Winning Metroplex worth early Austin time, says Carroll coach

By Rick Mauch
Special to the Star-Telegram

IRVING -- Because of a scheduling quirk, it would benefit the Carroll hockey team timewise if it doesn't win the Southwestern Bell Metroplex High School Hockey League championship tonight against Plano East at the Dr Pepper StarCenter.

The league champion will earn the top seed from the area and will play at 2 p.m. Friday at the Texas High School Hockey Association State Tournament at the Chaparral Ice Center in Austin. The runner-up will be the No. 2 seed from the area and will play at 5:30 p.m. Friday, giving it more travel time for the three-day tournament.

"I wouldn't mind the earlier start," Carroll coach Laddy Tresl said, grinning. "What's a couple of hours?"

The Dragons (19-1-1) earned the right to play for the league championship with a 4-1 victory Tuesday against Lewisville. Plano East (19-2) became the fifth consecutive team from Plano to play for the title when it defeated Arlington in overtime, 3-2.

Carroll brings a 19-game unbeaten streak into tonight's game, including nine consecutive victories. The only blemish on the Dragons' record since a 3-1 loss to Richland on Oct. 19 was a 0-0 tie with L.D. Bell on Feb. 1. Plano East has won 17 consecutive games since beginning the season 2-2, and the Panthers have not lost since Coppell defeated them, 4-1, on Nov. 2.

While all four teams that played Tuesday will compete for the state championship, the Dragons' C.J. Johnsen said there's something special about winning the Southwestern Bell championship.

"There's more local recognition winning the [Metroplex] championship," Johnsen said. "A lot of people still don't know there's a state tournament, especially people at our school. They get a little confused, but they know about the [Metroplex] championship, and a lot of them will be there."

The game is especially important for Johnsen and teammates Erik Ahlund and Ryan Hopkins. They each missed the first three games of the postseason (the Section 4 playoffs and Tuesday's semifinal) after being suspended for three games for fighting in the regular-season final against Trinity.

"We've gotten past that and now there's pressure to win the city," Johnsen said.

The main reason the Dragons got past the absence of five players in the first three playoff games (Willy Quinn and Adam Linville are out for the season with a broken ankle and broken collarbone, respectively) is their depth. Twenty-five players have scored at least one point, including four with a goal and four others with an assist in Tuesday's victory.

The Panthers also feature depth. Nineteen players on their roster have at least a point, led by J.P. Pruneau, who scored the tying and winning goal against Arlington and who showed perhaps the most discipline in the league with no penalty minutes during the regular season.