BY WARREN KOZIRESKI —
Webster-Thomas spotted Canandaigua a 2-0 first period lead before scoring once in the second and three more times in the third period to win their second consecutive and seventh overall Section V Class B hockey championship 4-2.
Canandaigua senior Carter McWilliams scored on a wrister from just inside the blueline that he put just under the crossbar 3:46 into the contest and Lucas Schwartz followed 78 seconds later with a goal on an assist from Dominick Spychalski to stake the Braves to a 2-0 lead on just three first period shots.
“It was a rough moment, but we knew it was coming and we were just ready to go back in the second and third stronger than ever,” sophomore Liam Forsyth said.
Thomas closed to within one with a power play goal by Forsyth, who put his wrist shot from the right faceoff circle over the left shoulder of the goaltender at 8:03 of the second period.
“Everyone was screaming to shoot and I saw that corner and it went in lucky enough,” Forsythe said. “We just needed to get one through him and then we were just going to pepper him left and right.”
The Titans converted another power play to tie the game at 5:30 of the third period as Cullen Hennessy chipped the puck over the keeper from the side of the net with an assist from Zack Wolfe.
Thomas then scored twice 46 seconds apart to take the lead for good.
Brandon Gierczak scored what would prove to be the game-winner on a slapshot from the faceoff circle at 7:28 before Jack Stappenbeck knocked in the rebound from his own shot at 8:14 with an assist from Forsyth.
“It’s incredible; there is no other feeling like it,” Most Valuable Player Gierczak said. “It was a little frustrating and it was kind of quiet for a little bit (in the first period locker room), but we just started talking and said we just had to keep it going and we knew that eventually we would pop a couple in and it happened.”
“Winning at any level…is fun and team spots are great because it’s bringing a bunch of people together for a common goal,” Webster-Thomas head coach David Evans said. “This is one of our accomplishments and we want to continue to move forward as we progress to Regionals. It’s hard to win one, but when you try to win it back-to-back everyone is gunning for you. We got some bounces and some timely plays, so we’re thankful that we’re moving on.”
Thomas will play the winner of the Section X final between Ogdensburg and Norwood/Norfolk in the state regional round Sat. March 7 at 3pm at RIT.
