Boy’s Hockey: Hornets, Wasps Earn State Championships

BURLINGTON — The Essex Hornets and the Woodstock Wasps were buzzing on Monday night, earning VPA State Championships with victories inside Gutterson Fieldhouse.

In the first game of the doubleheader Woodstock broke a scoreless tie with three second period goals and went on to beat the Lyndon Institute Vikings 4-0 in the Division Two Championship Game. Cullen McCarthy’s goal at 7:05 got the Wasps the lead. Tim Bissaillion’s goal three minutes later doubled their margin, and Andrew Gubbins’ marker at 13:37 pushed the lead to three.

Owen Coates’ goal in the third finished off the scoring and Henry Greene made the lead stand up, recording 18 saves for the shutout.

LI freshman goaltender Sawyer Goodwin was superb in defeat, hanging up 37 saves in the loss.

Woodstock earns their first state title since 1990 and ends the season unbeaten at 22-0-1. Lyndon ends their year at 14-8.

In the night cap Essex came out flying, put up three goals in the first period, and went on to top the Spaulding Crimson Tide 5-0 for the Divsion One crown.

Essex used their speed and depth in the first, buzzing the Tide with short shifts and constant pressure and the plan paid off with goals from Grady Cram at 4:51, Ryan Young at 12:21 and Sam Gibbs at 14:00.

Spaulding adjusted at the break and turned the flow of the game in the second, outshooting Essex 8-3. but it would be the Hornets who scored the period’s only goal as Maverick King finished off an end to end rush at 8:27.

Jonah Janaro’s goal in the third finished off the scoring, and goaltender Sam Foster recorded 17 saves for the shutout.

Essex comes away with their 15th state championship, ending their season at 19-3. Spaulding ends the year 15-7.