By Dylan Butler
Sean Kearney has heard it for four years: The Molloy hockey team rolls through the regular season only to falter in the playoffs.
In essence, the Stanners’ heart was questioned, especially after being swept in the CHSHL ‘B’ semifinals last year after winning the regular season division title.
But Saturday at Abe Stark Rink on Coney Island, in front of a raucous crowd of 500, Kearney and the Stanners put those questions to rest with an 8-4 win over rival Holy Cross in Game 3 of the CHSHL ‘B’ championship series.
Kearney netted a hat trick and added an assist to lead Molloy to its first-ever hockey championship.
“It feels great. It’s unbelievable. I can’t describe it,” the Molloy captain said. “We’ll be up on (legendary Molloy baseball and basketball coach) Jack Curran’s wall.”
It was also the first time the Stanners won a decisive Game 3 of a best-of-three series.
“The past years we’ve done awesome in the regular season and once we get to the playoffs it’s like we choke,” Molloy senior winger Matt Lavanco said. “We wanted to not only win but make a statement.”
Kearney’s line, featuring Mike Farrell and Sean Murphy, made the loudest statement, combining for five of Molloy’s eight goals.
“It was nice to win the first championship, and God willing we’ll win a few more,” Molloy coach Richie Rodgers said. “If we didn’t win it this year I would have been really depressed.”
After Bryan Elfant and Kearney staked the Stanners to a 2-0 lead less than five minutes into the game, Holy Cross captain Pat McHugh and Chris Anastasio scored 13 seconds apart late in the first period to tie the game.
But Molloy (17-2-2) responded with goals by Farrell, Jimmy Grogan and Matt Davino to take a commanding 5-2 lead less than five minutes into the second period.
“The better team won today,” said Holy Cross coach Mike Mitchell. “They wanted it.”
CHSHL ‘B’ division leading scorer Chris Ryan gave Holy Cross (11-7-3) some hope, bringing the Knights to within 5-3 with 13 seconds left in the second period, but two goals by Kearney and one by Farrell put the game out of reach.
“They worked harder than us tonight and they deserved to win,” said Ryan, who was helped off the ice late in the third period after spraining his right ankle.
Holy Cross 4, Molloy 3. Anastasio scored two goals, and McHugh and Marcus Brito added one goal apiece for Holy Cross in Game 2 of the CHSHL ‘B’ championship series last Thursday night at E.J. Murray Rink. Kearney scored two goals and Farrell added another for the Stanners.
McClancy captures ‘C’ title
A day before Molloy won its first hockey championship, McClancy captured its first crown, beating St. Raymond’s, 4-2, at Abe Stark Rink Friday. The Crusaders swept the best-of-three CHSHL ‘C’ championship series, 2-0.
“I feel ecstatic. I’m happy to finally get it,” said McClancy coach Mike Brenneis, who has been with the program since its inception seven years ago. “I’m happy for the players. I’m happy to represent the school. The boys did it all. They deserve all the credit. They went out and played their hearts out.”
After rallying from two goals down in a 3-2 overtime win in Game 1, McClancy (19-1) scored the first four goals of the second game to win its 18th straight game.
Keith Morrice scored a pair of goals, and Joe Sadowsky and Stephen Ferguson added a goal apiece to give the Crusaders a 4-0 lead after two periods.
Dan Hines and Eddie Perez scored third-period goals for St. Raymond’s, which handed McClancy its lone loss of the year.
In the opening game of the series last Thursday at E.J. Murray Rink in Yonkers, the Crusaders fell behind 2-0 on goals by Hines and Matt Amausto, both set up by Perez, the leading scorer in the entire CHSHL.
But Matt Sammut scored a power play goal 3:43 into the third period and Keith Morrice sent the game into overtime with a wrist shot between the circles with 1:23 left in regulation.
Ryan Ferguson scored the game-winner at 2:57 of overtime on a slap shot from the left point on an assist from Morrice to win it for the Crusaders.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
