2nd Straight Catholic School Division Championship
St. Joe’s Collegiate Institute came came back from trailing 2-0 early in the third period to score three straight goals and defeat St. Francis High School, 3-2 to win the MMHSAA championship and the Niagara Cup.
Leading 1-0 going into the third period, the Red Raiders’ Liam Fattey scored at 2:55 to make the score, 2-0.
Less than five minutes later St. Joe’s cut that lead in half to 2-1 on a power play goal at the 7:15 mark by Niko Mackiewicz. Nicolas Rivet and James VanEgmond got the assists.
Three minutes later the Marauders tied the game, 2-2, on a goal by Charlie Myszka. Zachary Woeppel and Nicolas Rivet got the assists.
That set the stage for Nilo Mackiewicz to score the game winning goal for St. Joes at 11:36 of the third. Anderson Cornwell and Liam Woeppel got the assists.
Photo Gallery Credit Janet Schultz/NYHockeyOnline.com
St. Francis had finally broke the scoreless tie at 4:32 of the second when Brady Rakoski scored for the Red Raiders to take a 1-0 lead over the Marauders. This came after St. Francis killed off three penalties.
It was a scoreless first period, with St. Joe’s carrying the play, outshooting St. Francis, 14-2. St. Joe’s thought they had scored halfway through the period, but the referee ruled no goal because of a hand pass.
St. Francis killed off one penalty in the period. They had a second penalty late in the period that carried over into the second period.
"The kids really came together when they needed to," First year head coach Jon Christiano said post-game. "I told them before the game, it's going to take a lot of work and effort but the reward is worth it. This is a young team, but the seniors really stepped up today."
GAME NOTES: St. Joe’s outshot St. Francis for the game, 38-19. The Marauders will travel east to play Iona Prep on Saturday for the state title, which they won last season. Red Raiders goaltender Gabriel Waterman received the 2025 Miguel Rodriguez Award presented by The Buffalo News to the game's top goaltender.
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