NYS Division I Final: Greece Athena/Odyssey 3, Mamoronek 2, (Utica Aud).

Greece 3, Mamaronek 2

VIDEO

PHOTOS

From D&C:

UTICA — The Greece Athena/Odyssey hockey team had completed the arduous comeback, erasing the almost-instant 2-0 deficit to finally forge into the lead late in the third period on Sunday. Sophomore winger J.T. Stenglein, Mr. Big Goal himself, produced yet again at clutch time for the unbeaten Thunder. His eighth playoff goal provided a 3-2 lead with only 4:12 remaining.

But then the clock seemed to be stuck as Mamaroneck attacked with utter desperation in search of the tying goal. Why isn't it moving, the Thunder players said to themselves. Tick, dang it, tick.

"That was so intense," junior defenseman Dan Vyverberg said of the frantic last 75 seconds. "I was jumping for joy inside but I kept wondering why it wasn't over." Goalie Parker Bonis, though, was once again as cool as could be in the pressure-cooker. Through traffic he found, and then gloved, the last shot by state Division 1 Player-of-the-Year Sean Hagan with 2.5 seconds to play. When the buzzer sounded, the celebration began.

Gloves, sticks and helmets were hurled into the air from the Memorial Auditorium ice and the Thunder celebrated a rare feat of utter perfection in New York State Public High School Athletic Association hockey. Athena/Odyssey became just the second team to run the table, going 27-0 en route to the first hockey championship for the combined program. Albany Academy in 1990 was the other. Mamaroneck finished 26-3-1. "I'm still in shock," junior defenseman Steve Hebberecht said. "It was crazy afterward. I didn't really know what to do. There were so many people to congratulate and hug."

The Thunder fell behind 2-0 in just five minutes but a first-period goal by sophomore winger Riley Bourbonnais cut Mamaroneck's lead to 2-1, then a Bourbonnais steal and pass to the slot set up senior winger Greg Ryan for the tying goal 9:45 into the second period.

"That was a little scary when we fell behind, but we knew what kind of team we have," Ryan said. The defense-first approach was fine for Athena/Odyssey. "Our philosophy is, we don't lose the third period," sophomore defenseman Scott Tam-Grimshaw said. "Keep chill. Just play smart hockey and don't make mistakes."

Stenglein then provided more tournament heroics by scoring the winning goal off an end-to-end rush on a power play. In six playoff games, he scored six goals. He needed some luck this time, though. As Stenglein darted down the left of the slot, he tried to pass to the goal mouth. The puck, however, hit a defenseman or goalie Luke Glaser and just trickled in over the goal line. "I just threw it to the front of the net," Stenglein said, "and the next thing I knew was everybody was coming toward me, so I figured it must have went in." Said senior defenseman Eric Gunderson: "That's what he plays hockey for, to do what the team needs him to do."

While Stenglein performed huge when it mattered most, the Thunder went 27-0 and won the Section V title because of the team approach. That was personified in the final minute of defensive-zone play. "The whole year, that's how we've played. Everybody just does what it takes," Stenglein said.

WES VYVERBERG REPORTS:

Thunder was Back in Black for this their final exam of the 2008-2009 season, a game of winner takes all against the Mamaroneck Tigers with the NYSPHSAA Division I Title on the line. What better way to make the boys of Thunder feel at home than having the sweet sound of Amanda Sherry's voice at the mic for the anthem, after a rather long and bumpy road to the finals. Speaking of feeling at home, Thunder seemed to be finding themselves at home in the box quite a bit this weekend, making one wonder what kind of snacks they were serving. Sure enough, forty-one seconds into the contest, Greg Ryan was off to the box for a minor hook. Was it the snacks calling him or was he just looking for a stoppage in play to accomodate Matt Lane's grand entrance after surviving his gumball rally from Bantam Major States in Buffalo down 90 to Utica? On with the kill. Vipes logged a "harry" and then JT lugged the mail, ragging it deep in the Tigers zone before losing the handle. Then after a series of clears by Vypes, Hebs, and Scotty, JT picked off an outlet pass and put it on net. Nice kill boys. Two minutes later Gundo takes a trip to the box, but this kill was Nice... pause NOT. Tigers scored 16 ticks into their powerplay to take the early lead. And now for a Wes Report Time Out, brought to you in part by Paetec.

[Remember when Dan Miller was called out in the Wes Report for nearly jinxing Thunder's SO against AQ in the Feb 21st Class A Quarterfinal? Here's the clip... "With less than 2 minutes to go in the game, Vyverberg took another one for the team, coming out to challenge the shooter and blocking a shot in the high slot with his chest to preserve the SO. Notice I didn't say it? Well, Dan Miller did and thus he had to hold his breath for the final 1:55 for fear that he may have jinxed us. Miller wiped the sweat from his brow as the fourth line shut things down and the building erupted."  Now what the HE double hockey sticks does this have to do with the state championship you ask? Well, having cranked out all of the team stats going into the Utica weekend, yours truly was commenting on how Thunder had only allowed 9 PPG on 140 attempts through 25 games and then we go and cough up a goal on each of the first two attempts in the Wildcats game and another on the second attempt in the Tigers game. When Dan Miller caught wind of my jinx he demanded retribution. There you have it.]

Back to our state final game report already in progress...then the unthinkable happened as Thunder gave  up an even strength goal on a 3 on 2 break to spot the Tigers a 2-goal lead only 5 minutes into the contest. Yikes! Thunder trailed their opponent by a goal only a handful of times this season (Brockport, Hilton, Spencerport, West Genny). The most they ever trailed by was two and that only happened once before this season when they spotted Suffern the first 2 goals in the Liverpool Tournament final (31-Jan) before racking up 4 unanswered goals. Could Thunder rally again? Time to baton down the hatches and damn the torpedoes.

What a difference a minute makes as Thunder regrouped and showed their mettle on the next sequence. Captain Sah-Fee-Yuh carried the puck out of his own end and bumped it ahead to Greg Ryan across ice, but it was beyond his reach. No worries as wheels Ryan would chase it down in the left corner before anyone else could get there. Greg cycled it out to Scotty at the point and then he got it right back, so he curled in the corner and found his buddy Pat in the left circle. Next Pat turned and threaded the needle, sending the puck across the top of the paint, through two Tiger D and over to Riley, who was hovering in stealth mode on the back door, for the putaway. And so, Thunder broke the schneid and cut the lead in half with one pretty play. A minute later Scotty Bam-Grimshaw reminded the Tigers they were in for a game as he leveled one of their forwards coming across the blue-line with his head down.

Back to the box for more snacks went the Thunder, but the Tigers would follow suit and we went from a 4v5 to a 4v4 to 5v4 over a span of a few minutes. Along came another man advantage, but Thunder was not able to git-R-dun. Then came a real punch in the gut, when Gunderson was assessed a minor/misconduct for check from behind. McNeil served the minor, but Eric had to sit an additional 7.5 mins for the misconduct, keeping him out of the game for at least 9 mins. Fear not Gundo, the team's got your back. Play went from 5 on 4 to 4 on 4 when Gundo went to the box, then quickly turned to a 4 on 3 in Thunder's favor when Vyper got tripped carrying the puck out from behind his net. Fast forward to the end of the first frame and things went from bad to worse as two thunder players were assessed minor trips on the same play, leaving Thunder with a 33 second 5 on 3 kill to end the first period. Vyper, Riley, and JT got the nod and they got us out of the inning.

Back from the break there was still a buck to go in the Tiger's 5 on 3. Pat relieved Riley, keeping the Tigers at bay, until they took a high sticking penalty of their own with 15 seconds left in their 2-man advantage paring it back to a 5 on 4. As the penalties expired, Briganti took a shift or two to help the cause, while Riley and JT pitched in on the blue line. Alas, Gundo returned to play with 6:16 to go in the second and was a sight for sore eyes (and legs) on the Thunder bench. Meanwhile, Greg and Cheese kept hammering the Tigers every chance they got as Thunder bided their time for the next golden opportunity. And along it came ten minutes into the second period, when Riley pounced on a turnover in the neutral zone, went in 2 on 0 with Ryan, sliding it over to him for the 5-hole finish. With the equalizer in the bank and the momentum on their side, it was game on for the Thunder, and a minute later the Tigers were calling a time out. Another penalty for each side brought the period to a close with a 4 on 4 situation.

I suspect that Mamaroneck had no idea what was in store for them, but during the second intermission, you could hear Thunderstruck playing faintly in the background. If that's not a good omen, i don't know what is. Gundo used his reach during the 4v4 stretch to start the third and played physical to prevent the Tigers from getting a sniff. After both sides returned to full strength, Pat picked off a pass in neutral zone and hit Greg going 2 on 2 into the zone for a good chance. Vyper sacrificed his body, making a nice pinch in the neutral zone to advance the puck. Thunder fans who came out in droves, despite the fact that the school did not provide a fan bus, started in with the "Let's go Thun-Der" chants and the old "We can't hear you" followed by "Still can't hear you" was volleyed back by the Tiger's camp. Pat and Matt took turns rushing the puck, then Parker came up big when Mamaroneck brought it back our way. On the next Tiger's rush, Gundo plastered the puck carrier on the half-wall.

With a little over 8 minutes to go, Thunder went on the powerplay. There were a few decent chances during a mad scramble around the goal mouth, although they never managed to get it set up. Then inside the seven minute mark, Vyper gets the puck on the backcheck, goes D-D to Hebberect, who then bumps it up to Stenglein on the wing, out to Lane in neutral, then Lane takes it deep on the right side and drops it to Cheese at the goal mouth. Cheese takes a couple of whacks and the puck disappears. Ref whistles it down, but nobody knows where the puck went and he starts searching the goalies equipment. After a careful review of the Zapruder film, it has been determined that the magic biscuit, fired by Cheese, somehow went through the goaltenders pads, back and to the left, and was ultimately pinned between the iron and twine in the top left corner of the goal. As the ref searched the Mamaroneck goalie for the missing puck and turrned away, another Mamaroneck player reached into the goal, pulled the puck out, put it into his glove, skated over to the bench, and gave it to his coach. That's a Class-LL, Division I felony any day in a court of hockey law, and the hockey gods clearly ruled minutes later when the game winner for the Thunder trickled through the Mamaroneck keeper's legs. Some say "if yur not cheatin yur not tryin" but that, IMHO, was taking things a little too far. Thunder fans went wild over it, but the ref fetched a new puck and the game marched on.

Next stoppage came at 5:29 when Bourbonnais was cruising through neutral and got kneed, but no call. Nine secs later JT was walking into the slot and got tripped - he draws the foul. Vyper got the nod to QB the powerplay in Riley's stead. After a couple of trips around they had to reset and the third time was a charm, as Vyper hit JT curling high in our end, then JT went on a 3-zone dash, deking around the first check at our blue line, carrying it wide left around the next two Tigers on the way into their end with the last check clipping him with a skate. As he fell to the ice JT maintained possession of the puck and directed it at the goal as he slid across the goal line, wide to the left and wouldn't you know there just so happened to be a little magic left in that stick as the puck hit the inside of the goalie's left pad and then trickled in 5-hole, making it 3-2 Thunder with 4:12 to go in the game.

Twenty seconds later Thunder went to the box again and it was white knuckle team defense from there on out. It took forever to get the first clear and not again until the penalty expired but that second clear went out of play bringing the face-off back inside to the right of Bonis with 2:12 standing between them and their title. Thunder got it out right quick this time and RIley got it deep, then Hebs got it deep, then Vyper dumped it in a third time but this one hit Greg's stick before he cleared the zone, causing a face-off back in our end  with only 1.25 to go. Vyper got this one out to neutral and then the Tigers brought it back in off-sides, causing another face-off outside with 1:00 to go. Gundo gloved the pop-fly off the face off and his first clear came back to him but he then hit Riley with a headman breaking through neutral. Riley carried it in and hit the goalies right pad so the puck would kick out to Greg who was crashing but he could not get any lumber on it and the Tigers brought it back our way. The puck was batted around for a bit before Gundo sailed it down the ice for a whistle with 17.6 to go. This face-off was to the left of Bonis and the Tigers were 4 across with 2 point men and an empty net. The puck came out to the point off the draw then D-D but the shot did not get through. Bonis gloved the next attempt with 2.6 seconds to go. Coincidental minors after the whistle, so it was still 6 on 5.

With only 2.6 seconds remaining on the clock, Captain Pat Sofia was about to enter the most important face-off of his life, save asking his girlfriend's father for her hand in marriage, while said father is cleaning his rifle! The face-off was to the right of Bonis and this time the Tigers went 5 across with 1 guy back, lined up against Pat, Matt, Cheese, Gundo, and Vyper. As the ref dropped the puck, Pat dropped to a butterfly to box out the Tiger's center and the puck squirted back to the Tiger's point man. He takes the shot, wide left (reverse Norwood), time expires, gloves and sticks go in the air, the Thunder bench empties, the gate opens, the managers and paparazzi file out onto the ice and the entire team celebrates their 3-2 victory like a swarm of bees in the corner. The Thunder-faithful chime in with chants of "UN-DE-FEA-TED" and "I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE WON", as Celebrate good times plays on in the background. While things were getting underway with the award ceremony, the boys dumped all of their water bottles into a garbage can and soaked Webby, NFL style.

NYSHSHCA State Championship All Tournament Team Awards
Forward: Greg Ryan
Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
Defense: Eric Gunderson
Goalie: Parker Bonis
MVP: JT Stenglein

I can't imagine a more storybook ending ... perfect season, come-from-behind win in the state title game!

The last time I can recall a police escorted motorcade heading north to Greece, it was the president of the United States on his way to the APAC for a referendum on social security reform. I gotta tell ya, seeing that NYS Trooper light up the sky, like Rudolph on Christmas Eve, as the Greece Thunder Hockey magic bus exited the Thruway on their return from Utica late Sunday nite, hardware in hand, and the Greece Police taking the hand-off at Lexington to bring the procession home with horns beeping and flashers flashing all the way back to the 'shore, has got to be one of the coolest things I have ever witnessed... a sight to behold and a memory that I will never forget, already on the shelf with countless other memories from Thunder's storybook season of 2008-2009.

Stay tuned for the Thunder year in review, coming to an email inbox near you this summer.

Focker-out.

Out Takes

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

From an anonymous Thunder parent who works for DOAN - "hopefully that escort was the last run in these boys ever have with the cops".

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

To the THUNDER Hockey Players and Parents, 
CONGRATULATIONS State champs!!! SO proud!
From, Eric and Carole Schultz J

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Hi Everyone!!! The Russell family would like to Congratulate you ALL on being STATE CHAMPIONS!!!
Please tell all your boys Mr. Russell said:  “You guys are awesome!”   
 Regards, Dave, Sylvia, David & Katie   
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

* * *

Thunder Team Stats
Goals For Regular Season: 98 (69 even strength, 22 powerplay, 7 shorthanded)
Goals For Post Season: 20 (11 even strength, 7 powerplay, 2 shorthanded)
Goals For Overall: 118 (80 even strength, 29 powerplay, 9 shorthanded)

Goals Against Regular Season: 22 (13 even strength, 9 powerplay, 0 shorthanded)
Goals Against Post Season: 5 (2 even strength, 3 powerplay, 0 shorthanded)
Goals Against Overall: 27 (15 even strength, 12 powerplay, 0 shorthanded)

Powerplay Regular Season: 24.2% (22 goals scored on 91 attempts)
Powerplay Post Season: 20.6% (7 goals scored on 34 attempts)
Powerplay Overall: 23.2% (29 goals scored on 125 attempts)

Penalty Kill Regular Season: 92.3% (9 goals surrendered on 117 attempts)
Penalty Kill Post Season: 92.5% (3 goals surrendered on 40 attempts)
Penalty Kill Overall: 92.4% (12 goals surrendered on 157 attempts)

Shutouts Regular Season: 7
Shutouts Post Season: 3
Shutouts Overall: 10

Shots For Regular Season: 690
Shots For Post Season: 151
Shots For Overall: 841

Shots Against Regular Season: 427
Shots Against Post Season: 118
Shots Against Overall: 545

Goals Against Average Regular Season: 1.05 (22 goals surrendered in 21 games)
Goals Against Average Post Season: 0.83 (5 goals surrendered in 6 games)
Goals Against Average Overall: 1.00 (27 goals surrendered in 27 games)

Saves Regular Season: 405
Saves Post Season: 113
Saves Overall: 518

Save Percentage Regular Season: 94.8 (405 saves on 427 shots)
Save Percentage Post Season: 95.8 (113 saves on 118 shots)
Save Percentage Overall: 95.0 (518 saves on 545 shots)

Thunder Team Facts
Thunder was outshot only 2 times all season, e.g. AQ and W. Genny
Thunder trailed by a goal only 6 times all season, e.g. Brockport, Hilton, Spencerport, Suffern, W. Genny and Mamaroneck
Thunder trailed by 2 goals only 2 times all season, e.g. Suffern and Mamaroneck
The most goals Thunder allowed in a single game was 3 (3 times), followed by 2 goals (4 times), 1 goal (10 times), and 0 goals (10 times)
So, basically in roughly 3 out of every 4 games played, Thunder gave up a goal or less, not too shabby!
Thunder record was 27-0 and they were the second team in the state to ever win a State Championship with an undefeated season!

Thunder AWR (All-Wes-Report) Awards
1st Team JD Power & Associates Powerplay: Pat, Greg, Gundo, Riley, JT
2nd Team JD Power & Associates Powerplay: Matt, Cheese, Jordan, Vyper, Scotty
Honorable Mention JD Power & Associates Powerplay: Miller
1st Team Natural Born Penalty Killers: Riley, JT, Vyper, Hebs
2nd Team Natural Born Penalty Killers: Pat, Greg, Gundo, Scotty
Honorable Mention Natural Born Penalty Killers: Matt, Cheese
Alexander & Catalano Heavy Hitters: JT, Greg, Gundo, Cheese, Scotty, Briganti
Harry Shaw Society: Vyper
Power Trip Club: Matt, Cheese, Rotolo
Steady Eddy Club: Hebs, Rotolo
Zero Club: Parker, Mike, Ian, Andrew

Section V West Division Awards
Player of the Year: Eric Gunderson
1st Team Forward: Greg Ryan
2nd Team Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
2nd Team Forward: Pat Sofia
Coach of the Year: Dan Webb
Top Scholar/Athlete Award: Matt Lane

Section V AGR Awards
Player of the Year: Eric Gunderson
Goalie: Parker Bonis
Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
Forward: JT Stenglein
Coach of the Year: Dan Webb
Honorable Mention Forward: Pat Sofia

NYSHSHCA State Championship All Tournament Team Awards
Forward: Greg Ryan
Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
Defense: Eric Gunderson
Goalie: Parker Bonis
MVP: JT Stenglein

NYSHSHCA Division I All-State Awards
1st Team Defense: Eric Gunderson
1st Team Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
2nd Team Forward: JT Stenglein
Honorable Mention Forward: Greg Ryan
Coach of the Year: Dan Webb