B Conference Playoffs Kick Off

By: Luke Jackson

The St. Paul's ice hockey team won the MIAA B Conference regular season title despite a late-season charge by Saints Peter and Paul.

St. Paul's entered the final week of the regular season with 20 conference points and the Saints Peter and Paul Sabres had 17. But the Crusaders fell to the Sabres, 3-1, Feb. 4 to cut their lead in the conference to one point.

The Crusaders defeated Gilman, 12-2, in their final regular season game to clinch the B Conference regular season title. The Sabres also finished strong, winning 6-1 over Boys' Latin.

St. Paul's finished the regular season 14-1-1 overall and 11-1 in the B Conference, good for a league-best 22 conference points and the first seed in the playoffs.

The Crusaders will face fourth-seeded Archbishop Curley in the semifinals today at 3:30 p.m at Patterson Park Ice Rink. The Friars finished 5-6-3 overall and 5-4-3 in the conference for 13 points.

St. Paul's beat Archbishop Curley in both of their regular season meetings.

Saints Peter and Paul finished the season 12-3-1 overall and 10-1-1 in the conference for 21 points. The Sabres will be the second seed in the playoffs and face third-seeded St. Mary's today at 3:30 p.m. at Talbot County Community Center.

The Saints finished 6-5-2 overall and 6-4-2 in the conference for 14 points.The Sabres won both regular season meetings against St. Mary's.

The winner of each semifinal game will face each other for the B Conference Championship on Friday at 4 p.m. at Piney Orchard Ice Arena.