The Section V Ice Hockey Class B champion game does not feature the defending champion in the big game for the fourth year in a row. Top-seeded Batavia Notre Dame will face No. 3 Webster Thomas. Here’s what you need to know:
No. 1 seed BATAVIA NOTRE DAME UNITED (20-2-0/Independent Division) vs. No. 3 WEBSTER THOMAS TITANS (13-8-1/MCPSAC Division)
How they got here: Batavia Notre Dame (No. 3 NYSSWA Division II) got a first-round bye to the quarterfinals where they picked up a 6-1 victory No. 8 seed Geneseo/Avon/Livonia and then defeated No. 5 seed Canandaigua 5-4 in the semifinals to secure a spot in the finals. Webster Thomas (No. 10NYSSWA Division II) opened sectionals with a 4-2 victory over No. 6 seed Aquinas and then won 5-2 over No. 2 seed Webster Schroeder in the semifinals to return the finals for the second time in three years.
Trends: Batavia Notre Dame has won 19 of its last 20 games. The United has scored four-plus goals in 15 of those contests. Webster Thomas has won three stright contests. The Titans have scored three-plus goals in four of its last five contests.
Players to watch for Batavia Notre Dame: Ivan Milovidov Jr. F 29 goals, 29 assists, 58 points; Jameson Motyka Jr. F 20 goals, 26 assists, 46 points; Brady Johnson So. F 19 goals, 21 assists, 40 points; Joe DiRisio Sr. F 16 goals, 20 assists, 36 points; Rhys Tanner Jr. G 19-2-0, four shutouts, 1.90 goals against average, .915 save percentage.
Webster Thomas: Ryan Goel Sr. F 10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points; Trevor Veno Sr. F nine goals, 10 assists, 19 points; Lucas Nuccitelli Fr. F eight goals, 10 assists, 18 points; Cam Hall So. F 14 goals, four assists, 18 points; Michael Nappi Sr. G 13-8-1, three shutouts, 2.45 goals against average, .898 save percentage.
Coaches: Marc Staley (Batavia Notre Dame), Dave Evans (Webster Thomas)
History 101: Batavia is seeking its first Class B title since 2016. Webster Thomas is seeking its fourth sectional title in the last six seasons. The two teams have never met in sectionals, however the United bested the Titans 5-2 during the regular season in January.
What’s next: The winner will move onto the 2023 NYSPHSAA Boys Far West Regional on March 2.
Puck drop is scheduled for Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Gene Polisseni Center on the campus of RIT.
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