Playoffs take center stage

Let the playoffs begin.

Playing to a 2-2 tie with Rockford on Jan. 15, the Buffalo Grove/ Wheeling hockey team officially ended the Metro Northwest hockey season.

BG/Wheeling (9-1-4) finished second behind Rockford (13-0-1).

"We should have beaten Rockford," said BG/Wheeling coach Bob Wagner. "We were up 2-0 with just over a minute to go and we blew it."

Rockford, BG/Wheeling, Fremd and Prospect/Rolling Meadows/Elk Grove/Palatine (PREP), are the four teams competing in the Metro Northwest Scholastic Cup playoffs.

The postseason competition starts Sunday when Fremd meets PREP at West Meadows Ice Arena at 3:30 p.m.

The two teams that finish first and second in the Metro Northwest Scholastic advance to the Metro Scholastic Cup, facing off against teams from the North, West, and Central divisions.

Rockford is the favorite to win the Northwest, with BG/Wheeling and Fremd battling for the second spot, with PREP ready to play the role of spoiler.

"If we stay healthy and play solid team hockey, we have a great shot at making it out," said Fremd coach Bill Martin.

Huntley, Hersey, Conant/Hoffman/Schaumburg (CHS) and Carmel finished in the bottom four of the Metro Northwest and will be playing in the Founder's Cup.

Huntley looks to be the favorite, with challenges from CHS and Hersey.

"I think our chances are about 50/50," said CHS coach John Conenna.

The Founder's Cup kicked off Sunday, when Hersey beat CHS 3-1.

"We didn't come out with a solid attack," Conenna said. "We had 14 penalties and that really set us back."

CHS meets Carmel on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at West Meadows.