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Last Prep Hockey Game at North County Rec— Haz. West, SC West Play For Title
BY JIM WIENERS
Hazelwood West Ice Hockey Club Head Coach Michael McLaughlin was hopeful that the Wildcats still had a chance to win the Mid-States Club Hockey Association Suburban North Conference title last Saturday night outside the locker room at the North County Recreation Complex rink after a 6-1 loss to Francis Howell Central, in a non-conference game.
He did not get much help when Pattonville defeated St. Charles West, 7-1 last Saturday at the St. Peters Rec-Plex. But last Monday at the North County Recreation Complex, Hazelwood West managed to win 7-4 over Granite City, Ill., and got help when Pattonville and Parkway North played to a 5-5 tie. Pattonville (10-5-4 overall) finishes Suburban North play at 7-2-3 so the Hazelwood West’s game with St. Charles West, Saturday 8:30 at North County Recreation Complex, will be for the Suburban North title.
Hazelwood West (10-6-3 overall, 7-2-2 Suburban North) kept their Suburban North title hopes alive with a 3-1 win last Friday over Parkway North at the North County Recreation Complex. St. Charles West (11-4-1 overall prior to last Sunday’s game against Mehlville at Fenton Forum) currently leads the Suburban North with an 8-3 record. Mid-States have three post-season tournaments and Hazelwood West will not know where they will participate until after Feb. 3 but will likely be playing in the Challenge Cup if they beat SCW.
However there is one thing that could be certain there may be no ice hockey at the North County Recreation Complex next season. According to a Jan. 14 published report the North County Recreation Complex Ice Rink will close for good in March, after 32 years of operation, and will be replacing it with fitness equipment, basketball courts and walking/running tracks. The report cites very few patrons using the rink for recreation skating and the number of ice hockey teams were shrinking and that includes Hazelwood East, McCluer North and McCluer hockey clubs ceasing operations.
McLaughlin, who has been coaching for 20 years and has coached 300 games at the North County Recreation Complex, said that it will “be sad to see it go.” He said the talk of closing it has been going on for a while and will have to wait to hear from Mid-States on where they will play next year. The closing will also affect Hazelwood Central, who competes in the Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association, a predominately-Illinois association.
Prior to Jan. 21 Jason Lutz leads with Wildcats with 13 goals and 13 assists for 21 points.
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