The St. Francis de Sales (Toledo, OH) varsity ice hockey team will host Traverse City West (Traverse City, MI) today at 5:15 PM for a home tournament game.

Here’s what you need Ice Hockey to know:

What: Ohio High School Ice Hockey
Who: St. Francis de Sales vs Traverse City West
When: Friday, December 27, 2024
Time: 5:15. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Traverse City West vs. St. Francis de Sales: A Comparative Look at the 2024-2025 Hockey Seasons

As the 2024-2025 high school hockey season progresses, a compelling comparison emerges between Traverse City West and St. Francis de Sales. These two teams, hailing from Michigan and Ohio respectively, offer a fascinating contrast in performance, with notable differences in their overall record, team scoring averages, and head-to-head matchups.

Team Performance Overview

Traverse City West:

• Record: 2-5 overall, 0-1 in league play, and 0-4 at home.
• Scoring: The Traverse City West team is averaging 2.4 goals per game, with a noticeable struggle in the opening and middle periods, averaging zero goals in both the first and second periods of games.
• Goal Difference: The team has scored 17 goals while conceding 22, indicating some difficulty in both offensive and defensive areas.

St. Francis de Sales:

• Record: 15-3 overall, 7-2 in conference play, and a strong 7-1 record at home.
• Scoring: St. Francis de Sales boasts an impressive average of 5.5 goals per game, with a solid output in all three periods, averaging 2.0 goals in the first and second periods, and 1.0 in overtime.
• Goal Difference: With 99 goals scored and only 30 allowed, St. Francis de Sales has displayed dominance in both offensive and defensive play.

Head-to-Head and Common Opponents

The only common opponent between these two teams this season is Cranbrook Kingswood, which both schools faced. Traverse City West plays Cranbrook Kingswood on January 18, 2025, while St. Francis de Sales faced them on December 5, 2024, suffering a 5-3 loss. This marks the first key instance where we can compare both teams’ performances against the same opponent, though at different times in the season.

Team Breakdown

• Traverse City West has struggled in non-league play with a 2-4 record. Their league performance has been even less favorable, with only 0-1 in the league.
• St. Francis de Sales, on the other hand, has excelled in both conference and non-conference games. Their record of 7-2 in league play and 5-0 in non-league games demonstrates strong consistency and resilience throughout the season.

Offensive and Defensive Strengths

• Traverse City West has had a tough time putting up strong offensive numbers. The team’s scoring average of 2.4 goals per game puts them at a significant disadvantage, especially when facing higher-scoring teams like St. Francis de Sales.
• St. Francis de Sales has shown incredible offensive depth, consistently scoring at high rates and dominating most games. Their defensive record has also been solid, allowing only 30 goals throughout their 18-game season.

Playing at Home vs. Away

• Traverse City West has been notably weaker when playing at home, with a 0-4 record. On the road, however, they have managed a more competitive 2-1 record.
• St. Francis de Sales has been particularly dominant at home, winning 7 out of 8 games. They have also shown strong form on the road, with an 8-2 record away from home.

State vs. Out-of-State Performance

• Traverse City West has struggled in-state, with a 2-5 record, but has yet to play any out-of-state teams this season.
• St. Francis de Sales has been more successful in-state, with a 9-2 record, and has also performed admirably out-of-state, with a 3-1 record.

Conclusion

In comparing Traverse City West and St. Francis de Sales, it’s clear that the two teams are on different trajectories. While Traverse City West has faced challenges in both offense and defense, St. Francis de Sales has been dominant on both ends of the ice. With their robust offensive attack and strong defensive showing, St. Francis de Sales enters the remainder of the season with momentum and high expectations. Traverse City West, on the other hand, will need to focus on improving both their scoring and defensive strategies if they hope to turn their season around.