Niagara Wheatfield hockey completes three-peat with comeback

BY: Charles Roberts, Sports Reporter | February 25, 2014

It didn’t start the way Niagara Wheatfield hockey head coach Rick Wrazin had hoped, but it certainly ended to his liking.

The No. 2-seed Falcons overcame a 2-0 first-period deficit to defeat top-ranked Williamsville North, 3-2, Monday (Feb. 24) during the WNY Varsity Hockey Federation's large-school championship.

“I can’t say enough about how proud I am for coming back after dropping two [goals],” Wrazin said. “You see a lot of teams – good teams – in a game like that…to have that kind of start and they end up losing by seven. They hung in there, and they came back.”

The victory is the Falcons’ third consecutive large-school championship and fourth in five years. The Spartans and Falcons have met in the deciding game four times since 2009, with Niagara Wheatfield coming out on top for a third time.

“We talked about three in a row and how it’s unheard of,” Wrazin said. “And they clawed and fought for it. …[Williamsville North] is known throughout New York State as one of the best – if not the best – programs in the state, and for us to be able to come in here and play with them and develop the rivalry we have is a compliment to us.”

Justin Durkee, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, scored the game-winning goal at 8:49 of the second period, capitalizing on a loose puck that lingered in the slot.

“It feels good,” Durkee said afterward with a smile. “I don’t really know how to explain it; I am at a loss for words. …I was kind of stunned when I first got [the puck on the goal] and just eventually put it in.”

Zach Kubiel and Brian Couto scored in the first 1:46 of the first period, giving the Spartans an early two-goal advantage. But Falcons goaltender Nate Sommers, who made 21 saves, would not be beat again.

“I didn’t play well to start,” Sommers admitted. “I wanted those two back. But we came back and played really well and stuck to the system.”

The Falcons cut the lead in half at 11:59 in the first period, at which point Dominic Senese raced up the right side of the ice and fired the puck between the legs of Spartans goaltender Matthew Ladd, who totaled 19 saves on the night.

James Stenzel, who, along with Tristin Ingalsbe, picked up an assist on the team’s first goal, tied things up at 6:11 in the second period, burying a loose, bouncing puck. Senese and Dakota Becker were each credited with an assist on the game-tying play.

The Falcons will take on Ithaca on March 2 during the state’s quarterfinal playoffs.