hiccups. The Garnets might have to grind a little against Yorktown, but they have been tested all season by unfortunate bounces and can be a patient bunch.
Prediction: Rye 5, Yorktown 2

There were some injuries along the way, too.

It took the Tigers a little while to get revved up, but a decisive 8-4 win over Mahopac on Tuesday at Hommocks Park Ice Rink put them into the semifinals of the Section 1 Division 1 tournament. Suffern awaits. The rivals will bump heads at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

“This definitely feels good,” senior forward Nathan Mullaney said after scoring four goals to lead the charge. “I was on the team two years ago when we lost to Lakeland/Panas (in the semis), and then last year we lost to New Rochelle (in the quarterfinals). It’s really exciting to go play Suffern, especially at Sport-O-Rama. There’s always so much atmosphere.”

And it’s been a while since the powers have met in the postseason.

You have to go back to a 2008 meeting in the championship game. Mamaroneck won that game 2-1, but the Mounties are easily the favorite in this one. They’ve beaten the Tigers 6-0 and 9-1 this season.

“It’s tough scoring on them,” Mullaney said. “They play a real tight defensive system, so it’s hard to put any pressure on (goalie) Tyler Stark. Hopefully, we can get an early goal, but the focus, obviously, is team defense first when you play Suffern.”

The start against Mahopac was a little bumpy.

Mamaroneck held the puck too long instead of throwing shots on net and crashing. John Hangach got everyone’s attention when he got loose on a breakaway. A Tigers defenseman threw his stick in from behind to disrupt the charge, and the officials awarded the Mahopac forward a penalty shot.

There was some head scratching before the attempt.

Mamaroneck coach Mike Chiapparelli took out starting goalie Brett Poniros, and put in Thomas Grilli to handle the penalty shot. There was a pause while he went through a warm-up. Hangach wasn’t bothered in the least, and gave the Indians a 1-0 lead.

“I was trying to ice him,” Chiapparelli said. “I figured we’d let him sit there for two or three minutes and think about it.”

The Tigers finally got something going when a rebound off the leg of Mahopac goalie Anthony Barletta was swept in by Mullaney with 16.6 seconds to go in the period. A couple of breakdowns early in the second by the Indians let Mamaroneck get two goals in a span of 37 seconds. Another let down later in the period resulted in two more in a span of 33 seconds.

It was 5-1, and Mamaroneck was playing with more confidence than it’s had all season.

“And that’s kinda been the story of our season,” Mahopac coach Chris Lombardo said. “We’d have those four- and five-minute hiccups and it cost us some goals.”

The Indians got one back, and were still thinking about making a comeback during the ice cut.

“We’ve done it a couple of times,” Lombardo said. “In the locker room we were talking about that. We felt like we had a chance to steal a game, but that sixth goal was a back-breaker.”

Josh Kriss wound up at the point and let fly, then Peter Conley deflected the puck into the net just 25 seconds into the third, making it a 6-2 advantage, and the Tigers were on their way.

No. 2 Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville 4, Clarkstown 2: Ian Palfrey broke a 2-2 with 2:46 to play, then added an empty-netter. Frank Sherding also had a pair of goals.

No. 3. New Rochelle 4, No. 6 RTH 1: The Huguenots scored four unanswered goals to move on. Chris Ramondelli’s power play goal in the third got New Ro in front.

No. 4 Mamaroneck 8, No. 5 Mahopac 4: Nathan Mullaney got Mamaroneck rolling with a goal late in the first, then poured in three more during a rare offensive outburst by the Tigers.

No. 1 Suffern 4, No. 9 White Plains 0: Ian Adler, John Redgate, Adam Brenner and Kevin Hill each scored a goal for the Mounties, who had to play a patient game.

Semifinals
No. 1 Suffern vs. No. 4 Mamaroneck, 6:30 p.m. at Sport-O-Rama
No. 2 ETB vs. No. 3 New Rochelle, 6 p.m. at the Ice Hutch

To view a gallery of photos from the game, click here.

I’m going to the Ice Hutch this afternoon to watch ETB play Clarkstown, and then I’m heading over to Hommocks for Mahopac and Mamaroneck after I file that story. Do me a favor, tone down the rhetoric and let the kids play. We don’t need to provide artificial stimulation that sends them onto the ice with any kind of malice. Let’s debate who’s got better pizza joints, Mamaroneck or Mahopac.

The late starts are going to affect what you see in the paper.

ETB and Clarkstown is easy. Mamaroneck and Mahopac will be on the blog and on the web, only. Can we get the Snowplow Sams off the ice at Hommocks and play these marquee games around 7 p.m. to enhance the crowds and increase the coverage next season, please?

I really think RTH could throw a scare into New Rochelle, which seems to be playing better after losing some momentum late in the season. Suffern is no doubt itching to get back on the ice and tune up, so I don’t give White Plains much of a chance.

Tuesday, Feb. 21

Division 1 quarterfinals

No. 9 White Plains vs. No. 1 Suffern
6:30 p.m. at Spot-O-Rama
Storyline: White Plains loves making Suffern work hard for goals and is equipped to keep the score down. Getting three or four pucks by Tyler Stark at the other end is an entirely different story, though.
Prediction: Suffern 5, White Plains 1

No. 5 Mahopac vs. No. 4 Mamaroneck
8:15 p.m. at Hommocks
Storyline: It’s becoming a nice little rivalry, at least online. Mahopac wasn’t playing at full strength earlier in the season when it lost 5-1 in the Jungle, but will still have to play its best game of the season to win.
Prediction: Mamaroneck 5, Mahopac 4

No. 7 Clarkstown vs. No. 2 ETB
2:45 p.m. at Ice Hutch
Storyline: A proper approach for ETB is very important. If the Eagles are fixated on Suffern, a team like Clarkstown might very well end their season. The Mall Rats are sneaky good.
Prediction: ETB 6, Clarkstown 4

No. 6 Rye Town Harrison vs. No. 3 New Rochelle
7:45 p.m. at Ice Hutch
Storyline: Keeping up with a quicker New Rochelle team could be an issue for RTH, which plays a more physical game. Goalie Jaime Ketchabaw should keep the Titans in range, though.
Prediction: New Rochelle 3, RTH 2

Yesterday
Division 2 opening round
Pearl River 7, Ossining 0
Greeley 5, Hen Hud 3
Scarsdale 6, Pawling 0

Scarsdale’s James Nicholas (16) battles for control of the puck with Pawling’s Bobby Ferrante (22) in the first period of the Section 1 Division II hockey tournament at The Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon. (Carucha L. Meuse / The Journal News).

To view a gallery of photos from the game, click here.

Quarterfinals
Wednesday
No. 1 Brewster vs. No. 8 Scarsdale, 8 p.m. at Brewster Ice Arena
No. 2 Pelham vs. No. 7 Greeley, 6 p.m. at the Ice Hutch
No. 3 John Jay vs. No. 6 Pearl River, 6 p.m. at Brewster Ice Arena
No. 4 Rye vs. No. 5 Yorktown, 7:45 p.m. at Playland Ice Casino

Horace Greeley’s Blake Davis maneuvers for the shot on Henderick Hudson goalie Zachary Shapiro in a Section 1, Division 2 Hockey Tournament game in Brewster Feb. 20, 2012. Greeley won 5-3.

To see a gallery of photos from the game, click here.

Check my Twitter feed, I’ll be posting updates, and send along scores and observations if you’re out watching. The crowds were not good last night at BIA, which is a combination of low expectations and the school break.

Section 1 Hockey Tournament
Division 2

First round
No. 9 Pawling (11-6-1) vs. No. 8 Scarsdale (12-8), 6 p.m. at Ice Hutch
No. 10 Hen Hud (6-12-2) vs. No. 7 Greeley (12-6-2), 7:30 p.m. at Brewster Ice Arena
No. 11 Ossining (5-14-1) vs. No. 6 Pearl River (12-6-1), 7:30 p.m. at Sport-O-Rama

Rick Carpiniello sent me a note about Pride coach Kevin Connolly who was presented with the Emile Francis Award on the ice yesterday at MSG by New York natives and former Rangers Nick Fotiu and Brian Mullen between periods. Six of his players were on ice for the ceremony, too.

Quarterfinals
Tuesday
No. 9 White Plains vs. No. 1 Suffern, 6:30 p.m. at Spot-O-Rama
No. 5 Mahopac vs. No. 4 Mamaroneck, 8:15 p.m. at Hommocks
No. 7 Clarkstown vs. No. 2 ETB, 2:45 p.m. at Ice Hutch
No. 6 Rye Town Harrison vs. No. 3 New Rochelle, 7:45 p.m. at Ice Hutch