By Warren Kozireski —
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.
(Photo by Koz, NY Hockey OnLine)
