Once again, change reigns in MSHL

The MSHL was conceived in the late 1980s to provide a league for a sport not recognized by most schools. But now, the state’s private-school athletics departments generally do include ice hockey as a varsity sport.

‘‘It doesn’t change much, other than that the rules are a little different,” Bullis coach Bobby Poulin said. ‘‘The playoffs are basically the same as they were last year. ... The IAC will get two teams into the state playoffs.”

Good Counsel is an exception; the Falcons remain members of the MSHL and will compete in the Capital Conference, which also includes two provisional teams (Maret⁄Potomac and Wilson High), St. John’s (D.C.) and JV teams from DeMatha, Gonzaga and Mount St. Joseph.

The Capital Conference winner will take part in the MSHL playoffs, which see yet another change in format this season. The league abandoned the regional playoff structure after just one year, as well as the time-honored tradition of allowing any (non-provisional) team with at least a .500 record into the playoffs.

This year, the top four Montgomery County teams will square off in what amount to two play-in games. The winners of the two games advance into the eight-team state playoff field, where they will play the champions of two other divisions.

Last year, six teams made the regional playoffs; Magruder and Sherwood would have missed out under this structure. Three Montgomery County teams made the state field, two as at-large teams. Under this year’s system, only Churchill and B-CC would have gone, with Walter Johnson left out.

‘‘That’s been a point of contention this off-season,” Sherwood coach Chris Leonard said. ‘‘I’d love to see more teams get in. I still believe the Montgomery Conference is one of the stronger ones. It’s tough to whittle it down to two teams from such a strong division.”

The state playoffs will thus include two teams from the Montgomery Conference and the champion of each of the other six conferences — Howard A, Howard AA, Eastern, Monocacy Valley, Southern and Capital.

The Montgomery Conference itself has seen changes, as well. Last year, its 16 teams were split into two divisions, East and West. But provisional teams Burke⁄WIS and Landon II dropped from the league, leaving 14 Montgomery County public-school teams.

The MSHL chose to move Damascus, which plays its home games in Frederick County, into the Monocacy Valley Conference. The other 13 county public-school teams will play in one large league.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the consensus among coaches as to which are the top teams in the county. B-CC, Wootton, Walter Johnson and Churchill will once again likely be at or near the top at season’s end, with a fair number of spoilers knocking on the door.

But the big question this year is: How good is the Montgomery Conference compared to the rest of the state? Last year, South River became the first team from outside Montgomery County ever to win the MSHL’s public-school state tournament. In fact, no Montgomery team even reached the state final.

This season will help determine if that was an anomaly, or if other areas of the state have, in fact, surpassed Montgomery County ice hockey.

‘‘Judging from last year, other parts of the state are getting stronger,” Walter Johnson coach Charlie Vinal said. ‘‘Still, I think the amount of talent and depth in the Montgomery league is superior. ... I think this will be a great year for hockey in Montgomery.”

Fast facts

Bullis

Head coach: Bobby Poulin, 5th year

Last year’s record: 13-3-0, IAC champions, state semifinals

Key player: Sr. F Steven Burke

Germantown

Head coach: Matthew Kenney, 3rd year

Last year’s record: 4-5-0

Key player: Jr. F Adam Goodman

Georgetown Prep

Head coach: Sean O’Leary, 1st year

Last year’s record: 9-4-1, state quarterfinals

Key player: Sr. G Corey Walwaski

Good Counsel

Head coach: Matt Fay, 2nd year

Last year’s record: 6-3-1

Key player: Sr. F Alex Combs

Landon

Head coach: Chandler Gammill, 5th year

Last year’s record: 3-8-1

Key player: Sr. F John Tiernan

Magruder

Head coach: Jeff Freel, 1st year

Last year’s record: 5-6, regional quarterfinals

Key player: Sr. D Andy Cole

Sherwood

Head coach: Chris Leonard, 4th year

Last year’s record: 6-5, regional quarterfinals

Key player: Sr. D Colin Renz