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Hobart became just the fourth Division III men’s hockey program to win three consecutive championships with a 2-1 overtime win at Utica Sunday night.
“I’m really happy for this group; from day one they set some impressive goals for the program and they met them,” Hobart head coach Mark Taylor said.
“To get it once is a heck of an accomplishment, to get it twice you feel very grateful and three times I thought this one was challenge met.”
After a scoreless first period, Utica took a 1-0 lead as sophomore forward Eric Vitale netted his third goal of the NCAA playoffs on a rebound with assists from sophomore forward Andrew Della Rovere and senior forward Matt Wood.
Top seed Hobart tied it at 8:35 of the third period after a neutral zone turnover. Freshman forward Easton Ryan scored with assists from senior forward Luke Aquaro and sophomore defenseman Bauer Morrissey (Skaneateles).
Hobart ended the game with 1:36 remining in the first overtime on junior forward Khalil Fontana’s goal.
“It took a weird bounce off the backwall I think and just popped off in front of the net and I saw the D trying to jump and I knew I had to get the puck on my other side and around him…then I just tried to make sure that I got that one on net,” Fontana said.
“Obviously a gut-wrencher for us, heartbreaker,” Utica head coach Gary Heenan said. “I was worried about us being in awe of that team. We had to weather the first five minutes and then I then I thought we took over. I liked our fight…I liked out game plan and that’s one helluva hockey team.”
Hobart joins Wisconsin-Stevens Pont (1989, 1990, 1991) and Middlebury twice (1995-99, 5 years and 2004, 2004, 2006) to win three consecutive titles.
Soon to be 18-year-old Will Moore is a bit of a rarity playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program though he spent most of his youth hockey days in Canada. That is because he holds dual citizenship.
“My dad is from Ithaca; my granddad was an (American History) professor at Cornell. I was born in Mississauga but have a lot family (in Ithaca) and go back there all the time,” Moore explained.
“I grew up in Ontario, played in Ontario my whole life but now play for the red, white and blue and that’s all I go by now.”
Moore spent three seasons with the Mississauga Senators program in the Greater Toronto Hockey League and one year with the Toronto Marlboros before heading to Plymouth, Michigan and the USNTDP.
Team USA’s leading scorer through the end of January with 17 goals and 14 assists, the 6’2”, 175 lb. center is headed to Boston College this fall. But before that he will be picked in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft probably in the second or third round as he was ranked 32nd among North American skaters by Central Scouting in their midterm rankings.
The coaching staff has Moore playing in all situations including the first power play unit and the penalty kill plus most of the defensive zone draws.
“It’s going good (and) getting better every day,” Moore said about his current campaign. “Trend in the right direction and hope for a big second half. The team itself, I think, is in a great spot and we’re all just looking toward a gold medal.
“I play very offensive, very high IQ in creativity…to help elevate my linemates. I’d say this year I’ve developed more of a 200-foot game and just continuing to grow. I built size over the summer and being able to translate that power to the ice has been a big help. Also, a lot of studying video and finding all the ways that I can help my team on both sides of the ice.
“I put in a lot of effort in practice working on faceoffs, so a lot of work goes in behind the scenes building trust in practice and games and it’s an honor to be out there in key situations helping out my team and I try to make the best of it.”
As for Boston College?
“Everything was perfect about it. Love the coaching staff, the campus was amazing, there’s nothing I don’t like honestly.”
And looking way ahead to his professional hockey future, Moore will undoubtedly be in the team band playing keyboards.
“Played at Carnegie Hall and won some competitions; it was fun.”
When 2024 Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick Konsta Helenius left the Rochester Americans to join Team Finland for the 2025 IIHF U-20 World Junior championships in Ottawa, he was tied for 14th in the American Hockey League among rookies with 17 points.
That tied him for fifth on Rochester through his first 28 games as the youngest player in the league as he will not turn 19 years old until May 11. His scoring pace puts him on track for 43 points. For comparison, fellow first rounder Juri Kulich garnered 46 points in his rookie AHL season.
He was also tied for fourth on the Amerks with five power play points and was 1-for-3 in shootout attempts. Not a bad start for someone who moved to North America just a few months ago.
“I had a really good season last year,” Helenius said just prior to leaving for the World Juniors. “I think it’s good for me to play here; small ice hockey because in Europe there is bigger rinks. Everything (here) comes faster and more battles because of the smaller ice, so guys are closer to you.”
Part of his quick maturity showed on Rochester’s first goal in their final home game before the holiday break. Rochester head coach Michael Leone felt earlier in the season Helenius would have tried to go one-on-one with the defenseman, but twenty-plus games as a pro later, he passed leading to a goal by defenseman Nikita Novikov.
“First games of the season are always hard to play, so maybe now we’re getting good chemistry with our line, so it gives us confidence to make plays.”
(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Described in The Hockey News 2024 Draft Preview by a scout: “the production is there, the pace is there, the vision and awareness and ability to finish. If he wasn’t 5-foot-11 is he challenging for top five?”
The Buffalo organization is not shielding the rookie as he is a regular on both the power play and the penalty kill this season.
“I like that because you have to be (a) smart player if you want to play PK. Of course I like to be on the ice, doesn’t matter what situation, so I like that.”
Born in Ylöjärvi, Finland—located north of Helsinki—the 5’11, 185 lb. right shot center entered this season after scoring the fourth most points by a player his age in Liiga history behind only Alexander Barkov, Mikael Granlund and Kaapo Kakko.
He does have hockey DNA as his father, Tero, played as a teenager for Tappara in Finland while his older brother, Kalle, also started with Tappara and is now in his second season with Jukurit.
For several weeks, Helenius and teammate Anton Wahlberg of Team Sweden competed in the World Junior tournament each for the second time. Helenius last year had one goal and one assist over the seven games.
Both can tap into the knowledge gained by teammates Juri Kulich, who was named to the tournament All-Star team, and Isak Rosen, both of whom competed in their second World Junior tournament a year ago.
Not that Helenius needs much advice after scoring a shootout goal in a round-robin victory over Sweden last year.
“Always nice to play on the national team. A lot of games since last year’s (tournament) and a long summer with good practice every day, so I’m faster and stronger. One thing that will help me is being here in the AHL. It’s small ice in Ottawa, so I think it’s good for me that I’m here.
As for any personal goals set for the tournament, Helenius does not hesitate.
“Of course I want to win gold there. That’s the goal for everyone. Personally, just play well. I think if you play good, everything else comes with that.”
Here are some updates for the NY Raptors 2024-25 season.
Back on January 12, the Raptors played a home game against the Long Island Blues at the Westchester Ice Skating Rink in Elmsford, NY. The Raptors lost to the Blues, 11-8, with the Raptors record standing at 1-3-1.
On January 26 the Raptors played against the Southern Connecticut Storm Special Hockey, Inc. While they played their best game of the year, the Raptors lost, 6-4. New York’s record dropped to 1-4-1.
On February 21, 22 and 23 the Raptors travelled to Broome County in Binghamton, NY to play in the 2025 Special Hockey Festival Tournament. The Raptors first game was against the New Jersey Date Devils on Feb. 22 at 9 a.m. at the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.
New Jersey defeated the Raptors, 9-6.
On the same day, at 1 p.m., the Raptors played their second game of the day, this one against the Beaver County Ice Sharks Special Hockey at the outdoor farm ice rink on the farm located in Vestal, NY. The Raptors defeated the Ice Sharks, 8-4.
Finally, on Sunday, Feb. 23, the Raptors played the Buffalo Sabres Thunder Special Hockey at the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. The Raptors lost to the Sabres Thunder, 10-7. A special congratulation goes to David Inz who recorded his first hat trick ever.
The Raptors record now stands at 2-6-1 for the 2024-25 season.
(Photo by Mary Meyers Photography, taken at Binghamton, NY)
One leads the team in goals while the other leads in assists and blocked shots, but either way sophomores Spencer and Schuyler Flansburg are impacting SUNY Brockport at both ends of the ice…together.
The Saratoga Springs natives wear jersey numbers 23 and 24 and play on the same line together as they have for most of the past 20 years. Schuyler is a center and Spencer a right wing.
“Best part is you wake up every day, you say good morning and get the day going and when you get to the rink it’s all business,” Schuyler said. “It’s like playing with your childhood brother out on the pond; it’s a lot of fun.
“Even in juniors most coaches started out separating us to see what we can do and halfway through the year the coaches said, ‘why wouldn’t I put these two together.’ We always seem to do our best when we’re on the same line.”
“We have something that a lot of players don’t with that chemistry,” Spencer said. “It’s kind of funny how we just where each other is and knowing exactly what he’s going to do. It kind of helps us out and sometimes it screws us up, but it’s a lot of fun playing with him.
The two have played on the same team throughout with four years with the Connecticut Jr. Rangers prior to college and two seasons before that with CP Dynamo in the capital region. And all those youth hockey teams.
“I feel like every team either wants us both or they don’t want us at all,” Spencer said. “It’s always been like that and it’s something special. We both have the same playing style though he may be a little heavier.”
“We knew we had to get bigger with some skill; they hound pucks, they skate well and shoot the puck hard and we need those guys to be on the scoresheet every night and when they are we know we have a good chance to win,” Brockport head coach Brian Dickinson said.
“And they’re really good character guys too; such a great family a really good in the locker room with everybody—older guys and younger guys—and we have then for two more years which is nice.”
Schuyler missed some time (eight games) during his freshman year with an injury that needed surgery, so the two are somewhat still adapting to the college game together.
As of Jan. 24, Spencer sat atop the team scoring chart with ten points on four goals and six assists while Schuyler was fifth with five goals and two assists. Both have a power play goal.
“He’s always been the goal scorer and I’ve been the assist guy and setup man. Him finding the ice again after his surgery and working those mechanics out and finding his confidence again. Once we both hit the same page it will be something special that a lot of people haven’t seen yet.”
And both fighting for bragging rights at future Thanksgiving dinners about who was the better player.
“At the beginning of the year we usually have an ‘I’m gonna beat you’ aspect, but this year we’ve have a different mentality,” Schuyler said. “He had a hot start and he’s going to keep it going and I just luckily got on a hot streak. At the end of the year, we’ll get back at each other, but as of now it’s just been fun.”
“We’ll both say we were better, but at the end of the day I think we know we couldn’t have done it without each other,” Spencer said.
(Photos provided by Brockport Athletic Department)
The Tim Horton’s Iceplex in Rochester was dotted with hockey jerseys from Bowling Green, Oswego, Clarkson and Nazareth as hockey alumni traveled miles to be part of Nazareth head coach George Roll’s final home game as he retires following a 28-year college coaching career—all in New York State.
Roll started the program in 2012 and the Golden Flyers defeated Geneseo 3-2 in overtime in their first game. Full circle moment 13 years later and Nazareth again defeated the Knights 7-4.
“With the amount of guys who came back and the effort from our team tonight it’s very emotional when it’s the end of the road, but I’m so proud of the way we played tonight,” Roll said. “It’s very similar to the way we played when we beat them the first time.”
The Illinois native played four seasons with Bowling Green winning a national championship in 1984 before embarking on his coaching career beginning as a graduate assistant at his alma mater for one year prior to taking up residence in New York.
Seven years as an assistant at Clarkson University preceded his first head coaching job at Oswego State in 1996-97 and SYUNYAC title in 2003. Seven years later Division I came calling and Roll headed back to Clarkson as head coach and won a league championship in 2007. Eight years later and following a year off, he was charged with starting up the men’s hockey program at Nazareth College where he just wrapped up his 13th and final season.
“It was a special night and one that I will never forget. A lot of my Bowling Green friends came back from college, some Potsdam people; it just means a lot to me. You worry about the wins and losses so much, but it’s about the relationships and friendships that matter.
“I’m really thankful to be a part of Naz hockey; it’s been a great run for me.”
Hanging on his office door in the hockey locker room complex hangs a sign that says, “A good coach can change a year, A great coach can change a life.”
Indeed.
(Photo provided by Nazareth Athletic Department/Hockey Team)
PWHL - 20250223 - Buffalo - New Sirens vs Boston Fleet
By Warren Kozireski —
Third year pro Aerin Frankel showed once again why she is considered one of the best goaltenders in the Professional Women’s Hockey League as her Boston Fleet played in Buffalo in late February as part of the league’s Takeover Tour.
She made 37 saves over 65 minutes and then stopped all five shootout attempts by the New York Siren in the win.
“We trust each other and I think we’ve been building a lot of momentum these past few games and finding our team identity along the way,” Frankel said in the postgame press conference. It’s not a fun game if I only face five shots so those are the games that are more fun and getting the win is the most important thing.”
“We know what she can do and we’re very confident in her every day…we’re lucky to have her,” teammate Hannah Brandt said.
Frankel left her Westchester area home and Horace Greely High at 16 years old to play at Shattuck St. Mary’s for three seasons where her highest season goals against average was 1.20.
Then it was off to Northeastern University in Boston as a true-freshman where she played for five seasons winning the Patty Kazmier Award—the highest honor for a women’s college hockey player—in her fourth year when she posted a miniscule .81 goals against average and otherworldly .965 save percentage.
In two of her seasons with the Huskies, she crossed over on the men’s side with Buffalo Sabres prospect goaltender Devon Levi.
“She is unbelievable, she can stop the puck, she is really good,” Levi said. “I had a few conversations with her at when I was at school. She was a historic Northeastern goaltender; she broke all the records and it was really cool to be on other side of that watching.
“We respect each other’s games as smaller goalies compared to everyone else in the league…I love how she plays.”
This season Frankel through 15 games stood second in the PWHL among starters with a 1.89 GAA and .933 save percentage. She has ten of the Fleet’s 11 wins.
“She’s the best goalie in the world and countless times she has kept us in games and kept us rolling through playoffs last year,” Boston head coach Courtney Kessel said. “She’s just so steady and never too high or too low, you always get the same effort from her and a tremendous goalie leader for our other two.
“I think sometimes our players lean on her a bit too much at times. We’d like to lean on her a little bit less, but there is always confidence that Frankel is going to get the job done.”
As with most trades in the National Hockey League that involve draft picks, it can take years to judge which team got the better of a particular transaction. So, Buffalo fans will need to be patient to see the return on their dealing of Jack Eichel to Vegas because the first-round draft choice they received as part of the package was Noah Ostlund, who is just starting his professional career this season in Rochester.
And he got off to a slower start than anyone wanted with just one goal over his first six games. Then came surgery on a hand injury that cost him 21 games and six more scoreless games upon his return to the lineup Dec. 20.
But since then, Ostlund has shown why Buffalo thought so highly of him that they made him the 16th overall pick in the first round in 2022. He has scored points in seven of the next 11 games including his first three-point effort Jan. 25 at Hartford and a two-point game on the first of February.
“Feeling better the last couple of weeks,” Ostlund said. “(Missing 21 games) was tough both mentally and physically too, but now I hoping to take advantage. I gained five or six pounds I think, so that was good for me.
“Our power play has been putting up some points (and) that’s been helping me as an offensive player that plays a lot there and the puck has been bouncing my way. Sometimes it bounces in and sometimes it doesn’t.
“I tend to be a two-way player so I like to both special teams; it’s fun to be out there to kill plays for the other team as well.”
“I’ve been telling you guys he’s the real deal.” Rochester head coach Michael Leone said. “He is everything you want as a coach. Every situation you can’t say enough good things about him. How hard he works behind the scenes downstairs (weight room), he’s a quiet worker.
“Noah gives you physicality in a different way, taking hits to make plays. He’s responsible, plays the game the right way, he’s always above the puck, he makes players around him better…and he’s a great puck distributor in transition. And I just appreciate as a coach his play away from the puck.
“He’s going to play hockey for a long time and he’s going to get even better.”
Ostlund, who turns 21 years old in March, spent most of his development years with Djurgarden in Sweden until last season when he was loaned to Laxgo. He sent a message with his play at the 2024 U-20 World Junior championships when he registered ten points in seven games against his peer group as assistant captain of Team Sweden.
He has been tagged as primarily a passer pre and post-draft with his vision of what’s happening on the ice a primary asset.
“I’ve always had very good IQ out there. I’ve been playing a lot of hockey growing up like small-ice games and watched a lot of hockey too and I just try to play to my instinct and not think too much out there, play mt game and use that as my strength.”
Most game days at the end of warmups, Ostlund finds a fan that he will flip a puck to, his way of giving back.
“If I see some kid who really wants a puck, I try to give them one; it’s not as hard for us and it means a lot to the kid. Back home (the fans) aren’t as close to the ice, but here it’s easier.”
Maturity and awareness beyond his years of experience both on and off the ice.
To win the Division II New York high school hockey regional and advance to the Final Four next weekend at Buffalo’s Harborcenter.
The two teams traded goals on the first two shifts of the game as Victor senior Simon Kowal, fresh of a hat trick in the Section V championship victory, scored with a backhander on the first shift 29 seconds into the contest.
Williamsville East, coming off their first Sectional title in a decade, tied the game 1-1 on the next shift as senior Nathan Sucher pounced on a loose puck and scored with assists from classmates Braden Sims and Jake Pullen at 1:52. Victor also killed off a five-minute boarding major penalty in the period.
“I don’t think my line has allowed a goal all playoffs so to get one scored on us 30 seconds into the game was a little unfortunate…but we settled in nicely I think…and we played our game eventually and I think it was nerves in a big game like this,” senior forward Gavin Ward said.
The Flames netted the only goal of the second period as Ward banged in the rebound from a Brody McDonell shot at 8:21.
And they gave themselves a two-goal lead just 1:20 into the third as junior Domenic Stachura found McDonell in the slot.
But Victor pulled to within a goal at 3:28 of the third as Kowal netted his second of the game with assists from Caleb Clark and John Abbott.
With the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker in the final two minutes of regulation, Ward was able to find the empty net from his own end at 15:19 to ice the game.
“Those kids played their butts off today,” Williamsville East head coach Mike Torillo said. “The first shift was the worst shift of the night, they got an earful and after that they played good hockey and didn’t up another goal until the third.
“We weathered a couple storms there is no doubt, but out guys answered the call. We played good defense today and Jake (senior goaltender Sexton) made the saves when he had to.”
The Flames will play the winner of Franklin Academy of Section X and two-time defending Division II state champion Skaneateles at 9am Saturday.
Section III four-time defending champion West Genesee overcame three one-goal deficits by scoring four of the last five goals of the game to defeat Section VI titlist Orchard Park 6-4 in the regional round of the New York high school hockey playoffs.
Orchard Park opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period as senior forward Jack Ciano converted a feed from classmate Justin Relosky at 14:34.
West Genesee tied the game on the power play in the second period as freshman Matthew Schneid banged home a lose puck at the side of the cage at 2:33 after Jacob Pensabene’s shot from the point hit the crossbar.
The Quakers retook the lead at 8:53 of the second when Ciano shot the puck over the left shoulder of the goaltender. But the Wildcats rebounded again on the power play as sophomore Nick Meluni redirected a shot from Carson Berg at 12:53 to tie the game 2-2.
35 second later, Orchard Park jumped back in front on a Brady Ciano goal but, 59 second later, the Wildcats responded as senior Christian Ball scored on his backhand converting a two-on-one break to tie the game 3-3.
West Genesee took their first lead of the game on the first shift of the third period as senior Jonah Vormwald scored with an assist from Ball. They made it 5-3 at 2:47 when Ball converted a two-on-one break one-timing a pass from Vormwald.
“We’re a defense-first team and it led to some transition goals late in the game,” Vormwald said. “We knew they were going to come out hard; they’re a fast team good in transition.”
Orchard Park senior Tyler Buchheit scored at 8:42 to close to within one, but West Genesee’s Meluni raced down the left wing and got the puck just under the crossbar at 13:48.
Orchard Park pulled their goaltender and went on the3 power play for the final 1:58 of the game but could not convert.
“We were just hoping to be in the game in the third period and fortunately we were,” West Genesee 31-year head coach Frank Colabufo said. “We’re happy to be coming back next weekend.
“There’s a lot of grit in that locker room, there’s a lot of character kids in there and I knew they weren’t going to quit, but I wasn’t sure that we were going to be able to break through. However they did it, they did it and we’re gong to be coming back in a week.”
West Genesee now advances to the Final Four for the 11th time in program history back at Buffalo’s Harborcenter next weekend trying to win their fifth New York State championship.
The Hobart Statesmen are trying to become just the fourth program in Division III history to win three consecutive national championships after they won the first two in school history in 2023 and 2024.
Picked in the preseason poll as #1 in the nation, all they have done since is remain atop that USCHO poll all season with just one loss and one tie.
The loss came after running out to a 17-0-0 record to Albertus Magnus in overtime on Jan. 31. The tie was in the final game of the regular season 0-0 at Babson.
“They know what they’re trying to prove; the goal is to constantly get better,” head coach Mark Taylor said after their first-round playoff victory over Albertus Magnus. “We have a strong tradition here of alums that are behind us and for us and guys take a lot of pride in trying to raise the banner a notch higher. That’s how we do it.
“We also trust the process and really respect the game of hockey. The name of the game is you have to bring it every single night no matter who you’re playing and whatever the score is.”
Hobart unsurprisingly dominated the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) winning their fourth consecutive regular season title and almost swept the postseason awards with Player of the Year Tanner Daniels, Goaltender of the Year Damon Beaver and now four-time Coach of the Year Mark Taylor as well as taking up four of the six slots on the All-Conference First Team.
Daniels led the league in points with 13 goals and 15 assists in league play. His 13 goals ranked first in the league while his 15 assists ranked tied for third in NEHC action. Only four of his 13 tallies were powerplay goals. Daniels also led the league with an impressive +26 plus/minus rating.
Beaver finished with a 9-1-0 record and led the league in save percentage (.948). Overall, the junior netminder led all Division III goaltenders with a .955 save percentage and finished second nationally in goals against average (1.08). Beaver finished the regular season with a 12-1-0 record and six shutouts, helping lead the Statesmen to the best scoring defense in the nation. He is tied for fourth in NCAA history with 19 career shutouts.
Besides Daniels and Beaver, senior forward Luke Aquaro and graduate student defenseman Austin Mourar were First Team selections, senior defenseman Cooper Swift was put on the Second Team while senior forward Shane Shell and sophomore defenseman Bauer Morrissey (Skaneateles) and Conor Lally were Third Team picks.
Add that the playoff victory March 1 marked the Statemen’s 50 consecutive victory at The Cooler in Geneva.
“I love the fans here. We don’t have 8,000 people here, but we have people here when it’s pretty cold and people here when it was freezing in here when it had no sides on it. They take care of us and we want to care of them. 50 means a lot because they were here in the fourth overtime when the students were on break. The 50 is for them.”
Hobart defeated Adrian in overtime to win the 2023 national championship and shut out Trinity in 2024. No matter what happens this coming weekend in the NEHC semi-finals and finals, they will receive a bid to the NCAA tournament trying to join Wisconsin-Stevens Pont (1989, 1990, 1991) and Middlebury twice (1995-99, 5 years and 2004, 2004, 2006) to win three consecutive titles.
Twins Adam and David Bullard each scored twice to lead third-seed Pittsford to a 4-1 victory over fourth-seed Portside to win their third Section V hockey championship over the past five years.
After a scoreless first period, Adam Pollard scored on a rebound from his own shot at 6:32 to put the Panthers ahead 1-0.
“It was great to be able to be the one that put in front; we’ve just been working really hard and it paid off,” Adam Pollard said.
The coaching staff paired the brothers on the same line about midway through the season. “We have a lot of chemistry together and are able to put up a lot of offensive pressure (and) a lot of points; it became a great line.”
After a disallowed goal due to a high stick one minute later, Portside tied the game as senior Justin Pastorella redirected a shot from classmate Landen Christ at 11:03.
But Pittsford broke the game open in the third period as David Pollard scored 3:14 in with an assist from his brother followed by a Ryan Schmalstitch rebound goal at 11:10 and an empty-net tally by senior defenseman Drew Ricketts with one minute remaining to seal the victory.
“He (Adam) just passed it to me and I was going in wide and saw an opportunity for a shot and it went in,” David Pollard said about his goal. “Any shot is a good shot in a championship game and anything can happen so I just want to put pucks on net and see what happens.”
“We had our ups and downs, they’re adjusting to me and I’m adjusting to them,” first year head coach Rory Foster said about the season. “I’m just happy for them that we have the opportunity to keep playing as a team and as a unit and it’s really just exciting to see them succeed.”
Pittsford advances to the state tournament and will play Section IV representative Ithaca Saturday at 4pm at Broome Community College.
Senior Simon Kowal scored a second period hat trick to help Victor open up a 6-2 lead on their way to a 6-3 victory marking their first since 2022 and first since dropping back to Class B since 2016.
The Blue Devils jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead as senior Nathan Romeis banged in the rebound of a Kowal shot from the left circle at 7:10. Then it was senior Caleb Clark also scoring a rebound goal off of senior defenseman Ian Kloiber’s point shot at 12:09.
In a wild second period, Batavia United cut the lead to one at 4:05 as senior Jameson Motyka’s shot from the blueline bounced off the end boards and off the goaltender and in.
On the next shift Kowal scored his first of the game on a give-and-go with Clark, but Batavia again clawed back on their next shift as Liam Berger got behind the defense and backhanded the puck in at 5:14 to again cut the lead to 3-2.
But Kowal scored two goals less than two minutes apart before the period was over making it 6-2 Blue Devils. Batavia’s Motyka scored the only goal of the third period.
“It feels unbelievable; it’s a dream of mine playing here at Polisseni,” Kowal said. “I had the opportunity to do that freshman and sophomore year…and to score a hat trick just lights me up even thinking about it.
“Definitely had some butterflies before the game and I knew this wasn’t going to be my last time putting on this jersey.”
“I’m so proud of these kids; these 12 seniors have been on an absolute journey, trusted the process the entire season,” Victor head coach Mike Ferreri said. “They played a complete game tonight.”
Victor entered the postseason on a five-game losing streak but are getting hot at the right time. They qualify for the state tournament and will play Section VI champion Williamsville East Saturday at 3pm at Harborcenter in Buffalo.
Lancaster opened the scoring in the 25th Super Sunday Section VI DII Championship Friday night. Tony Grimm scored, assisted by Max Hochulski with seven minutes left in the first period. Orchard Park answered that goal with four more to close out the first period 4-1.
Scoring for OP were Gavin Reashor, assisted by Sean Robertson and Alexander Saeli; Cameron McCarthy, assisted by Barret Anstett on the powerplay; Brennan O’Hara, unassisted and with 1:53 left Reashor, assisted by Saeli and Robertson dropped in the last puck of the first period.
Justin Relosky, assisted by McCarthy opened the scoring in the second period with 6:50 left. Just 12 seconds later Robertson added one, assisted by Cole Purrenhage. Lancaster switched Goaltender Dylan Gerth for Austin Williams. That didn’t stop Orchard Park as Purrenhage dropped one in assisted by Brady Ciano. Lancaster came back with two goals in the last 54 seconds of the game. Cooper Dee, assisted by Joey Wisniewski and Parker Serio scored with 54.5 seconds left and Carter Mendzyk added another with 3.1seconds left, assisted by Wisniewski. Second period ends 7-3 in favor of Orchard Park.
Anstett scored an empty netter with 1:59 left of the third period, unassisted.
Orchard Park takes their fourth consecutive Section VI Championship 8-3.
Goaltender Gerth faced 20 shots, saving 14 in 28 minutes of play for Lancaster and Austin Williams stopped 13 of 15 for Lancaster in 21 minutes.
For Orchard Park Matthew Schwarzott received the Miguel Rodriguez Outstanding Goaltender of the Game. He stopped 16 of 19 shots on goal.
(Photo gallery by Janet Schultz; all rights owned by NYHOL. Permission to copy or use can be obtained by emailing Janet@nyhockeyonline.com)
