The St. Paul's ice hockey team is seeking to repeat as Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference champions. In the A Conference, Calvert Hall is determined to repeat as well, but the Cardinals also are eyeing a Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League title after losing in the final to Gonzaga the past two seasons.
First, a little more about St. Paul's quest. The Crusaders are the favorites to win the B Conference crown after going 8-0 in league play.
St. Paul's will play the Gilman-Boys' Latin winner Friday at Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton.
Coach Sam Kaplan will have advice for his team if St. Paul's faces the league's second-place team in Gilman: Don't underestimate the Greyhounds.
The Crusaders (9-3-2 overall) beat Gilman twice during the regular, winning 6-3 and 6-4.
"It's hard to beat a team three times in a season," Kaplan said. "We have to be careful we don't have a lapse. We don't want to see ourselves lose in the championship game because we got overconfident.
"We have to look at last year. We lost to Gilman twice (in the regular season) and we were able to win the one (championship) that really mattered."
It will be difficult for Gilman or Boys' Latin.
"Almost every game we won by three goals," said Kaplan, whose team defeated beat Boys' Latin, 7-0, at Patterson Park on Jan. 7.
Kaplan knew his team could be championship caliber because the Crusaders graduated only one senior in Whit Schweizer, who scored the game-winning goal in last season's title-game victory over Gilman.
"For a young group, we have strong leadership throughout the team," Kaplan said. "Usually, you get that with older teams that have a lot of experience together. These guys have jelled quickly."
St. Paul's senior goalie Mason Koster has five shutouts.
"It all starts with him," Kaplan said. "He is a very strong goalie. He has an opportunity to play at the next level if he works really hard at it."
The defense in front of Koster has been solid and features TJ Kaplan, Gage Iglehart, Spencer Horwitz, Michael Blandino, Alex Rode and Kevin Madden.
On offense, the Crusaders rely on Sawyer Koster, Ian Powderly, Steven Baker and Ned Moreland.
Calvert Hall chasing two championships
Calvert Hall (11-2-4) will play for the MIAA A Conference title Feb. 13 against Archbishop Spalding at 6 p.m. if the Cardinals beat Mount St. Joseph Tuesday in the semifinal.
A week later, the Cardinals could meet Gonzaga again for a Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League championship.
Calvert Hall is expected to reach both games because it took the Cardinals 15 games before suffering their first loss when Gonzaga topped Calvert Hall, 4-2, at Mount Pleasant Ice Arena on Jan. 30.
"It's exciting to get them back-to-back," Calvert Hall first-year coach Ryan Woodward said. "The MAPHL has been the elusive one The first time I met the players and went around the room and I asked them, 'What are they looking for this season? They all said they are looking for a (MAPHL) state championship.'"
Calvert Hall has been led by a strong senior group headed by forwards Tim Blount, Trey Gauss, Bret Van Hoven, Ivan Yuryev, Ryan Dieter, Matthew Curtin and defensemen Corbin Hall, Jack Finn and goalie Michael Finn.
"It starts with the seniors," Woodward said. "We have core crop of seniors that are exceptionally talented. They really lay out it there every single night and lead by example. They do all the little things right."