MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. The Pelham Pelicans are headed back to the sectional finals.
Pelham blanked John Jay, 4-0, Friday night at the Ice Hutch in the semifinals to earn a spot in the championship game at West Point on Sunday.
Senior captain Danny Shea had two goals and two assists for the Pelicans. He and the other seniors on the roster played their final game at the Ice Hutch on Friday and Shea said they were happy to go out with a win.
It was nice. It was kind of emotional, especially the seniors, Shea said. Weve been playing here since we were 3 or 4 and it was really nice to get this win.
Pelham coach Ed Witz praised Sheas performance after the game.
Hes one of these guys that not only does he score, but theres a lot of value to him when he doesnt have the puck, Witz said. He plays a really heads up, smart game.
The Pelicans jumped ahead 2-0 in the first few minutes of the first period and kept the pressure on throughout the game. Pelham led 3-0 after the second period and scored a shorthanded goal in the third.
Pelham squeaked by John Jay, 5-4, in the teams meeting at Brewster in December. The game was far more one-sided on Friday, as the Indians rarely penetrated the Pelicans zone and hardly had the puck near Pelhams goal.
We really held them down. We really kept them pretty much away from our goaltender and when they did close, we were able to get goaltending, Witz said. Josh (Borofsky) played well. He stopped what they came at us with.
Pelhams season ended last year in the state semifinals in Utica on a controversial goal call that still does not sit well with some of the players. The coach, though, has made his peace with it.
Ive got to tell you, theyre more about it than I am, Witz said. Theyre feeling that way that they really feel like its an unfinished game. He continued, But for me, I think Im kind of over it.
But Shea said the sting of last years loss has been fresh in the minds of him and his teammates.
I think thats a lot of motivation for us, Shea said. We feel like theres un-ended business that we need to get back up there for.
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