By Janet Schultz, NYHOL
History remains consistent in the WNY Girl’s Varsity Ice Hockey Federation. No one can predict a winner. So for those of you wanting to, let’s look at the history of these two teams.
Kenmore and Williamsville are both season members of this league, coming in the first season. Later, Grand Island joined Kenmore.
Williamsville took the Federation Championship in that Inaugural Season, playing Orchard Park/Frontier in both Federation and Section VI championship games.
Season 2 brought Kenmore a Section VI Championship.
In the third season, Section VI Girls Hockey was brought into the NYS Championship series. That’s when this rivalry became real.
Kenmore beat Williamsville 2-1 in two overtimes to move on to the NYS series. There they lost in the first round.
But they had to come back home to face Williamsville in the Federation Championship series. They lost to Williamsville and then Williamsville lost to Monsignor Martin in the finals.
Kenmore maintained its championship status in Season Four by winning both the Section VI Championship and the Federation Championship.
Now a look at Kenmore/Grand Island facing Williamsville. In Season Five Kenmore (no Grand Island yet) beat Williamsville 6-1 for the Section VI title and then moves to the States where they made it to the Finals. They lost to Massena 3-0.
In the Federation finals they lost to Monsignor Martin.
Season Six found Kenmore/Grand Island playing Williamsville in the semi-finals of the Section VI series and beating them 4-1 to advance to the finals against OP/Frontier. Kenmore/Grand Island wins, goes back to the States and loses 3-2 to Alexandria Bay in the Championship.
Williamsville made it to the finals of the Federation Championship and lost to Monsignor Martin.
2016-17 marked the seventh season of the WNYGVIH Federation and once again Kenmore/Grand Island faced Williamsville in the semi-finals of the Section VI series. KGI beat Williamsville 4-2 but loses the championship to FLOP. Then FLOP defeats Williamsville for the Federation title.
FLOP was the power to beat in Season 8 and Williamsville lost to them for the Section VI title; FLOP also took the Federation title
Last season Williamsville beat FLOP 4-3 in the Section VI race, took the Championship and went on to win the NYS Championship 5-4 in overtime over Skaneateles.
In the Federation playoffs FLOP dominated with Williamsville and Kenmore losing to LID and FLOP, respectively, in the semi-finals.
Now you have the history, what’s your prediction.
Here’s how the semi-finals ended Thursday night.
Kenmore/Grand Island upset Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew in an amazing 3-0 shutout. No scoring in the first period and the first goal of the night coming in the second period, scored by Carissa Buyea, assisted by Kaylynn Savoy. Second period ends 1-0 in favor of Kenmore.
Abigail Blair did not disappoint as she dropped the puck in at the beginning of the third period and then Savoy secured the win by scoring an unassisted goal. The game ends 3-0 in favor of Kenmore/Grand Island. Blair also had an assist and Savoy had two assists.
Carolyn Bourgeault takes the shutout with 31 saves. In goal for LID, Dylan Gorski stopped 29 of 31.
It may sound as if I am repeating myself, but the Frontier/LakeShore/Orchard Park vs Williamsville game went the same way in the first period. No Score.
Williamsville game back on the ice in the second on the Power Play and they then got on the scoreboard first with a PPG by Jenna Cavalieri. Second period ends 1-0.
Williamsville’s Emma Roland put her mark on the game by scoring the second goal of the evening and then dropping in an unassisted empty-netter and the final is 3-0 Williamsville.
Mia Wendell gets the shutout for Williamsville, stopping 28 shots. In goal for FLOP was Kerrigan McCarthy, stopping 18 of 20 shots.
Williamsville is also the 2019-2020 Federation Champion after upsetting LID 8-1 last week.
Williamsville will face Kenmore/Grand Island at 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Arena in
. The winner of this Championship will move on to the States to face the Section VII victor, who at this point is unknown. There is an admission charge of $5 for adults for this game.
For those not familiar with Cornerstone, it is on Market Street in Lockport, just off Main Street. There is a restaurant in the building as well as a snack bar.
Come support these ladies!
(Editors Note: All photos are available for purchase by contact [email protected]. She can provide prints, enlargements, posters and also on flash drive, depending on your needs. Preview contact sheets can be provided. Janet has been photographing the WNYGVIH League since the days of the Showcases.)
