He’s only a freshman, but Paul Saladis already has a flair for the dramatic.
On Wednesday night at the Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon, the forward score the overtime winner, lifting St. Peter’s to a 5-4 win against Archbishop Stepinac and a two-game sweep in the CHSHL Class B championship series.
It is the Eagles second consecutive championship after winning the Class C crown a year ago.
Saladis’ clinching goal came 1:26 into the extra session on a 3-on-1 break. Joe Manitta started the break, finding Eagles leader Vin Conanan, who waited out a Stepinac defenseman who slide down to block a potential shot, passed to an open Saladis, who put a one-timer past Stepinac goalie Ray Guerriara.
Saladis also scored in a 7-4 victory in Game 1 Monday at the World Ice Arena in Flushing.
St. Peter’s (14-6-2) took the lead midway through the first period on the first of Conanan’s two goals, but Stepinac (14-6-1) tied the game at 1 three minutes later on a goal by Tyler Loughery.
Anthony Reagan, who had two goals in the opening game of the series, put the Crusaders in front, 2-1, on a blistering slapshot, but Conanan quickly responded and tied the game at 2 45 seconds later on a low slapper.
Stepinac had two more one-goal leads on third-period tallies by Dylan Tracy and Conor McGonagle, but St. Peter’s equalized both times as Manitta and Anthony Bruno (PPG) struck, forcing overtime.
Goalie Chris Buerkle made 35 saves, including four in quick succession late in the third period to force overtime, which is where Saladis shined.