It doesn't get much more storybook than this. Suffern won the NYSPHSAA Division I state hockey championship Saturday at the LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo, beating Canton 5-2 to complete a three-peat. And then their head coach of 30 years walked off the ice for the last time.
Rob Schelling confirmed after the win that he's retiring, wrapping up a legendary career with five state titles and a final victory on Buffalo ice. It's a hard ending to top.
Suffern's Sean Tyrrell, who put up five goals in the semifinal against Pittsford, was named tournament MVP for the third year in a row. The state final four brought terrific hockey and packed crowds to one of the best rinks in the region, and Buffalo showed once again why it's a natural home for a championship like this.