Thunder 3, Fairport 1
PHOTOS
D&C Staff Reports 3/01/09
A day that began with Parker Bonis feeling sick to his stomach ended in a jubilant celebration at the ESL Sports Centre Sunday evening. Bonis and his Greece Athena/Odyssey (24-0) hockey teammates captured the Section V Class A championship with a 3-1 win over Fairport, denying the Red Raiders (18-3-5-1) their third consecutive crown.
Stout defense, two goals from sophomore forward J.T. Stenglein and steady play in net from Bonis, who stopped 21 of 22 Fairport shots, led to the Thunder winning its first sectional title since 2006. Athena/Odyssey advances into the regionals of states against Section IV's Ithaca at 4 p.m. Saturday at SUNY Brockport's Tuttle North Ice Arena.
"This feels great, especially after last season's devastating (double-overtime) loss to Fairport in the AA title game," said Bonis, a sophomore who has stopped 52 of 53 postseason shots. "I wasn't confident coming in because when I woke up this morning I felt real sick and threw up, but I felt I had to play because my team needed me. I felt sick all game but thinking of that perfect season kept me going. This is amazing."
Playing in front of more than 2,500 people, the Thunder, the state's top-ranked Division I team, struck first when Jordan Grills rifled a shot from outside the right circle for a power-play goal 6 minutes, 55 seconds in. It was the senior's first varsity goal. "We knew it would be a low-scoring game and we just came out and made a lot of great plays," said Stenglein, who earned MVP honors. "Once we get the first goal, we usually take the game and after the first goal we knew we were going to win."
The second-seeded Red Raiders (18-3-5-1) enjoyed a 5-on-3 advantage for 56 seconds and mustered five shots during their power play, but couldn't get one past Bonis. After being shut out twice by the Thunder during the regular season, Fairport finally got on the board with 2:38 remaining in the first. Chris Button stole the puck outside his own blue line, skated into the right circle and fired on goal. The shot bounced off the crossbar to Tim Modesti, who hammered home the rebound.
Stenglein regained the lead for Athena/Odyssey on a power-play goal with 65 seconds left in the first. As Stenglein emerged from the penalty box, Riley Bourbonnais put the puck on Stenglein's stick and Stenglein skated along the left side and shot into the upper-right corner for a 2-1 lead. "J.T. has absolutely picked it up in sectionals. In the middle of the season he became one of the hardest working guys on the team and he's been just terrific ever since," Greece coach Dan Webb said. "When he's taking the puck to the net, he's got defensemen back on their heels because of his size and speed."
It appeared Cole Bardreau netted the tying goal with 4:12 remaining in the second, but despite the goal light going on, the goal was disallowed and the score remained 2-1 heading into the third. Despite another 5-on-3 power play opportunity, Fairport never could get the equalizer. "When our defenders would throw the puck on net, we needed a few more bodies in front. Parker pretty much saw all the point shots," said Fairport coach Chris Moretter. Stenglein finished the scoring with 7:01 remaining in the third.
Wes Vyverberg Reports
Game Report
Is it just me or does that first scrimmage against the Lightning or even that first official game of the season against Webster, way back in November, seem like an eternity ago to anyone? I feel like I have aged from all the emotion of this unprecedented and once in a lifetime e-ticket ride. While Thunder's storied journey on the road to the 2008-2009 Section V Class A Crown has been well-documented in pictures and in prose, it will more importantly remain forever etched in the hearts, minds, and souls, of all those who truly bleed black, purple and gold. It is a story that will be told for generations to come as the proud heritage of Greece Thunder Hockey lives on. Maybe even a best-seller someday or a made for TV movie starring Michael Richards or a documentary starring Sacha Baron Cohen... or not.
With the ink from Thunder's semifinal win over the Lightning barely dry, our very own Energizer-Kimmy activated the PROJECT SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP launch sequence, putting the HIGH SCHOOL FAN CLUB on notice that they were responsible for filling the stands with positive signs and people in purple. Then there was the finishing/flying of the Thunder freak flag, unveiling of the purple thundies and the all-important re-decorating of the Presidential Thunder Sectional Championship Jeans, otherwise known as "Pants One" (now on display at Place One).
Next came a reading from the book of a motivational speaker who lives in a van down by the river (actually, it was from Cathie Graus):
Winning a Championship is what every team dreams of, but only one can earn the right to be called "Champions". Giving everything you have to your team is not enough and perhaps is a bulk understatement. You need more than everything you have to be a Champion, your team has to want it double the amount everyone else does, you need Sacrifice, Character, Purpose, Discipline, and Drive to achieve a goal as high as a Champion. Most Importantly, you need to work as a team, play for the guy sitting next to you on the bench, selfishness will never lead you down the road to being a Champion, but will lead you to a quick ticket home. Every shift is the most important and the biggest one of your life, every battle in the corner is the most important one, but what's more important? You not getting hurt and being too tired to play or putting your team in front of yourself and battling with everything it takes, battling with more tenacity than you've ever played with, wanting it so bad that you won't let anything get in front of the team to end your run for glory. So when it comes down to your decision of whether you want to do what it takes to be a champion or go watch with all the other teams that have been eliminated. Only you can make that decision. YOUR MOVE!
Followed by a poem from the President:
Today, we go to do something special.
Today we gather in that rink to support our boys and everything they have worked so hard to do
Today we go to do something that is beyond........
You'd think us parents were lacing 'em up ourselves with the title game upon us and our stomachs all in knots. Thankfully, we had the easier job of watching from the stands. It was a packed house inside the ESL Feature Rink with fans lingering from the Class B final as a sea of red filed in to the right facing a sea of purple across the way on the left. The atmosphere was quite palpable as Thunder and Fairport came out for warm-ups a few minutes after a couple of "big-checks" were thrown at center ice to fuel the local Skating for the Cure campaign. With a small Ithaca contingent on hand to catch a glimpse of their competition, Fairport sent out their mascot in a pirate costume to skate around waving the Red Raider flag. It was hard to hear the music what with all the commotion in the building and the fans getting into it, but as both teams returned to the ice after the cut, Prime Time Sound was loud and clear treating everyone with a six-piece brass anthem to beat the band. And did you happen to notice that the stripes had a pink hue to them or that the score-keeping attendants were all decked out in pink jerseys, in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness? Not only was Thunder #1 in the state coming into this game, but they were also #1 in the section by a landslide, having sold more pink pucks than any other team and raising over $1000 of the $4000 collectively donated by Monroe County High School Hockey teams to Skating for the Cure.
Both sides were off to a jittery start playing the baker (making a lot of turnovers) in this one and out game of high stakes. Fairport's Cole Bardreau, touted by their signage as a 2011 #1 NHL draft pick, dumped Eric Gunderson in the early going, when the puck was nowhere near, but instead of issuing an interference call, the ref brought Cole over to apologize to Gundo, leaving everyone scratching their heads, huh? Thunder had an early fire drill in their own end when the puck got behind Bonis and was sitting dangerously in the paint. Along came Scotty Tam-Grimshaw to sweep it to the corner so that everyone in Thunderville could breathe a sigh of relief. Then almost seven minutes into the contest, Thunder drew first blood, on the powerplay. Better save that biscuit, for at long last, Thunder senior Jordan Grills was credited with his very first varsity goal. It was a group effort for sure and went something like this. Matt Lane won the battle in the left circle bumping it out to Dan Vyverberg at the point, who went D-D hooking it over to Scott Tam-Grimshaw, who walked in and fired a slapper on net with Brandon Cheeseman and Jordan Grills setting up the screen in front. As Cheese jumped out of the way, Jordan got a piece of it, deflecting it by Carlston for the goal. Thunder enjoyed another long rally on their back to back powerplays, but they were unfortunately unable to get the 2-goal lead they were after. Then with less than 3 minutes to go in the opening period, Bonis' pad save on a blast by Chris Button kicked out to the slot where Tim Modesti was standing by ready to bury the rebound for the equalizer. And with only 16.4 seconds left on the clock, after receiving a long lead pass on the powerplay from Riley Bourbonnais, walking in on the left side, and megging a Red Raider defenseman, JT Stenglein picked the top-left corner on Carlston to regain the lead. Greece recorded 15 shots to Fairport's 6, taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Second period was a whirlwind and rather difficult to follow as both teams were mired with penalties from beginning to end making it a special-teams-showcase. JT hit the post on an early short-handed bid. Cheese spent the bulk of the period in the box for a check from behind. Mike Miller served his minor and made a nice stick check on the way back to the bench. JT took out the ref coming around the wall in front of the Fairport fans. Vypes turned away countless Fairport attempts on the PK including a couple of nail-biting 5 on 3 kills. Pat Sofia dumped Bardreau at center ice to answer the cheap shot he took on Gunda at the beginning of the game. Mike McNeil did a fine job defending our line as he got the puck out and roughed up his check. Then there was the one that got a away. Gunderson caught a pass in his skates all alone on the back door staring at three quarters of the net gaping wide open. As he eventually worked the puck out to his stick and directed it at the goal, we all figured it was money in the bank, but then Carlston came diving across out of nowhere and gloved it for the save of the game. Eric Hostetter made a brief appearance before the period was over, making a nice play to get the puck deep. JT went to the box for another alleged Louganis, this one from the 2 meter platform, as Cole slew-footed him at a stoppage in play. Bardreau lit the lamp for Fairport, or should I say the goal judge with an itchy trigger finger lit the lamp. The goal was immediately overturned without having to take it to Toronto as the goal judge admitted to the refs that the puck never crossed the line. I am sure there are some omissions but I did my level best to capture the essence of that wild and crazy second period, where Thunder logged only 5 shots to Fairport's 6. Speaking of essence, the essence of Thunder was well represented at the second intermission Score-O, with the Pres' showing off her yellow top and Pants One ensemble, while Eric Grills was sporting the #1 pink "skating for the cure" sweater and some sort of dead animal on his head.
Thunder returned from the final break with a 49 second powerplay to start the third period after a scoreless second frame that kept it a 1-goal game. No can do for Thunder, so then Fairport took their turn on the powerplay and Greg Ryan had to "shoot the duck" at one point to get the puck out. The parade to the box continued and it was not long before Thunder found themselves defending yet another 2-man advantage for the Red Raiders. With Fairport on the attack, Vyper caught an edge and went down, but Gunderson had his back as he came across to force the attacker wide. Shortly thereafter Gundo's twig broke. Ever try killing a 5 on 3 with no stick? This was a defcon 4 situation, but Vyper and Gundo weathered the storm until they could get Gundo a new stick and eventually a 4th skater. After one of Thunder's short-handed clears, Bardreau came flying back on the attack and Go-Greggy Ryan turned on his own jets, catching Cole on the back-check to take away the shot. With a bumper crop of kills behind them, the gas light was on "E" for the Thunder D, but not for JT, as he lugged the mail down the left side and beat Carlston once again, this time to the right side, and it was 3-1 Thunder with only 7 minutes standing between them and their Holy Grail. Eric Gunderson recorded the lone assist. Ben McCubbin and Matt Keough took a few shifts to help out the cause making nice D-D passes to keep their team in control. Gunda make a couple of big hits at the clubhouse turn and into the home stretch. With less than 4 minutes to go the boys played it smart making the line and getting it deep. Fairport called a time out at the 2-minute warning as they were headed to the box. And while the last two minutes ticked off the clock, the fans took over with chants of UN-DE-FEA-TED, as the Greece Athena/Odyssey Thunder Hockey team won their 24th game of the season to claim the 2008-2009 Section V Class A Crown, their second title in Three years. Thunder... There is no other.
Hats off to the boys for all their hard work and a well-earned victory. Hats "on" to Bruce Rizzo, who believed in our team so much that he went out on a limb ordering SECTION V CLASS A CHAMPIONS 2008-2009 HOCKEY hats with the Thunder Logo on in advance so he would have them to wing out on the ice at the conclusion of the game. Yeah Rizzzzzzzzzzzooooooooo! Offensive player of the game went to Tim Modesti, who scored Fairport's only goal. Defensive player of the game was awarded to Eric Gunderson with 1-assist, and the MVP honors went to JT Stenglein with a pair of goals including the winner. Shots were 26-22 in Thunder's favor with Parker Bonis turning away 21 of 22 shots, netting his 16th win on the season. Well done!
Thunder advances to the NYS Regional Quarterfinal on Saturday, Mar 7, 4pm @ Tuttle North Ice Arena on the campus of SUNY Brockport, where they will face Ithaca from Section IV.
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