New Arena, Overtime, Shut-out…All Opening Night
The Western New York Girls Ice Hockey Federation has opened its 15th season with a listing of historical data.
First, KengiPort opened their season in a brand new arena at Brighton. The KengiPort team opened the Paddock Chevrolet Ice Arena with a ceremonial puck drop by the Team’s Inaugural Coach Jeff Orlowski and one of the players from that first year, Laura Pavone. There also was a tribute to Laura’s mom and a founder and long-time “go-to guy” for the league, Bill Pavone’s wife, Anne; who passed away this month.
KengiPort didn’t disappoint their hometown fans and came away with a 3-1 victory over CASH (Clarence-Amherst-Sweethome). The first goal in the new arena for the WNYGVIH was scored by KengiPort’s Alera Ostertag, assisted by Brynn Karan and Madeline Marzec.
An unassisted goal by Savannah Samplinski gave KengiPort a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period. KengiPort’s MacKenzie Kumrow opened the second period with a goal, assisted by Madelyn Jagow but just seconds later CASH got on the board with a goal by Georgia Mango, assisted by Polina Stremiakova. Second period ends 3-1 and with no scoring in the third, that was the final. In goal for KengiPort making 17 saves and the win was Ella Johnston and for CASH, Ella Celej stopped 32 of 35 for the L.
HEWS made history with a 7-0 first season shutout victory over Williamsville at Northtowns. Sophia Phillips gets on the leader board early in the season with 5 points on 3 goals and 2 assists. Samantha Miller has the game-winning goal, as well as the first goal of the season, at 2:12 of the first period, assisted by Morgan Cooper. Another goal by Sophia Phillips, assisted by Miller and the game is 2-0 after the first. HEWS adds two more in the second by Brynn Holland and Kayla Pelc and then three more in the third by Holland (2), Cooper and Phillips. Assists came from Phillips, Clare Sokolowski and Pelc for the 7-0 victory. In goal Ella Buczynski made 13 saves for HEWS and the W; Williamsville’s Olivia Lookman stopped 16/23.
Avery Hall in goal (file photo from 2023-24 season)
A 4-3 Overtime Victory for St. Mary’s of Lancaster over Niagara County goes into the record books as the first overtime of the season. Scoring for St. Mary’s were Avery Szczesek (2 including the GWG); Gabe Lowell and Captain Riley Kumrow (unassisted). Assists came from Alana Pagano, Meghan Donnelly, Danielle Cottrell and Lauren Gilano. In goal Avery Hall stopped 22 of 25.
Abby Zimmerman put two goals on the board and one from Ashley Mainstone and the game was tied.
NiCo’s Lila Jones, an eighth grader from Starpoint, was in goal stopping 13/17 shots.
So there it is, week one in the history books with an arena opening, an overtime game, a postponed game (LIDA vs FFLOP rescheduled for December 30 at 12:15 p.m. at Leisure Rinks), a 5-point game for a player (Sophia Phillips/HEWS), HEWS with four players on the top five scoring list and the first shut-out of the season. All this in one night.
So here we go, who will be on the top in February? Only way to find out…follow NYHOL at www.nyhockeyonline.com as well as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Also updated schedule and stats are available at https://www.wnygirlshockey.com. Full schedule at https://wnygirlshockey.com/schedule.html (which is designed for use on your smartphone).
Also stop out to a game. There is no admission charge.
Opening Night Photo Gallery from Hews at Williamsville and CASH at KengiPort by Photographer Janet Schultz© NYHOL (All rights reserved; for copy information email [email protected])
HEWS VS WILLIAMSVILLE
CASH AT KENGIPORT
OPENING OF PADDOCK CHEVROLET ICE ARENA AND HOME TO KENGIPORT
