By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
What’s that old saying? The best defense is a good offense?
Well forget it. The best defense is a good defense. Look no further than the Victor Blue Devils for proof, especially after a 3-0 victory over McQuaid in the Section V Class A semifinals on Thursday evening.
Some teams can wow you with offensive skill and puck wizardry. They’ll zip the puck around with tape-to-tape passes and produce goals that break Twitter.
The Blue Devils certainly have some players that have been known to create a highlight or two. How else do you think Colin McNamara scored 22 goals this season. And how Simon Kowal has 15 and Charlie Romeis 13.
But what’s maybe a whole lot more impressive is Victor’s ability to play shut-down defense.
McNamara scored goals 1:57 apart in the first three minutes of the second period and Kowal produced the back-breaker midway through the period as Victor (18-2-2) earned a berth in Sunday’s 4 p.m. championship game at SUNY Brockport’s Tuttle Ice Arena.
Once ahead by three, the Blue Devils methodically quieted the offense for McQuaid (11-9-2), denied second chances and efficiently exited their own zone on the breakout, all of which enabled goalie Max Pitts to post the 26-save shutout at the Rochester Ice Center.
“It’s just the culture we have,” McNamara said. “The coaches preach playing as a team and when things get a little hectic, we stay the course.”
That course has led them to the title game yet again, their fifth trip in the past seven seasons.
“Everyone has bought into their roles, and we’ve finally started clicking on all cylinders,” McNamara said.
For Victor, it all starts in the defensive zone. The Blue Devils haven’t given up a goal in the two sectional games and have allowed just one over their past four games.
“Our guys, as the season has gone on, have really been responsible in our own end,” coach Mike Ferreri said.
That attention to defensive zone details begins with defensemen Asher Erwin, Christian Kurz, Drew McCandless and Michael Peluso. They’re smart, mobile and can make the all-important first pass to safety.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
“They’re tough to play against and good with the puck,” Ferrari said. “They’re just steady Eddies.”
Both teams were strong in their own ends Thursday in the first period, which is why the game remained scoreless heading into the first intermission.
Victor then stormed to the 3-0 lead in the second period. Just 49 seconds in, McNamara was angling through the deep slot when a McCandless wrist shot from the right point hit him in the shoulder and caromed into the net.
He scored again in a more conventional manner while killing a penalty at 2:46, stealing the puck above the right circle, darting to the net and roofing a shot from in tight.
When Kowal fired home a shot from the slot at 8:26, the Blue Devils led 3-0 and were in control.
“We got really fired up coming out for the second period and changed the momentum,” Kowal said.
For McQuaid, the loss ended the season far too early. Just 3-6-1 through 10 games, the Knights stormed down the stretch, finishing the regular season on a 7-2-1 run.
“We’ve had a tremendous journey to get here, spearheaded by our (10) seniors,” McQuaid coach Joe Dugan said. “They played different roles, they led the right way and are like second coaches.
“This one stings, obviously, but it doesn’t take away from what they accomplished during the year.”
Leave a Reply