JAMESTOWN, NY - The Redeemer Royals hockey team delivered a historic weekend in the Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League Playoffs, capturing two thrilling victories to advance to the UNYCHL Final for the first time in program history.
Quarterfinal: Royals 6, Union 5 (OT)
Friday night saw the Royals square off against Union College in a high-octane quarterfinal matchup. In a back-and-forth contest that featured plenty of offensive firepower, Redeemer ultimately secured a dramatic 6-5 overtime victory.
Three Royals recorded two goals apiece to power the attack. Captain Carson Torrie, Tucker Copeland, and Hayden Fernhout each found the back of the net twice, with Fernhout playing the hero by burying the overtime winner to punch Redeemer's ticket to the semifinals.
The win marked a statement moment for the Royals, showcasing their depth and resilience under playoff pressure.
Semifinal: Royals 7, Courtland 4
Semifinal action pitted Redeemer against the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons. Cortland came out flying, controlling possession throughout much of the opening frame and applying consistent pressure. Despite being outplayed territorially early on, it was the Royals who struck first.
Tucker Copeland opened the scoring with a power play goal, setting the tone for what would become a dominant night for Redeemer's special teams. The Royals capitalized four times on the man advantage, a difference-maker in the game.
Senior netminder Carson Murison was outstanding between the pipes. He turned aside all 12 shots he faced in the opening period to preserve the early lead and finished the night with 28 saves. His steady presence allowed the Royals to weather the early storm and build momentum.
Redeemer broke the game open in the second period, jumping ahead 4-2 before adding two more goals in the final minute of the frame to take a commanding 6-2 lead into the third.
With a chance to earn just their second playoff victory in program history and book a spot in the UNYCHL Final for the first time, the Royals maintained their composure. They added another goal in the third period and closed out an impressive 7-4 win. Murison came up with a showstopping save late in the game that energized the bench and helped seal the victory.
Copeland continued his strong playoff performance with two more goals, his third and fourth of the postseason, while Noah Wildeboer added a pair of his own to round out the offensive surge.
