That was the last time Suffern lost a regular-season game. You’d have to go back to the season before that to find the last time Suffern lost a regular-season game at Sport-O-Rama. But but those streaks are in jeopardy Saturday night against Pelham and coach Ed Witz, who needs just one win to record No. 300 in his career.

The Suffern-Pelham is just one of a handful of incredible games coming up over the next few days. Tonight there’s Fordham Prep-Rye at Playland, a matchup that hasn’t taken place in a generation. Friday is the traditional Fordham Prep-Iona Prep game at Playland, always one of the most spirited games (and crowds) of the season and a good early barometer of where those teams will stand in the CHSHL. Mamaroneck also begins its title defense at home against John Jay, and the White Plains tournament begins, featuring three League 1 teams, CHSHL runner-up Stepinac and Section 9 champion Monroe-Woodbury and Clarkstown North, perhaps the most intriguing team heading into this season (I’ve seen predictions ranging from sectional finalists to third place in League 2). And on Sunday, Fordham Prep finishes a wild five days with a game at Madison Square Garden against Farrell.

I have bad news, good news and either good or bad news, depending on your views. The bad news is that hockey preview is going to be held until Dec. 1, after the football state championships are completed. The good news is that most of the information has already been posted on this blog (not the features, obviously). The mixed news is that I will be in Washington D.C. this weekend for Thanksgiving, my 10th high school reunion, a Turkey Bowl title and a ticket to the Giants-Redskins game.

Fortunately, an all-star group of reporters will be around the rinks this weekend to cover Iona Prep-Fordham Prep, Pelham-Suffern and the White Plains tournament championship, and you can read their reports on LoHud.com (I won’t ask you to do something crazy like pay for a newspaper, but of course it will be there as well).

I will do my best to check in from a dial-up AOL account. In the meantime, let’s give thanks for some great hockey this weekend.

League 2 will certainly be interesting, with three new teams (out of 7). It includes programs on the rise, trying to stop a slide, or hoping to make an impact in the playoffs. In alphabetical order.

Brewster (10-14-1 last year, 4-6 in League 2)

Last year: The Bears suffered three 1-goal losses to Yorktown, including 7-6 in double overtime of the Division II quarterfinals.

Fowards: Two of the three big scorers return, Mike Miller (60 points) and Ian Fleming (55). Both juniors see the ice well and are always moving and working hard. Sophomore Matt Benson, also a hard worker, should fit right in on the first line. Last year’s third line of Ray Bedarczyk, Jake Donelan and Joe Vitaliano will move up to the second line.

Defense: Seniors Kyle Ligos and Jesse Barone are an extremely fast first pairing. Returning junior Joe Rabino, freshman Mark Benson and junior Karl Volpe round out the defense.

Goalies: All three veterans return and are competing for the job. Mike Daley (664 minutes) got most of the time last year ahead of Ian Sampayo (283) and J.J. Lornejo (7).

Outlook: The team is very young and has a short bench, but it has the right work ethic. The team got 91 of its 108 goals from the forward line last year and will need more players to step up to get above .500.

Clarkstown North (1-22, 1-13 in League 1)

Last year: The Rams shut out Mahopac 2-0 on Jan. 18. They lost to League 4 Sleepy Hollow/Irvington 3-1 in the first playoff game hosted by the Palisades Center Ice Rink.

Fowards (with corrected info): Two years ago, Matt Willows led Section 1 in goals (55) and points (103), while Jake Shuman had 25 goals and 32 assists. Willows played at Morristown-Beard last year, where he was third-team all-state, while Shuman sat out, but both players, who are also travel linemates, are back with the Rams for their senior season. Junior Michael Kapnick and Spencer Cohen are the top returners from last year.

Defense: Evan Byrnes is a very strong sophomore who is always in position and has a great shot. Senior Mike Kozlin brings leadership and good size and quickness, while freshman Jake Dickson is a big guy with a slapshot “like you wouldn’t believe,” according to the coaching staff.

Goalies: Chris McIndoe is back to 100 percent after tearing his ACL playing lacrosse in the spring. To give you an idea of how well-respected he is, McIndoe was an all-state honorable mention despite winning just one game

Outlook: If anyone can make a White Plains-like sweep through the competition, it’s Clarkstown North. But is that too much to ask from a 1-win team last year? Then again, it was a 25-win team just two years ago.

Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville (13-7, 9-3 in League 3)

Last year: The Eagles were runner-ups in League 3 but proved they could beat League 2 competition, winning against Brewster (9-6), Fox Lane (4-0) and Scarsdale (7-6 in the Division I first round). They lost to Mamaroneck 13-1 in the quarters.

Fowards: Top two scorers Alex Hagen (55 points) and Ronny Sherding (44) are fun to watch together. Their puckhandling ability is uncanny and they always seem to find each other. Hagen, who played in the Empire State Games, has an unbelievable shot, while Sherding is big and strong. They could be joined by freshman Mark Luciano, a strong finisher. A big addition this year is a reliable second line with center Chris Bellotti and wings Nick Stefano and Ian Palfrey.

Defense: Juniors Brian McNamara and Mike Ciotta are great skaters and control the game well. They also provide offense, with a combined 14 goals and 47 points.

Goalies: Both Joe Donato (490 minutes) and Matt Lazzaro (329) return from last year and will battle for time. Freshman Will Ruppel may also crack the lineup.

Outlook: The Eagles have some of the area’s best young talent, and they can score with almost anyone. But they gave up at least six goals in half their games last season, and they will need to shore up their defense to compete in a higher league.

Mount Pleasant (7-12-1 last year, 2-7-1 in League 2)

Last year: After starting 4-1 (2-0 in league) the Ice Cats were hurt by injuries and didn’t win another league game. They lost to North Rockland 4-2 in the first round of the Division I tournament.

Fowards: Coach Mike Voron calls his lines the “green line” and the “red line.” The “green” scoring line of Chris Abramo, JoJo Pandolfo and Chris Yarrobino scored 40 of the team’s 79 goals last season. Abramo is the total package — a high hockey IQ, great passer, great defender, aggressive. The “red” line of Mike Belloli, Anthony Cassario and Matt Meleska has tremendous speed.

Defense: Brendan Marinelli, one of the injured players that the team sorely missed last year, is physical presence who does all the little things. Senior Ronnie Catucci is the ideal stay-at-home defenseman who leads by example.

Goalies: Starter Mike Ulley is back, but he will actually miss the start of the season because of an ankle injury suffered while playing football (he’s a wide receiver at Westlake). Brandon Jampol, who won the Clarkstown South game last year, will take over.

Outlook: The Ice Cats are a fast team, and if they can stay healthy they should avoid last year’s slide. A move into the WSA, which is closer to the schools Mount Pleasant represents, and a Saturday night slot for home games could also bring some added excitement to the program.

North Rockland (14-8-1 last year, 10-2 in League 3)

Last year: The Red Raiders closed 8-3 to wrap up a league title and make it to the Division I quarterfinals, where they lost to Suffern 5-0.

Fowards: Sean O’Connor (team-leading 30 goals and 33 assists), another ESG veteran, not only has excellent skills, but also has the ability to make his linemates better. He will likely be joined by returning players Max Hoehn and Michael Meigh. Two sophomores who only played travel year, Steven D’Alessera and Rob D’Bellonia, and St. Joe’s transfer Connor Callanan are also scoring options.

Defense: Craig Meany and James Eberhardt will be on the ice 2/3 of the game. Meany’s a bulldog who runs the point on special teams, while Eberhardt has more of a finesse game. Eberhardt missed half of last year with a concussion but is 100 percent now. Nick D’Amelio, Nick Finch (who will be out six weeks with a broken wrist) and Matt Moran will make the second line.

Goalies: Starter Alex Nestle and backup Joe Pane are both back. Nestle is consistent but also capable of making 1-2 big saves a game.

Outlook: North Rockland returns its top players and has a lot of depth at forward. But like most teams, they lost a lot role players who were integral to last year’s success, and of course they moved up a league, so it’s hard to guess where they stand.

Scarsdale (13-12 last year, 6-4 in League 2)

Last year: It was quite a 2008 for the Raiders—four straight wins, then four losses, then five wins, and then three losses, including a first-round exit.

Fowards: Leading scorer Matt Oliverio (58 points), John Felix (43) and Rye Country Day transfer Aelx Klein are all good skaters who can handle the puck, take good shots and have a good hockey sense.

Defense: Mike Constantinides and Patrick Johnson are experienced. Constantinides is a fast skater who handles the puck well, while Johnson is small in stature but very intelligent. Freshmen Jake Bank and Travis Misarti are an intriguing second line.

Goalies: Coach Jim Mancuso said that junior Jordan Gluck, sophomore Justin Halman and freshman Connor Wolfe are all competing right now, although Gluck (2.323 at RCDS) is the only one with varsity experience. Gluck shut out both Iona Prep and Clarkstown North last season (combined 32 saves).

Outlook: Like usual, Scarsdale doesn’t have much depth. But the Raiders do have a lot of talent, and with Gluck they are capable of beating anyone.

Yorktown (16-8 last year, 6-4 in League 2)

Last year: After a 6-5 start, Yorktown closed really well, beating Rye Town/Harrison in the regular season Brewster in double-OT in the quarterfinals before falling to Pelham 4-1 in the semis.

Fowards: Seniors Brett Cabriele, Michael Bonitatibus and James O’Donnell are end-to-end players who are strong across the board. Junior Joe Castellano, sophomore Matt Williams and freshman T.J. Mayterski should also step up and help.

Defense: Ryan Litwin, Mike Sullivan, Scott Schneider and Brian Shkolnik are all returning juniors who are strong defensive-minded defensemen.

Goalies: Will Parra, a four-year varsity player, is back in net. He had a 3.05 GAA last year.

Outlook: The team is full of great forecheckers and backcheckers and players that love to get their hands dirty. Is now the year they make the leap to the finals?

Today’s Journal News features a look at three of the top seniors from last year (Suffern’s Tom Natoli and Matt Ruthberg and White Plains’ Rui Encarnacao), and what they’re doing to try and play at the NCAA level: “It’s slow going on an icy road.”

I’m sure this is not news to anyone on this blog, but maybe it will help people on the outside realize the dedication and sacrifice that is needed to play college hockey, and make them aware of a situation that is really unique to this sport. One thing I didn’t have the space to address is why it is that high school hockey players, unlike counterparts in basketball, lacrosse, football, soccer, etc., have to play years of juniors in order to make a college roster. It seems unfortunate, but obviously it’s not going to change anytime soon.

Anyway, I was working on that story and the football, but I’m back now. I’ll put out the League 2 overview later today, and then tomorrow I’ll look back at the limited action so far, and look ahead to a huge weekend. Away we go

The CHSHL should be fascinating this year— just making the four-team playoffs at the end of the season could be a challenge. Iona Prep will still be strong, Fordham Prep and Chaminade are improved, Farrell and Stepinac are always in the mix and newcomer St. Anthony’s is a huge wild card. Two of those teams aren’t making the postseason. I’ve also included RCDS, who will be taking on public schools Clarkstown North, John Jay and Rye this year. Here are how the local private schools look, in alphabetical order.

Fordham Prep (11-12-1 last year, 6-9-1 CHSHL)

Last year: After a 3-6-1 start, the Rams won eight in a row, and then closed the season with six straight defeats, including a two-game sweep versus Iona Prep in the semifinals. 

Forwards: Michael Spillane, James Murphy and Anthony Policastro comprise a senior first line. Spillane was on the first line when Fordham Prep won the championship two years ago, and is the team’s leading returning scorer (20 points) despite playing defense for part of last year. The junior second line of Brendan Masullo, Jonathan Renza and James Evers has looked great in the preseason, scoring six of the team’s eight goals in the first two scrimmages. Two more solid lines provide depth.

Defense: Anthony McGuinness is steady in the defensive end and seldom gets beat. James Brown, Jaime Rivera and Spencer Granelli round out a solid core of defensemen.

Goalies: R.J. Fusco and Nick Guberti are both back after stepping up as freshman. They split time evenly last year.

Outlook: While last year’s team had just three seniors, this year’s group has 11, which should even out the extreme ups and downs the squad had last season. Sidenote: Two big highlights on the schedule. A game in Madison Square Garden against Farrell next Sunday after the Rangers game, and a game against Rye for the first time in a long time (30 years?).

Iona Prep (18-10-2, 12-2-2)

Last year: The Gaels didn’t lose a league game until Jan. 7 against Stepinac, who remained the only CHSHL team to beat the team all year. Iona Prep had the last laugh, a 3-2 overtime win in Game 3 of the finals.

Forwards: Mike Cambria, who had 52 points last season, uses his speed and skating ability to create scoring chances and set up teammates. Rob Molinaro is a physical presence who is good along the walls and might be the team’s best skater, and Alex Lopez (40 points) can also put up a lot of points. New varsity players Luke Lynett and Tommy Nolan should provide depth.

Defense: Myles Gillespie brings a lot of toughness, while Matt Kirincic is an offensive-minded defenseman who makes a good first pass and jumps into the play. Together they make a great first line. Because of forward depth, Sean McArdle and Gerard Traficante are moving to defense this season.

Goalies: Junior Kevin Kaiser and sophomore Joe Gizzo are fighting for the starting job, and coach Tim Turnbull said he would play whoever’s hot.

Outlook: The Gaels have to replace first-team all-stars Cody King and Kevin McCabe and goalie Stefan DiMario. But there is a lot returning, including 12 seniors. How old faces adjust to new roles—and how the goaltending situation works out—will be the keys.

Rye Country Day (11-9-5)

Last year: After a 3-1-2 start, the Wildcats went 5-2-1 down the stretch to finish above .500.

Fowards: Ryan Blatt, a two-way centerman, is a strong skater with a good shot who can play the physical game as well. Shane Bingham has good size and is an excellent forechecker who can chip in with scoring, while Jeff Horowitz is a tremendous skater and playmaker and freshman Henry Beshar has moved up the ranks. Chandler Grinell and Jordan Kemp are also strong returners.

Defense: Four-year starter J.P. Garry is a good puck mover who can log a lot of ice time. Cole Kleinberg likes to carry the puck and is a good offensive defenseman. Eighth grader Michael Rocco has looked strong after joining the program this year, and junior Tomo Yokose is a converted forward who is moving back.

Goalies: Eighth grader Omeed Alidadi and freshman Steve Halperin both played in the middle school program last year and will battle for the position.

Outlook: Despite some high-profile transfers, including the starting goalie, RCDS has some veteran talent and will be competitive in a tough league.

Stepinac (17-9-1, 12-3-1)

Last year: The Crusaders won 10 of 12 entering the finals, then lost a heartbreaking three-game series to rival Iona Prep.

Forwards: Thirty-goal scorer A.J. Datino is gone, but Rocco Miano had a breakthrough championship series, scoring four of the team’s nine goals, and Ryan Rueda is a tireless competitor. Frank Magnone completes a solid first line.

Defense: This should be the team’s strength. Kenny Kauffman is steady as a rock, while Anthony Reagan provides an offensive punch. Freshman Lance Holloway and Mike Misotonis are both strong options, and Steven Yankowski can be used as a swingman.

Goalies: Freshman Mike Lanero is very solid and a good mover. While no one can replace Joe Reagan, coach Pat Scanlon said that the Bronx native is on par with where Reagan was as a freshman.

Outlook: Stepinac may not have quantity, but it has quality. It was a formula that worked last year, when it rode a short bench to the cusp of its first title. They’re a hard-working team who shouldn’t be overlooked.