Recapping Yesterday’s games
Division I
Lancaster 3, Clarence 2
Ethan Jurkowski always seems to be in the right place at the right time and does exactly what the team needs from him.
On the gridiron this past fall, the Lancaster junior was an accountable presence as both a receiver and defensive back. He showed up at the biggest moments, coming up with three interceptions in the Section VI championship game, helping the Legends to their third-straight title.
Thursday night, although the stage wasn’t quite as big, Jurkowski was in the perfect spot and once again aided his team to victory.
With 6:42 left in the third period, the junior came up with the puck in the Clarence end and quickly sent a pass to Max Richter, who popped it in to give Lancaster the lead.
The go-ahead goal put the Legends in the driver seat as they held on for a 3-2 win over the Red Devils.
“As a team, we worked hard,” Jurkowski said. “We had some penalty trouble in the beginning but we were able to bring it together and get the win.”
Jurkowski found Eli Marino for the game’s first goal with seven and half minutes left in the opening period.
Clarence took advantage of their fifth power play opportunity as Brady Carlson tied the game about halfway through the second.
Lancaster spent 12 minutes in the penalty box Thursday, something they know they can’t afford to do going forward.
“We took a lot of penalties and those are the kind of things that will hurt you later in the year,” Lancaster coach Kevin Miller said. “We have to clean those up. Hopefully, they learn and keep moving forward.”
Anthony Scoma scored the Legends’ third goal of the night. The Red Devils fought till the very end as Trevor Arno netted a goal with 18.4 seconds left.
According to Miller, many of the things that made Jurkowski successful on the football field this year will make him an asset on the ice as well.
“He’s a hard worker and he’ll doing anything for the team,” Miller said of Jurkowski. “He hit the gym pretty good with the football team so he brings a lot of size and strength. He wins battles along the side wall; all of those little things help. He’s one of those kids you want out there whenever you can.”
Division II
Sweet Home 5, Williamsville East 3
Sweet Home withstood a three-goal second period barrage from the Flames as they got a bounce-back win Thursday night. A total of seven Panthers participated in the five goals.
It was a much-needed win for the defending State champs after falling to Kenmore West, 5-2, on Monday.
“Tonight we got out to a 3-0 lead and Will East came back to tie it,” Sweet Home coach David Gerspach said. “I was really happy with how we responded. The third period tonight was our best all year.”
Liam Kennedy assisted on Sweet Home’s first two goals. The first coming on the power play courtesy of Collin Coogan, the second from Cameron Coogan. Anthony Genau added another Panther goal with 5:17 left in the period to give his team a 3-0 lead at the end of the first.
At the break, Williamsville East not only made a change at goalie but a change in mentality as well.
The Flames got back-to-back goals less than a minute apart as Jason Melanson and Brennan McCarthy scored. Melanson found the back of the net again on the power play with 7:39 left in the period.
However, the Panthers eventually answered back as Cameron Coogan found Blake Russo to regain the lead.
Edward Gould added a power-play goal for Sweet Home in the third period to seal it.
Michael Lisman stopped 37 of 40 shots for the Panthers.
Today’s games
Division I
St. Joe’s vs. Frontier 5:30 p.m. Leisure Rink
Division II
North Tonawanda vs. Iroquois-Alden 5 p.m. Northtown Center
Non-League
Starpoint vs. Lockport-Niagara Falls 6 p.m. Cornerstone Ice Arena
Williamsville South vs. West Seneca West 7:10 p.m. West Seneca Town Rink
Kenmore East vs. Franklin Academy 6:30 p.m. Malone Civic Center (Malone, NY)
Grand Island vs. Ogdensburgh 6:30 p.m. Ogdensburgh Newell (Ogdensburgh, NY)
Fabulous 21 Tournament (Mount Vernon, NY)
Canisius vs. Fordham Prep 5:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s vs. Pelham 7:45 p.m.
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