By ADAM HARGRAVES
@Hargraves24
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The only ice hockey banner in the Amherst Regional gym was getting a little lonely. None of the Hurricanes were alive when the program won a sectional title in 1994.
Problem solved.
The Hurricanes won the Western Massachusetts Division 3A Tournament championship with a 3-2 overtime win over Chicopee Comp at the Olympia Ice Center on Thursday.
“It’s something special,” Amherst coach Mike Rousseau said. “To put this team together and win it all in 2016. I’m speechless.”
Amherst got the win in dramatic fashion with 11 seconds left in overtime. A centering pass by Jack Rees glanced off the skate of Jake Balderston for the game-winner.
“Jake is a player who lives, eats and breathes Amherst hockey,” Rousseau said. “He wanted this team to win more than anything.”
Amherst fans erupted, and Balderston’s teammates mobbed him in the corner of the rink. The junior forward had a hat trick in the biggest game of his young hockey career.
“Our team used to be irrelevant,” Balderston said. “Not anymore. We just put a banner up and we’re going to do more.”
With gloves and sticks all over the ice, Amherst accepted its trophy and held it high to the delight of the crowd.
After the win, Balderston shared a story from his freshman year about the obscurity of Amherst’s hockey program.
“I was out shagging fly balls at baseball practice,” Balderston said. “My teammate asked if we had a hockey team. Two years later we are Western Mass. champions. It’s come full circle for me.”
Late in overtime, Rees possessed the puck down the side of the rink before letting the centering pass go toward Balderston.
“It’s been our mentality all year,” Rees said. “Get shots on net. It paid off at the right time tonight.”
The win was especially satisfying for Amherst (18-1-3). The Colts ousted the Hurricanes last year in the sectional semifinals.
“That banner has been up by itself long enough,” Rees said. “We lost in the semifinal last year to Comp. Feels great to bring it home this year.”
Amherst goalie Clayton Bowser didn’t see a lot of shots on the night, but needed to make several stops at important junctures in the third period and overtime.
The Hurricanes had to overcome a dominating performance by Chicopee Comp goaltender Parker Nunes, who finished with 38 saves. Nunes made several tough saves to keep Chicopee Comp (13-6-3) within striking distance. Nunes was sometimes out of position on rebounds and had to sprawl or reach out to block shots at the last second.
“He was hot tonight,” Rousseau said. “We couldn’t get frustrated. We didn’t panic. We knew our goals weren’t going to be pretty. Our game-winner went off a skate. I’ll take that.”
Amherst had a 1-0 lead after Balderston’s first goal assisted by Nathan Masteralexis. Nunes had 16 saves in the first period.
Comp answered when Jeremy Lewis tied the game with only 6 seconds left in the period. The second period was all Chicopee Comp, as the Colts controlled the puck and eventually took the lead on a goal by Cam Kagan.
The momentum was on Chicopee Comp’s side.
“I asked the seniors,” Rousseau said. “Is this how you want to go out? I definitely challenged them and they responded.”
Balderston tied the game with 9:48 left in the third period. After a flurry of shots, a rebound found Balderston’s stick. With Nunes out of position, Balderston found the net.
Amherst will play either Nashoba (19-2-0) and Oakmont (12-9-1) in the state final next week. The Central Mass. championship is Monday.
