New York Hockey Journal

April 2020 www.nyhockeyjournal.com 25 agara Cup championship game to defending state champion St. Joe's in early March. But just days after their title win, the Marauders formally forfeited the remainder of the season after several players were sus- pended for violating team rules due to an off-ice incident. That left Buffalo without a representative at states. On Wednesday before the state title game, Monsignor Martin direc- tor Pete Schneider reached out to Dantonio to ask if his team would be interested in taking St. Joe's spot. "I got a call saying Joe's has forfeited and we are asking St. Mary's to represent Monsignor Martin to go out there and play in the state title game," Danto- nio said. "I said, 'Great.' " Dantonio confessed that for a brief moment he wasn't sure if he should accept the offer be- cause he wasn't sure if the team could be ready and provide a competitive effort on such short notice. "If Monsignor Martin is asking us to go, then we're going to go and represent Monsignor Martin the best that we can," Dantonio said. "Not only do we want to represent them, we want to represent the school, repre- sent ourselves. And we have an opportunity for a state title. " St. Mary's seized its second chance. "When we found out about the unfortunate situation at Joe's, we all felt bad. It's not a good thing that anyone wants to happen," Sammy Dantonio, a senior de- fenseman and captain, said. "But it was a second chance. We all knew it. We went to work for a couple days then we went there and we all knew it was our turn. We had a chance to win a state ti- tle. Yes, we didn't win the Niagara Cup, but we got a second chance and we just put the work in." Coach Dantonio said the fact that his boys were able to an- swer the call both mentally as well as physically and emotion- ally speaks to their character and will to win. "Our boys deserve every- thing they got. I couldn't be happier for them," the coach said. "It was kind of surreal and it's just starting to sink in now that we are state champs." In the finale against Chami- nade, Nick Reif, Cole Young, Dan Reif and Connor Payne all scored for the Lancers, who are in just their fourth season as a varsity program. "It's hard to put into words," Sammy Dantonio said. "It took four years since we had to build the program up from the ground into having what we have now. Being able to win (states), it's kind of unbeliev- able and indescribable." Mark Dantonio said St. Joe's coach Rich Crozier offered what was supposed to be the Maraud- ers' practice ice time and made sure St. Mary's got its hotel booking so it wouldn't have to scramble for rooms. "Rich was very supportive," Dantonio said. Dantonio noted how for- tunate his team was not only to get the game in, but also to return home before the COVID-19 outbreak reached critical mass in the New York City area. While he sympa- thized with the public school coaches and kids who didn't get to finish their journeys, Dan- tonio felt even more blessed about how the 2019-20 season unfolded for his team. "Something (greater) was going on for me and my hockey team and our school to allow us to do this," he said. feedback@nyhockeyjournal�com W FOR SEMIFINALISTS, PANDEMIC HALTS DREAMS, BUT CAMARADERIE AND MEMORIES ENDURE By Dave Ricci HILE THE DANTONIOS were able to cherish the special moment of a celebrating a state title for St. Mary's, other father/son and coach/player combos were not as lucky. Last year, Mitch Major and son Charlie were basking in the championship glow as the Section III Skaneateles Lakers won the Division 2 title. This year Charlie, a freshman, was crestfallen when the team got the news after practice that this was likely the end of the road. "It was tough," Mitch Major said. "Cole Heintz, you could see the tears in his eyes. Charlie Russell, he just looked more like he was mad. Then I called my son, Charlie, over and asked how he was doing and he just broke down. Then they started looking in each oth- er's eyes and it start hitting home." Meanwhile, Section X Massena coach Mike Trimboli and his son, Matt, a senior, are left to wonder what might have been. "I've got to look in his eyes every day and know that's some- thing that not only me as a coach missed out on," Trimboli said. "His teammates missed out on. They're not going to get an- other kick at the can." Massena was slated to take on Section II Bethlehem in the Division 1 semifinals. "It's kind of funny because throughout the season you try to mentor them and give them answers and directions in the sport of hockey," Mike Trimboli said. "And, for me anyway, I try to teach them life through hockey, and it's kind of evolved and we're just talking about life. This is a situation that none of us at all has ever encountered or had to deal with. … Remain vigilant and take things as they come and have an understanding of the situation." 2020 NYSPHSAA Ice Hockey State Championships Semifinals (Games canceled due to coronavirus) Division 1 Massena vs� Bethlehem Central Williamsville North vs� Victor Division 2 Queensbury vs� Whitesboro Webster Thomas vs� Skaneateles Andrew Miller Continued on Page 26 Williamsville North goalie Henry Braun stares down an Ithaca shooter in regionals.

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