HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE WEEK: HILTON CADETS VS. WFL PANTHERS

Jan 31, 2023

For the past several weeks, the Rochester Americans have been front and center with the local high school hockey scene as part of a weekly series featuring the latest news and notes, scores and stats of select Section V games around the Greater Rochester Area.

                                  2022-23 SECTION V STANDINGS    2022-23 HILTON STATS    2022-23 WFL STATS

This week’s High School Game of the Week features the Hilton Central Cadets (6-10-1) facing off with the WFL Panthers (6-8-0) tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Lakeshore Hockey Arena.

Hilton enters the contest boasting a 6-10-1 record, which includes an even 4-4-0 mark on home ice compared to a 2-6-1 record while on the road.

Excluding tonight’s contest, Hilton will have one home game next game week versus Pittsford before concluding its season on Friday, Feb. 10 against Gates-Chili.

Of the five players to reach double figures in points this season for the Cadets, Tanner Smith tops the team in both goals (8) and points (14) while Tyson Murante paces the club in assists (9). Casey Hanrahan (6+7), Hunter Hutteman (6+5) rank second and third on the team with 13 and 11 points, respectively, while Aiden Kennedy (4+6) is the final skater to have 10 or more points.

Goaltender Aiden Hill has handled much of the workload this season as he has appeared in 16 games this season, showing a 5-10-1 record to go with a 2.90 goals-against average. Barrett Paolini (1-0-0) has appeared in two contests, which included a 4-1 victory over Irondequoit when he stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced.

Following a 1-6-0 start to the season, WFL has responded by going 5-0-1 over its last six games, which included a season-best three-game win streak. Including tonight’s matchup with Hilton, the Panthers, who show a 6-8-0 record overall, will close out the 2022-23 campaign with three straight road games.

Forward Lucas Springer leads the Panthers in all offensive categories this season, including goals (15), assists (17) and points (32) while Ryan Brown has chipped in 13 markers and 10 helpers for 23 points. Collin Trapiss (10+7) and Isaac Pundt (6+4) make up the other two Panthers to record double digits in points.

WFL has used a trio of netminders throughout the course of the campaign in Seth Taylor (4-4-0), Jace Ingram (1-4-0) and Nathan Zimmerman (1-0-0). While Taylor has appeared in 10 games this season, Ingram and Zimmerman have both seen action in five and two games, respectively.

Following the Tuesday’s matchup, WFL will travel to Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena as they face-off with Geneseo/Avon/Livonia for a 7:00 p.m. faceoff on Thursday, Feb. 2 while Hilton will take on Pittsford for a 6:30 p.m. puck drop at Bill Gray’s Iceplex on Thursday, Feb. 7.