Holyoke captures state hockey title

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Derek Pinciak netted a hat trick and Nick Blais scored the game-winner as Holyoke won the first ever Division III-A state title, beating Oakmont 4-2, Thursday night at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield.

Pinciak scored twice in the first period to give Holyoke a 2-1 lead. 

Liam Rafferty scored his 2nd goal to tie the game for Oakmont in the 2nd period.

Holyoke's scoring connection hooked up in the 3rd period, when Pat Lenihan assisted on Nick Blais' game-winning goal with less than five minutes to play.  Pinciak added an empty-netter to seal the victory for Holyoke.

Tadd Goff made 32 saves in net for the Purple Knights.

Holyoke is a co-op team made up of players from Holyoke, South Hadley, Granby and Holyoke Catholic.

The 6th seeded Purple Knights stormed through the Western Mass tournament, and ended up state champs.

Last season, Greenfield won the first Division III-A Western Mass title.  That tournament paved the way for a state championship, once Central Mass jumped on board.