All-Star Hockey Game Tonight Features McLean, Langley Players

High school hockey in the Washington metropolitan area has both a strange and wonderful way of dividing teammates … then bringing them back together again.

 Unlike such traditional hotbeds as Minnesota or Massachusetts, where high school hockey is truly king, here in Northern Virginia, club hockey tends to dominate the local youth scene.  For many players who compete well into their teens, their introduction to the game was developed through such local clubs as the Reston Raiders, the Ashburn Xtreme, the Virginia Wild, the NoVa Ice Dogs and others that dot the Capital Beltway. 

By the time they reach age 14, most youth players have established a bond with the same core of 30 to 40 players, most of whom wind up playing together year after year after year.

 Fast forward to high school where club teammates suddenly find themselves opposing one another on Friday nights in packed arenas.  When Madison plays South Lakes, when Chantilly takes on Robinson and when Westfield faces Woodbridge, players who – on Saturdays and Sundays – are linemates, teammates and friends, suddenly square-off wearing opposing colors.

 As one might easily imagine, the legendary McLean-Langley rivalry that rears its head so often in football, baseball, basketball and soccer has also found traction on the ice. 

 Earlier this year, McLean topped Langley 6-2 for the first time in 10 years on their way to their second consecutive division championship and if Langley can handle Bishop O’Connell in the first round of Friday’s high school hockey playoffs, both teams will meet again in the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League (NVSHL) quarterfinals next Monday.

 But while McLean’s triumvirate of Nick Baker, Michael Laywood and Maury Winter will oppose Langley’s Peter Nam, Kevin Diner and Evan Sterling in the playoffs, they must line up as teammates when the Ashburn Ice House hosts tonight’s NVSHL All Star Game.

“It will be a little unusual but these kids love to play under these conditions,” said McLean head coach John Sherlock, who will guide the Norris-Adams All Star game. 

“Last year, Maury, Peter and Kevin all played together on the Reston U16 AA Team.  Then they play against each other in a league match, team up again for the All-Star game and oppose one another again in the playoffs.  While it makes for a great deal of camaraderie, such familiarity also brings out the competitive spirit in them all.”

In addition to McLean and Langley, the Norris-Adams All Stars will feature players from Broad Run, Loudoun County, Herndon, Stone Bridge, Freedom, Heritage, Madison and South Lakes.  The opposing Smythe-Patrick Division is comprised of players from such schools as Woodbridge, Chantilly, Paul VI, Forest Park, Briar Woods, Bishop O’Connell, Oakton and Potomac Falls. 

Faceoff at the Ashburn Ice House is 6:30 p.m.

 Steve Winter coaches youth hockey for the Reston Raiders and McLean High School.  President of Brotman|Winter|Fried, a sports and entertainment public relations and event management firm, Winter brings to the Washington-area several major youth and adult sports events each year, including the upcoming 2012 U12 Tier II USA Hockey National Championships.