At Cheel Arena Monday night, the boys varsity hockey team pulled away from Potsdam in a Championship version of the Route 11 Rivalry to secure Canton’s second consecutive Section X title. The Bears advance to the State playoffs with the 6-3 win.
Canton opened the scoring just over six minutes into the game. Senior forward Caleb Briggs drove wide around a Potsdam defender before throwing the puck at the net from down near the goal line. The puck popped out into the slot where it was corralled by junior forward Owen Logan and hoisted over the outstretched glove of the Potsdam goaltender.
Potsdam responded just a few minutes later, when a rush from forward Lukas Meyers resulted in a rebound in front of Canton’s goal, which was put home by forward Brandon Bernard. The first period would end deadlocked at one.
Again in the second period, it was Canton who struck first. Senior forward Caleb Premo blocked a Potsdam defender’s shot at the point, which sent the puck spinning toward Potsdam’s end. Logan and Premo both gave chase on either side of a retreating Potsdam defender, and Logan made a savvy diving play to poke the puck to Premo who headed in on a contested breakaway. He was able to tuck the puck between the goaltenders legs to restore Canton’s lead.
Potsdam, though, would not be deterred. Forward Sam Martin pulled the Sandstoners back even with a wrist shot from the point. And, just over a minute later, Potsdam took the lead when defender Kayden McGaheran threw a shot on net from the point through a sea of bodies. The initial shot was stopped by senior goaltender Gavin Schryver, but the rebound laid in the crease behind Schryver, where McGaheran’s brother, Quinn, was able to poke it home.
Potsdam enjoyed the lead for 52 seconds. Then, the Palmers struck.
First, it was junior forward Robert Palmer finding the net for the Bears. After forcing a turnover in the corner, Palmer stormed to the front of the net and flipped a backhand shot into the roof of the net over the Sandstoner goaltender’s glove. The second period ended 3-3, but there would be more Palmer action to come.
In the third, it was junior forward Owen Palmer who took over for the Bears. His first goal came about six minutes into the period, when his cousin, Robert, found him in the slot with time and space. Owen made no mistake, dropping to a knee and rifling his opportunity past the blocker of the goaltender. 
Just over a minute later, O. Palmer gave the Bears some breathing space. Forcing yet another turnover was R. Palmer just inside the Sandstoner blue line. He poked the puck to Owen who made one move around a defender and wristed it top shelf, short side. At 5-3 the Bears were in control and would not relinquish it.
The rest of the game was a defensive battle for the Bears, with several veterans backstopping the win. Senior defender Jack Brandy played a vital role in shutting down Potsdam’s top offensive threats, while the Canton wingers spent much of their time blocking shots. Finally, senior forward Caleb Briggs sealed the deal with an empty netter from the red line.
After the sticks, gloves and helmets flew and the Bears celebrated with their fan section, several Golden Bears received individual awards.
Logan won the Section X scoring title this year with the highest point total in league play in Division I, amassing nine goals and 13 assists for 21 points against Section X competition. This scoring prowess also earned him league MVP for Division I.
Gavin Schryver was named WMSA goaltender of the year, awarded annually to the best goaltender in league play.
Brandy and R. Palmer joined Schryver and Logan as First Team All-Northern selections for the 2025-26 campaign. Caleb Premo was named Second Team All-Northern.
Senior forward David Seymour was named Canton’s sportsmanship award recipient. And seniors Brandy, Schryver, Caleb Premo, Carter Premo, and Lucas Clausen were named athletes of distinction for their stellar work in the classroom.
The Bears advance to the State Quarterfinals on Saturday. Canton will play Section VI champion Orchard Park at 10 a.m. at the HarborCenter in Buffalo. The winner of that game will return to the HarborCenter the following weekend for the New York State Final Four.
More photos of the awards, courtesy of Jay Berkman, can be found here.
