Top-seeded Pittsford is looking to return to Class A finals for the third time in four years to defend its title while the other three teams will look to dethrone the defending champions. Here is what you need to know:
No. 1 seed PITTSFORD PANTHERS (18-2-1/MCPSAC Division) vs. No. 5 seed PORTSIDE ROYALS (11-8-2/MCPSAC Division)
How they got here: Pittsford (No. 1 NYSSWA Division I) received a first round bye to the quarterfinals where they picked up a 2-0 victory over No. 8 seed Spartan Hockey. Portside picked a 5-1 quarterfinal victory over No. 4 seed Hilton.
Total goals scored: Pittsford (106), Portside (81)
Total goals allowed: Pittsford (42), Portside (62)
Trends: Pittsford is on a 10-game winning streak. The Panthers have scored five-plus goals in five of the contests during the winning streak. Portside’s quarterfinal victory ended a six game winless skid. The Royals have scored three-plus goals in their last three contests.
Players to watch for Pittsford: Brady McMahon Sr. F 16 goals, 20 assists, 46 points; Keegan Garver Jr. F 16 goals, 16 assists, 32 points; Keegan Ahern Jr. F 16 goals, 12 assists, 28 points; Bradley Pollard Sr. F eight goals, 16 assists, 24 points; Wilson Szydlo So. G 13-0-0, two shutouts, 1.33 goals against average, .928 save percentage.
Portside Royals: Sal Balbi Sr. F 18 goals, 13 assists, 31 points; Frank Grad Sr. F 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points; Zachary Neu Sr. D five goals, 13 assists, 18 points; Landen Christ Jr. F seven goals, 10 assists, 17 points; Danny Kucmerowski Jr. G 4-6-2, one shutout, 3.17 goals against average, .904 save percentage.
Coaches: Steve Thering (Pittsford), William McGrath (Portside)
History 101: Pittsford is seeking to reach the Class A title game in back-to-back seasons and looking to win its third sectional title in four seasons. Portside is looking to make it to the Class A championship for the first time since Brockport and Spencerport merged to create the Royal team. The two teams have never met in sectionals.
What’s next: The winner will face either No. 2 seed McQuaid (16-5-0/Independent Division) or No. 3 seed Penfield (15-6-0/MCPSAC Division) in the Class A sectional championship.
Puck drop is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Tim Horton’s Iceplex
No. 2 seed MCQUAID KNIGHTS (16-5-0/Independent) vs. No. 3 seed PENFIELD PATRIOTS (15-6-0/MCPSAC Division)
How they got here: McQuaid (No. 4 NYSSWA Division I) got themselves a first-round bye to the quarterfinals and earned a 5-2 victory over No. 7 seed Greece Storm. Penfield (No. 13 NYSSWA Division I) collected a quarterfinals victory 4-0 over No. 6 seed Fairport.
Total goals scored: McQuaid (98), Penfield (103)
Total goals allowed: McQuaid (59), Penfield (53)
Trends: McQuaid has won three of its last four contests. The Knights scored five-plus goals in their three victories. Penfield’s quarterfinals victory ended a two game slide. The Patriots have scored three-plus goals in three of their last four contests.
Players to watch for McQuaid: Jack Callery Jr. F 20 goals, 21 assists, 41 points; Liam Palmer Sr. F nine goals, 16 assists, 25 points; Eli Wiegand Jr. D six goals, 15 assists, 21 points; Connor Emens Jr. D six goals, 12 assists, 18 points; Owen Salinas Jr. G 11-3-0, one shutout, 2.87 goals against average, .894 save percentage.
Penfield: Sean Walsh Sr. F 22 goals, 28 assists, 50 points; Angelo Latore Jr. F 16 goals, 26 assists, 42 points; Bobby Kane Sr. F 17 goals, 22 assists, 39 points; Mason Maksymiu Sr. F 10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points; Thomas Herman Sr. G 15-6-0, three shutouts, 2.52 goals against average, .903 save percentage.
Coaches: Joe Dugan (McQuaid), Nathan Miller (Penfield)
History 101: McQuaid is seeking its first Class A sectional finals appearance since 2015 when the Jesuit Knights captured the title against Fairport and repeated as sectional champion. Penfield is looking to return to the Class A finals for the first time since 2022 when the Patriots fell to the No. 2 seed Victor Blue Devils. The last time the Panthers and Patriots met was in last year’s quarterfinals where No. 4 seed Pittsford bested No. 5 seed Penfield 4-2.
What’s next: The winner will face the winner between top-seeded Pittsford (18-2-1/MCPSAC Division) and No. 5 Portside Royals (11-8-2/MCPSAC Division) in the Class A sectional championship.
Puck drop is scheduled for Thursday at 7:15 p.m. at Rochester Ice Arena.
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