After finishing the regular season 18-2-2, Mitchell defeated the No. 1 seed Seminole Sharks by a score of 4-2 in Monday night's quarter-final. Junior goaltender Jacob Serpe continued his successful season, logging a .920 save percentage against a Seminole team that scored more goals than any other in the LHSHL this season. In Wednesday's semi-final, Mitchell took down East Lake by a score of 6-0. Senior forward Nathan Smith recorded a natural hat trick in the second period. The Mustangs are led up front by a strong group of forwards, including junior Nicholas DeMiceli who ranked second in the LHSHL for regular season points with 63.
Wiregrass (16-6-0) enters the Cup Final after defeating the Jesuit Tigers by a score of 7-1 on Wednesday night. Senior forward Spencer Geer recorded his first hat trick of the season and added an assist in the victory. Prior to their win over the Tigers, the Ice Hawks beat Manatee High School by a score of 6-1 in Monday's quarter-final. Junior goaltender Nicholas Koelndorfer stopped 15 of 16 shots en route to the victory while Adam Zimmermann and Steven Blank each collected three points. The Ice Hawks offense is led by junior defenseman Joseph Davis, who collected 46 points in 18 regular season contests.
The Lightning's annual "Hockey Day in Tampa Bay" begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 18 with the start of the Chase Street Lightning Tournament on Ford Thunder Alley. For the first time ever on Hockey Day in Tampa Bay, the Lightning Alumni, which includes a roster featuring former captains Dave Andreychuk and Vincent Lecavalier, will take on the Boston Bruins Alumni, led by Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque. The day will conclude with the Lightning High School Hockey League Cup Final at 7:00 p.m. Tickets to Hockey Day in Tampa Bay are $10 in advance at Ticketmaster.com and $15 at the door. All proceeds for the event will go to the Ritchie Hockey Foundation and Lightning Sled Hockey.
