My boys basketball review/preview
Girls Hockey
Boys Hockey -- Division I:
(#3)BFA-St. Albans (16-4) -- Hosts (#11)Rice/(#6)Middlebury winner in quarterfinals
Tough team to predict. The Bobwhites have perhaps the two best players in Vermont in Michael Schreiner and Matt Palmer. They do have the best coach in the state and a long tradition of hockey excellence. When things are clicking for this group, who's going to beat them? The problem is, things haven't clicked as often as fans would like. BFA's goaltending hasn't been consistent and at times its skaters have followed suit. Two of its final four games were losses, including a dumbfounding defeat at the hands of Spaulding (7-12-1). Undefeated Essex has dispatched St. Albans twice and (#2)South Burlington embarrassed BFA on its home ice earlier this month. But despite the blemishes, this is one of the most talented groups you'll find. If they're on, there's no reason to think they won't hoist a trophy at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
Boys Hockey -- Division II:
(#6)Missisquoi Valley Union (11-8-1) -- Hosts (#11)Lyndon Institute in first round
Like the Enosburg boys basketball team, I declared this group dead when Matt Conger's season was to a broken femur. Like the Hornets, MVU proved me wrong by showing some signs of life but it's safe to say this group needs its star player badly. The team has come a long way but still, at times, shows problems with composure. Still, the seed doesn't reflect the talent. When MVU isn't fighting referees or opponents and is focused on the game, it might be the most talented squad in Division II (even with Conger on crutches). MVU barely lost to (#1)Northfield in overtime this week and looked fantastic in a 3-1 victory over (#2)U-32 earlier this month. Nobody is excited to face MVU in the postseason.
(#8)Milton (7-12-1) -- Hosts (#9)Hartford in first round
I didn't see a ton of Milton this season, but had a lot of fun when I did. Probably because the Yellowjackets are 2-0 in games I've written. Milton plays good, hard hockey. They're a fun team for me to cover since kids from other local high schools take up roster space. It took this group a while to get going (they went 0-5 in January before winning on the 28th) but have strung together some nice play. The bad news for Milton: it's 0-3 against the top three teams in D-II and was outscored 18-5 in those contests. It will take some luck for Milton to advance very far, but it's not out of the question.
***Update (2-27-12)*** Had the right seeds but the wrong opponents for Division II. (#6)MVU faces (#12)Woodstock, a team which finished just 2-17-1. The unsettling news: that one tie came in its only meeting with MVU. (#8)Milton goes against (#9)Mt. Mansfield, which not only makes for an easier trip but also gives the Yellowjackets an opponent it split with in the regular season as opposed to a Hartford team it lost to in its only matchup.
Kaufmann's Korner All County Boys Hockey Team:
A reminder from the fall, this is a little different than other all-star teams for a few reasons: First of all, nobody really cares. Secondly, these aren't the 12 best players I've covered this winter, they're the best teams I could send out to represent Franklin County in a state-wide tournament. It's close to an all-star team, but more fun to create. Finally, when I say Franklin County, I'm taking the geographical liberty of including Milton because this is my blog and I can do whatever I want.
G- Brandon Rhoades (Milton)
D- Taylor Raftery (BFA)
D- Caleb Lothain (MVU)
F- Matt Conger (MVU)
F- Michael Schreiner (BFA)
F- Matt Palmer (BFA)
Second Team:
G- Brian Fortin (MVU)
D- Ryan Lothian (MVU)
D- Ian Hengemuhle (BFA)
F- Seth Amstein (Milton)
F- Jack Raleigh (MVU)
F- Cole Tessier (MVU)
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