Will North Knocks off OP, Captures Section VI Large School Title

*Williamsville North 5, Orchard Park 1*

BUFFALO, NY – In the second game of the 2020 Super Sunday High School Federation Hockey Championship, Williamsville North defeated Orchard Park, 5-1, to win the Section VI Large School Championship. The victory also marked the 500th win for legendary Spartans hockey coach, Bob Rosen.

Williamsville North has won the Section VI Large School Championship! Catch the highlights here!@WNorthHockey @NorthSquall @WillNorthHigh @WCSD_K12 @SectionVI @wnyfedhockey pic.twitter.com/6N0nuuwHG2 — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) March 1, 2020

“Every game has some significance,” Rosen said after the game. “Whether it’s your 25th or 500th, winning a championship, it’s awfully hard. This is a great group and I’m happy to share this memory with them.”

After the game WNY Federation Hockey Chairman Mark Difilippo awarded Rosen with the game’s MVP to honor the achievement.

Williamsville North jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first period. Just :41 into the period Mason Meggo scored an unassisted goal to put the Spartans up 1-0.

Mason Meggo picks off a Quaker pass and cashes in for the first goal of the game! Williamsville North: 1 Orchard Park: 0 14:14 remaining in the 1st period.@OP_Fed @OPSchools @op_athletics @OPBoosterClub @WNorthHockey @NorthSquall @WillNorthHigh @wnyfedhockey @SectionVI pic.twitter.com/G5vv16QYbw — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) March 1, 2020

Just a little over seven minutes later Jacob Okulewicz gave Will North a 2-0 lead at the 7:51 mark. Matthew Scott assisted.

Jacob Okulewicz (from Matthew Scott) extends the Spartan lead to 2! Williamsville North: 2 Orchard Park: 0 07:09 remaining in the 1st period.@OP_Fed @OPSchools @op_athletics @OPBoosterClub @WNorthHockey @NorthSquall @WillNorthHigh @wnyfedhockey @SectionVI pic.twitter.com/Y5xae8NfUW — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) March 1, 2020

Less than three minutes later Mac Ward made it 3-0, beating Orchard Park netminder Ryan Albert at 10:10. Jacob Penetrante and Mason Meggo got the assists.

Spartans now lead 3-0! Mac Ward scores with assists from Jacob Penetrante and Mason Meggo. 04:50 remaining in the 1st period.@OP_Fed @OPSchools @op_athletics @OPBoosterClub @WNorthHockey @NorthSquall @WillNorthHigh @wnyfedhockey @SectionVI pic.twitter.com/AzmNaldBy6 — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) March 1, 2020

The Spartans outshot the Quakers 15-7 in the first period.

It was a scoreless second period with Williamsville North outshooting Orchard Park, 14-11.

Quakers pour on some pressure but Henry Braun denies the them their first goal. Save of the game so far!@OP_Fed @OPSchools @op_athletics @OPBoosterClub @WNorthHockey @NorthSquall @WillNorthHigh @wnyfedhockey @SectionVI pic.twitter.com/QTHmiVLt1K — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) March 1, 2020

Orchard Park finally got on the scoreboard when Owen Hughes scored a power play goal to make it 3-1 at the 5:01 mark of the third period. Aiden Jones and Bryson Miller got the assists.

Orchard Park scores their first goal on the power play! Owen Hughes from Aiden Jones and Bryson Miller. Williamsville North: 3 Orchard Park: 1 09:59 remaining in the 3rd period.@OP_Fed @OPSchools @op_athletics @OPBoosterClub @wnyfedhockey @SectionVI pic.twitter.com/ckI5tkkjVs — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) March 1, 2020

The Spartans sealed the game with two final goals in the third. The first came when Okulewicz scored his second goal of the game at the 6:22 mark to make it 4-1.

GOAL! Jacob Okulewicz (unassisted) Williamsville North: 4 Orchard Park: 1 08:39 remaining in the 3rd period.@OP_Fed @OPSchools @op_athletics @OPBoosterClub @WNorthHockey @NorthSquall @WillNorthHigh @wnyfedhockey @SectionVI pic.twitter.com/mBNR84Uv53 — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) March 1, 2020

Matthew Scott got the Spartans’ final goal, a power play goal, at 11:35. A.J. Ferenczy and Bryan Adudle got the assists.

GOAL! Matthew Scott from AJ Ferenczy and Bryan Adudle. Williamsville North: 5 Orchard Park: 1 03:25 remaining in the 3rd period.@OP_Fed @OPSchools @op_athletics @OPBoosterClub @WNorthHockey @NorthSquall @WillNorthHigh @wnyfedhockey @SectionVI pic.twitter.com/EZrX2OI2kh — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) March 1, 2020

“I was on the team that lost to (Niagara) Wheatfield a couple years ago,” Meggo said. “This is a great feeling to win here. It was important to get off to a fast start like we did against Lancaster. Scoring those early goals was a game changer for us.”

With the win Williamsville North moves on to the regional round next Saturday where they will play Ithaca at the Lecom HarborCenter in the first round of the NYSPHSAA playoffs.

GAME NOTES – MVP of the game was Williamsville North head coach, Bob Rosen, honoring him and his 500th career win as a coach…Spartan goalie Henry Braun stopped 22 of 23 shots on goal…the Spartans outshot the Quakers for the game, 45-23.

The images used in this article were provided courtesy of Janet Schultz, NYHockeyOnline.com