Panthers dominate, lose Division II state hockey semifinal
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The Sweet Home Federation hockey team outshot and outhit its Division II New York State semifinal opponent but still saw its season come to a premature end.

The Panthers outshot Thousand Islands of Section X, 36-15, but lost 4-3 on Saturday at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

It was Sweet Home's first state semifinal appearance in school history. They lost in the state quarterfinals last year.

Despite outshooting Thousand Islands, 20-9, over the first two periods, the Panthers trailed 3-0 and had to mount a furious rally in the third period to tie the game.

Chris Covel scored two power-play goals in the first 1:07 (first goal, unassisted; second goal from Ryan Marko and Dominic Puntillo), and Marko tied the game at the 9:37 mark from Ryan Gutt and Rich Beaudet.

The Vikings' Ryan Grimshaw scored the game-winner from Bill Closs with 1:33 remaining. Closs won the draw to Grimshaw, who shot the puck high on the short side of Sweet Home goalie Rob Castiglia.

"Even when it was 3-0, we didn't think that we were going to lose until we lost the game," said Sweet Home hockey coach Dave Gerspach. "I don't think the kids could have played any harder. It would have been so easy for them to quit or give up. They kept pounding them the whole game."

A Sweet Home goal was also disallowed at the 11-minute mark of the third. Gerspach said his players told him that the Thousand Islands' goalie, Jon Hall, pulled the puck out of the net with his glove.

Thousand Islands, which ended up losing to Webster Thomas of Section V, 5-2, in the state final on Sunday, scored on two of its four shots in the first period, Corey Kendall (Closs) at 8:14 and Casey Calhoun (Chris Larkins) at 10:19.

Pat Mahoney (Closs) made it 3-0 at 8:06 of the second.

Sweet Home came into the state semifinals on a six-game win streak.

"I feel good about how we've played but disappointed because I really think we're the best small school in the state right now," said Gerspach.

Sweet Home finished 15-10-4 and loses 10 seniors, including the school's all-time leading scorer, Ryan Marko.

Marko tallied 57 points (24 goals, 33 assists) this season and 169 (73 goals, 96 assists) for his career. He was named a Division II all-New York State Honorable Mention.

"Ryan's been our best in everything," said Gerspach. "He was in on every big goal that we scored over the last two years. This year, his game has really matured. He put a young team on his back."

Two other seniors who played their final game with the team were Beaudet and Daryn Cavalier.

"Rich and Daryn have two goals between them on the year, but they always give 110 percent and do whatever we ask of them," Gerspach. "They're as much a reason why we were where we were at as Marko and Gutt."

Other seniors graduating include goalie Rob Castiglia (14-8-3, 2.28 goals against average, .928 save percentage, school record six shutouts in one season), Rich Fedele, James Cardinale (16 goals, 14 assists), Dave Tornabene, Mike Campise (four goals, 20 assists), Justin Reich and Alex Gilmour.

The future looks bright for Sweet Home with the return of Covel (23 goals, 18 assists), Gutt (13 goals, seven assists), Pat McMahon and Adam Titanic at forward and Puntillo on defense.

With back-to-back appearances in the state playoffs, Gerspach said going to states next season will be an expectation.

Sweet Home finished 0-23-1 five years ago.