PREP HOCKEY: FOUR LEFT ON ICE UNDEFEATED SAUGUS LOOKS FOR BIG FINISH.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

The original six has become the final four in the Valencia Ice Station high school hockey league. Saugus, Granada Hills, Hart and the Antelope Valley Northerners survived the 10-game regular season and now prepare for the postseason. The semifinals will be today at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. The winners will meet Sunday at 4:45 p.m. for the championship.

A look at the four teams, in order of seeding:

1. SAUGUS (10-0)

--Coach: Wade Williams 

--How they qualified: Won regular season title

--Scoring: Went undefeated and outscored opponents 73-13. MVP candidate Joey Howard led the league with 27 goals and 33 points but he only one of six who had at least 10 points: Todd Stelnick (7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points), Matt Kemp (2-14-16), Jimmy Hock (10-5-15), Ryan Seals (1-10-11) and Blake Low (1-9-10). Additionally, three players had nine points.

--In goal: Chris Mulhern and Steven Jakiel each went 5-0 and stopped 90 percent of the shots they saw.

--Outlook: When the league started, everyone thought this team would be strongest, and the Centurions didn't disappoint, going undefeated. They only played in one-goal game and one two-goal game. There's no reason they'll lose now.

2. GRANADA HILLS (8-2)

--Coach: Peter Petersen

--How they qualified: Finished second in regular season

--Scoring: The Highlanders were the most balanced team. Four skaters finished in the scoring top 10, the same number as Saugus: Peter Petersen (13 goals, 7 assists, 20 points), Jason Diamond (11-8-19), Justin Dyke (4-14-18) and Jason Feller (10-7-17). But five other skaters also finished with at least 10 points: Vache Towmasyan (7-8-15), Justin Chlowitz (2-12-14), David Montelongo (9-4-13), Paul Greco (3-8-11) and Jonathan Perez (4-6-10).

--In goal: Eric Diamond and Kevin Deeds each went 4-1 and stopped at least 80 percent of their shots. They also saw almost the same number of shots and stopped almost the same number. Diamond stopped 98 of 117, and Deeds stopped 92 of 115.

--Outlook: The Highlanders also have a great deal of talent, scoring 71 goals this season, just two less than Saugus. But they gave up 42, or 29 more than the Centurions. Head to head, Granada Hills lost 6-1 and 6-2 to Saugus and showed no ability to compete. Since they beat Hart twice, they're the pick to face Saugus in the final. But if they look past Hart, they could be upset. Hart led 3-0 when the two teams met Monday before Granada Hills came back for an 8-7 victory.

3. HART (4-6)

--Coach: Bob Griese 

--How they qualified: Finished third in regular season

--Scoring: Kevin Davis came out of nowhere to finish second in the league with 19 goals and 26 points. Dustin Baker also finished in the top 10 with eight goals and 10 assists (18 points). Just one other player, Mitch Sabo (6-8-14) joined them in double figures, and the team gave up 10 more goals than it scored (57-47).

--In goal: Coby Robinson gave up more goals (44) than any other goalie in the playoffs. His .791 save percentage and 4-4 record also are lows for starting goalies in the postseason. Steven Bock (.800) had a better percentage but appeared in just three games.

--Outlook: Griese had a plan: Make the playoffs and avoid Saugus until the championship game. He believes he has the defense to contain the Centurions, but first the Indians need to get by Granada Hills. It's possible, considering they led 3-0 on Monday. More likely, Griese won't get his chance at Saugus.

4. AV NORTHERNERS (3-7)

--Coach: Dennis Gilbert 

--How they qualified: Finished tied with Valencia for fourth in regular season. Won tiebreaker based on better plus-minus (ratio of goals scored to goals allowed)

--Scoring: No skater finished in the league's scoring top 10, and only David Jackson (9 goals, 2 assists, 11 points) scored in double figures. Dominick Tammara (5 goals, 4 assists), came close.

--In goal: Jacob Richey was a strong performer, stopping 86.7 percent of the shots he faced. Chris Norton is a less experienced backup and went 0-3, but improved as the season progressed and finished with a .726 save percentage.

--Outlook: The team Gilbert called ``an afterthought'' had better look beyond any ``just-glad-to-be-here'' feelings it has. The Northerners often are inconsistent. They are the one team to play Saugus to a one-goal margin, then later lost 10-2. They lost to last-place Canyon one week, swept Hart and lost to Valencia on Monday and sweat out the tiebreaker. AV also has earned praise from other coaches for its straight-up play, yet Chris Derison led the league with 60 penalty minutes.

--Notes: The league will give out its awards this weekend as well. Saugus will receive the Nick Nickson Cup as the regular-season champion.

Additionally, individual awards will be given for most valuable, best defenseman, best goaltender and sportsmanship. The awards were decided Monday by a four-member committee including league commissioner Larry Bruyere, director of marketing John Fregeau and Nick Nickson, Kings announcer and longtime Santa Clarita Valley resident.

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Photo:

Saugus High's Jimmy Hock takes a shot against Hart goalie Coby Robinson.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer