RIIL published the pairings and playoff bracket for the Division II state championship tournament earlier today.  You can check out the entire bracket at the RILL website by following this link.

Portsmouth, which finished seventh in the final regular season standings will face second place South Kingston in the first round of the playoffs.  The State Championship Tournament format is the best two out of three with the winner advancing to the next round.  The Patriots and Rebels are scheduled to meet this Friday, March 13, at the URI Boss Arena at 7:30 PM for Game 1.  That will be followed by Game 2 at the Abbey Saturday night, March 14, at 7:00 PM.  If a Game 3 is required to determine which team moves on to the semi-finals round, it will be played on Monday, March 16.  The details on place and time for that game have not been published.

The Patriots split the regular season series with the Rebels.  South Kingstown took the first game, in early January, by a score of 8-4.  The Patriots, who outplayed the Rebels in the first half of that game, had built a 3-1 lead before giving up five unanswered goals on the way to the loss.   In the second contest, played in early February, it was Portsmouth which came from behind to win in an overtime thriller.  Down 2-0 after the first period, the Patriots went to work in the second and third periods and tied the game before the end of regulation time.  Just over three minutes into the five minute overtime period, Ben O’Hearn scored on a breakaway to win the game.

Based on those regular season games, the upcoming playoff series between the Patriots and Rebels is bound to be exciting.  It’s playoff hockey!  Come out to the games and support the team.  See you at the rink.