Buffalo Wins 2nd Straight NECHL Memorial Cup
The University at Buffalo Bulls have won their second straight NECHL Memorial Cup defeating Canisius College in the finals 2-1 yesterday, Sunday March 3rd, at the NECHL Championship Weekend in Buffalo, NY.
UB (10-1-3) came into the weekend as the #1 seed in the NECHL and received a bye into the semi-finals where they met the 6th seeded Niagara University Purple Eagles. The Bulls scored twice in the opening period and never looked back beating NU 6-1 on Saturday afternoon. The win solidified their spot in the 2019 NECHL Memorial Cup Final where they met the 2nd seeded Canisius College Golden Griffins (10-3-1).
The Bulls wasted no time getting on the board as they opened the scoring 1:42 into the opening period when Michael Lask got one by Canisius’s Dominick Tallarico. UB’s Austin Pieniaszek extended their lead with 6 seconds to play in the second period with an unassisted goal that would turn out to be the game winner. Canisius answered with a short-handed goal from Anthony Vekish in the 3rd but UB would hold on to win 2-1 to clinch their second straight NECHL Memorial Cup.
With the win the Bulls will also receive an auto-bid to the 2019 ACHA National Tournament in Frisco, TX. 19 other teams will join UB (6 auto-bids, 14 at large bids) to compete for the ACHA National Championship March 21st-31st. Buffalo’s first round opponent is yet to be determined.
