Boys Hockey: BFA and Harwood Crowned VPA State Champions at Gutterson

BURLINGTON — The BFA-St.Albans Bobwhites and the Harwood Highlanders were crowned champions in the Vermont Principals Association State Championship Games on Weddnesday night inside Gutterson Fieldhouse.

In Division One BFA got a hat trick from senior Caden Hart and 23 saves from senior Dan Ellis in a 4-1 win over the Stowe Raiders.

Hart scored on a backhander just 20 seconds into the game to give BFA an early lead. Matt Merrill’s goal just over three and a half minutes later pushed the Bobwhites lead to 2-0, and Hart then added a pair of second period tallies to make it 4-0 after two.

Alex Tilgner’s third period goal got the Raiders on the board but Ellis and a stout BFA defense held it right there as BFA finished the season at 19-4, winning the 19th boys hockey title in school history.

In the Division Two final Harwood’s Skylar Platt netted a powerplay goal at 1:52 of overtime to give the Highlanders a 3-2 win over the Milton Yellow Jackets.

Harwood had ridden goals from Tyson Sylvia and Finn O’Hara to a 2-0 second period lead, only to see Milton battle back on goals from Nick Desouza and Chris Lefebvre to tie game at two. But the Jackets took a penalty late in regulation and Platt took advantage, scoring the game winner in the extra session.

Liam Guyette made 27 saves in backstopping the Highlanders to their first state title since 2005. Jackson Ehler was big in net for Milton, making 35 saves in the defeat.