Doug Sattler of South Hadley named Hockey Player of the Year

In his first season of high school hockey as a junior, Doug Sattler established himself as one of the best players in western Massachusetts.

But his performance this season, on a team with tremendous statistics across the board, was nothing short of eye-popping.

South Hadley hockey seeks third state title in rematch with Groton-Dunstable

Tonight's Division 3A hockey state championship game between South Hadley and Groton-Dunstable may not be the "perfect" rematch, but it's the closest thing to it.

Chris Menard looks to cap South Hadley hockey career with third state title

No matter the outcome of tonight's Division 3A state title game, South Hadley hockey star Chris Menard will skate off the ice for the final time. Whether exiting the rink in victory or defeat, the senior will leave a legacy as arguably the premier player in program history, but certainly as its biggest winner. The Tigers won their fourth straight sectional title last week. They play Groton-Dunstable today at 8:15 p.m. for the state title at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

• Related story: South Hadley in rematch

Fourth straight, but a first for the orange-and-black of South Hadley hockey

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Watching the South Hadley hockey team play Thursday night's Western Massachusetts Division 3A championship game gave the impression that the Tigers were hungry for their first title instead of their fourth straight.

In a certain sense, they were shooting for No. 1.

South Hadley hockey wins fourth straight western Massachusetts title

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The South Hadley hockey team took every bit of suspense out of the Western Massachusetts Division 3A Tournament, and placed a huge exclamation point on the program's fourth consecutive sectional title Thursday night. The top-seeded Tigers raced out to an early multiple-goal lead for the third straight postseason game and went on to a decisive 7-0 victory over No. 3 Agawam in the western Massachusetts final at the Olympia Ice Center. South Hadley (22-0-1) outscored its three western Massachusetts playoff opponents 22-2.

• Related story: First for the orange-and-black

South Hadley to face Agawam in Division 3A hockey final

The only hockey team to stay on the ice with South Hadley this season is the one team standing between the Tigers and their fourth consecutive sectional title.

For the third straight year, South Hadley and Agawam will battle for the Western Massachusetts Division 3A championship tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield.

South Hadley hockey advances to sectional final with shutout of Saints

WEST SPRINGFIELD - There's having another team's number, and then there's the South Hadley hockey team's performance this season against St. Mary. The Tigers' 6-0 victory Monday night in the Western Massachusetts Division 3A semifinals was their third shutout this year against the Saints, and South Hadley scored a total of 20 goals over the three contests. Top-seeded South Hadley (21-0-1) advanced to the sectional final at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Olympia, and for the third straight year the Tigers will face No. 3 Agawam (14-7-1).

• Related story: Defense key for South Hadley

Wahconah freezes Belchertown hockey in quarterfinals

WEST SPRINGFIELD - When the Belchertown hockey team had the better of the play in its Western Massachusetts Division 3A quarterfinal Thursday night, it couldn't break the scoreless tie.

But when the momentum swung to Wahconah Regional, the outmanned Warriors took advantage of their opportunities and skated away with a 5-1 victory at the Olympia Ice Center.

South Hadley hockey gets easy win in tourney quarterfinals

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The South Hadley hockey team needed a third-period comeback to survive its first postseason game during its run to the Division 3A state title last season.

In their first playoff contest this year, the top-seeded Tigers made the final period meaningless - except to Spencer Nawrocki.

Inside Ice Hockey Tournament

Division 3A South Hadley

Coach: John Houle, 10th year

Record: 19-0-1

Last tournament appearance: Defeated Groton-Dunstable 3-0 in 2011 Division 3A state final

Doug Sattler passes 100 career points for South Hadley hockey team

HOLYOKE - When Doug Sattler decided to play high school hockey before his junior year, the South Hadley forward didn't even consider the possibility of 100 career points. When he entered this season needing 57 points, it became even less likely in his mind. But with Sattler's overwhelming talent and that of his teammates, the milestone became reality on Wednesday's senior night. In just his 40th career varsity game, Sattler reached and surpassed the 100-point mark in the Tigers' 12-1 romp of Chicopee Comp at Fitzpatrick Rink in Holyoke.

High school hockey: Crinellas lift Cathedral in tourney win

Frank Crinella scored early in the third period to lift the Cathedral hockey team to a 1-0 victory over Needham in the first round of its own year-end tournament Wednesday night at Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield.

Crinella was assisted by younger brother Peter Crinella on the play.

High school hockey: Doug Sattler one point from 100 for South Hadley

South Hadley senior forward Doug Sattler had three assists to move within a point of 100 for his career as the Tigers trounced St. Mary 8-0 in a Monday afternoon matinee in Holyoke.

Spencer Nawrocki (two goals, two assists) and Chris Menard (one, three) both had four-point games for South Hadley (18-0-1, 9-0 Wright), while Joe Harris scored twice in the win.

Amherst Regional boys basketball clinches tourney berth

Noris Cuevas-Nova led the Amherst Regional boys basketball team on a big fourth-quarter comeback as the Hurricanes clinched a postseason berth with a 59-57 win over Brattleboro (Vt.) Union at home Saturday.

Cuevas-Nova scored 11 of his game-high 23 points as Amherst (10-9) enjoyed a 20-6 advantage in the final frame.

Turners Falls hockey completes comeback for tourney berth

HOLYOKE - Keegan Downie's torrid scoring streak has been a driving force behind the late-season resurgence of the Turners Falls hockey team.

On Friday night Downie put the team on his back again, figuring in every goal as the Indians beat Chicopee Comp 5-2 to clinch a Western Massachusetts Division 3A tournament berth at Fitzpatrick Rink in Holyoke.

Thursday's hockey games: Cathedral qualifies for postseason

The Cathedral hockey team clinched a postseason berth with a dominant victory.

The Panthers had 18 different players earn at least one point in a 12-0 victory over East Longmeadow at Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield on Thursday.

Rob Carmel leads Easthampton hockey over Amherst Regional

Rob Carmel had a goal and two assists to lead the Easthampton hockey team past Amherst Regional 6-1 at Lossone Rink Wednesday.

Tim Pfau (goal, two assists), Zach Lewis (goal, assist) and Simon Harrity (goal, assist) all had multiple points for the Eagles.

Jacob Opalanek scored the other goal, while David York, Tim Dandrea, Ryan Judd and Alex Zadworny each had assists.

Spencer Nawrocki, Doug Sattler lead undefeated South Hadley hockey

Spencer Nawrocki notched his third hat trick in five games and Doug Sattler registered four points as the South Hadley hockey team defeated Belchertown 7-2 Monday night at Fitzpatrick Rink in Holyoke.

Sattler scored a goal and assisted on three others for the undefeated Tigers (16-0-1), with Chris Menard (assist), Casey Baker (assist) and Joey Harris scoring a goal apiece.

Brent Graham, Nate Kane each win one match at state wrestling meet

Brent Graham of Northampton and Nate Kane of Amherst Regional both finished with 1-2 records in the individual wrestling state Division 1 tournament in Weymouth over the weekend.

Kane won his first match at 138 pounds, beating Brian Vizarreta of BC High 11-9, but fell in his next two matches of the double-elimination event.

Turners hockey streaks to sixth straight win

The Turners Falls hockey team is storming toward a postseason berth.

The Indians beat Belchertown 4-1 at Olympia Rink in West Springfield Friday for their sixth straight win.

Turners Falls (8-9-0) needs four more points to qualify for the Division 3A tournament.