Still Hangen around: Hamburg advances to semifinals

Melissa Brawdy Facing Off

Jake Hangen loves penalty shots. He’d told teammate Jared Milley so at Saturday’s Hamburg team dinner. “Yesterday at our team dinner, Hangen told me how much he loves penalty shots,” said Milley after Sunday’s 5-2 quarterfinal win over Lewiston-Porter. “That’s the truth. That actually happened.” So when Hangen was tripped up on a shorthanded chance with 34 seconds left in …

Melissa BrawdyStill Hangen around: Hamburg advances to semifinals

Hamburg’s Coppola is ‘best goalie in the game’

Melissa Brawdy Down On The Ice

The boys of Hamburg hockey don’t mind getting up for 5:30 am practices. In fact, they love it. “It’s the best before school,” said goaltender Griffin Coppola. “Then we go into first period, and we’ve got all the energy in the world.” “It is the best part of the whole season, honestly,” agreed defenseman Owen Gonter. The Bulldogs’ hope is …

Melissa BrawdyHamburg’s Coppola is ‘best goalie in the game’

Resilient Hamburg downs Orchard Park

Melissa Brawdy Facing Off

John McFall has been coaching the Hamburg varsity hockey team for eight years, and what keeps him coming back every year is the quality of not just players, but people, who play hockey for Hamburg. “It’s not by accident,” McFall said. “We try hard with that, and we push that, and it’s important. I think with this group, it starts …

Melissa BrawdyResilient Hamburg downs Orchard Park