Blue Devils Class A champs

The Brockport Blue Devils scored three goals in the third period to defeat Gates-Chili 5-2 in the Class A high school hockey championship game.

After a scoreless first period dominated by the Spartans, Gates Chili broke the scoreless tie with a power play goal in the second period. Brockport’s Pat McCarthy tied the game four minutes later with assists from Brandon Dries and Andy Simmons, and Jimmy Baker scored off a pass from Craig Willis to give the Blue Devils a 2-1 after two periods.

The Spartans tied the game early in the third period, but Colby Jones put the Blue Devils ahead to stay less than one minute later on a slap shot from the right point that went over the shoulder of the goaltender. Dan Holding and Baker would score in the final five minutes of the game to give Brockport its first sectional title since 1993-94 and second overall.

"They dominated in the first period and we panicked," said Brockport head coach Scott Empey after the game. "We came into the locker room, settled down, cracked a couple of jokes to loosen the players up and then it was just a matter of executing our forecheck. When they tied the game in the third period, I announced on the bench that it was the two-minute drill—who would score for us in the next two minutes and Colby came through."

Nick Unger made 28 saves in net for Brockport as Gates Chili outshot the Blue Devils 30-22. With an at-large bid, both teams advanced to the state tournament. Brockport received a first-round bye and played Shaker-Colonie of Section 2 (Albany area) in the regional round for the right to join the final four in Utica March 9-10.