I cannot believe they don’t hand out some kind of award for a player of the game in hockey.
Heck, at the County Center this week, they will hand out plaques left and right to kids who did a little extra in the spotlight of the playoffs. So to right a wrong, I’m naming an MVP from each game today at West Point.
Divison 2 Player of the Game
Colin Reilly, Pelham
He scored the first goal on a deflection and set up the last with a perfect feed to Andrew Schauer as the Pelicans repeated with an enthralling 3-2 win over Scarsdale.
Division 1 Player of the Game
Willie Sanchez, Suffern
He chatted up every player Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville put on the ice and backed it up with four goals in a 6-1 win over the Eagles. Suffern has won three Section 1 titles in a row.
21 Comments
I agree Mike so break out some of that JN money and give them a plaque.
That money was gone as soon as .com became part of the lexicon.
Since you picked them I will honor the choice and get them a plaque. It is a great idea and will become a yearly thing to do at West Point.
Two well deserving young men.
D 2 Section One ” Player of the Game” Colin Reilly
D 1 Section One ” Player of the Game” Willie Sanchez
Awards will be sponsored by the NYSHSHCA, New york State HS Hockey Coaches Association as named by the staff of the Journal News.
Have to say it was a pleasure being at the rink yesterday. Section 1 should be proud. Those teams all played well. Nice future for Section 1. The first game had Sauer, Cullen, Jurman, Blakely as sophomores with Burns missing, and Nicholas and Shell as freshman. WOW! What a lineup that would be, huh
You’re a man of action, John, well done. And great idea getting the coaches association involved.
I was at the game yesterday, rooting for Scarsdale, and again was very impressed by the way Pelham plays. They set the standard for the team game in Section 1 and thats why they are always back in these kinds of games.
That said, I think the the idea to give out “player of the game awards” is completely unnecessary. While Reilly played a great game, as he typically does, his numbers on the score sheet do not warrant him receiving a player of the game reference. Pelhams only plays four defensemen, who all logged an incredible amount of ice time, and for the most part, shut down Scarsdale, who must have iced the puck close to ten times in the third period. Matt Landis is the best defensmen Ive seen play this year, and Lamdin isnt far behind, they simply do not make dumb mistakes. Its players like Will McGiness and Danny Shea were all over the ice, most importantly in the defensive zone and behind the net forechecking on offense that make Pelham the powerhouse that it is. Most teams have kids that can fill the stat sheet, but the two of them were hitting, blocking shots and getting the puck deep as much as they were looking to score in the third period. They played harder than anybody else on the ice. Shauer and Reilly are tremendous talents, but its players like that, specifically Shea on that line, that get them the puck and allow them to score. Great “team” effort by Pelham, as hardware for an unnecessary “Player of the game” award should go to the whole team.
Thats the way Pelham has done it and want to play all their games. Solid team defense and team play will do it. Cannot argue with Pelhams success at all. Clearly top of the heap in division 2. By the way has anyone seen Fan of the game lately?
Agree with Scarsdale Fan. Pelham goalie Borofsky was also key in yesterday’s game and worthy of a mention.
Those Scarsdale kids are terrific and raise the bar for everyone else coming back next year.
Agree with Scarsdale Fan. So often the hard working grinders who don’t necessarily rack up the points by doing their jobs, blocking shots, breaking up plays, hustling and being in the right place are overlooked and unrecognized. Witz is lucky to have SO many of those guys in addition to his star player. They are the difference makers in the end.
Scarsdale has a lot of hustle, speed, and hockey sense. They will be extremely dangerous as the get more physical. I hope that they all stay together because they are a pleasure to watch.
scarsdale fan, why do you feel the need to announce that you dont think a kid deserves an honor he has been given? this blog has a real problem with sportsmanship and just being nice to the kids. obviously all kids involved in the section championships played hard. if you felt the other guys on pelham needed to be acknowledged as well, why not just compliment them without claiming reilly doesnt deserve the award? why cant we just be happy for these kids and not treat them as though they were professional athletes? they do not get paid to play, this isnt their livelihood they just play because they love the game and have the passion. i can guarantee you most of the players in this section are reading the blog and i think it makes you and all the bloggers who do this low. anyone who wants to make a kid feel bad for playing a great game and winning the section just shouldn’t write on this blog. also to check your facts, many of sheas goals have been assists from reilly so it seems that its players like reilly that get the other guys the puck and allow them to score, not the other way around
Pelham,
I think that you are misunderstanding the point of my post and if I offended you Im sorry. I agree there is too much unnecessary negativity on these blogs. Obviously, Reilly is a tremendous player. He should and hopefully will be honored by making it back onto the all-state team again this year. I was not taking away anything from his performance yesterday, he was great, but he wasnt alone. I was simply stating that after watching that game yesterday it didnt seem as though anybody from Pelham was that much better than anybody else. The goalie, defense, and a number of forwards had games worthy of an MVP label. Because of this, I dont think its appropriate to give anybody MVP awards after games such as this, especially after watching a team like Pelham and the way it effectively displayed its “team play” concept.
yes the coaches for Pelham are fortunate to have star players and hard working grinders who do whatever it takes. The players are fortunate to have coaches that demand and coach that style. Its no accident
I was incredibly impressed by the play of Nicholas. He had that one move through landis’s legs that was later called back because of offsides, that really blew my mind. Kid is going to be an absolute monster one day.
I have watched Nicholas for years. He is even a nicer kid. My kids have played with him on the Scarsdale youth program and he is always there for them. Never a bad word to say, just helps them learn to play the game. He has trememdous potential. He is now about 5’9. If he continues to grow ( and he looks like he is still immature physically) he will be a dominante player for the next three years. He had a bad fracture and refracture of his collarbone and was at every practice and game. A great leader. Hope he keeps his level head.
I agree with Scarsdale Fan. I think everyone makes a big deal about reilly when in reality shea, cullen, schauer and landis are all just as impressive as him. I think its unfair the way witz came off the bench and hugged colin right away. What about the other captains? Over all pelham played a great game. Congrats!
Witz had to hug someone first. He is his captain and had a tough year coming back from an injury. I doubt he thinks less of the others. Come on, don’t be picky. You sound like a bunch of 2 year olds. “He hugged him first”. That is so silly. Witz wins, he is a good coach, and I am sure his players all know what he thinks of them regardless of who he hugs first. Hope his wife wasn’t jealous of Reilly.
congrats to both of the players of the game!!
The Pelham coach hugged all his kids and the Scarsdale coach and some of the Scarsdale players. Dont try to make something out of nothing. That looks like a very tightly knit group and team. They have won 3 section championships in the last four years.
SDALE ,,,,,,,, whats unfair? actually witz first hugged his other coaches…...... guess thats unfair too?
it was a great game played by great kids. and all you can take out of it is who witz hugged first? come to the ice hutch wednesday and he will hug you too.
Yo what’s up guys
After watching game on MSG Varsity last night – totally agree with Sanchez kid as MVP of game- no brainer & a great talent.
Interesting to see Mike’s choice of words, “he chatted up every player ETB put on the ice and backed it up with 4 goals”. I assume that’s a nice way of saying he “trashed talked” every player ETB put on the ice based on their reactions. Worked like a charm on Sunday.
Question is, does he continue to “chat up every opposing player” and can he back it up as Suffern team tries to advance.
Good luck Mounties!