Both the Section 1 and CHSAA playoffs are on the horizon with the latter beginning next week and Section 1 on Thursday, Feb. 19 after the seedings meeting two days earlier.
Multiple games are still to be played but many teams have already established themselves as being among favorites, including those found below in the latest ice hockey rankings, which include one newcomer.
Note: Records reflect games played through Feb. 8.
1. Iona Prep (16-3) — The Gaels complete their regular season early this week and then begin Catholic league playoffs, either facing Xavier or Xaverian Wednesday at the Ice Hutch. That will be a best-two-of-three CHSAA semifinal. Previously: 1
2. Rye (12-2-3) — The Garnets have staked a solid claim to being one of the top hockey clubs in lower New York. If anyone doubted they were that, they probably don’t now after Rye topped then-No. 2 Suffern last week 4-2. Rye has two regular-season games left this week, including a rematch with Suffern on Suffern ice Friday at Sport-O-Rama. That has the potential for being one of the top local high school hockey games of the season. Previously: 3
3. Suffern (12-3-1) — In losing to Rye, the Mounties suffered their first loss of the season to a Section 1 opponent (they also tied Pelham before beating it). The defending state large-school champion will wrap up the regular season with two tough games, facing Rivertown and Rye, the latter with the promise of a large and loud Friday night home crowd at Sport-O-Rama. Previously: 2
4. North Rockland (10-2-3) — The Red Raiders won one game as expected, but were tied in their other by Mount Pleasant. The tie falls under the category minor upset, but hardly a jarring one. This week, the Red Raiders will again be favored in their two games. Previously: 4
5. Rivertown (12-4) — The Legends, who took down Horace Greeley/John Jay-Cross River by a goal last week, will have two big challenges this week, facing two teams they previously lost to this season in Suffern and Pelham. Previously: 5
6. Pelham (12-3-3) — After just getting by a struggling ETBE/New Rochelle squad by a goal, the Pelicans took down Scarsdale with a dominant, turnover-creating forecheck. This week, Pelham will be favored over Pawling. Its game vs. Rivertown could be interesting. The Pelicans beat the Legends by a few goals early in the season but the Legends are improved since then. Previously: 6
7. BYSNS (12-3) — Unusual as it might be, the Brewster/Yorktown/Somers/North Salem club (AKA the Bisons) got by Horace Greeley/John Jay-Cross River last week for a second time this season by the same 6-5 score. The Bisons don’t always make things easy for themselves, but what they’re doing is clearly working and they’ll be favored in their final two regular-season games. Previously: 8
8. Horace Greeley/John Jay-Cross River (12-4) — Prior to last week, the Greeley/Jay squad had just two losses on the season. But last week, it dropped two games by a goal each. Considering the opponents were very good — Rivertown and the Bisons, there shouldn’t be any panic. The squad remains ahead of Mount Pleasant via its four-goal win over Mount Pleasant last month. Previously: 7
9. Mount Pleasant (10-5-2) — The Ice Cats had a statement game, announcing they very much belong in the top 10 with their 2-2 tie vs. North Rockland. This week, they play White Plains and Scarsdale. They previously beat White Plains but lost to Scarsdale. All three teams will be looking to bring their top games to finish out the regular season, so this could be good hockey. Previously: 9
10. Byram Hills (9-5-1) — The Bobcats edge out previous No. 10 Scarsdale for the last top-10 spot this week after going 2-1 last week with their one loss coming by only a goal to Suffern. Two of the Bobcats’ other losses were to BYSNS, also by just a goal. When folks are thinking ahead to the playoffs and focusing on Division 2, the natural inclination is to leapfrog to a Pelham-Rye final. But Byram Hills, which dropped its only game to Rye by a respectable/encouraging two goals, may have something to say about that. Previously: Not ranked
On the bubble: Scarsdale (9-7), White Plains (10-7)
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rye moves up, one team joins top 10 in latest ice hockey rankings
Reporting by Nancy Haggerty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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