PMHS ice hockey advances to sectional final AND clinches regional berth
The PMHS boys hockey team outlasted Horace Greeley 6-2 Thursday night in the Section 1, Division II semifinal.
The win means Pelham will play in the Section 1 final on Sunday at Sport-o-Rama at 4:30 p.m. The opposition will either be two-seeded Rye or three-seeded John Jay Cross River. More importantly, Pelham’s win over Greeley means the Pelicans will be awarded a regional bid, no matter the outcome Sunday. A win on Sunday would send the team to SUNY Plattsburgh, while a loss would see Pelham going to Glens Falls. A win at either site is the only thing the team needs to clinch a semifinal berth in the state championships in Buffalo on March 12.
The game against Horace Greeley was on the slower side for the top-seeded Pelicans, as Greeley goaltender Ben Madden was a brick wall in net. Madden had 75 saves on 80 shots faced. However, the five that got past him—and one empty netter—were enough to get Pelham over the line.
Freshman Mark Rosa scored the Pelican’s first goal with 10:34 left in the first period. Star junior Louie Marcellino added one three minutes later with a shorthanded goal. Into the second period, Rosa scored his second before Marcellino did the same, putting Pelham up by four. Greeley didn’t quit, as the Quakers closed the score to 4-2 by the end of the second. Tense moments in the third followed until sophomore Griffin Evans scored with 3:31 left, his first game since Jan. 19. Senior captain Henry Smith slotted home the empty-netter to secure the victory.
Charlie is a class of 2022 graduate of Pelham Memorial High School. He played varsity soccer, basketball and tennis throughout his PMHS career. Charlie...
