By IAIN HIGGINS
THURSDAY, February 20
Class A
GATES/WAYNE/EI/WHEATLAND (16-6-0) 2
VICTOR (18-3-0) 4
A pair of goals from Nick Peluso in the second period pushed Victor to a quarterfinals win, snapping their two game losing streak. Victor had the only goal of the first period, netted by Cal Lambert and assisted by Sam Bresson and Andrew Haugh. Gates/Wayne/EI/Wheatland’s Jacob Franklin tied the game early in the second period on a look from Ethan Knauf. Nick Peluso then nailed back to back goals at 4:04 and 9:48, both assisted by Jack McCandless, to give Victor a significant lead heading into the final period. The Spartans’ Trevor Schmidt scored by himself halfway through the third, but it proved ineffective as Victor’s Steven Armstrong connected with Alex Parton and Cal Lambert to put the Spartans away minutes later. Gates/Wayne/EI/Wheatland goalie Charles Healey saved 19 of 23 shots. Victor split the goaltending between Garrett Simpson (5 for 5) and Pieter Bartelse (14 for 16). Victor will play Pittsford in the semifinals on 2/26.
WEBSTER SCHROEDER (9-13-0) 1
PITTSFORD (10-8-3) 3
Six skaters tallied points for the Panthers as Pittsford won their third consecutive game. Pittsford remained consistent throughout the night, scoring once in each period. The Panthers’ Noah Caputo buried the puck for the first goal of the game, connecting with Brecken Catalano and Kevin Sheller. Brady Wambach scored for the Panthers in the second period, assisted by Gunnar VanDamme and Brian Judge. Looking to begin a comeback scoring run, Schroeder’s Zach Simons found the back of the net on a look from Caden Cranston 23 seconds into the final period. Schroeder would remain quiet for the remainder of the game. Will Masaschi cemented Pittsford’s lead with three and a half minutes left. Brady Wambach earned his second point of the night on the assist. Schroeder goaltender Jacob Lattuca saved 17 of 20 shots. Alex Tidd saved 24 of 25 for Pittsford. Pittsford will play Victor in the semifinals on 2/26.
BRIGHTON/HFL/ER (9-11-2) 0
FAIRPORT (17-3-0) 7
Nick Krug earned four points from a hat trick and an assist to propel Fairport to a quarterfinal shutout. Sam Hoyen earned four points on four assists, setting the team record for the season. Goalies Dyan Ghaemi and Tyler McMillan stopped 7 and 9 respectively to earn the shutout for the Red Raiders. Fairport established a strong lead in the first period with goals from Nick Krug, Robbie Crowley, and Matt Krug. Travis Knicley, Sam Hoyen (3), Colin Herington, Caleb Kaiser, Jake Mueller, and Nick Krug earned assists in the first. The Red Raiders continued the assault in the second period. Ryan Klice found the net 3:05 into the period on a look from John McLachlan. Tyler Fuenfstueck scored with three minutes left, connecting with Caden Frey and Sam Hoyen to earn Hoyen his fourth assist. Nick Krug nabbed his hat trick 2:23 into the third period, assisted by Colin Herington and Caleb Kaiser on a power play. On 2/26 Fairport will play the winner of the Penfield vs. McQuaid matchup.
Class B
AQUINAS (4-16-2) 0
WEBSTER THOMAS (17-2-2) 3
The Titans defense held Aquinas to only 8 shots, allowing goalie Connelly Springer to earn the shutout. Brandon Gierczak opened up scoring for Thomas 6:49 into the first period, assisted by Teagan Spang and Dylan LaChance. Zack Wolfe found the back of the net in the final minutes of the second period off a look from Cade Spencer, bolstering the Titans’ lead. Cade Spencer connected with Zack Wolfe and Brandon Gierczak for the final goal halfway through the third period. Webster Thomas will play Churchville Chili in the semifinals on 2/25.
CHURCHVILLE CHILI (15-5-1) 5
IRONDEQUOIT (14-6-1) 4
Churchville Chili’s Mitchell Marsh led the team with three points via three assists to grab the Saints a quarterfinals win. Irondequoit’s Jordan Flynn connected with Colton Mantha and Eli Velepec for first goal of the game. Churchville Chili’s Julius Horvath followed up immediately with an unassisted goal just 31 seconds later. Eli Velepec put away a pass from Bruin Giudice, giving the Eagles an early lead. Josh Seymour scored on the power play 8:54 into the second period, bolstering the Eagles lead, with help from Jack Feola and Colton Mantha. Churchville Chili, who had remained fairly quiet in a period and a half, found their footing 9:14 into the second as Dylan Clark potted the first of four unanswered goals for the Saints. Max Williams, Julius Horvath, and Adam Polito followed with goals of their own through the second and third periods. Trey Eberhart, Mitchell Marsh (3), and Cade Costanzo racked up assists in the final two periods. Eli Velepec netted his second goal of the night on a power play, assisted by Jack Gramlich and Mattew McCulloch, but Irondequoit couldn’t rally for one more to tie. Saints goalie Ethan Breton blocked 34 of 38, and Eagles goalie Vaughn Letta blocked 24 of 29. Churchville Chili will play Webster Thomas in the semifinals on 2/25.
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