I’ve heard the rule is to drop the bottom team and bump up last year’s champion. That would leave us with this:
League 1: Suffern, Mamaroneck, Pelham, Rye, Rye Town/Harrison, John Jay, Mahopac, White Plains
League 2: Clarkstown North, Yorktown, Scarsdale, Brewster, Mount Pleasant, North Rockland
League 3: Fox Lane, E/T/B, Ossining, Pawling, Clarkstown South, Lakeland/Panas, New Rochelle
League 4: Byram Hills, Kennedy/PV, Somers/NS, Pearl River, SH/Irvington, Greeley, Tappan Zee, Carmel, Nyack

However, this was a really interesting year. The worst teams in League 1 were either very young (Mahopac) or missing key players (North), and I don’t think putting them in League 2 is the solution. Meanwhile, Rye Town/Harrison graduates four huge starters and White Plains graduates the top two scorers in the section and the goalie. Meanwhile, John Orlando told me that no League 1 team wants to move down. So I’m not sure where that leaves us at this point.

One radical solution, which I mentioned earlier this season, is to split the teams up by division, like they do at sectionals. So you have:
League I-A: Suffern, Mamaroneck, Rye Town/Harrison, Mahopac, White Plains, Clarkstown North, Scarsdale
League II-A: Pelham, Rye, John Jay, Yorktown, Brewster, Pawling, Fox Lane
League I-B: Mount Pleasant, North Rockland, E/T/B, Lakeland/Panas, New Rochelle, SH/Irvington, Clarkstown South, Carmel
League II-B: Ossining, Byram Hills, Kennedy/PV, Somers/NS, Pearl River, Greeley, Tappan Zee, Nyack

The final determinations won’t be made until the ADs meet on April 30. What are your picks for the new leagues?

Finally, here’s something that will complicate things further. I heard two smaller teams (update: Tappan Zee and Nyack) are thinking of merging. This shouldn’t affect the league alignments (this is a move to stay afloat, not to create a powerhouse. I expect the merged team will still be placed in League 4). What it could affect is the playoff picture. When two small schools combine, it could push a larger school into Division II. Right now the smallest school in Division I is Clarkstown South (you can find the exact numbers on a previous post). I haven’t seen the school sizes for next year, but look at how close Mamaroneck was to the Vikings this year. A merger has never been denied by Section 1, but that might change if schools like Pelham, Rye and John Jay all of a sudden see Mamaroneck as a sectional opponent.

Again, this is all hypothetical at this point. I’ll let you know if/when the merger becomes official. This brings up one other issue — how is every section allowed to determine their own rules for a state playoff? Section 1 puts teams in Divisions I and II based on school size, but Section 9 does it based on program strength. I know this was a bigger issue last year when Monroe-Woodbury beat much smaller schools (like Rye) on its way to a DII state title, but I still can’t believe sections are allowed to choose their own criteria, and everyone else in the state has to live with that decision.

The rescheduled senior all-star game will be tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at the Ice Hutch. The format will be Rockland/Northern Westchester vs. Southern/Central Westchester. Rosters are still being finalized, but I expect it to be a great show, considering how many incredible seniors there were this year. Again, I have no idea who will appear, but how about this hypothetical matchup?

Rockland/N Westchester
F Salt-Ruthberg-Shore
F Dimaggio-Latino-Alfonzetti
D Ojeda-Conklin
G Natoli

C/S Westchester
F Conner-Sigona-Encarnacao
F Eck-Novick-Rogers
D Gordon-Kegan
G McKinney

I know, I know, I left some great kids out. This was just off the top of my head. The point is there are a ton of talented seniors, and this is one last chance to see them. I’m definitely looking forward to it. Plus I just had to cover my first lacrosse game yesterday, and it was actually warmer in the Ice Hutch.

(update Monday 3/31: here were the actual lines)
Rockland/N Westchester
F Zach Salt-Matt Ruthberg-Matt Shore
F Vinny Matranga-Frank Dimaggio-Nick Mucci
F Nick Alfonzetti-Josh Moelis-Jim Arullio
D Andrew Ojeda-Mike Conklin
D Eric Holewinski-Danny Paesano
D Matt Scully-Brian Hawley
G Tom Natoli, Jason Sartorius

C/S Westchester
F Brian Conner-Nick Hardy-Phil Darland
F Phil Sigona-Rui Encarnacao-Brett Novick
F Frank Puzziferri-Tim Corini-Harry Mac Innis
D Matt Seid-Rob Oliverio
D Christian Edge-Mike Messer/Ken Sommer
G Andrew Chase, Mike Cambareri

And here is the link to the story.

Just wanted to let you know that you can win $10,000 from Lohud.com if you fill out a perfect NCAA tournament bracket. Here is the link. And here are some clues: Georgetown, UNC, UCLA and Texas. We’re still working on a Frozen Four contest.

Just heard from Pelham coach and Ice Hutch rink manager Ed Witz that the exceptional seniors game, originally scheduled for Sunday night at 6:30, has been postponed. Something about the paperwork not being submitted on time.

It is tentatively rescheduled for Saturday, March 29 at 6 p.m. at the Ice Hutch, pending Section 1 approval, which should happen Monday.

Here are the all-league sections, which are selected by the coaches from that particular league. It appears to be formula-based: four picks for the winning team, three for the runner-up, two for the middle teams and one each from the bottom three. Then honorable mention for two players from each team.

A few things I noticed at first glance: Andrew Ojeda made second-team all-state but not all-league. … All four Pelham selections were juniors, which gives some indication of how strong it can be next year. Similarly, Mamaroneck honored three juniors and Mahopac’s picks were a junior, sophomore and freshman. … There were only five all-league defensemen combined in Leagues 1, 2 and 3. Are they being undervalued?… After hearing so much about E/T/B, and Burdick scoring 45 goals for Pawling, I was surprised to see Nick Mucci get League 3 co-MVP.

As always, congratulations to everyone. The Journal News all-star teams (Westchester/Putnam and Rockland) are still to come.

League 1
All League
Tom Natoli G Sr Suffern
Zach Salt F Sr Suffern
Matt Ruthberg F Sr Suffern
Mike Conklin D Sr Suffern
Brian Conner F Sr Mamaroneck
Sean Hagan D Jr Mamaroneck
Luke Glaser G Jr Mamaroneck
Marc Flory F Jr Pelham
Andrew Emerson F Jr Pelham
Brett Novick F Sr Ryetown/Harrison
Cody McKinney F Sr Ryetown/Harrison
Jordan Eck F Sr Rye
Marshall Rogers F Sr Rye
Chris Latino F Sr John Jay CR
Tyler Perrelle F Jr Mahopac
Chris McIndoe G Jr Clarkstown North

Honorable Mention
Steve Williams D Sr Clarkstown North
Dan Cincotta D Sr Clarkstown North
Chris Mastrocola F Soph Mahopac
Tyler Gyscek F Frosh Mahopac
David Rofofsky F Jr John Jay CR
Christian Edge D Sr John Jay CR
Chris Wenzel F Sr Rye
Kevin Gordon D Sr Rye
Sean McKinney G Sr Ryetown/Harrison
Kyle Kegan D Sr Ryetown/Harrison
Mac Clay F Jr Pelham
Mike Mamone D Jr Pelham
Matt Seid D Sr Mamaroneck
Rob Fine F Jr Mamaroneck
Andrew Ojeda D Sr Suffern
Zac Hiller F Jr Suffern

Player of the Year Tom Natoli, Suffern and Brian Conner, Mamaroneck

Coach of the Year Mike Chiapparelli, Mamaroneck and Jason Friesen, Rye

Doc Rasbeck Award Scholarship and Ability Matt Shore, Suffern

Russ Simon Award Sportmanship and Ability Brett Novick, Ryetown/Harrison

Howie Kosel Team Sportsmanship Award Mahopac and Rye

League 2
Phil Sigona F Sr White Plains
Rui Encarnacao F Sr White Plains
Steve McCarrick F Jr White Plains
Mike Cambareri G Sr White Plains
Robbie Oliverio D Sr Scarsdale
Lee Gilbert F Sr Scarsdale
Andy Reggev G Sr Scarsdale
Frank Dimaggio F Sr Yorktown
Vinnie Matranga F Sr Yorktown
Nick Alfonzetti F Sr Brewster
Jason Sartorius G Sr Fox Lane
Eric Perlowitz F Sr Mt. Pleasant

Honorable Mention
Matt Altieri F Jr White Plains
Ryan McGee D Soph White Plains
Matt Oliverio F Soph Scarsdale
John Felix F Jr Scarsdale
Max Yoeli F Sr Fox Lane
John Owen F Sr Fox Lane
JoJo Pandolfo F Jr Mt.Pleasant
Kevin Dolce F Sr Mt.Pleasant
Brett Michelson D Sr Yorktown
Rocky Bonitatibus F Sr Yorktown
Mike Miller F Soph Brewster
Ian Fleming F Soph Brewster

Player of the Year Phil Sigona White Plains and Rui Encarnacao White Plains

Coach of the Year Howie Rubenstein White Plains

Doc Rasbeck Award Scholarship and Ability Max Yoeli Fox Lane

Russ Simon Award Sportsmanship and Ability Nick Alfonzetti Brewster

Howie Kosel Team Sportsmanship Award Fox Lane

League 3
Sean O’Connor F 11 North Rockland
Craig Meany D 11 North Rockland
Russell Santiago F 12 North Rockland
Matthew Rau F 12 North Rockland
Ronny Sherding F 11 ETB
Alex Hagen F 10 ETB
Joe Mercorella F 12 ETB
Robert Dorgan F 10 Ossining
Frank Puzziferri F 12 Ossining
Nick Mucci F 12 Lakeland/Panas
Matt Burdick F 11 Pawling
Jon Nash F 12 Pawling
Eric Holewinski D 12 Clarks South
Ryan Basmajian F 10 Byram Hills

Honorable Mention
Todd Smith F 12 Byram Hills
Kevin Lenhardt F 11 Byram Hills
Brendan Meyers F 10 Clarkstown South
Josh Moelis F 12 Clarkstown South
Mike Ciotti D 10 ETB
Brian McNamara D 10 ETB
Sean Rowe D 12 Lakeland/Panas
Nick Karalos F 12 Lakeland/Panas
Anthony Reda F 12 Pawling
Billy Vitro D 12 Pawling
Alex Nestle G 11 North Rockland
John Casey F 12 North Rockland
Matt Annibale F 10 Ossining
Andrew Chase G 12 Ossining

Player of the Year Nick Mucci Lakeland/Panas and Sean O’Connor North Rockland

Coach of the Year Gary Dworkowitz North Rockland

Doc Rasbeck Award Scholarship and Ability Eric Holewinski Clarkstown South

Russ Simons Award Sportsmanship and Ability Russell Santiago

Howie Kosel Team Sportsmanship Award Byram Hills

League 4
Richie Prunesti F 9 New Rochelle
Freddie Mantignetti F 11 New Rochelle
Pat Staropoli F/D 11 New Rochelle
Tim Corini F 12 New Rochelle
Mike DeLaVergne G 10 JFK/PV
Sean Sullivan F 11 JFK/PV
Patrick Considine D 12 JFK/PV
Joe Marasco F 11 Somers/NS
Danny Paesano D 12 Somers/NS
Craig Halpin D 11 Sleepy/Irv
Ryan Denis F 12 Sleepy/Irv
Brennan Slattery D 11 Nyack
James Oliver Jr. F 12 Carmel
John Amodeo F 12 Greeley
Derek Katchis D 11 Greeley
Nick Spar F 12 Pearl River
Pat Heraghty G 11 Pearl River
Chris Fyfe G 12 Tappan Zee

Honorable Mention
Andrew Doria F 11 Carmel
Marc Glaviano G 12 Carmel
Josh Kaplan F 10 Sleepy/Irv
Andrew Strauch D 12 Sleepy?irv
Paul Cho F 11 Nyack
Bobby Bausinger D 11 Nyack
Ian Steinberg F 12 Greeleey
Nathan Quicke F 11 Greeley
John Garcia F 11 TZ
Kevin Andrews D 10 TZ
Jimmy Aruilio F 12 Somers/NS
Steve Aruilio F 10 Somers/NS
Josh Gomez F 12 JFK/PV
Patrick Treacy D 11 JFK/PV
Kenny Sommer D 12 New Rochelle
Dan Feliu G 11 New Rochelle
Joe Surace F 11 Pearl River
Ryan Toal D 12 Pearl River

Player of the Year Mike DelaVergne JFK/PV

Coach of the Year Jim Tozzo New Rochelle

Doc Rasbeck Award Scholarship and Ability Nick Spar Pearl River

Russ Simon Award Sportsmanship and Ability Kenny Sommer New Rochelle

Howie Kosel Team Sportsmanship Award Pearl River

Because it’s never too early to think about next year. Big news is that there is still no outbracket, and in the state quarters the Division I winner must now travel to Section 10 (state champ Massena?), and the Division II winner will travel to Section 2 (top-ranked Queensbury?) It also looks like everything was pushed back a week. The state tournament dates are set in stone, while the sectional dates can still be changed.

Division I
First Round Monday 2/23
Quarters Thursday 2/26
Semis Saturday 2/28
Final Monday 3/1

Division II
first round Tuesday 2/24
Quarters Friday 2/27
Semis Sunday 3/1
Final Tuesday 3/3

Regionals Saturday March 7
Division I vs section 10 @ section 10
Division II vs section 2 @ section 2

Final Four Saturday March 14
Division I
1-10 winner vs 6-9 winner
5-7 winner vs 2-3 winner
Division II
1-2 winner vs 9-10 winner
6-7 winner vs 3-5 winner

Finals Sunday March 15

Eight players from Section 1, including three from Suffern and two from Mamaroneck and Rye, were honored as all-state selections Sunday in Utica.

G Tom Natoli of Suffern and D Sean Hagan of Mamaroneck were on the first team. F Brian Conner of Mamaroneck, F Zach Salt of Suffern, D Andrew Ojeda of Suffern and D Marshall Rogers of Rye made the second team. G Chris McIndoe of Clarkstown North and F Jordan Eck of Rye are honorable mention.

This is the official All-State Hockey Team as compiled by the selection committee of the NYSHSHCA (New York State High School Hockey Coaches Association)

Division I first team
Goal Tom Natoli Suffern
Def. Mac Morse Gates Chili
Def. Sean Hagan Mamaroneck
For. Adam Hitchko Shenendehowa
For. Cole Schneider St. Joe’s
For. Matt Hatch Massena
For. Scott Lewis West Genesee

Second Team
Goal John Schlegel West Genesee
Def. Andrew Ojeda Suffern
Def. Nick Fronczak Williamsville North
For. Brian Connor Mamaroneck
For. John Knisley Pittsford
For. Tim Besio West Genesee
For. Zach Salt Suffern

Honorable Mention
Chris McIndoe,Clarkstown North, Mark Goulding, St.Joe’s, Terry Schaeffer, Aquinas, Chris Sova, Oswego, Jacob Witkop, Massena, Bryan Hunter, Shendenhowa, Ben Waldman, Pittsford, Joe Karl, Lancaster, Nick Zapia, Fayetteville-Manlius, Gabe French, Ithaca, Jesse Elliott, Shenendehowa, Nick Miller, Pottsdam

Coach of the Year Joe Phillips Massena

Division 2 first team
Goal Jon Hall Thousand Islands
Goal Matt Solimano Webster-Thomas
D Joe Amico Webster-Thomas
D Matt Wood Skaneateles
F Justin Scharfe Webster-Thomas
F Marc Plante Salmon River
F Chris Snyder Clinton
F Chris Lewis Salmon River

Second Team
Goal Jack Lambe Whitesboro
D Marshall Rogers Rye
D Josh Schneider Solvay
F Matt Soprano Queensbury
F Keith Buehler Skaneateles
F George Hajjar Whitesboro

Honorable Mention
Patrick Murphy,Queensbury, Joe Poppe, Solvay, Ryan Marko, Sweet Home, Evan Roth, Canandaigua, Jordan Hobica, Clinton, Matt Zalewski, New Hartford, Lars Grater, Thousand Islands, Bill Closs, Thousand Islands, Jordan Eck, Rye, Brett Bannon, Webster-Thomas.

Coach of the Year Dave Evans Webster-Thomas

Division 1 All Tournament Team
G Kyle Anderson Massena
D Mike Mailhot Massena
D Ryan Michel West Genesee
F Matt Hatch Massena
F Scott Lewis West Genesee
F Nathan Pichette Massena
MVP Matt Hatch Massena

Division 2 All Tournament Team
G Matt Solimano Webster-Thomas
D Joe Amico Webster-Thomas
D Ryan Grimshaw Thousand Islands
F Justin Scharfe Webster-Thomas
F Trevor Parisian Thousand Islands
F Brett Bannon Webster-Thomas
MVP Justin Scharfe Webster-Thomas

Not sure if this makes Mamaroneck and Rye fans feel better or worse, but state quarterfinal opponents Massena and TI both advanced to the championship game yesterday. Here are the details from Utica.

Massena, scoring three goals in a 1:20 span of the second period, beat a depleted Lancaster team 5-3, and TI lost a 3-0 lead, and then scored with 1:33 left to beat Sweet Home 4-3 despite being outshot 36-15. The finals opponents are West Genesee in DI and Queensbury in DII.

It’s hard to boil down all the moments from a season that started on Thanksgiving weekend and didn’t end until March 1, but here’s my attempt. Love to know your thoughts and if I left anything out.

1. Mamaroneck wins Division I title

Alright, I was going to go from 10 to 1 but what’s the point, really? For so many reasons, the Mamaroneck-Suffern game was the top moment of the season. And notice how I didn’t title this “Suffern lost” because while Suffern’s status as the undefeated and top-ranked team certainly made this a bigger game, it wasn’t like the Mounties played poorly. The Tigers just played great. I pretty much wrote down everything already about the title game (click here), from the incredible pregame atmosphere

to the celebration afterwards

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the good feelings didn’t last long — It lost an overtime heartbreaker to Massena on Saturday. But when the season is over, Conner’s goal with 15 seconds left to win the championship is the strongest memory I’ll have.

2. Iona Prep wins championship in OT

The Iona Prep-Stepinac rivalry produced some classic games this year, starting in the regular season, when the Crusaders dealing Iona Prep its first league loss. But the playoffs was really when the matchups got intense. All three games were played in front of at least 650 people, and two went to overtime — Stepinac won 11 minutes into the extra session in Game 2

and, of course, Iona Prep won on Cody King’s breakaway in overtime of the third and final game.

My favorite stat: the teams split the season series 3-3, and total goals were 20-19 Iona.

3. Rye’s amazing turnaround

The Garnets were 2-5 on Dec. 18, with losses to Division II challengers Pelham and John Jay, no starting goalie, severe scoring problems, and the only two wins were against a Fox Lane team that wouldn’t qualify for the postseason. As late as Jan. 19, they didn’t have a winning record. And then came this:

Rye developed chemistry as the football players got back into the fold, Matt Benincasa (below) not only earned the starting job but became a real asset, the team built a lot of depth, stuck to a great defensive system and won 11 of its last 12 games, including an exciting 2-1 win at Pelham to clinch a second straight DII title.

4. Parity in Section 1

There seemed to be three tiers of teams: Suffern and Mamaroneck. Rye, Pelham, White Plains and Rye Town/Harrison. And then everyone else. The first round of the playoffs saw League 4 Sleepy Hollow/Irvington (below) beat League 1 Clarkstown North, and a pair of League 3 teams win (North Rockland, above beating Mount Pleasant, and E/T/B), while League 4 New Rochelle lost 7-6 to League 2 White Plains.

It made for a very exciting regular season as well, with very competitive games in League 2 (outside of White Plains), pretty much every game in League 3 and the top half of League 4.

5. Suffern’s undefeated regular season

For three months, the biggest question was whether anyone would be able to beat Suffern. Rye came the closest, skating to a 2-2 tie at Sport-O-Rama on Jan. 11. But teams like Monroe-Woodbury (4-1), Iona Prep (5-2) and White Plains (6-1) didn’t have as much luck, not to mention Mamaroneck, Pelham, and six upstate teams. In fact, only one team was able to score as many as three goals against Suffern goalie Tom Natoli (below)—Mamaroneck’s Brian Conner had a hat trick by himself in the Tigers 5-3 loss.

But it wasn’t just an all-state goalie. It was four great defenseman and three forwards that put up at least 62 points, led by first-team center Zach Salt.

6. White Plains breaks through

With a school-record 23 wins, an outright league title for the first time since 1977, the top two scorers in the section (Phil Sigona and Rui Encarnacao, above) and one of the best nicknames (”Stonewall Jackson” for goalie Mike Cambareri, below), not to mention the fact that all 20 skaters recorded a point, White Plains had the best season outside of the teams that made the sectional finals.

7. Rye Town/Harrison rises up

Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville deserves credit for going from League 5 to the runner-up in League 3, but no team made a bigger leap than Rye Town/Harrison, who finished in fourth place in its first year in the power league. One of the top forward lines in the section with Blind Brook students Brett Novick, Adam Urban and Cody McKinney—who can forget their seven-goal game against Rye, capped by Novick’s OT winner (below)—four-year starting goalie Sean McKinney and senior defenseman Kyle Kegan, the Titans showed the way for teams hoping to make it from the lower leagues to the top.

8. Pelham stays strong

After a 9-14 season that ended with a shocking quarterfinal loss, and only two seniors on the roster, the Pelicans could have been one of those teams in rebuilding mode this year, like Mahopac or North. But the Pelicans finished a strong third in League 1 and made it back to the sectional final for the 17th time in 22 years. If all (or even most) of their players return, Pelham will be back in the role of favorite next season.

9. Other amazing comebacks

Rye wasn’t the only team to turn its season around. Ossining (above), who graduated 14 players last season, was 3-8 but finished the regular season with 10 wins in their last 11 games to make the playoffs. And Fordham Prep, behind two freshman goalies, started 3-6-1 before winning eight straight, including the Scarsdale tournament, to solidify its spot in the CHSHL tournament. Below is the Rams’ Chuck MacKenzie, who wins the very unofficial “most ice time” award.

10. Playoff excitement

All three area championship games were decided by one goal, one in OT and one with 15 seconds left in regulation—in front of a combined 2,500 people, with two games having to turn people away in the first period. Mamaroneck lost its state quarterfinal game in OT. Yorktown and Brewster played a double-OT thriller in the quarterfinals. Four of the seven first-round games were won by the lower seed. There’s nothing better than playoff hockey, and this season showed us why.

As part of an effort to get more hockey in the paper, I wrote another “behind-the-scenes” weekly feature on something unique to the sport—high school rivals who are also travel teammates. The story is here. You might remember a previous story that focused on the crazy hours hockey players keep.

I was always impressed to see how friendly the top players are to each other after the game, and to see how they support each other. At every playoff game I saw players from random schools in the stands, checking on their travel teammates.

I was going to post the top 10 today, but I think if I wait until tomorrow I can include pictures and really make it look good, so I’m going to do that. I know, the suspense is killing you.

I also put a call into Greg Ransom, the head of Section 1 athletics, to determine the eligibility of a player who transfers back from private school. I’ve heard it’s not as simple as just coming back to your team and playing immediately. I will post something when he gets back to me.

I have to admit, I never thought the season would be over on March 1. Especially not when Mamaroneck was up 2-1 and Rye was up 2-0. But the unpredictability that make playoff hockey so exciting—the fact that each shift, each shot, yes each call, can turn a game—turned against our teams, and now the three-month-plus season is over.

I never made it to Rye, so here’s the game story from Eric Lebowitz. I was at Mamaroneck, where I experienced the most wild swing of emotions I’ve seen since, well, Monday. The Tigers had a goal disallowed in the final three minutes, killed a penalty that started with 1:32 left after Massena had scored twice in 17 seconds in its two previous power-play chances, and then gave up a disputed goal 29 seconds into overtime. I tried to cram as much detail into my story as possible, and I’ll write more when I can.

I thought Messana dominated the first period, but Luke Glaser was great and Mamaroneck tied the game with 0.4 seconds left. From there I thought Mamaroneck was the better team in the second period (though it took one penalty, which was one penalty too many), and the third period was even. Another huge crowd, by the way. It reached the 1,000-person limit before the opening faceoff.

Anyway, like I said I’ll have some more thoughts later on (including who the Massena coach told me was the Mamaroneck player he was most impressed with besides Conner). And in the days and weeks ahead I’ll be posting some top moments from the season and some predictions for next year, as well as whatever all-league and all-selection selections come in, and of course The Journal News all-star (Westchester/Putnam) and all-county (Rockland) teams, as well as the coach and player of the year. And when the time comes, I’ll let everyone know the new league alignments and Division I/Division II splits.

So while the games are over for the next nine months, I hope we keep the conversations going. But I also understand that this is the end of the road for some of you, and I just want to let you know that I appreciate the time you’ve spent here.

Matt Supernault scored 29 seconds into overtime to give Massena a 3-2 win over Mamaroneck in a Division I state quarterfinal tonight at Hommocks Ice Rink.

Brian Conner had a goal and an assist for the Tigers, who end the season 23-4-1.

Massena plays Lancaster on Saturday at Utica in the state semifinals.

Update: Rye lost its state quarterfinal game as well, falling to Thousand Islands 4-2 in Division II action

More to come.

I spent Friday at the County Center watching four Class A semifinal basketball games, and I can sum it all up in one word: Blowout. Or six words: The exact opposite of playoff hockey. The scores were 58-37, 79-47, 61-51 and 57-44.

So I’m glad to get back to the rinks, where I expect three close, exciting games today. I’m not going to go crazy with predictions because I have absolutely no idea what to expect from teams seven hours away, without a single common opponent. Gut feeling is that Rye will win, Iona Prep will lose, and Mamaroneck is 50/50. Only because Rye is playing so well right now, Iona Prep’s opponent is 5-0 in the state championship game and Mamaroneck and Massena both have about the same ranking and seem like similar teams. What does everyone else think?

It’s sobering to think that after three months, today could be the last day I cover hockey for a long time. Or I could be in Utica next weekend covering four games. And it will probably all be decided between 9-10 p.m. We’ll have a different reporter covering all three games, though I definitely plan on going from Hommocks to the Ice Hutch after my interviews. Google Maps provided this route, though if someone has a better idea I’m listening.