Ice hockey unbeatens on collision course

B-CC, Wootton to meet on Friday

‘‘We actually haven’t seen each other in over two years,” B-CC coach J.T. Burton said. ‘‘It’s going to kind of be an interesting game. ... If we can get a couple of goals, Ryan will keep us in whatever game we’re playing.”

Haughey, an All-Gazette first-team performer a year ago, already has three shutouts this season, and a 1.38 goals-against average. The offense is without another All-Gazette first-teamer, graduated Michael Montross, but a bevy of seniors have picked up the slack, led by Ben Pounds and Kerry Goebel. Newcomer Leigham McWilliam, a transfer from Canada, has stepped right in as well, and is the team’s leading assist man.

Wootton’s big graduation loss was the other All-Gazette first-team goalie, Matt Mitchell. But goals against haven’t been a problem: Wootton has yielded just 10, and is coming off a shutout of Sherwood last Friday. It can match B-CC for offensive balance, as well: all 19 of the team’s skaters have at least a point, and all but two have scored at least one goal. Jason Burke (8 goals, 9 assists) and Dylan Skarupa (7 goals, 8 assists) top the points list at the moment.

‘‘They’re playing good team hockey, unselfish hockey,” Wootton coach Dave Evans said. ‘‘Which is something we always preach. ... Everybody wants to lead the team in points or goals, but I’ve seen a lot of that put aside this year.”

The puck drops Friday at 6:15 p.m. One team will come out with the inside track for the top seed to the regional playoffs. The other will hope for a rematch down the road.

Landon’s one of the big boys, now

The state’s Independent School ice hockey rankings, as voted by coaches, may be unofficial. That hardly matters to Landon, which is undefeated in-state and rated No. 2 in the poll by area coaches, right behind perennial behemoth Gonzaga.

The Bears’ 9-0 start in-state (they are 10-4 overall, with losses to teams from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) includes wins over the teams ranked third and fourth in the same poll — Mount St. Joseph and DeMatha. The poll encompasses private-school teams that were once part of the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League (including some from outside the state), but became independent this year.

‘‘It’s the first time since I’ve been here that we’ve beaten both of those teams in the same season,” Landon coach Chandler Gammill said. ‘‘Everybody’s plus [in plus-minus ratings]. Everybody has points. It has been a very balanced team, with no line producing more than another.”

Seven different Bears have at least 10 points, with junior David Chakola leading the way in goals (15) and classmate Blake Shue in assists (10). But Gammill also credits his experienced defensemen heavily for the team’s flying start to the season.

The latest win came last Friday, 7-5 over Interstate Athletic Conference foe St. Albans, which actually scored more goals on Landon than any in-state opponent has this season. That could serve as a wake-up call, with fellow IAC heavyweights Georgetown Prep (Wednesday) and Bullis (Jan. 22) looming in the not-too-distant future.

‘‘I definitely think the quality of play in the IAC has gone up a notch from what it’s been in the past, for sure,” Gammill said. ‘‘Prep, Bullis and Landon are all stacking up pretty well with the typical powerhouses. ... Our goal is to win them all, for sure, but we’re taking them one at a time.”

Whitman hockey: Who knew?

First-year Whitman ice hockey coach Tom Sneddon knew he had some talent this season, but he also knew it was young talent. He looked at the schedule and saw three traditional powers on it: Wootton, Walter Johnson and Churchill. And he set a benchmark.

‘‘I said if we can beat one of them, that’s a good sign,” Sneddon said. Then we started off by beating Walter Johnson and Churchill. ... It’s been a pleasant surprise, to be honest with you. I thought it was going to be our inexperience versus our talent, and so far, talent has won out.”

After a 10-0 win over Blake Friday, Whitman is 6-1 on the season, with the loss coming Jan. 3 to Wootton, 5-2. The young talent has led the way: the team’s leading scorer and first-line center is a freshman, Rainey Brown.

Sneddon said the team, small because it’s young, has adapted well to the physical style of high-school hockey. Depth has been a strength: 12 different players have scored, and the team’s four leading point-producers are all between 8 and 12 on the season.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges.

‘‘We’ve gone to the [penalty] box way too much this season,” Sneddon said. ‘‘ And if we play Whitman or Churchill again, the surprise is gone. People know us know. Things are going to get a little harder.”

Still, with three winnable games all that’s left in Whitman’s regular season, the team has the inside track to a berth in the four-team regional playoffs. One win there, and the team will reach the state’s elite eight.