SUFFERN TAKES DOWN WEST GENESEE, WIN STATE TITLE

“To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.”

That quote, popularized by legendary professional wrestler Ric Flair, certainly applied to the NYSPHSAA Division I title game at the LECOM Harborcenter on Sunday between the Suffern Mounties of Section I and the West Genesee Wildcats of Section III.

While Suffern was the reigning state champion, West Genesee had been 21-0-3 coming into the game and had won a state title of their own two years prior. This clash of the titans, which produced a 3-1 win for Suffern, secured their second consecutive crown and their third in four years.

The Mounties, as Flair would say, are indeed “the man”.

“It was an incredible game,” Mounties coach Robert Schelling said. “The work ethic that these kids put in and their dedication and commitment is incredible. And then to pull it off, back-to-back state champions, winning states three out of the last four years, it’s a pretty incredible feat for these seniors.”

Senior Philip McCarthy, who finished the outing with a goal and two assists, was ecstatic.

“It feels awesome, and it took a lot to win today,” McCarthy said. “West Genesee’s a great team. Give a lot of credit to them, but we really believe in each other.

“We played them in December and we lost to them. And then a few years ago, in the state final, they beat us. So it definitely feels good to finally to get one back from them.”

The first two periods ended in a scoreless tie with each team playing close to the vest and no one giving an inch. While no one would have blamed Suffern if they had started pressing in a game of this magnitude, Schelling said that patience was a virtue.

“Frank Colabufo’s a phenomenal coach, and West Genesee’s such a well-disciplined defensive team,” Schelling said. “We’ve had a lot of battles with them over the years. I give Frank so much credit what he does with his program.

“We knew it was going to be tight, and we kind of preached to just be patient and don't lose that patience. So getting the first goal was going to be huge.”

As luck would have it, the first goal did go to Suffern as the Mounties’ Matthew Norum took advantage of a two-on-one opportunity by scoring the game’s opening tally early in the third period. Later on, Sean Tyrell increased the lead to 2-0 by out-maneuvering a defenseman and roofing a shot top-shelf.

With 2:08 to play, however, the Wildcats struck back on a power play goal by Jacob Pensabene to cut the deficit in half. But McCarthy sealed the championship for Suffern on an empty-net goal with 30 seconds left.

“I’m proud of this group,” Colabufo said. “We were able to finish the regular season with the top seed in Section III and then we had to play Baldwinsville and Fayatteville-Manilus in the playoffs – two big rivals of ours – and then Rome in the sectional final.

“Then we had to come here to play Orchard Park – who could have won the state championship – in a regional game and then Pittsford yesterday. Our guys took on all the heavyweights, played themselves into the last day of the season and we were in it at the end with a chance to win. So they answered the bell every day, and credit Suffern for being a deserving champion.”

Schelling said the team’s success over the years was because of a family-like atmosphere they’ve created.

“I think our coaching staff is just phenomenal,” Schelling said. “We have a group of guys where all of them played college hockey. They're all passionate, they're all committed and they care so much. It's pretty incredible.

“Three coaches here have won state championships with their sons. Joe Lofberg’s son Luke was on the team this year and last year. John Rostawanik won with his son and his nephew’s on the team this year. I’ve won it with my son and my brother won it with his nephew. So it's just a family atmosphere here where you know both the coaches and kids really care about the program. They just do the right thing.”

Photo Gallery by Rich Rumfola/CNYAthletics.com

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