WNY boys hockey champs: Orchard Park, Williamsville East beat rivals for sectional titles in super setting at downtown arena

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Orchard Park Quakers and Williamsville East Flames scattered their gloves and sticks on the ice where the Buffalo Sabres skated to celebrate Section VI boys hockey championship triumphs Friday night at KeyBank Center.

Orchard Park continued its dynastic run in Division I beating Lancaster 8-3 to claim its fourth sectional title in a row.

Williamsville East defeated crosstown rival Williamsville North 4-1 to win its first Division II title in a decade.

This was the 25th "Super Sunday" slate of championship hockey games the downtown arena.

"Playing here is outstanding," Williamsville East coach Mike Torrillo said. "The Sabres give these kids an opportunity to do this, and it’s something there never going to forget. Media day, when (former Sabre) Pat Kaleta said it, seize the moment. I said to the kids before, you’re one of two teams here out of 30 that would love to get this opportunity. Have fun. And I did put in there, the only way to have fun is to win."

"It means everything to the kids," Orchard Park coach Josh Dannecker said. "You thank the Sabres for all of their efforts. We were talking about this the other day that we are the only section that gets to play in a professional arena. To walk down this hallway that the Sabres do, sit on their bench, it’s a memory-maker for sure."

The Section VI champions now advance across the street for next Saturday's state regionals at HarborCenter, which also will host the NYSPHSAA championships March 15-16.

"It feels good to win sectionals by a lot like that it means we have a lot of confidence going into states," said Orchard Park freshman goaltender Matthew Schwarzott who made 16 saves. "I say let’s run it up and win it."

Fans from the neighboring schools filled several sections for an intense rivalry matchup between Williamsville East and Williamsville North, a postseason rarity with North playing in Division I up until this season.

"I’m telling you right now that’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen from Williamsville East in a long time," Torrillo said. "Teaching at the school, the energy in the school today was awesome. The kids were so excited. I can’t believe the crowd today. What better could you want for a rivalry game and a championship.

"It feels amazing," senior defenseman Noah Hoffman said. "It’s the best feeling I’ve had ever. Such a big game like that against a rivalry team, a big stage, you can’t beat it."

Brody MacDonnell hada two goals, Brendan Lembke and Hoffman also scored, Braden Sims tallied two assists for Williamsville East (18-3-2), and Jacob Sexton made 24 saves in lowering his season goals-against average to 1.89.

"We got one little motto that we use: if they don't score, we can't lose," Torrillo said. "When we keep teams down to one, I like our chances."

Senior defenseman Sam Moore helped in that regard, hustling back to keep to prevent the puck from crossing the goal line and giving North the lead early in the first period.

In the Division I final, Gavin Reashor scored twice in the first period as Orchard Park (17-1-1) responded from giving up the first goal to take a 4-1 lead. Sean Robertson added a goal and two assists, while Barrett Anstett, Cole Purrenhage and Cameron McCarthy each had a goal and assist. Brennan O'Hara nad Justin Relosky also scored, and Alexander Saeli had two assists.

"We knew this was going to be a game where we had to score some goals to win," Dannecker said. "And I said to the guys before the game, you could have something bad happen. We could be behind. But if you just keep battling, keep working, we’ll have a chance. Because we’ve been able to score goals this year. And if you’re not scoring the first one, as long as you’re scoring the last few, that’s kind of the idea."