OHSAA 'Frozen Four' Preview Part 1

It's that time of the year again. The best high school hockey teams from around Ohio flock to the state's capital and head into Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, seeking a state championship. I give you a preview of the first semifinal matchup between the Saint Charles Cardinals out of Columbus and the Northview Wildcats from Sylvania.

COLUMBUS SAINT CHARLES CARDINALS (33-3-2) Columbus District Champions, Capital Hockey Conference – White Division, #6 Ranked in Ohio

There's been a trend over the past several years that the team that makes it out on top of the Columbus district in March gets to become the speed bump for the Toledo district champion*. The team out of the Columbus district that was closest to make to the state final in recent years was Upper Arlington back in 2007. The Golden Bears lost a tight battle to eventual state runner-up Parma Padua Franciscan by a 3-2 score.

*The winner of the Columbus district has played the winner of the Sylvania district in the state semifinal game since 2009.

Get ready Ohio, there is a very good chance that will change this year.

The Saint Charles Cardinals, champion of the Columbus district, are having the best season in program history. Here is a quick snapshot of some of their accomplishments this season:

• The Cardinals won their first Blue Jackets Cup championship on Feb. 9, defeating the defending champion Dublin Jerome Celtics 2-1.
• The Cards have won 17 of their last 18 games (17 wins and a tie against Walsh Jesuit back on Jan. 19). Their last loss came on Jan.5, a 4-0 loss to Mississauga (Ontario) Mount Caramel in the Brother James Memorial Tournament at Gates Mills Gilmour Academy.
• Boast a 'Frozen Four' best 5 senior all-stars: Forwards Ryan Cleary and Danny Schirtzinger, defensemen Ryan Brady and Alec Organ, and goalie Alex Ward.
• Head to Nationwide Arena for their first OHSAA Final Four in school history by defeating Olentangy Orange by way of a 3-1 victory.

Saint Charles will face-off against the Sylvania Northview Wildcats, winners of the Toledo district. The Cardinals defeated the 'Cats 5-2 in their only meeting of the season on Dec.28 on the strength of three third period goals.

* Saint Charles is led offensively by Jacob Weikert (11 goals, 19 assists), Clayton Klosz (17 goals, 10 assists), Ryan Cleary (12 goals, 14 assists), Jack Cleary (8 goals, 15 assists), and Danny Schirtzinger (who dished out 16 assists)

* Goals/Assists in parenthesis are based on Capital Hockey Conference league play this season

Defensively, the Cardinals stand strong with senior all-stars Ryan Brady and Alec Organ. Alex Ward seeks to continue his strong performances in-between the pipes. The senior standout made 19 saves in the district final against Olentangy Orange and posted a 94.1% save percentage in league play this season.

SYLVANIA NORTHVIEW WILDCATS (16-13-1) Sylvania District Champions, Northwest Hockey Conference – Red Division

“No way..... not again..... they're in a rebuilding year..... they've had a good run.” These are some of the things that were most likely said regarding the Northview Wildcats during the course of their 2013-14 campaign.

To be honest, are any of those statements wrong or out of the question? Consider this:

• The 'Cats finished 16-13-1 this season. A roller coaster ride this year for Wildcat fans to say the least.
• Northview finished in fourth place (out of five) in the Northwest Hockey Conference with a record of 3-5.
• A season scattered with the good, the bad, and the ugly....
  • The Good: Beating Saint John's 4-3 in overtime and a tie with top ranked Saint Ignatius (1-1 at the Meadville, PA, MLK Tournament)
  • The Bad: A couple of 3-2 losses to an average Lakewood Saint Edward team, two defeats at the hands of Bowling Green (2-1 in overtime and 3-2), and a 5-4 loss to a Padua Franciscan Bruin team that is in a rebuilding phase, looking to bring the program back to its glory years.
  • The Ugly: Blowout losses to Saint John's 7-3 and Saint Ignatius 5-0.

Doesn't sound like a 'Frozen Four' resume does it?

However, if it's one thing the 'Cats have, it's experience.

Northview is making its third straight 'Frozen Four' appearance and its fourth in the last five years. Within that time frame the 'Cats were state runner-ups in 2010 and 2013, and they brought home the school's first state title in 2012. Head coach Mike Jones (2009-present) has an uncanny ability to get his team ready to go come playoff time.

For the third straight season Jones led the 'Cats past the St. John's Jesuit Titans and for the second year in a row, Northview upset the Titan icers. The past two seasons the Titans were expected to make it out of the Toledo bracket and bring the championship trophy to the Toledo area. Late surges in both district finals by the 'Cats have derailed both title runs.

In this year's version of the upset, the Titans took an early 2-0 lead. The 'Cats would cut the lead to one with just 15 minutes left in their season. It was deja vu all over again for the Blue and Gold, as Northview would tie the game early in the third, and score two more goals in quick succession a few minutes later to pave their way back to Columbus with a 4-2 final score.

The Wildcats, who have ten seniors who remember last year's loss to Shaker Heights in the state final like it was yesterday, are led on the offensive side of the ice by Cody Estrel (9 goals, 5 assists), Josh Koback (5 goals, 7 assists) and Ian Clement (2 goals, 4 assists). District final goal scorers senior Caleb Rau, junior Zack Galecki, and senior Jacob Koback will also be providing some offense in Columbus this weekend.

*Note that all statistics in parenthesis are based off of 8 games played in the Northwest Hockey Conference this season

If the 'Cats are to continue the magic in Columbus, they will need to ride the efforts of senior goalie David Marsh. Marsh, who stopped the final 19 shots that came his way in the upset of St. John's, must be on his 'A game' if they are to beat a very good St. Charles team on Friday.

The face-off between the Cards and the 'Cats will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday.

Tomorrow, I will have a preview of the second state semi-final game between the Mentor Lake Catholic Cougars and the Cleveland Saint Ignatius Wildcats.