Monroe-Woodbury is the only scholastic ice hockey team left in Section 9, as James I. O’Neill, John S. Burke Catholic and Newburgh Free Academy all dropped their programs in recent years.
The Crusaders (3-4-0) get their first big test of the season tonight against Section 1′s Suffern, the No. 1-ranked Division I team in the state. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey.
Suffern and Monroe-Woodbury met in the state playoffs in 2012 and 2011, with Suffern winning both times to advance to the state Final Four.
Suffern has dominated the series recently, winning all four games played from 2010 through 2012 by a combined score of 17-2.
As tough as tonight’s game will be for Monroe-Woodbury, the team is 3-1 against Section 1 foes so far this season.
Here is M-W’s season so far:
Nov. 23: Stepinac, 8-1 W
Nov. 24: Clarkstown, 7-3 W
Nov. 25: Eastchester-Tuckahoe-Bronxville, 7-1 W
Dec. 1: Shaker, 5-4 L
Dec. 2: Clarence, 8-2 L
Dec. 16: John Jay-Cross River, 4-3 L
Dec. 28: Bethlehem, 4-3 L
Jan. 4: Suffern, TBD
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So far in the Hudson Valley High School Ice Hockey Association, the three Orange County teams are trailing the three Dutchess County teams in the standings.
Team, W-L-T, GF, GA
Arlington, 15-3-2, 113, 55
John Jay-East Fishkill, 15-2-3, 100, 46
Roosevelt, 11-6-3, 75, 53
Orange County West, 5-10-5, 48, 68
Washingtonville, 3-14-3, 33, 73
Cornwall, 2-16-2, 32, 106
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That’s that state of local youth hockey at the moment. Anything I’m missing? Let me know on Twitter: @THR_Montgomery.
