New York Hockey Journal completes its preview of the New York State District playoff today, by highlighting the goaltenders that could make a difference in the tournament. The playoffs take place this weekend, March 11-13, at the Northtown Center in Amherst, N.Y. Twenty-four teams make up the event, and they are spread across four divisions: U-18, U-16, U-15, and U-14. Each level consists of a Group A and a Group B, and the teams will compete until two are left for a championship game.
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 among 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.
In the U-15 bracket, the competitors are the Regals, Nationals, Bishop Kearney, Jr. Sabres, Dynamo, and PAL Jr. Islanders. The BK Selects squad is the favorite to win this division.
