Victor, Webster Thomas hockey 'creating memories' as they take a shot at state title

Bumps and bruises, aches and pains.

It’s a wonderful time of year to be a hockey player. Even better if you’re still practicing as a team this week because it means you’re still in the hunt for the 2022 state championship and that’s precisely where Victor and Webster Thomas are.

Both Section V representative are gearing up for semifinal games in different divisions on Saturday and if they win, a spot in Sunday’s championship game awaits.

“I’m so proud of the kids and so excited for them,” said Victor coach Mike Ferreri, whose team has four players who were on the 2020 team whose state title dream was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. “They’re creating memories that will last a lifetime.”

For fans planning to attend at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, tickets for all games this weekend are digital only. No cash sales are available at the gate.

Here’s what you need to be ready for this weekend’s matchups.

Division I

Who: Victor (20-2-2) vs. West Genesee-III (20-3-0).

When: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Harborcenter in Buffalo.

The other semifinal: Suffern-I vs. Shenedehowa-II, 9 a.m.

Division I championship: Sunday, 11 a.m.

State rankings: No. 1 (tie) Suffern, No. 3 Victor, No. 4 West Genesee, No. 8 Shenendehowa.

What to know: These teams played at Rochester Ice Center on Jan. 13 in a matchup of teams ranked in the top 5 in the state. They’re both still in the top 5 but Victor has bragging rights after a 5-3 win over the Wildcats.

“It’s not even about the opponent at this point,” West Genesee coach Frank Colabufo said. “We had to fight our way out of Section III so it’s been survive and advance.”

Plenty has changed since that Jan. 13 game but there is no questioning the talent on both benches.

The Blue Devils have six players in double figures for points but it’s Colin McNamara and his 19 goals and 16 assists in the regular season that leads the way. He’s been especially potent in the playoffs with 8 points (7-1) in four games and Michael Peluso (1-4-5) and Simon Kowal (2-2-4) round out the top offensive threats, although Victor has a knack for getting surprise contributions which makes it difficult to defend.

“Both teams have depth and that’s important,” said Ferreri. “You need the energy to finish games and maintain consistency. West Genesee runs three to four lines that are very skilled and we do the same.”

Sophomore goalie Max Pitts has been outstanding with a .975 save percentage as the director of a defense that’s surrendered just three goals in four playoff games. One of those goals came on the power play, a unit that’s allowed just 1 goal on 12 playoff opportunities.

Defensemen Asher Erwin and Drew McCandless are driving forces for the defense who were on that 2020 team, so their motivation is evident. McNamara and fellow forward Charlie Romeis are the other two holdovers from the 2020 team.

West Genny has been on a roll and is coming off a 12-0 win over Ithaca. Jeremy Keyes scored twice in that game, but five other players also scored and the defense limited Ithaca to just nine shots. Nine.

The Wildcats are averaging 6.7 goals a game but that’s a bit misleading after some lopsided scores in the regular season. Colabufo, in his 28th season as the West Genesee coach, is much happier with a defense that has allowed more than three goals in just three games.

“Defense and goaltending, we preach that,” he said. “It’s about playing the right way and when we’re playing good defense, it tends to generate the offense.”

Dylan DeSena (.924 save percentage, 1.3 goals-against average) has been the postseason starter in goal and not only does he benefit from a productive offense, it’s a balanced unit.

William Schneid (33 goals), Keyes (24), Ryan Stratton (21) and Liam Burns (15) are the leaders but overall, six players are in double figures for goals and 18 different players have scored at least once.

“We have some kids who are showing up on the scoresheet every night,” said Colabufo. “But we’re getting secondary scoring from a lot of different places.”

How Victor got here

Division I quarterfinals: Victor defeats Orchard Park of Section VI, 3-1. Orchard Park took a 1-0 lead at 9:46 of the first period and the Blue Devils didn’t find the equalizer until Colin McNamara scored at 8:05 of the third. Just more than four minutes later, Simon Kowal’s goal put Victor ahead and McNamara’s empty-netter at 15:39 sealed the win for Victor and supported the 25-save effort of sophomore goalie Max Pitts.

Section V Class A championship: Victor got two goals from McNamara in regulation, which ended in a 2-2 tie with Penfield. The teams played four overtime periods and were declared co-champions of Class A, but a shootout determined which team advanced to the state tournament. In the third round, Jackson Guck converted and his shootout goal sent the Blue Devils to the state tournament.

More: 'Unreal': Victor, Penfield share Class A title in 4OT thriller; Webster Thomas wins Class B

Section V Class A semifinal: Victor did all its offensive damage in the second period with two goals from McNamara and one from Kowal in the 3-0 win. The defense held McQuaid scoreless on 26 shots and killed five power plays.

Section V Class A first round: A big third period saw Victor score three goals to take a commanding lead in a 5-0 win over Batavia Notre Dame United. Braydan Riesenberger, Peluso, Tanner Radogna, Jon Chapman and McNamara all scored goals for the Blue Devils, which held BNDU to just 18 shots and killed three power plays.

Division II

Who: Webster Thomas (17-3-2) vs. Starpoint-VI (19-4-1).

When: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Harborcenter in Buffalo.

The other semifinal: Queensbury-II vs. Pelham Memorial-I, 2:15 p.m.

Division II championship: Sunday, 2 p.m.

State rankings: No. 1 Pelham, No. 3 Webster Thomas, No. 7 Starpoint, No. 13 Queensbury.

What to know: The Titans are making their third straight trip to this round of the state tournament and they’re doing it with balance up front. Eight different players have accounted for the 12 goals Thomas has scored in three playoff games while the defense has allowed just four goals.

During the regular season, the Titans scored an impressive 24 goals on the power play led by Jack Stappenbeck’s seven. Stappenbeck (17 goals, 15 assists, 32 points) joins Dylan LaChance (15-26-41) and Joey Crescimanni (14-12-26) as the leading scorers for Thomas but Ethan Stappenbeck, Mike Swartzenberg, Aidan Stappenbeck and Brady Hill along with Jason Tucker provide effective depth.

Tucker especially has caught fire in the postseason, scoring three goals in three games after scoring four in 19 regular-season games.

Goalie Jackson Gruttadauria has been the No. 1 all season and brought a .914 save percentage into the postseason.

Starpoint, located in southern Niagara County southwest of Lockport, is making its first appearance in the state semifinals after a surprising 5-4 double-overtime win over Salmon River-X last Saturday. Starpoint trailed by two in the third period of that game and Will Maintstone’s third goal was the winner. Justin Bull scored twice for the Spartans.

Starpoint has a strong tradition at the club level before moving to varsity level five seasons ago. Since, the Spartans have won two Section VI championships and lost in another final, certainly proving their mettle.

How Thomas got here

Division II quarterfinals: Jason Tucker scored two goals for the Titans, including the winner of a 4-2 decision for the Titans, just seven seconds after Skaneateles tied the game 2-2. Aiden Stappenbeck and Dylan LaChance also scored for Thomas.

Section V Class B championship: The Titans beat Aquinas, 4-2. Ethan Stappenbeck, Michael Dowden, Tucker and Swartzenberg all scored for the Titans

Section V Class B semifinals: The Titans held Canandaigua to just 18 shots and scored all four of their goals in a 4-0 win in the first period. Sam Nesbitt scored twice and LaChance and Jack Stappenbeck each scored once.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY state hockey tournament: Victor, Webster Thomas prepare for semis