The game features two state-ranked teams that have both been playing solid hockey during the later stages of their season. The Section II Spartans are ranked 10th in the New York State Sportswriters Association poll and have a 13-5-2 record. SLP is 13th in the poll and enters the matchup with a 15-6-1 record, which includes two Section VII playoff victories where it outscored Beekmantown and Saranac Central by a combined 12-3.

The winner of tonight’s game will advance to the state Division final four being held at the Harborcenter in Buffalo March 14-15.

Although the Spartans have buried just 69 pucks in 20 games played this season, they are extremely stingy on defense and have a wealth of experience. Queensbury feature 21 players who return from last year’s team that reached the state Division II championship game, including 10 seniors.

The Spartans have given up just 36 goals this season — an average of less than two per game — and are anchored by two goaltenders who have split time almost equally in nets. Junior Chase Korol has posted a 7-3 record and has a 2.49 goals against average, while sophomore Blake Powers has a 6-1-3 mark and has allowed an average of 1.56 goals scored per game.

Rhett Darrah leads SLP with 19 goals scored. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Long-time Queensbury head coach Dean Williams said he’s made the decision on game day regarding which goalie will start and it’s worked out well so far.

“This is the first season I’ve ever had to do that,” Williams said of picking his starting netminder on game day. “They’ve both played in big games, and they’ve both been solid for us. Our overall defensive play this year has been pretty good. We’ve been committed to our defensive zone with six guys playing hard.”

The Spartans graduated just four seniors from last year’s state Division II runner-up squad.

“Playing in the regional last year and winning, and then going to the final four, that’s especially helpful when you have a lot of those guys back the next year,” Williams said. “That’s the situation we’re in this year, and it’s a nice position to be in. We have a lot of experience.”

Senior Brendan Duffy leads Queensbury in goals scored and skates on the Spartans’ top forward line along with Trevor Vogel and Devon Salone. Duffy has 18 goals and 10 assists. Vogel, a junior, is the team’s top scorer with 30 points on nine goals and 21 assists.

Dylan Amell is SLP’s top scorer with 40 points. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Williams attended the Section VII championship game in Plattsburgh Tuesday and said he was impressed with SLP.

“They’re skilled, they’re fast, and they’ll give us a challenge,” Williams said.

Fourteen players have found the back of the net for SLP this season, including three who have scored in double-digits. Saranac Lake Placid’s players have tallied 98 goals and have allowed 71 in 22 games played.

Junior Rhett Darrah is SLP’s top goal scorer with 19, including two pucks he buried Tuesday in his team’s 5-1 victory over Saranac Central in the Section VII final. Darrah also has 13 assists and 32 points. Senior Dylan Amell, who was named the section’s player of the year, leads the team in points with 40 on 17 goals and 23 assists. Senior Tyler Hinckley also scored twice for SLP Tuesday and has 14 goals and 10 assists.

Sophomore defenseman Carter Sturgeon is second on the team in assists and third in scoring. He has three goals, 22 assists and 25 points.

Bailey Bartholomew, Brendan Bullock, Hugo Hobson, Ben Munn and Hunter Wilmot are all double-digit point getters for SLP.

Junior Anders Stanton has emerged as SLP’s top goalie. He has a 13-4-1 record and a 2.83 goals against average and a .852 save percentage.

SLP head coach Keith Clark likes what he has seen during the first season that Lake Placid and Saranac Lake have combined forces, and he also knows a formidable foe awaits his players tonight.

“Queensbury is an experienced team and they’ve had a real solid season,” Clark said. “We know that this group they have has played together for a time. We want to to challenge for every puck, use our speed and defend hard. We want to push the pace and play in all three zones as a group of five.

“The key for us is making good fundamental plays early, not try to do too much, play disciplined hockey and play with confidence,” Clark continued. “Our kids are excited. They know what’s on the line and they deserve to be here.”