Playing in the High School Christmas Tournament at Leisure Rinks in Orchard Park December 23 through December 29, 2015, the Iroquois Varsity Chiefs exhibited much potential with two wins and two losses. After losing a heartbreaking game to Orchard Park A 3-5 on the 23rd, they battled back later that same day to defeat Olean 7-0. On the 28th, the Chiefs continued with winning momentum defeating Depew 5-1. In the quarterfinals, the Chiefs lost to Orchard Park A 2-7.
On December 30, 2015, the Chiefs suffered a hard hit to their so far successful league record, losing to the Buffalo Explorers 5-7. In this high scoring game, the end of the first period saw the teams tied 1-1. Scoring for the Chiefs was Alden’s Gage Mueller with an assist by defenseman Garrett Miller.
In the second period, Mueller scored his second with an assisted by Alex Held and Alden’s Spencer Hrynczak. Iroquois rounded out the second period with a 3-2 lead when Held got his own tally on a pass from Adam Czech.
Buffalo cranked up the heat scoring four unanswered goals early in the third period. Iroquois fought back late in the third when Joe Russo sent a pass to defenseman Garrett Miller who buried a slap shot from the point. Refusing to surrender, Iroquois’ Dylan Giancarlo slammed a pass from Gage Mueller between the Buffalo goal tenders legs for the Chiefs with just 45 seconds left on the clock. Iroquois pulled the goalie in a last ditch effort to tie the game, but Buffalo answered just 39 seconds later with their own empty net goal leaving Iroquois Alden with their second league loss of the season. Iroquois and Buffalo have split both their league games this season.
The Chiefs play again January 3rd at Leisure Rinks against East Aurora/ Holland followed by a game January 10th at 4:00pm vs Lancaster at Depew Ice Rink.
