HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE WEEK: FAIRPORT VS. PITTSFORD
Feb 4, 2022This week’s High School Game of the Week pits the Fairport Raiders against the Pittsford Panthers in the 12th annual Pink the Rink Night on Saturday, Feb. 5 at Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex.
2021-22 FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS STATS 2021-22 PITTSFORD PANTHERS STATS 2021-22 SECTION V STANDINGS
The event aims to raise money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester in support of those affected by breast or gynecologic cancer. Pink the Rink has been a Pittsford School District tradition since 2010 and has raised $66,000 for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester.
Fairport enters its penultimate matchup of the season looking to snap out of a three-game skid following a 4-0 loss to the Brighton/HFL/ER on Tuesday. It was Raiders’ second shutout loss in three games and fourth time this season they were held scoreless. Fairport has struggled as of late, having dropped six of its last seven contests to fall to 3-10-3 on the season, just one point ahead of last-place Gates/Wayne/EI/Wheatland.
Forward Alex Goldan (6+4) and defenseman Nate Russo (5+5) have been the top point-getters for much of the season for Fairport with 10 points each in 16 games with Goldan also leading the Red Raiders with a team-best six goals.
McLean Ralston, the only returning goaltender from last season, has carried much of the workload between the pipes this season. In 13 appearances, the junior goaltender boasts a 2-8-2 record with a 3.16 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. He’s also recorded one shutout and 327 saves.
The 10-time league champions came into the season in pursuit of their first Section V championship since 2014 and fifth overall.
Pittsford, conversely, enters the contest riding a three-game win streak after edging the Greece Storm by a 3-2 score on Tuesday to open its final month of the regular season. The Panthers, who last season defeated Victor for the Class A Section V championship, have outscored their opponents 13-3 over that span, highlighted by a 6-0 win over the Portside Royals back on Jan. 27.
Pittsford is 9-5-1 and are currently fifth on the MCPSAC Division I standings.
The Panthers offense has been fueled all season long by senior forward Will Masaschi, who leads the team with 14 assists and 23 points through 15 games this season. Additionally, Masachi, who equaled last season’s point total in half the games, already surpassed his career-high of 18 points he set as a sophomore. In 62 games over his high school career, Masachi has totaled 58 points on 20 goals and 38 assists.
Averaging over 1.5 points per game, Masaschi has been scoreless just three time all season and hasn’t gone more than one game without registering a point.
Forwards Ben Norton and Lucas Procious are tied for the team lead with 10 goals each.
Goaltender Aden Brown has played every minute of the season thus far for Pittsford, boasting a 9-5-1 record with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage with two shutouts. He’s won three straight and four of his last five starts coming into tonight.