New York Hockey Journal continues to preview the New York State District Playoffs today, by analyzing the must-watch defensemen from all age brackets. The event is being held this weekend, March 11-13, in Amherst, N.Y., at the Northtown Center. There are 24 teams split amongst the four divisions: U-14, U-15, U-16, and U-18. Each division consists of Group A and Group B, and they will compete until the playoff rounds.
The teams battling for U-18 supremacy include the Long Island Gulls, Midstate Syracuse Nationals, Nichols School, Buffalo Regals, Bishop Kearney Selects, and the Troy/Albany Titans. Entering the event, Bishop Kearney is the favorite to be victorious.
At the U-16 level, the fight is between the Regals, Gulls, Nationals, Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Clifton Park (CP) Dynamo, and Bishop Kearney. Throughout the season, there has been an exciting rivalry between the Gulls and Bishop Kearney at this level. Bishop Kearney defeated Long Island at the Northeast Pack playoffs, and it is expected that we see a rematch in the NYS championship game.
