Wyoming Area Comes Up Short As Susquehanna Wins The Nepa Scholastic Hockey League Title

WILKES-BARRE — They’re the Bad News Bears of high school ice hockey. With a team comprised of players from several high schools and a practice rink that is only open for part of the year, the Susquehanna Stampede relied on a common bond to dominate the NEPA Scholastic Hockey League for most of the regular season and win the championship on Monday — 4-3 over the Wyoming Area Warriors. “We’re just a bunch of kids from Central Pennsylvania that love the game,” said Susquehanna head coach Lewis “Chip” Marrara. The Stampede killed off three Wyoming Area power plays — including 32 seconds of a two-man advantage, in the second period, scored three times in the third and staved off a frantic push by the Warriors in the final minutes to preserve the win. Senior Preston Shearer scored twice — including the game-winner — and Jack Marrara had a goal and three assists while goaltender Mike Novatnack stopped a flurry of shots in the final seconds to preserve the one-goal lead for Susquehanna. The Stampede finished the regular season as the top team in the NEPASHL with a 13-1 record, and on Monday they came out with confidence as senior Jack Marrara scored on a rebound to take a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game. Wyoming Area tied it with a power-play goal from Alex Hawk, who one-timed a pass from Brendan Lee to make it 1-1. Susquehanna was hit with three straight penalties in the first half of the second period, including 32 seconds of a Warrior two-man advantage, but came out unscathed. “That was a major turning point,” said Susquehanna senior Riley Shaw.