AAU - Hockey

HAMBURG BULLDOGS WIN THE NYS JV CLUB HOCKEY CHAMP

04/03/2013

Written by: Jeff Graham The Hamburg Bulldogs JV Hockey team concluded an exciting season with a 6-1 win over the two time defending champion Canisius Crusaders, to capture their first ever NYS JV Club Hockey Championship. Held in Ithaca, NY, the Championship Tournament featured teams from Western and Central NY ...

Written by: Jeff Graham

The Hamburg Bulldogs JV Hockey team concluded an exciting season with a 6-1 win over the two time defending champion Canisius Crusaders, to capture their first ever NYS JV Club Hockey Championship. Held in Ithaca, NY, the Championship Tournament featured teams from Western and Central NY as well as Long Island. The Bulldogs won 4 consecutive nail biters, defeating Grand Island 5-4, Canisius 4-3, Manhassett 5-4 and Niagara Falls 3-2, to advance to the Finals. Even the Championship game was tight as it was 1-1 until late in the second period, before Hamburg pulled away. “This tournament demonstrated the value of team work and fighting through adversity. To win four one goal games to reach the finals was incredible and a real reflection on the boys ability to persevere”, said Head Coach Jim Mason.
Hamburg finished the regular season 17-1 and won their semi-final league game before dropping a 3-0 decision to Frontier. They then had to re-group in less than 48 hours and travel to Ithaca to take on the best teams in New York State. After losing in the semi-finals of the State Tournament last year, the team had set its sights on winning it all and anything less would have been a disappointment. “Over the past four seasons we have really tried to raise the standards for Hamburg hockey, beginning at the Modified and JV levels”. We want young players to come into the program expecting to excel and their coaches and teammates hold them to those standards. We accomplished our goal with a State title and we are already working towards next season”, commented Coach John Miller.
The 2012-13 edition of the JV Bulldogs was a veteran laden team, comprised of one junior, twelve sophomores, six freshman and two eighth graders. Many will move up to the Varsity level next year and the coaches are looking for players to step up and fill the roles and build on a winning season.