Niagara-Wheatfield shuts down Will. North to win large-school championship
Niagara-Wheatfield shuts down Will. North to win large-school championship
2012-02-26
BUFFALO - Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons goaltender Alex Kammerer made 33 saves, securing a 4-0 victory Sunday in the WNY Varsity Hockey Federation’s large-school championship game, knocking off the defending state-champion Williamsville North Spartans.
Kammerer – known in the locker room as Kramer, a nod to the quirky “Seinfeld” character – was the unanimous selection for the game’s most valuable player.
“When he comes in focused, he shuts them down,” said Falcons coach Rick Wrazin of Kammerer. “He just did a stellar job today.”
The Falcons and Spartans have met in the championship game three out of the last four years, splitting the last two matchups, but this time around, there was a little added motivation for Niagara-Wheatfield.
“Probably until Friday, they didn’t know or believe they could beat them,” Wrazin said. “…Knowing that they were the state champs and then we came in and saw the book [the playoff guide] with them [the Spartans] on it – I think that got the boys going even more and motivated them to show that maybe it’s time for somebody new.”
“It’s like a dream-come-true,” Kammerer said. “It feels great. This is the game we’ve been lining up for all season long. We’ve been thinking about this the whole time. It feels great that hard work is finally paying off.”
Keith Haseley got things started for the Falcons, scoring on a one-timer pass from Anthony Vekich at 13:53 in the first period. With less than two minutes remaining in the second period, Dillon Hayes stuffed a loose puck past Spartans goaltender Jake Griebner, making it 2-0.
“We came in and played our game early on,” Wrazin said. “When we got the lead, we changed our forecheck a little bit and played a little more defensive. We got a great game out of our goalie. The forwards were on them on the forecheck and we didn’t give them a lot of time in their end. …It was a pretty even game for the most part, but as the game went on, I thought we got better and better.”
Hayes scored again in the third period, a soft backhand shot that ended up on Griebner’s shoulder before falling over the crease. Cory Becker scored goal No. 4, a wraparound shot between Griebner’s pads, with less than five minutes remaining.
“We didn’t cash,” said Spartans coach Bob Rosen. “We missed a breakaway early and we had some shots. We didn’t cash when we had our chances; they did a good job early on and they got that first faceoff goal, which really hurt.”
The Falcons advance to the state pre-quarterfinals, a March 3 matchup with West Genessee.
“When he comes in focused, he shuts them down,” said Falcons coach Rick Wrazin of Kammerer. “He just did a stellar job today.”
The Falcons and Spartans have met in the championship game three out of the last four years, splitting the last two matchups, but this time around, there was a little added motivation for Niagara-Wheatfield.
“Probably until Friday, they didn’t know or believe they could beat them,” Wrazin said. “…Knowing that they were the state champs and then we came in and saw the book [the playoff guide] with them [the Spartans] on it – I think that got the boys going even more and motivated them to show that maybe it’s time for somebody new.”
“It’s like a dream-come-true,” Kammerer said. “It feels great. This is the game we’ve been lining up for all season long. We’ve been thinking about this the whole time. It feels great that hard work is finally paying off.”
Keith Haseley got things started for the Falcons, scoring on a one-timer pass from Anthony Vekich at 13:53 in the first period. With less than two minutes remaining in the second period, Dillon Hayes stuffed a loose puck past Spartans goaltender Jake Griebner, making it 2-0.
“We came in and played our game early on,” Wrazin said. “When we got the lead, we changed our forecheck a little bit and played a little more defensive. We got a great game out of our goalie. The forwards were on them on the forecheck and we didn’t give them a lot of time in their end. …It was a pretty even game for the most part, but as the game went on, I thought we got better and better.”
Hayes scored again in the third period, a soft backhand shot that ended up on Griebner’s shoulder before falling over the crease. Cory Becker scored goal No. 4, a wraparound shot between Griebner’s pads, with less than five minutes remaining.
“We didn’t cash,” said Spartans coach Bob Rosen. “We missed a breakaway early and we had some shots. We didn’t cash when we had our chances; they did a good job early on and they got that first faceoff goal, which really hurt.”
The Falcons advance to the state pre-quarterfinals, a March 3 matchup with West Genessee.
