Bellmore-Merrick wins boys hockey state title…
Bellmore-Merrick hockey is finally top canine.
After years of painful exits, the Bulldogs have conquered the Empire State and are, for the first time, New York’s reigning champions.
“You learn a lot from losing,” head coach Patrick Braglia told The Post, including that he’s been on the incorrect facet of practically half a dozen state match heartbreakers, including one in triple additional time.
“These guys understood what it was to lose and what it feels like. I think the older guys, our seniors, especially, were able to keep the room believing.”
Braglia’s proud pound, which exacted revenge on Long Beach in the method, is heading to Plymouth, Minn., for the USA Hockey National Championships next week.
They iced the state match with a 4-2 thriller over St. Francis of Buffalo, where Bellmore-Merrick trailed early and might hardly maintain on to a 2-2 tie late in the sport.
“In the third period, it was like they were the Canadians and we were the Americans,” Braglia said, evaluating the championship to the boys’s Olympic gold match.
Forward Jackson Austin turned the hero with under three minutes to go by getting a deflection objective that put the Bulldogs up 3-2, a lead they padded on an empty-netter on after a ferocious six-on-five assault for practically 90 seconds.
Bellmore-Merrick celebrates after profitable the state championship in high college boys hockey. Bellmore-Merrick Athletics
“We had to have blocked, I don’t know, 10 shots in that short amount of time,” said Braglia.
The boys are taking some well-earned relaxation before delivery out to Minnesota, as their head coach said the main target is on themselves slightly than on anticipating a matchup with some of the other 15 best groups in the U.S.
“It’s about staying the course. We don’t really worry too much about what other people do. We really try to play our game,” he said.
“There’s a full buy-in from every guy — all the time. It’s a special type of environment to be in.”
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