A powerplay goal in yet another overtime thriller at LECOM HarborCenter in Buffalo propels the Canton boys varsity hockey team into the New York State Divison I boys hockey championship Sunday morning.
The Golden Bears defeated West Genesee 3-2 on Saturday morning. They will play Suffern at 11 a.m. Sunday morning for the state title.
It was West Genesee who opened the scoring Saturday morning, tucking a powerplay goal in a wide open Canton net with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first period. A shot from the lefthand circle was kicked out by Canton’s senior goaltender Gavin Schryver, and a waiting Wildcat forward capitalized.
Canton would find an equalizer before the first intermission, however. Senior forward Caleb Premo picked up a bobbled powerplay breakout in the Bears’ own end and streaked up ice. After driving below the goal line to the right of the West Genny goaltender, Premo threw a centering pass to the net front, and senior forward Caleb Briggs slid a shot just past the goalie’s outstretched leg.
Next, it was Canton’s turn to take the lead. After West Genny cleared the puck into the neutral zone, senior defender Jack Brandy moved the puck past a West Genny forward and onto the stick of junior forward Owen Logan. Logan chipped the puck around a West Genny player and into the offensive zone along with Premo, who was streaking toward the net. Premo’s shot ricocheted off the goaltender, and Premo chased it back down just behind the net, threw it in front, and Logan was there to put home the opportunity.
The lead was short lived for the Golden Bears. West Genny returned the favor less than a minute later when a fracas below Canton’s goal line gave the Wildcats a chance to make a play toward goal. A pass from a low forward was threaded to the slot, where another West Genny forward managed to beat Schryver glove side.
Scoring ceased after West Genny’s second goal for the remainder of regulation. Despite high quality chances for both teams, the goaltenders each stood tall.
In the final moments of the game, West Genny had a quality opportunity on a rush down the ice, but a West Genny forward cut down Brandy on the goal line, drawing a penalty for the Wildcats, which would prove detrimental for the Section III representatives.
Canton carried a powerplay into the overtime period, and they made the most of it. The Golden Bears opted to go to work below the goal line in overtime, with junior forwards Owen and Robert Palmer and senior forward David Seymour doing most of the heavy lifting. After working the puck side to side behind the Wildcat defender, when O. Palmer moved the puck to just above the goal line to Seymour. After corralling a bobbling puck, Seymour spun toward center ice with the puck. Logan was streaking in from the point, taking advantage of the space provided by Canton’s low zone work. Seymour’s pass landed on his tape, and he threaded a shot over the shoulder of the West Genny goaltender. Chaos ensued.
Schryver was credited with 29 saves in goal for the Bears.
