Siegmann comes up big in Large School final

They know us, we know them.

Perhaps truer words are never spoken when discussing the on-ice rivalry between Williamsville North and Niagara Wheatfield.

Now another chapter is in the books.

Peyton Siegmann made 31 saves and earned MVP honors as Niagara-Wheatfield beat Williamsville North, 2-0, in the Section VI Large School title game that kicked off the Super Monday tripleheader that was played at KeyBank Center.

“I can’t even describe the feeling,” Siegmann said. “It’s one of the better feelings I’ve had in my life. A win with the boys, especially against North. It’s great. I don’t even know how to describe it.”

Knocking off the defending NYSPHSAA Division I state champs, Wheatfield now advances to the Far West Regionals that will be held at HarborCenter on Saturday at 7:30 pm.

This game marked the seventh time in the past 11 years the two clubs have met in the sectional championship game. The most recent meeting came in 2016 when the Spartans ended the Falcons run of four consecutive titles.

Chace Woods opened the scoring in the first period when he connected on a one-timer that caught North goalie Riley Moyer out of position.

“Obviously it’s a big one,” Woods said. “We wanted to play North in the finals. That’s the team we wanted to play all year. It’s nice to finally beat them, but we still have more work to do.”

Woods also scored on a penalty shot in the third period. The penalty shot came after Will North appeared to hold tough after a furious attack by the Falcons.

While Woods provided the offensive punch it was Peyton Siegmann who stole the show, especially in the second period when Will North outshot the Falcons 17-5.

“We had a let down in the second. They rattled us a little bit and we had trouble regaining our composure and he came up big,” Niagara Wheatfield coach Rick Wrazin said.

“He kept us it in at that point it was nice to have a lead going in(to the second) but he kept us in it and we came out and played the exact third period that we wanted to.”

For the Spartans, it’s a heartbreaking end to the season.

“It’s a game where little things make a difference,” Will North coach Bob Rosen said. “It’s something we preach throughout the year. In certain situations, we didn’t do a great job. We didn’t get to the dirty areas to get some goals. They just packed all five guys in front and it was successful for them.”