WILKES-BARRE – Susquehanna Valley had the best record in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Hockey League, but the Stampede suffered its only loss against Wyoming Area.
The Warriors earned the chance to repeat that performance in Monday’s NEPASHL Championship Game when they scored four times in the final 7:14 to pull away from Crestwood, 6-2, in Friday night’s semifinals.
“We beat Susquehanna Valley the first time we played them, 2-1,” Wyoming Area coach Bill Weiss said. “The second time we played them, we lost late, but we had kids that were away at tournaments all week. They were tired.
“I’m not going to use that as an excuse, but we’ll be ready this time.”
The teams will meet Monday night at 7:15 p.m. at the Toyota SportsPlex. Susquehanna Valley was 13-1 in the regular season. Wyoming Area was 11-2-1.
“They’re a great team,” Weiss said. “They finished first in the season, we finished second, so it should be a great game.”
Crestwood gave Wyoming Area a great game until after the midway point in the third quarter.
The Comets outshot the Warriors, 45-23.
Jacob Urban came up with 40 saves before sitting out the last few minutes with Wyoming Area in command. He made three clutch saves to protect a 2-1 lead early in the third period.
Urban slid across the crease to get his left leg out and stop Shane Angle on a 2-on-1, then used his arm to stop the rebound inches short of the goal line. Less than a minute later, he handled Matt Dopp’s attempt from close range.
“Urby was on his game,” Weiss said. “He was playing fantastic.
“Our defense was playing strong.”
Alex Chronowski, Jakob Switzer, Brendan Lee and C.J. Rome took care of the offense.
Chronowski had a hat trick. Switzer had two goals and an assist. Lee had three assists. Rome had a goal and an assist.
Lee set up Switzer for goals 50 seconds apart in the second period to begin the scoring. Switzer scored first on a rebound, then by racing down the slot to take in a pass after Lee got a loose puck in the right corner.
Chronowski started the late surge when he got free at the right post to backhand in a rebound of Lee’s power-play shot from the slot for a 3-1 advantage.
Wyoming Area 6
Hazleton 2
Alex Chronowski and Brendan Lee scored two goals each in Wednesday’s quarterfinal at the Revolution Ice Centre.
Susquehanna Valley 2
Pittston Area 1
Susquehanna Valley fought off an upset bit by Pittston Area in Tuesday’s playoff opener.
Junior varsity
Wyoming Area finished tied for first with Susquehanna Valley in the junior varsity standings with 9-2-1 record.
The JV teams are conducting playoffs this weekend to determine finalists for their championship game, which is Monday prior to the varsity contest.
