Holding hat trick leads Blue Devils

Senior Dan Holding scored a goal in each period - two unassisted - to lead the Brockport Blue Devils to a 7-2 win over Shaker-Colonie in the state quarterfinals in high school hockey.

It took the Blue Devils almost half the first period to register a shot on goal, but Brandon Dries made it count, giving Brockport a 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, Holding scored off a shorthanded steal on their second shot of the game for a 2-0 lead after the first period.

The Blue Devils poured it on in the second period with four goals from Casey Balog, Colby Jones twice and Holding again before he completed three-goal effort with the only tally of the third period.

While the team accepted their certificates on the ice, Holding said, "We were a little nervous in the first period, but since getting to the quarterfinals of sectionals was our goal from the start of the season, anything from here on in is a bonus. If we win, we win."

Head coach Scott Empey echoed his tri-captain’s thoughts, "Just being in the final four is a great thing for these kids - now it’s down to just two games. Physical play was the key to the game today. We had it in their zone a number of times and, once we got the first goal, we loosened up."

Jones finished with three points, Balog added two assists with his goal and Craig Willis had a pair of assists. Nick Unger made 15 stops in net for the win, which launches Brockport in the Final Four in Utica March 9-10.