Ken/GI Rollin’ to States

Courtesy Janet Schultz/NY Hockey Online

Just two wins away, but it’s still business as usual for Ken/GI.

As the Kenmore/Grand Island hockey team heads into the NYSPHSAA tourney this weekend they know full well they are just two victories away from securing the first state title in program history.

As exciting as that is each girl is still maintaining the same level headed, business like approach they have taken all season.

“There’s definitely a lot of excitement and energy going into it,” said junior goalie Carolyn Bourgeault. “Just the fact that we all have the chance to go to states is huge. And all the girls are definitely excited, especially because nobody on the team has even had this opportunity yet. For it being everyone’s first time nobody really knows what to expect.”

Which makes sense since that business like approach is a big part of what has gotten them this far.

“I think our team has always done a good job of keeping the excitement in check,” junior defenseman Megan Pinzel said. “The entire season has been exciting and a very fun experience. I think our team is really effort based so I feel that if we keep putting in the effort that we have the entire season we’ll be good in states.”

Head coach Jeff Orlowski credits his senior captains Molly Leggett and Carissa Buyea for setting the levelheaded example that the whole team has bought into.

KenGI captured its sixth sectional title in program history when they beat Williamsville on Tuesday.

The win lifted them into the NYSPHSAA tourney at SUNY Canton this weekend.

They will play Section III’s Skaneateles on Saturday at 8pm. The other semifinal game has Section X Potsdam taking on Section VII Malone.

Malone County is a recently merged team of Franklin Academy and Salmon River High School.

The semifinal winners will meet Sunday at noon for the state championship.

Ken/GI enters the tourney with that proper balance of having nothing but respect for their opponents, but they also have a fearless confident belief they are good enough to see this through and bring the state title back home to Section VI.

Much of that confidence was cultivated through winning big games during the regular season. Along with winning the sectional title, KenGI also beat Niagara County in the Holiday Classic the two teams co-hosted. And the North Country Shootout when they beat host Plattsburgh.

Those wins instilled the belief in every girl that when it was all on the line they had what it took to win. And they won’t case under the spotlight of states.

“I definitely think knowing that we’ve won three other tournaments so this season, two of which we did play teams that weren’t in our section really showed the girls that we are good enough to hang with anyone as long as well play our game,” said Bourgeault.

The North Country Shootout also helped cement their bond as a band of sisters.

Though there was never any drama between any of the players this season it was the time spent together during the trip to Plattsburgh that the do it for the girl next to me mentality became part of what drove them.

“We have really good chemistry between everyone on the team and it makes it really fun and really connected,” Pinzel said. “So you do want to win for the player next to you.”

Obviously, each girl is highly competitive and driven to succeed, but as the season chugged along it became less about their own happiness and more about wanting to see teammates succeed and smile.

Ken/GI knows those two wins won’t come easy. Skaneateles, who is the heavy favorite to beat Section I East, beat defending state champ Clinton 2-0 to win its first sectional title since 2019. The year they rolled to the state title with an unbeaten record.

The Lakers are led by sisters Rebecca (F) and Rachelle Cain (D), Lizzy Sachar (F) and Scout Oudemool. They feature a high-powered up-tempo offense backed with a strong group on the blue line.

But KenGI can match them player for player as they have seven players in double figures in scoring.

The top line of Madison Flory, Bella Jayme and Izzy Bourgeault have been dazzling all season. But they have also been getting plenty of secondary scoring from Teagan Willats, Emiliana Cassillo, Buyea and Pinzel.

Carolyn Bourgeault said she could feel the band of sisters bond start to become more evident around the holidays and it’s only gotten stronger.

“Everyone just came together like a team. Like a family,” Bourgeault said. “Everyone was playing for each other and especially our three seniors. “