Spirits were high and their confidence brimmed as overtime began, because the Franklin D. Roosevelt hockey team had just proven to itself how capable this group was under pressure.
Rarely, during this dominant run, have the Presidents had their backs against the ropes. But in erasing a two-goal deficit in the third period, the “dramatic comeback” subhead was added to what already was a sterling athletic portfolio.
“We hadn’t trailed before in the playoffs,” coach Mark Maroney said, “so that was big for us.”
Even bigger was the winning goal two minutes into overtime. Ethan Abrahams took a pass from Dylan Updike and scored, lifting Roosevelt to a 4-3 win over Washingtonville in the clinching second game of the Hudson Valley High School Ice Hockey Association championship series.
That victory last Saturday at McCann Ice Arena in Poughkeepsie gave the Presidents a third consecutive title.
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“You don’t like using the term ‘dynasty’ loosely, but they’re a dynasty,” said Maroney, whose team is 51-7-7 since December 2021. “It’s a testament to how much of a team they are, and I’m fortunate to be part of it.”
As has become their custom, the players swigged water and root beer from the cup atop their trophy, celebrating this most recent accomplishment and the legacy they’ve established with the program.
“I told the guys that 30 years from now, whatever they go on to do in their lives and careers, they’ll be able to draw confidence and inspiration from what they’ve done here,” the coach said. “They did something they won’t forget.”
This time, in unforgettable fashion. Roosevelt dominated the first game, 9-3, but came within minutes of Washingtonville forcing a deciding Game 3.
Some frustration and a bit of panic began to set in Saturday when Washingtonville built a 3-1 lead, making moot the Presidents’ control of the puck and their 41 shots on goal.
“We were playing well, and I reminded them of that,” Maroney said. “They were doing just about everything right, but we were running into a brick wall.”
But after enough chipping, there eventually was a crack, and then a crumble. Adam Jurkowski and Abrahams scored late, tying it with four minutes left in regulation.
Abrahams led the league in scoring with…
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