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Suffern Wins Fourth State Title

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By Warren Kozireski —

Suffern broke a 1-1 tie with three second period tallies and added two empty-net goals to defeat Orchard Park and win the Division I New York State championship at HarborCenter in Buffalo.

Orchard Park struck first as junior Brady Ciano, who had a hat trick in the Quakers semi-final victory, let a shot go after a right wing rush that hit the stick of the goaltender and deflected in at 7:549 of the first period.

Suffern tied it on junior Philip McCarthy’s power play goal from Charlei Windwer and Tyler Pomeranz with less than nine seconds remaining in the first period.

That momentum carried the Mounties into the second period as senior Ayden Greenberg stripped the defenseman of the puck and found sophomore Sean Tyrell in front of the net at 9:08 for a 2-1 lead.

“I knew we needed a big goal and Greenberg gave me a seed pass and I was able just very lucky to bury it and celebrate with the boys,” Tyrell said.

Suffern then took control of the game using a five-on-three advantage to score twice within 89 seconds. Senior defenseman Nick Bonanno slid the puck just inside the left post with assists from Jake Rostawanik and  Schaefer Pinotti at 10:44 before Tyrell scored his second of the game from Pomeranz at 12:13.

Orchard Park tried to claw back getting a power play goal at 8:21 of the third period as freshman Nolan Zakrzewski banged in the rebound of a Matthew Norum shot to close the gap to two, but the Mounties got two empty net goals by Greenberg and Bonanno to seal the victory.

“It feels pretty amazing—my first state championship…we worked at it all season, but it feels very good,” Tyrell said.

“We stuck to our game all year,” Suffern head coach Rob Schelling said. “These kids work so hard every day since the beginning and to have that first goal go in, which was not the best of goals…just shows the character of this group.

“Going to the state championship now three years in a row shows you what kind of group we have here. Sean Tyrell is the youngest of four Tyrell brothers to have played for us, so for his family to get what they get for what they’ve done for our program is great.”

Named to the All-Tournament Team were Nolan Zakrzewski and Brady Ciano with Suffern’s Philip McCarthy, Ayden Greenberg, Charlei Windwer, goaltender Nick Downey and Most Valuable Player Sean Tyrell.

Suffern, who defeated Monroe-Woodbury 11-0 and Massena 5-2 to advance to the championship game, previously won state hockey titles in 1992, 2012 and 2022.

(Photo by Koz, NY Hockey OnLine)

Future Sabres: Viktor Neuchev

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By Warren Kozireski —

After producing just five points over the first 23 games of his American Hockey League career, Buffalo Sabres 2022 third round draft pick Viktor Neuchev has turned the corner leading all Rochester rookies in scoring with seven goals and 12 assists in 34 total games.

Included in his output since Jan. 1 is a pair of three-point efforts. His 54 shots on goal also is tops among first year Amerks.

“Neuchev’s growth lately has been fun to see,” Rochester head coach Seth Appert said. “His habits, his daily work ethic, just all of that stuff has been on-point. You form your habits in practice and we’ve (the coaching staff) have been seeing it for two months now with him and now more often it’s coming out in games.

“We’ve seen this with Rosie (Isak Rosen) and Kulie (Juri Kulich) about this time last year; Peterka about this time two years ago where those lightbulb moments are flickering and he’s starting to put the pieces together.

“The guys are pulling for him—he’s really won over the locker room because of the work he’s put in. When you get rookies in and they’re pretty high draft picks, the older guys in the room are watching what’s the attitude, what’s the work ethic, what’s the daily habits. Is this a guy that we want to root for and Neuchev has won them over.

The 5’11”, 171 lb. Russian native played last season in the KHL and has obviously had difficulty with the language both on and off the ice.

“At the beginning of the season it was difficult,” Neuchev said via Google translate. “In principle to adjust to life in America…but by November it became much easier. I get used to this hockey; I begin to train more off the ice which leads to results.”

“He’s a young kid; I think he’s done a really good job translating his habits from practice to a game and he’s become much more consistent in practice, and it shows with how well he’s been playing as of late,” veteran forward Graham Slaggert said about his teammate.

In late January, Neuchev was elevated from the fourth line to the top line due to an injury and responded with a two-point effort including his sixth goal of the season and fourth in eight games.

“He’s earned that with two months of practice habits, daily habits,” Appert added. He’s one of the first three or four guys here every day. He’s in the shooting room early every day and he’s one of the last guys out.

“The majority of practice days he’s here probably from eight to two o’clock in the afternoon and working most of the time and not just hanging around watching highlights.

“It’s good to see him get rewarded with a promotion and it was good to see him take advantage of that promotion on a line.”

Neuchev is still sometimes a healthy scratch—the coaching staff calls them rest days with his adjustment to the number of games in a season—but is just beginning to show what Sabres scouts saw in him prior selecting him 74th overall after his 40 goal, 67-point 2021-22 campaign with Avto Yekaterinburg. A six-game point streak Dec. 29-Jan. 20 this season is one indicator.

“It’s not a coincidence…he works extremely hard every day on his game whether it’s the shooting room or video,” veteran teammate Brett Murray said. “It doesn’t surprise me that pucks are starting to go his way and he’s starting to score and get points. He’s a great player and it was fun to be on his line.”

(Photos provided by Rochester Americans Hockey/American Hockey League)

Super Sunday High School Club Hockey Championships Report

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BY RANDY SCHULTZ –

BUFFALO, NY — Three champions of Western New York Boys High School Club Hockey were crowned at the 40th annual Super Sunday High School Club Hockey Championships held at the KeyBank Center.

ST. JOE’S vs. ORCHARD PARK B (Large School Final)

Forward Sean Girdlestone scored two goals and added two assists in leading the Orchard Park B Quakers to a 6-2 win over the St. Joe Maroons to win the Large School Club Hockey Championship in game one of the triple header Super Sunday at the KeyBank Center.

With the score tied, 2-2, entering the third period, Orchard Park opened the period with a power play goal at 3:28 scored by Coles Anders Purrenhage. Kaden Amici and Jacob Dietz assisted on the goal that put the Quakers in front for good, 3-2.

A little over four minutes later Girdlestone scored his second goal of the game to put OP up, 4-2. Dietz had the assist.

Jacob Johnson put the Quakers up 5-2 at 10:32 of the 3rd period. Jake Zelasko and Girdlestone assisted.

Drew Vanderwerf scored the final OP goal at 15:47 into an empty Maroons net. Girdlestone got the lone assist.

Orchard Park tied it up early in the 2nd period, 1-1, on a goal by Sean Robertson. Coles Anders Purrenhage got the lone assist.

Less than four minutes later the Maroons took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Michael Armento at 7:03. Nathan Werder and Zachery Sullivan got the assists.

But with less than a minute remaining in the period, Sean Girdlestone tied the game for the B’s, 2-2, at 16:11. Cameron McCarthy and Purrenhage got the assists.

Joshua opened the scoring for the Maroons at the 12:52 mark of the first period to give St. Joe’s an early 1-0 lead. David Girdlestone got the lone assist on the goal.

SUPER SUNDAY NOTES – Girdlestone was voted the MVP of the champion team. Michael Armento was the MVP of the runner-up team.

ELPS VS. JAMESTOWN

Derek Nolder scored two goals and Nate Smith scored a goal and two assists as ELPS defeated Jamestown, 7-5, to win the Mixed School Championship.

Just :21 into the 2nd period Brian Coupe put ELPS up 3-1. Goalie Colton Hornquist got the lone assist.

Jamestown came right back on a goal by Jameson Walsh with Mason Lobb and Bergen Nelson assisting.

Then, in a matter of 1:12 ELPS scored three straight goals with the first coming from Josh Cherry, unassisted. That was followed by a goal by Nate Smith, with assists going to Gabriel Kempf and Keegan Green.

The third goal came off the stick of Derek Nolder with assists Nate Smith and Keegan Green. ELPS led at that point 6-2.

ELPS upped the score to 7-2 at 15:00 on an unassisted goal by Brian Crupe.

Jamestown closed out the scoring in the period when Gavin Smith scored an unassisted goal to cut ELPS’s lead to 7-3.

Gavin Macauley opened the scoring for ELPS at 9:23 of the first period. Derek Nolder got the lone assist.

At 15:02 Nolder put ELPS up 2-0. Nate Smith got the assist.

Jamestown cut the ELPS lead to 2-1 at 16:53 of the 1st period when Brandon Smith scored. Jason Walsh and Mason Lobb got the assists.

NOTES: MVP of the runner-up team went to Mason Lobb. MVP for the championship team was Derek Nolder.

EAST AURORA/HOLLAND VS. ST. MARY’S

Ethan Cole scored two third period goals and goaltender Tyler Pritchard turned back several crucial shots on goal by East Aurora/Holland to lead St. Mary’s to a 4-1 victory and win the Small School Championship.

Going into the third period St. Mary’s was leading 2-1. Cole’s two goals came early and late in the period to give his team a 4-1 lead.

East Aurora/Holland tied the game, 1-1, early in the second period on a goal by Tomas Zolet. But late in the period Anthony Higgins gave St. Mary’s a lead they would not give up.

Finnin Carney assisted on East Aurora/Holland’s only goal. Luke Higgins and Robert Walter assisted on the lone St. Mary’s goal of the second period.

St. Mary’s Ashton Addesa opened the scoring to give his team a 1-0 lead over East Aurora/Holland at 2:16 of the first period. Cole got an assist on the goal.

NOTES: Team runner-up MVP went to Sean Casey. MVP on the winning team went to Pritchard.

(Photos by Randy Schultz Photography/NY Hockey OnLine)

NJPE BANTAM MOHL TAKE CHAMPIONSHIP

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Photo Gallery By Janet Schultz© NYHOL

Photos can be purchased by going to https://janetschultz.smugmug.com (Go to “organize” and scroll down to NJPE vs Caz Bantam)

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Bantam MOHL Team beat Cazenovia 7-1 for the 2024 Bantam WNY Regional House League Chamnpionship at Dwyer Arena Sunday afternoon.

North Tonawanda’s Hasley Among Nation’s Best

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33 Connor Hasley, Goaltender Bentley Men's Ice Hockey 2023-24 Bentley Men's Hockey vs Army West Point 1/2/24

By Warren Kozireski —

Bentley University sophomore goaltender Connor Hasley tasted success early in his collegiate career being named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month in October 2022 after his first month in a Falcons uniform.

But this season the 6’3”, 194 lb. North Tonawanda, NY native is taking it to another level. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, he stands ninth in the nation with a 2.26 goals against average and tied for third with three shutouts.

“No secret, just coming to the rink every day and having fun and keeping your wits about yourself,” Hasley said. “Keep the pressure off and tell yourself it’s just a game.

“We (goaltending teammate Nicholas Grabko) have a great dynamic going and we know each day either of us can go and win a game. It’s all about competing where we’re trying to be better than each other and it pushes us both to be better.”

Hasley spent three seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and was prepared to take his pads to the OHL where he was a Kitchener Rangers draft pick, but instead headed to Northwood Prep for two campaigns.

Then it was the NAHL for one season in Odessa and one year in the USHL at Cedar Rapids before heading to Waltham, Massachusetts.

“After my U-16 year I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I knew prep school was a good option and I knew it was a good spot for scouts to look at me. In the NAHL I knew a coach there who knew me from another team. Then  I went to Cedar Rapids—it’s all part of the path. Where you’re wanted and where you want to play, and I thought I got some good game experience and here I am.

“Kitchener would have been a great spot obviously, but I wanted the academic side of it too and I think that’s the path I was leaning towards. Whatever happened, happened and I’m at a great school and great hockey.”

Hasley is leaning towards Finance as a major but is still exploring potential majors at this point.

He started his youth hockey days with the Wheatfield Blades. “At the Hockey Outlet, the old Sabreland. That’s where it all started. I grew up playing house there and then I played select and then Triple A. Pretty much since I was four years old up until I was13.”

Hasley has evolved to see his name listed among the best in Division I hockey in the nation this season, but he is not letting that phase him as the Falcons end the regular season and get ready for the AHA playoffs.

“I try to stay away from those things honestly and just try to play hockey. Don’t worry about the stats, get some wins. I take pride in it, but I don’t pay close attention to what the stats say because those are team stats.”

Playoff ready approach…

(Photos provided by Bentley Athletics/Men’s Hockey Departments)

Eden’s Seitz Avoids Sophomore Slump With SUNY Cortland

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By Warren Kozireski —

All Colby Seitz did as a freshman was score nine goals with 23 points, help SUNY Cortland set a program record with 11 conference wins and win SUNYAC Rookie of the Year honors—the first from the Red Dragons since Dan Broderick in 2014-15 and the second in school history.

And of late, Seitz has been playing on an all-New York line with Williamsville’s Nate Berke and Long Island’s Stephen Kyrkostas.

“He came out of the gate really hard, which was fun to see,” Cortland head coach Joe Cardarelli said. “Playing with (senior) Nate Berke has kind of mentored him on the ice and pointwise, he’s on pace from last year. We look for continual improvement and that’s been a high bar for him.

“As a sophomore he’s still a leader on the ice in the way he approaches the game and I’m real proud of the effort that he puts in. More importantly he penalty-kills for us, he’s a 200-foot player that is a possess and create guy, so it’s the best of both worlds.”

The 6’0”, 181 lb. right wing stood second on the team with two weekends remaining in the regular season with 14 points while playing in every game. He was also tied for first in plus/minus at +12 and second in shots on goal.

“Just working hard and my linemates have been playing together for a lot of years,” Seitz said in early February. “Things have been going well. I really didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. It’s just hockey; it’s a game every single day, so just go out there and do what you can and hope the bounces go your way.

“My older brothers all played, and I just looked up to them. Three brothers and we all played hockey, so it was an easy choice watching my older brothers.

Oldest brother Gary played junior hockey with the Buffalo Regals, Jr. Sabres and Jr. Blades, Dylan played in the QMJHL (Moncton) and the OHL (Kitchener) after going through Nichols School and the Jr. Sabres. Younger brother, Brody, is with the Jr. Sabres in the OJHL this season.

And Colby Seitz spent five seasons with the Jr. Sabres organization before jumping to Corpus Christie in the NAHL for his final season of junior hockey.

“My parents loved being able to catch as many games as they can, so it worked out. (Corpus Christie) reached out to me the year prior. Actually, got drafted by Lone Star and then they traded me and once I got there, I found my role and things worked out from there.”

The Red Dragons made the playoffs one year prior to Seitz and his classmates arrived and have been a solid top-four team in their SUNYAC conference since.

“Last year we all came in and knew we could make a difference. We knew we could come in and do a lot. It (last year) didn’t end the way we wanted (losing in the first round on home ice),  but I think we have a pretty good chance to make a nice run this year.

“Every year I think we’re trying to build on what we did last year and hopefully this year we can get by that first round and who knows after that. Anything can happen in this league, it’s crazy.’

(Photos provided by Cortland Athletics/Men’s Hockey Departments)

Baldwinsville’s Tretowicz Making His Last Season Count

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By Warren Kozireski —

Plattsburgh senior forward Adam Tretowicz joined the Cardinals for their unusual under .500 campaign in 2019-20 and then 20-21 was cancelled. Since the 5’11” 175 lb. graduate student was named an assistant captain as a junior and saw his team win the SUNYAC tournament before losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

This season as captain, the Cardinals are back to their more familiar setting ranked in the top-five in Division I while the Baldwinsville native has already set personal bests for points (18, third on the team) and assists (13, second on the team) as of this writing.

“It’s always good to win anywhere, but on the road, it brings the team together with everyone chipping in and it was a really good one tonight,” Tretowicz said after Plattsburgh defeated nationally ranked Geneseo on the road.

“We lost two really good captains last year and I just kind of wanted to step in. I knew we were going to have a really good team again this year, so that’s one of the reasons why I came back (for his fifth year). Anything I can do to help is kind of my role here.”

“He plays in important faceoff, penalty kill, he’s a leader on this team, he’s scoring some goals for us, he does it all as a 200-foot guy and he’s really developed himself into a really good leader over the last three or four years,” Plattsburgh head coach and 2023 SUNYAC Coach of the Year Steve Moffat said.

“He’s the heartbeat of the team.”

His father, Dave, played for Clarkson University in the late 80’s-early 90’s before he spent three seasons in the now-defunct International Hockey League (IHL) with Phoenix and Fort Wayne. That made it inevitable that son would follow.

“I’ve had skates on since I can remember, so it’s been a long road over 20 years now.

Tretowicz played one season of high school hockey at Baldwinsville before jumping to the Buffalo Jr. Sabres for four years, the last as captain, where he put up 40, 48 and 60 points in his final three seasons.

“It was close by, and they had a good program and I played against a bunch of those kids growing up playing summer tournaments with them and they wanted me to go there. I just liked it there and I had a great time there and it led me to here, so I can’t be happier. I was young enough where my parents were driving so, I thank them for that.”

He led all Cardinal rookies in goals, assists and points and was named the Mike Daoust ’01 Rookie of the Year in his freshman season. He has had steady offensive numbers throughout before his coming-out party this year, but he is not looking too far ahead.

One good thing about the lost pandemic year was it allowed players like Tretowicz to play for a fifth season and get a Graduate degree with the extra time. His is in Data Analytics.

“Just going to finish the season and then see what happens. My dad has been telling me to get a job, so that’s what I’m working on, but just trying to focus on one game at a time.”

“It’s a little bit emotional sometimes, but you try not to think about it because just being around the guys is contagious. It’s going to be the last time in my life being around guys and being competitive, so just embracing it right now.”

(Photos provided by Plattsburgh Athletic Department/Men’s Hockey)

Orchard Park’s Loughran Taking One Final Lap With Griff’s

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By Warren Kozireski —

Canisius College senior forward Griffin Loughran may be donning the uniform of his third college hockey team and has been fighting through his share of injuries this season, but he stands 20th among active Division I players with 92 career points and 18th in goals with 41.

And he has accomplished everything offensively while playing a scrappy, in-your-face style.

“I gotta play a certain way; I’ll do whatever it takes to get the boys fired up whether that’s scoring goals or making a big hit,” Loughran said in early February. “Energy is important especially this late in the year so whatever it takes right now.”

The 5’7”, 146 lb. 25-year-old had three solid seasons with Northern Michigan, especially his sophomore campaign with 23 goals and leading the team with 39 points in 37 games, before registering 12 more points in one season at Michigan State.

After a season off, he decided to return home for a final go-round in front of family and friends and where four family members previously attended.

“Just situational stuff,” Loughran said about transferring. “I like it at Northern (but) wanted to play somewhere a  little better. Went to (Michigan) State and then things didn’t work out there so nothing better than home so came home for my last two years and it’s been great ever since.”

Earlier in his hockey development Loughran started with West Seneca and then spent 2013-14 with the Buffalo Regals before joining the Buffalo Jr, Sabres for two years and racked up 114 points in 74 games with the 18U AAA squad.

That launched him into the NAHL with Youngstown and Corpus Christi in 2016-17 and 42 points in 50 games with Fargo in the USHL one year later prior to college.

“I was a young guy in Youngstown and wasn’t getting a lot of playing time, so they sent me down to Corpus. They didn’t want me back, so Fargo drafted me, and we beat Youngstown in the finals (where he was named MVP in the Clark Cup).

“Favorite memory so far but if we get another Atlantic Hockey championship that will be ahead of it.”

Loughran dabbled in lacrosse as well in his younger days in Orchard Park, something he feels helped him with his work ethic.

“The legendary (Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee) Gene Tundo was my head coach and I feel like that’s the sport where I learned to work how I do on the ice. Take an inch, give a mile. Lacrosse is fun.

“Lacrosse is a nasty sport. You can whack whoever you want…so I think that leads into a little bit here (hockey) where if it’s a ground ball or a loose puck you just have to work. Grind it out and go to war.”

Playoff mind set.

(Photos provided by Canisius Athletics and Men’s Hockey)

Raptors Report From Broome County, NY

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BY MICHAEL MEYERS –

The New York Raptors played in the 2024 Special Hockey Festival Tournament held in Broome County on February 24 and 25.

On Saturday, Feb. 24 the Raptors played a game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Ice House Complex. The Raptors played as a combined team with with the Central Park Stars and Space Coast Super Canes.

The Raptors and Flyers played to a 9-9 tie. The Raptors record is now 3-2-1.

The Raptors Combine Team played a second game on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. The Raptors and Devils played to a 5-5 tie. The Raptors record is now 3-2-2.

The Raptors Combine Team and Devils played again later that day. The Devils defeated the Raptors, 6-3. The Raptors record now stands at 3-3-2.

On Sunday the Raptors played the Virginia Cool Cats. They defeated the Cool Cats, 9-7.

The Raptors record is now 4-3-2.

(Ed. Note – Michael also reported that there was one Raptor injured during the two days. It was Michael. He is OK and didn’t miss too much game time. RS)

Mahopac’s Nolan Helping Stabilize Black Knights Blueline

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Jan 19, 2024; West Point, New York — Army takes on Air Force in an NCAA Division I college hockey game at Tate Rink at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Photo by Danny Wild/Army West Point

By Warren Kozireski —

The points have been a little harder to come by since his junior hockey days, but West Point blueliner Owen Nolan is playing a key role for Army as they enter the postseason.

“We have ten “D” and we have been playing all ten because they are all so close together,” Army head coach Brian Riley said. “When “O” is out there, he can skate (and) he gives us a physical presence. He is steady and when the puck is on his stick, he makes good decisions.

“We don’t have one senior (on our defense), so every game we’re getting probably two or three new guys in, and I think that’s helped us.”

After playing in only eight games as a freshman and garnering his first point—an assist Jan. 13 versus Canisius—he has dressed for 20 games in 2023-24 and registered three assists.

“Trying to find a role early on has been important for me,” Nolan said late in the regular season. “As a team we’re trying to play a little more physical and that’s a presence I bring, so it’s good to contribute when I can.

“The penalties have been ramping up a bit for me which I have to control so the physical presence I bring helps the team. We have a really strong back end and I feel like that’s a strong part of the team so being able to rotate ten guys in is pretty beneficial and I don’t think a lot of the teams in our league can do that.”

Older brother, Tommy, also played collegiately at Cortland State and their father, who played as a kid in the Bronx, coached both growing up.

The 6’0”, 185 lb. Nolan committed to West Point as a 19-year-old in his final year at Millbrook, played two more years of junior hockey and then headed to the banks of the Hudson River.

“Played with the Westchester Express basically my whole life until I was 16, 17 and then went to Millbrook prep school in New York. From there went out to Surrey (BCHL) and played there for a little bit and then went to Lone Star (NAHL).

“I enjoyed it (Surrey). I went out there once in the spring to go to a camp and I fell in love with it, so I tried to out there with one of the better teams and it ended up working out, so it was a fun experience.”

And why Army?

“A lot of things. I think I wanted to challenge myself at a school and I think I wanted a different experience, and it is a very different experience. So, I’m taking it one day at a time.”

(Photos provided by United States Military Academy/Army Men’s Hockey Team)

Batavia Notre Dame United Wins First Section V Championship

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By Warren Kozireski —

Junior Joe DiRisio banged home the rebound of a Maggio Buccholz shot from the point 4:01 into overtime to launch Batavia Notre Dame United to a 3-2 victory over Webster Thomas and their first Class B Section V title as a combined program.

Senior defenseman Brennen Pedersen opened the scoring on his first shift of the game with a shot from the right point with  Jameson Motyka assisting to stake BND to a 1-0 first period lead.

“I don’t score many; I just try to throw it on net and not have it get blocked,” Pedersen said. “I came off the bench and saw the puck coming out of the zone and I got up there and cranked it and got it on net.”

They made it 2-0 at 5:25 as leading scorer Ivan Milovidov grabbed a turnover at the blueline and scored an unassisted goal.

At 13:22 of the second Webster-Thomas sophomore Cameron Hall netted his team-leading12th goal of the season after an assist from Theadore Paprocki to close the gap to one goal.

After killing a BND power play late in the third period, the Titans tied the game 2-2 as senior Ryan Goel scored at 13:22 with an assist from classmate Trevor Veno.

BND then was called on to kill a Titans power play over the final two minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime for DiRisio’s game-winner.

“Stick to our game, we knew we needed to stay calm, we needed to possess the puck and everything else would fall into place,” DiRisio said. “There are no words to describe it.

“It’s a lot of history for Batavia—46 years for the Ice Devils and 34 years for the Fighting Irish and this is the third year that we’ve been together, and this was the vision,” BND head coach Marc Staley said.

Batavia Notre Dame will host Kenmore East at noon Saturday at RIT’s Polisseni Center in the New York Regional playoffs while Webster-Thomas gets an at-large berth to the state playoffs and will play Section III’s Skaneateles.

(Photo provided by Warren Kozireski/NY Hockey OnLine)

McQuaid Wins First Section V Crown Since 2015

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By Warren Kozireski —

It has been a minute or two since McQuaid tasted success in high school hockey. 2015 in fact when they won a New York State title.

They ended that drought coming back from a 2-0 deficit with four unanswered goals to win 4-2 and end the Cinderella run of Portside, who had defeated second-seed Hilton and top-seed Pittsford in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, respectively.

The Portside Royals (Brockport & Spencerport) took a 1-0 first period lead on their first shot of the game 6:52 in as Justin Pastorella fed Kevin Eckerd for the goal.

At 11:03 of the second, Pastorella fed Connor Thomas for another tally putting the Royals ahead 2-0.

McQuaid began their comeback late in the second period as freshman Chase Brock assisted Jack Cellery’s power play marker giving the Knights some momentum heading into the locker room.

On the first shift of the third, the Knights tied the game 2-2 as Lou Zaari pounded in the fourth rebound as McQuaid was swarming the Portside net.

Just 47 seconds later Brock set his shot from the left faceoff circle just inside the near post to give McQuaid a 3-2 lead.

Brock added an insurance tally with a rebound goal at 15:23 of the third for the final margin.

“Very happy; little stressed and the adrenaline is going, but looking forward to celebrating,” Brock said. “In the locker room I think we all knew that it was going to happen and great leaders on our team really took us through it.

“Our big thing last year was going into games and taking teams for granted and this year we play every team the same way no matter who they are.”

“We built throughout the year, but our first period wasn’t one of our better periods of the year…but they were able to regroup and start to turn it on and start to compete and turn it up in the third,” McQuaid head coach Joe Dugan said.

“It has been a moment that was being built towards and also credit to the guys who aren’t with us now who were part of that. Building the culture and competitiveness the way we wanted that done and it is nice to get a result for that.”

McQuaid advances to the New York State tournament and will host Ithaca Saturday at 2:30pm at RIT’s Polisseni Center.

(Photo provided by Warren Kozireski)

WNYGVIH Federation Names All-Fed Teams*

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Photos and Story by Janet Schultz, NYHOL©

The 2023-24 WNYGVIH Federation Season has come to an end. While Niagara County took the 2024 Federation Championship, they lost in the Section VI Championships to Kenmore/Grand Island/Lockport. 

KenGiPort went on to face Canton in the NYS Regional Championship where they won and then lost to Adirondack United in the Championship. 

On the Private Championship for the League, St. Mary’s of Lancaster prevailed over Monsignor Martin and placed 5th in the League.

The Coaches met and have named the 2024 All-Fed Teams.

First Team: 

On Forward are Bella Jayme, KenGiPort, Izzy Bourgeault, KenGiPort and Maya Griffin, FFLOP.

On Defense, Jocelyn Smaczniak, FFLOP and Jenny Wild, CASH.

In Goal: Kennedy Ruest, NiCo.

Jayme and Bourgeault each had a record-breaking season landing them on the All-Time Scoring List at #6 and #8, respectively. Jayme has 69 goals and 56 assists in 95 games played and Bourgeault has 52 goals and 65 assists in 98 games. This season alone Jayme scored 23 goals and 24 assists and Bourgeault, 20 goals and 20 assists to put them in first and second place in Year-End scoring totals.

Griffin is fifth this season with 14 goals and 14 assists in 19 games played. She is on the “radar” for the All-Time Career Points list.

Defenders Smaczniak and Wild made their mark for their teams as they put pucks in the net and served penalty minutes in the box. Smaczniak had 3 goals and 11 assists, including one game-winner along with 13.5 penalty minutes. Wild had 4 goals and 2 assists, a game-winner and 3 minutes in penalties.

In Goal Ruest played 904.56 minutes, making 385 saves on 414 shots. She had four shutouts and a .930 save percentage and .930 GAA. Ruest record was 16 wins and 4 losses in regular and post-season play. Ruest is #22 on the All-Time Goaltending Record.

Second Team: 

Forwards Sam Latini, NiCo; Abby Zimmerman, NiCo and Alexandria Franke, Monsignor Martin.

Defenders Lila Cudney, FFLOP and Madeline Marzec, KenGiPort.

Goaltender Samantha Horne, KenGiPort.

Latini put up 20 goals and 17 assists this season, playing in 20 games. Her teammate Zimmerman was just behind her with 19 goals and 17 assists in 19 games played. Latini had four game-winning goals and Zimmerman had two. Franke logged 12 goals and 2 assists, with three game-winners in her 17 games. Latini and Zimmerman are both “on the radar” for the All-Time Career Scoring List.

Cudney and Marzec could be counted on to help their goalie and keep pucks from the net. They also scored with Cudney having 7 goals and 9 assists with two game-winners. Marzec had a goal and three assists with nine penalty minutes.

Another outstanding goaltender in the Federation, Horne stopped 343 of 375 sog in 903.53 minutes of play. She had six shutouts and posted a 19-3 win-loss record. Horne had a .915 save percentage and 1.59 GAA.

Third Team: 

Forwards Sophia Phillips, HHEWS; Emily Lysiak, LIDA and Avery Szczesek, St. Marys of Lancaster.

On Defense Hailey Cooper, HHEWS and Faith O’Connor, NiCo.

In Goal Kerrigan McCarthy, FFLOP

Phillips played in 18 games and posted 11 goals and 4 assists including 2 game-winners. Lysiak had 4 goals and an assist in 17 games. Szczesek kept St. Mary’s of Lancaster in the game with 13 goals and 8 assists in 18 games, including two game-winners.

H. Cooper and Faith O’Connor made their marks in the assisting with Cooper having six and O’Connor 15.

Another outstanding goaltender McCarthy  posted 273 saves on 300 shots for a .910 save percentage and 2.29 GAA. She played 530.73 minutes posting a 9-5 record with two shutouts.

Honorable mentions went to: Brynn Cafferty, LIDA; Madison Mallone, NiCo; Teagan Willats, KenGiPort; Amelia Homac, LIDA; Gabe Lowell, St, Marys; Shannon Pogorzala, Williamsville; Morgan Cooper, HHEWS; Addison Cherry, Monsignor Martin; Ella Celej, CASH; Avery Hall, St. Marys of Lancaster; Betsy Accurso, St. Marys’ Ella Buczynski, HHEWS; Carly Irzycki, LIDA and ate Kelley, Monsignor Martin.

Accurso is #5 on the All-Time Goaltending List after just one season in the league. She played 530 minutes and made 161 saves on 171 goals. She has a 5 wins, 1 loss record with a .942 save percentage.

This year’s Coach of the Year is Gregg Grosskopf of NICo. Grosskopf and his assistants, Michael Dunlop and Shawn Latini, coached the NiCo team to a 13-3-0 regular season, going undefeated for 9 games before losing to LIDA in January. Grosskopf took Coach of the Year honors his first year out when NiCo fought hard with a new and young team, ending in last place, winless.

Honorable Mention:

*Statistics as of posting 2/13/2024 WNYGVIH Stats

Irondequoit’s Fitzpatrick Inducted Into Amerks Hall of Fame

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By Warren Kozireski —

The Rochester Americans ushered in the team’s 68th member of the Amerks Hall of Fame Friday night in defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick.

“It’s special; it’s an emotional night for us as a family,” Fitzpatrick said. “Having been raised here, been an Amerks fan for so long and I keep telling people that growing up we wanted to be a Rochester American. We didn’t have a ton of access to the NHL and the names I remember growing up are from the Amerks.”

Born and raised in Rochester, the 49-year-old spent his early professional career in various cities in the NHL and AHL before landing back in his hometown in 2001.

Fitzpatrick’s career began with the Rochester Monarchs before he headed north to the Ontario Hockey League with Sudbury Wolves before turning pro to join Fredericton in the AHL for their playoff run. He would go on to play in the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Nashville Predators organizations until getting the call from Buffalo.

“When I signed here in 2001, we had our daughter and one on the way, so the intention at that point was to play here as long as I could and create that home.

“My first game here was shortly after 9/11, it was a full barn and the (American) flag was draped through the whole ice and it was  a very surreal time, and the crowd was really into it. In the arena you felt part of something special, so I think that game, my first game here, was definitely one of the more memorable ones.”

From there, Fitzpatrick went on to spend five of his final nine pro seasons in an Amerks uniform, including his final two seasons from 2008-2010, where he served as team captain.

In total he played in 211 games with Rochester, accruing 14 goals, 50 points, and 240 penalty minutes. While the on-ice accolades are noteworthy, Fitzpatrick made a concerted effort off the ice, giving back to the community that made him the McCulloch Trophy recipient, given to the player whose commitment to the Rochester community goes above and beyond, in four of his five season with the Amerks.

“As a teenager you hope, and you have a lot of dreams but to have played in the NHL and then to be able to come home and play for my hometown team is beyond anything imaginable in my teenage years.”

(Photos From Rochester Americans Hockey Team)