The 2025 New York State Tournaments got off to a flying start with great competition at every level. The first of four weekends was reserved for some of the younger age divisions, with teams competing at the Youth Tier I, II and III divisions at 12 & Under. In addition, teams at the Tier I 13 Only division battled it out for the right to advance to a USA Hockey National Championship competition.

On the girls’ side, teams hit the ice flying for competition at the Tier I and Tier II 12 & Under divisions. 

Once again, the Northtown Center in Amherst and the Cornerstone CFCU Arena in Lockport played great hosts to players and their families. 

For the first time, the Broome County Community College Ice Arena in Binghamton was the site of a New York State Tournament, with the top eight high school teams in the state battling it out for the right to advance to the USA Hockey National Championship in Irvine, Calif.

The action picks up again on Friday, March 7 when the top girls’ teams from around the state face off at the Tier I and Tier II 14 & Under, 16 & Under and 19 & Under divisions.

Week 1 Recaps

Youth Tier I 12U
Buffalo Jr. Sabres 7, Long Island Royals 2
Jayden Cariel and Vanek Goodwin each scored twice as the Buffalo Jr. Sabres broke open a close game with a four-goal third period to defeat the Long Island Royals, 7-2, to win the Youth Tier I 12 & Under title at the 2025 N.Y. State Tournament.

Youth Tier II 12U
West Seneca Wings 1, Canton/St Lawrence Steel 0
Austin Garrow’s first-period goal provided all the offensive support that goaltender Ryker Otterson would need as the West Seneca Wings edged the Canton/St. Lawrence Steel to win the Youth Tier II 12 & Under division at the 2025 N.Y. State Tournament. 

Youth Tier III 12U
Finger Lakes Central Outlaws 2, Long Island Kings 1
Kevin Hu scored his second goal of the game with 14.9 seconds left to lift the Finger Lakes Central Outlaws to a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Long Island Kings to win the Youth Tier III 12 & Under championship at the 2025 N.Y. State Tournament.

Youth Tier I 13 Only
Buffalo Jr. Sabres 6, Clifton Park Dynamos 3
Brayden Vanegmond scored four goals as the Buffalo Jr. Sabres erased a 3-0 deficit in the third period to skate past the Clifton Park Dynamo, 6-3, to capture the Youth Tier I 13 Only title. With the victory, the Jr. Sabres punch their ticket to the USA Hockey 13 Only National Championship tournament at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.

Girls Tier I 12U
Mohawk Valley 6 pts., Skaneateles Lakers 3 pts.
The first champions have been crowned at the 2025 N.Y. State Tournaments. Congratulations to the Mohawk Valley Utica Jr. Comets for skating home with the Girls Tier I 12 & Under title. The Jr. Comets won both of its games in the round-robin tournament to capture the title. (Each win was worth three points.) Skaneateles edged the Westchester Express to finish second in the three-team tournament.

Girls Tier II 12U
Buffalo Jr. Sabres 3, Canton Blades 0
Gabriella Sevenski scored a goal and an assist and Peyton Latini and Isabella Pavlovich also found the back of the net to propel the Buffalo Jr. Sabres to a 3-0 victory over the Canton Blades to capture the Girls Tier II 12 & Under title at the 2025 N.Y. State Tournament. Abigail Rutty and Avery Cunningham teamed up to earn the shutout for the Jr. Sabres. 

High School
Smithtown/Hauppauge Bulls 3, Long Beach Marines 1
Aidan Landrigan’s two goals powered the Smithtown/Hauppauge Bulls to a 3-1 victory over the Long Beach Marines to capture the high school title at the 2025 N.Y. State Tournament. David Wetzel’s goal late in the opening frame gave the Bulls an early lead that they never relinquished thanks to the strong goaltending of Aidan Halliday. James Rodriguez’s power-play goal helped Long Beach cut the lead midway through the final frame.