Photos and Story by Janet Schultz. No photos may be copied, shared or reproduced without permission of Janet@nyhockeyonline.com.
Section VI’s Clarence/Amherst/Sweet Home (CASH) took the NYSPHSAA Far West Regional Championship to advance to the NYS Regional Championship this weekend (Feb. 20/21). They beat the Webster Lakers 2-1 in a face-paced game.
CASH opened the scoring in the first when Kiley Breeze got one past Webster’s Mia Wambach at 4:28 of the first, assisted by Captain Jenny Wild. First period ends in CASH’s favor.
CASH adds another one in the second at 10:58, an unassisted goal by Wild. CASH is up 2-0 going into the third.
With just 1:49 left in the third period, Webster’s Kenzie Beale gets one by Ella Celej, assisted by Viv Kinkead. Webster continued the pressure until the whistle was blown and CASH wins 2-1.
In goal Celej stopped 25 of 26 shots for CASH and Wambach faced 18.
The States look like this.
CASH will face Section X Potsdam on Friday at 3 p.m.
At 5 p.m. Section III Skaneateles faces Section II Adirondack
The winner of those two games will advance to the finals.
This will be CASH’s first appearance at the State Championship.
Potsdam has taken the Championship once, in 2014. That year they declared Co-Champions along with Skaneateles after four overtimes and a 2-2 tie.
Skaneateles has taken the title five times, including the Co-win; Adirondack twice.
Our WNYGVIH teams, Williamsville won the title in 2019 and Frontier/Orchard Park in 2018. Kenmore/Grand Island (before Lockport) has also appeared in the semi-finals.
The NYS Championship is considered Regional because not every Section in the NYSPHSAA has a girls varsity ice hockey team to compete. The Tournament was started in 2005-06.
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