Quinnipiac's Griffin Mendel (6) with the poke check on Colgate's Alex Dipaolo (28) as they broke into the offensive zone, it would be the return of the ECAC Men's Hockey championships after a 2-year break because of the Covid-19 pandemic to Lake Placid and the Herb Brooks Arena and the fans would welcome them back with 4200 in attendance. The first semi-final of the day would feature the #1 Quinnipiac Bobcats and the #5 Colgate Red Raiders with the winner looking to play for a title on Saturday night. The game would start of good for top seeded bobcats as they would get the opening goal of the game at the 9:23 mark of the first period on the powerplay from Joey Cipollone for the 1-0 lead. The Bobcats would expand their lead to 2-0 with 3:17 left in the first period on the goal by Michael Lombardi as they would end the first period. Although the Red Raiders would come out in the second period and looking to get back in the game and they would on the Griffin Lunn goal just 4:13 into the period. Although that would be the only goal of the period and the Bobcats would hold the 2-1 lead as the second period would come to an end. The teams would go back and forth in the third period and just about halfway through the third period the Bobcats would regain the two goal lead at 3-1 on the Wyatt Bongiovanni. From there the Bobcats would clamp down on the defense and hold on for the 3-1 win. In the winning effort Quinnipiac's Yaniv Perets would make saves on the night as they head back to the ECAC Championship against the winner of Clarkson and Harvard while Colgate's Mitch Benson would make 30 saves in the lose. Gallery

Harvard's Nick Abruzzese (8) with the goal on the rebound to give the Crimson the 2-1 lead. It would be semi-final game number 2 and #2 Clarkson Golden Knights would take on the #3 Harvard Crimson as the Knights would look to retain their title in Lake Placid as they won the last tournament before the shutdown of Covid-19 back in 2019. The game would start off good for the upset minded Crimson as they would get the opening goal from Sean Farrell at the 8:20 mark of the first period. Although the Knights would not end the period quietly as they would get the equalizer with just over five minutes left in the period on the Alex Campbell powerplay goal. The game would stay there till the 10:59 mark of the second period when the Crimson would regain the lead at 2-1 on the Nick Abruzzese goal. Although the Golden Knights would tie the game back up again just two minutes later on the goal by Alex Campbell for the second time on the night and both on the powerplay. Then with just over three minutes left in the period the Golden Knights would get there first lead of the game on the Zach Tsekos goal and make it 3-2 Golden Knights leaded headed to the third period. Although the lead would be short lived as the Crimson would tie game up at the 4:23 mark of the period on Nick Abruzzeses second goal of the game. Then with just under five minutes left in the game the Crimson would take the lead for the third and final time on the night on the Matthew Coronato goal at 4-3 and would also add the empty netter in the closing seconds of the game. In the winning effort the Harvard Crimson advance to the ECAC Hockey Championship against the #1 Quinnipiac Bobcats and Mitchell Gibson would make 24 saves on the night while Clarkson's Ethan Haider would make 29 saves in the losing effort. Gallery

The Hartford Tanagers have crowned the 2022 NYSPHSAA Class D Girl's Basketball Northern Regional champions. It would be the NYSPHSAA Class D Girl's Basketball regionals finals that would take place between the #3 Hartford Tanagers and the #6 Boquet Valley Griffins from Clinton Community College. The #3 Tanagers would get off to a good start and take an 18-12 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Tanagers would start to pull away from the Griffins with a 15-6 quarter and take a sizeable lead of 33-18 in the intermission. When the teams came back for the second half and third quarter the Griffins would start to find their game and would cut into the deficit with a 17-12 quarter and trail 45-35 as they head into the fourth quarter. In that fourth, it would not be without drama as the Griffins would get as close as four points but just not have the firepower down the stretch and have a 16-12 quarter and fall short 57-51. With the win, the Hartford Tanagers would punch their ticket to the NYSPHSAA Class D Girls Basketball final four next weekend at Hudson Valley Community College and the Boquet Valley Griffins season comes to an end with an 18-6 season and a top ten ranking in the state. Gallery

The Schalmont Sabres have crowned the 2022 NYSPHSAA Class B Northern Regional champions. It would be the #2 Schalmont Sabres taking on the #6 Saranac Chiefs in the NYSPHSAA Class B Girl's Basketball Northern Regional Finals. The game would start off low-scoring but tight as they would be tied at six after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the #2 Sabres would go on a tear and open the game up with an 18-3 quarter and take a 24-9 into the locker room. When the teams came back for the third quarter the #6 Chiefs would try and have an answer for the Sabres as they would win the quarter by a slim 16-13 but still trail in the game at 37-25. In the fourth quarter, the Sabres would leave little hope of a Chiefs comeback with a 17-5 quarter and a Sabres 54-30 win. In the winning effort, the #2 Schalmont Sabres advance to the NYSPHSAA Class B Girl's Basketball final at Hudson Valley Community College as the Saranac Chiefs comes to an end at 19-4. Gallery

The Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville Wolves have crowned the NYSPHSAA Class D Boy's Basketball Northern Regional champions. It would be the 2022 NYSPHSAA Class D Boy's Basketball Northern Regional Finals and it would feature #13 Seton Catholic Knights and #15 Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville Wolves. It would be a tight game through the first quarter but the Wolves would take a 17-14 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Wolves would start to take control of the game as they had a 15-5 quarter and take a 32-19 lead into the intermission. When the teams came back for the second half and third quarter the Knights would step up their defense and have a 12-8 quarter but would still trail in the game 40-31. In the fourth quarter, both teams would bring their offense as they would go for the knockout punches and the Wolves would get the 17-16 quarter to secure the 57-46. In the winning effort the Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville Wolves would punch their ticket to the NYSPHSAA Class D Boy's Basketball final four at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls and the Seton Catholic Knights season comes to end at 16-8. Gallery

The Ichabod Crane Riders are awarded the 2022 NYSPHSAA Class B Northern Regional champions. It would be the last game of the 2022 NYSPHSAA Northern Regionals finals from Clinton Community College and it would feature the #8 Ichabod Crane Riders and the Plattsburgh Hornets in boy's class b action. The game would start off good for the Riders as they would streak out to a 20-6 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, it would be more of the same for the Riders as they would have a 17-6 quarter and take a 37-12 lead into the break. When they came back for the second half the Hornets still would have no answer for the Riders as they would get outscored 38-19 and fall to the Riders 75-31, In the winning effort the #8 Ichabod Crane Riders would punch their ticket to Glens Falls and the NYSPHSAA Class B Boy's Basketball final four and the Plattsburgh Hornets season would come to an end at a mark of 16-5. Gallery

Plattsburgh’s Annie Katonka (47) falls to the ice in celebration after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime. The Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team advanced to its ninth straight - and 14th overall - trip to the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey semifinal with a 3-2overtime win Saturday over the Mules of Colby College.

Division III’s leading goalscorer, Annie Katonka, netted goals number 33 and 34 of the season, including the game-winner in overtime.

Katonka scored the opening goal of the game at 14:01 of the first period, redirecting a shot from linemate Ivy Boric to beat Colby Goaltender Nina Prunster. That goal proved to be the only tally of the first period.

The Cardinals doubled their lead midway through the second period, once again with a redirection to beat Prunster. Junior defenseman Kendall Wasik let loose a shot from the right point, and senior forward Sara Krauseneck got her stick on it in the crease to change the angle. Freshman forward Lily Stumm got the secondary assist on the goal.

The two-goal lead lasted just six minutes before the Mules got on the board with a powerplay goal late in the second period, as sophomore forward Meg Rittenhouse hit the snipe shot from the blue line on the powerplay, assisted by senior forward McKinley Karpa and freshman defenseman Anna Staton

The Cardinals ended the second period with a 2-1 lead, but the Mules controlled play for the early part of the third.

At 7:43 of the third period, senior forward Lexi Cafiero tied the game off a pass from Rittenhouse, with Karpa getting the secondary assist.

Plattsburgh held a narrow 13-12 lead in shots on goal in the third period but was unable to beat Prunster, so the game went to overtime.

A goal at 3:24 of the overtime period ended the game and sent the Cardinals on to the semifinal round of the NCAA tournament. As Katonka skated in from the half-boards on the left side, she pulled the puck across her body toward the goal line to get around Colby defenseman Klara Jandusikova before evading Prunster’s poke check with toe drag.

Katonka tripped over the outstretched leg of Prunster as she deposited the puck into the net, and she rolled on her back with her arms out wide welcoming her teammates to pile onto her in celebration.

With the win, the Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey semifinals for the 14th time overall. The semifinals and final will be hosted by Middlebury College, where Plattsburgh will face Gustavus Adolphus at 3 p.m. Friday. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Kate Kennedy (21) and the Cadets defender battle for the ball on the Cardinals side of the field. The Plattsburgh State Cardinals would open up the home portion of their season as they would battle in a nonleague game against the Norwich Cadets. The game would start off good for the home Cardinals as they would jump out to a 5-1 at the end of the first quarter on goals from Emily Caoili, Caroline Noia (three), Lindsay Guzzetta. In the second quarter, the Cardinals would add three more from Caroline Noia (fourth), Emily Caoili (twice), and Maddy Garcia and take the 8-1 lead into the break. When the teams came back for the third quarter the Cardinal offense would stay hot as they would add six goals from Caroline Noia (fifth), Caitlin Nash (third), Lindsay Guzzetta (second), and Fiona Fitzgerald as they soar to 14-3 lead as they entered the fourth quarter the Cardinals would add three more from Emily Caoili (third), Davina Gyedu, and Maddy Garcia (twice) as the Cardinals secure the 17-5 win an get there record back to 1-1 on the season. Gallery

The Plattsburgh State Women’s Ice Hockey Team poses with the NEWHL championship trophy. The Plattsburgh State Women’s Hockey Team earned its ninth consecutive conference championship Saturday with a 4-3 overtime victory over SUNY Cortland in the New England Women’s Hockey League final.

The Cardinals found themselves on the back foot early, as the Red Dragons scored with the very first shot of the contest. Junior forward Dany Donegan was credited with the goal after getting a redirection on a shot from junior defenseman Molly McCabe at the 3:11 mark of the first period.

Plattsburgh pressed for much of the period, but the Cortland defense restricted the Cardinals to 7 shots on goal in the opening period, recording 6 shots themselves.

The Cardinals got the break they needed at the 4:11 mark of the second period when senior forward Sara Krauseneck took a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that deflected off a defenseman’s stick and found its way into the goal just behind the far post. Graduate student Annie Katonka and senior defenseman Emma Killeen recorded assists on the tying goal.

The Red Dragons pulled out in front again in the middle of the second period, as freshman forward Destiny Bautista put the puck high glove side with assists credited to fellow freshmen Gillian Zwolak and Mia Klasnick, but the lead would not last long.

At 15:13 of the second period, Katonka leveled the game at 2-2 as she scored her 32nd goal of the season with a one-timer from the slot off a feed from junior forward Ivy Boric, with a secondary assist credited to freshman defenseman Mattie Norton.

The Cardinals took their first lead of the game at 18:37 of the second as junior forward Tatem Cheney got her stick on the puck in a crowded crease to put it in the net. Assists went to senior forward Taylor Whitney and freshman forward Riley Calhoun.

The Red Dragons drew back level in the third period after the Cardinals were called for the only penalty of the entire game. Graduate student Erin McArdle was called for the slash to deny a near breakaway, and senior forward Grace Schnorr made Plattsburgh pay with a blast from the right point that found the back of the net.

The level at three goals each, the teams went to the locker room to prepare for the overtime period.

The extra frame was short, though, as sophomore forward Mae Olshansky made a pass in the neutral zone that sent senior forward Nicole Unsworth in alone on goal in the first minute. As Unsworth skated in close, passing from left to right at the top of the crease, she managed to evade the poke check from NEWHL goaltender of the year Molly Goergen and slip the puck into the net on the blocker side to seal the win for the Cardinals.

Goergen made 32 saves in the loss for Cortland, while Plattsburgh’s Chloe Beaubien recorded 23 saves and the win.

With the win, the Cardinals earned an automatic qualification for the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey tournament, in which they will host Colby College at 3 p.m. on March 12th.

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The Pelicans of Pelham Memorial High School celebrate their win in the NYSPHSAA Division II boys hockey regional with some of their traveling fans. The Northeastern Clinton Central School boys hockey team’s season came to an end Saturday with an 8-3 loss to the top-ranked team in NYSPHSAA Division II hockey in the regional round of the state championship tournament.

The Cougars played hard to the end, but they were unable to overcome the Pelicans of Pelham Memorial High School.

Pelham put pressure on the Cougars early, keeping the puck in the offensive zone for much of the third period. The Pelicans led shots by a 31-4 margin at the first intermission, with a pair of goals by sophomore Griffin Evans - both assisted by junior Louie Marcelino - the difference on the scoreboard.

The Cougars came out of the locker room looking to get back even and accomplished half of that job when senior Reid Lavalley notched the team’s first tally of the game.

Any momentum the Cougars wanted to take from that was stifled quickly, as senior captain Luke Green restored the Pelicans’ two-goal lead just 27 seconds later.

Pelham Memorial piled on a further two goals, by Marcelino and junior defenseman Eric Elbery, to build up a comfortable 5-1 lead. A couple of breaks for the Northeastern Clinton team threatened to put them right back in the game before the end of the period, though.

The first came as senior defenseman Blake Chevalier launched the puck up the ice 175 feet from behind his own goal line. Instead of going behind for icing, the bouncing puck hit the pads of goaltender Jake Mallinson and deflected into the net.

The second break came just 46 seconds later, as freshman Winfred Simpson scored off assists from Lavalley and freshman Ryan Racine to bring the Cougars within two goals.

That was the closest the Section VII champions would get, however, as the Pelicans added another goal by Marcelino before the end of the period, with Evans and senior Ben Rosenberg getting the assists.

The third period was once again one controlled by Pelham Memorial, with an 18-4 advantage in shots in the final frame. Freshman Mark Rosa got on the score sheet at 11:28 of the third period, assisted by freshman Reid Finster and Rosenberg, before Marcelino completed his hat trick 23 seconds later.

Rosenberg recorded assists on Pelham’s last five goals of the game.

Mallinson made 14 saves for Pelham, while senior Alain Juneau’s 66 saves in net for Northeastern fell short, as the Pelicans outshot the Cougars 74-17 in the contest.

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