North hockey in do or die situation
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North's Matt Battista, left, collides with a Clarence player during the Spartans' 1-0 win last Saturday on the Amherst Pepsi Center Olympic Rink.

Williamsville North Federation hockey players and coaches knew what was needed to be done to have a chance at the large school bid from Section VI for the Division I New York State playoffs.

North needed to win its last four state qualifying games to finish one point ahead of Lancaster. With victories over Frontier, 5-1, (reported in last week's Bee) and 1-0 shutouts over Canisius and Clarence last Thursday and Saturday on the Amherst Pepsi Center Feature and Olympic Rinks, respectively, the Spartans are one win away.

The Spartans (15-5-2, 8-3-2) play Kenmore West (4-7-1, 6-9-1) at 9 p.m. on Thursday on the Pepsi Center Olympic Rink. Lancaster (12-4-1, 8-4-1) is playing Orchard Park (3-8-1, 7-8-1) at the same time on the Feature Rink. North beat Kenmore West, 2-1, earlier in the season.

If there is an all-private large school Section VI Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation final, a North victory over Kenmore West will get them the state qualifying bid but if a public school teams wins the tournament, the Spartans will not advance.

"I told them our state playoffs started against Frontier," said North coach Bob Rosen. "We had four games we had to win. All of them are single elimination. There is no room for error. I'm happy with how they have rallied."

Both North goals last week came on rebounds. Joe Johnson put home a rebound from a Nick Angelo shot at 9:58 of the second period against Canisius. Nick Fronczak also got an assist by passing the puck up to Angelo.

Angelo stuffed in a rebound from Josh Liddle on the power play at 8:28 of the first period against Clarence.

North goalie Branden Komm posted back-to-back shutouts, making 21 saves against Canisius and Clarence.

n both games, Rosen felt his defense limited the opponent's scoring chances, especially late in the games. He said the line of Marc Kadish-Kyle Agius-Johnson did a good job against Clarence's top line.

North had 32 shots on Canisius and 25 versus Clarence.

The Spartans close out its regular season against Amherst at 1 p.m. on Saturday on the Pepsi Center Feature Rink. The game is senior night for both teams.