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TIMES SPORTSWATCH
Szymkowiak's four goals help Central hockey win
 | | ALL ALONE...Depew senior John Leistner skates toward the Olean zone on Tuesday. Leistner scored three goals in the Wildcats' 9-2 victory. (Times photo) |
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It's been a dream season for Cheektowaga Central senior forward Rob Szymkowiak, who leads the Warriors' varsity club hockey team with 60 goals. Last Saturday, Szymkowiak again shouldered a large load of Central's offense, scoring four goals in a crossover league win over Southwestern/Maple Grove.
The Warriors (30-4-3 overall, 12- 0-1 in the Small Schools East Division) defeated Southwestern/Maple Grove, 9-5, at Depew Ice Rink. In addition to Szymkowiak's effort, senior center Steve Noworyta added one goal and three assists, sophomore defenseman Jayson Selbert, two goals and one helper, and senior defenseman Ryan Klein, three assists.
Junior defenseman Adam Bobek and sophomore forward Ryan Jaracz also hit the back of the net. Szymkowiak assisted on two goals.
Central has already clinched the Small Schools East Division and will enter the postseason as the No. 1 seed. The Warriors will face league opponent Lewiston-Porter tonight at Niagara University, with face-off scheduled for 9 p.m. The Warriors will also play Maryvale on Saturday for a Maroon Madness showdown.
Central then faces Tonawanda on Tuesday and Depew on February 10 to end its regular season.
Flyers win 2 more games;
Depew splits league pair
Maryvale (13-7-2 overall, 9-4-2 in league play) has clinched second place in the Small Schools East Division with wins this past week over Olean, 6-0, and St. Joe's "B," 3-2.
On Saturday, the Flyers limited Olean to just 12 shots, as junior goaltender Kyle Worley earned the shutout. Seniors Joe Bodkin (center) and Christian Wheeler (winger) each recorded hat tricks with three goals apiece. Bodkin also tallied two assists, while Wheeler added one helper. Kyle Gmerek (junior) and Tyler Gmerek (freshman) also assisted on goals.
On Tuesday, the Flyers had to hang on to edge St. Joe's "B" despite outshooting the opposing squad, 35-14. Bodkin scored two goals, while sophomore forward Zak Mullen also hit the back of the net. Junior defensemen Tom Brado, Garrett Jacobs and Kyle McQuaid added assists.
Junior goaltender Dan Gengo made 12 saves to earn the win.
"We're playing a little more disciplined than we were earlier in the season," said Maryvale head coach Roger Gmerek. "Defensively, we've been playing great. Overall, it's been a total team effort, from our defense to our wingers to our goaltending."
The Flyers will end their season Saturday against local rival Cheektowaga Central. Face-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. at the Cheektowaga Recreation Center. The Warriors dominated Maryvale earlier in the season, 11-2.
Depew dropped a 7-5 decision to crossover league foe Starpoint on January 24. Junior forward Joe Gorski led the Wildcats with two goals, while forwards Alfredo Scarpone (sophomore), Antonio Scarpone (senior) and Joey Paradowski (senior) also hit the back of the net. Sophomore forward Chris Kendall added two assists.
Starpoint outshot Depew, 39-18.
The Wildcats (12-14 overall, 5-8 in the Small Schools West Division) came back to pound league foe Olean at home Tuesday, 9-2. Senior forward John Leistner recorded a hat trick with three goals, while Kendall and Paradowski each tallied one goal and one assist. Alfredo Scarpone, Pat Gillen and Dave Graves each contributed two helpers, while defensemen Dan Gorski and Jim Leair also hit the back of the net.
Depew outshot Olean, 40-17. Sophomore goaltender Ryan Clarke stopped 15 shots to earn the victory.
The Wildcats, who are in second place in the West Division, return to action Wednesday at home to take on league opponent Tonawanda at 8:30 p.m.
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