Photos and Story by Janet Schutz, NYHOL (Photos were taken at NYSAHA State Tournament and at some WNY Girls Ice Hockey games this past season)
New York State teams brought back first-place honors from the 2023 USA Chipotle Nationals. Congratulations goes to the 14U Buffalo Saints, 16U Long Island Gulls, 18U Rochester Grizzlies, 14U Adirondack Northstars and 19U Syracuse Valley Eagles.
Gavin Weeks has been the backbone of the Buffalo Bisons 14U team all season, as the only goalie for the team. He made 14 saves in the 2-1 victory over the Chicago Mission. The Bisons were down 1-0 in the second period after no scoring in the first and then Joshua Henry tied late in the second. Rudolf Berz Kalns scored at 15:10 of the third for the win.
At the 16U level, the Long Island Gulls shutout Little Ceasars 2-0 for the Championship. Grant Young had the game winner; Ryan Dente made 16 saves and John McNeil dropped in an empty netter to secure the win.
Rochester Grizzlies had a perfect season which ended with the USA Championship at the 18U3A level. They went 6-0 in the five-day tournament defeating West Dundee Leafs of Illinois 7-1 before the Championship and then 2-1 in the Championship. Drew McCandless had the first goal and Tyer Eberhart, the second.
The Adirondack Northstars beat Team Colorado 2-1 at the Girls 14U1A level. Both goals were scored by Emily MaCaulay with the first at 5:20 of the first period, unassisted and the second 25 seconds into the second with Emerson Lockner-Fehl and Piper Newman assisting. Aurora Graham-Hayes made 18 saves for the W.
At Girls 19U2A, the Syracuse Valley Eagles went 6-1 over the East Coast Wizards. Scoring were Jallyn Castro, Julia Peters, Riley Andzel, Madison Flory and two from Adelena Alvarez. Goaltender Abigail Seaman stopped 18 of 19 for the W.
Other Champions were:
Youth Tier I 15O: LA Jr. Kings
Youth Tier I 18U: Shattuck St. Marys
Youth Tier II 14U: Atlanta Fire Premiere
Youth Tier II 14U 2A: Vegas Jr. Golden Knights
Youth Tier II 14U 3A: Littleton Hawks
Youth Tier II 16U 1A: Alabama Thunder
Youth Tier II 16U 2A: Alaska Valley Thunder
Youth Tier II 16U 3A: Littleton Hawks
Youth Tier II 18U 1A: Sun Valley Suns
Youth Tier II 18U 2A: Arizona Bobcats
Girls Tier I 14U: Minnesota Walleye
Girls Tier I 16U: Mid Fairfield Stars (Connecticut)
Girls Tier I 19U: Shattuck St. Marys
Girls Tier II 14U 2A: Minnesota Lakers
Girls Tier II 16U1A: Sno-King Jr. Thunderbolts (Washington)
Girls Tier II 16U2A: Casco Bay Mariners (Maine)
Girls Tier II 19U1A: Nasville Jr. Predators
The Women’s Nationals are being held April 20-23 in Tampa, Florida. Representing NYS is Team 716 from Buffalo at 21+/Tier I and the Westchester Wildcats at 50+/Tier2..
