Pro East Quarterfinals Recap: Upset OT Stunner, 6ixers Squeeze Through, Wings Hold Serve

The PIHA Pro East Division Quarterfinals delivered exactly what single-elimination hockey is supposed to: urgency, momentum swings, and one season-ending overtime dagger. By the end of Saturday night at Yellow Breeches Sports Center, the bracket was set for a two-game Sunday morning semifinal slate—with the winners advancing straight into a best-of-three Division Final and a trip to the PIHA Finals on the line.

(2 SEED) Buffalo Wings 4, (7 SEED) Hockey Plus Blue Heelers 2

Buffalo did all of its damage early and made it stand up.

The Wings struck four times in the first period—two from Griffin Kluzek (#74), plus goals from Nolan Sheeran (#39) and John Garvin (#86)—to take firm control despite the Blue Heelers hanging around with a pair of first-period markers from Bryce Witman (#14).

Even with a relatively tight shot count (Buffalo 11, Heelers 10), the Wings’ first-period finishing proved decisive, and they closed it out cleanly with a scoreless second.

Three Stars: Jess Hackett, Nolan Sheeran, Bryce Witman.

(6 SEED) Pittsburgh Inferno 4, (3 SEED) Motor City Dirty Dawgs 3 (OT)

This was the thriller of the round—and the upset that reshaped Sunday morning.

Motor City came out flying, building a 2–0 first-period lead behind Jesse Worrell (#13), who scored twice in the opening frame. But Pittsburgh answered with timely goals, including a power-play marker from Gage Clark (#5), before forcing overtime.

In OT, Jared Gerger (#61) ended it at 9:37, sealing the 4–3 win and sending the Inferno into the semifinals.

Pittsburgh finished with the shot edge (20–17) in a fast, physical game that featured just one recorded penalty.

(5 SEED) Toronto 6ixers 2, (4 SEED) Moriches Sting 1

Toronto advanced the hard way, surviving a tight-checking battle where every shot mattered.

Moriches actually controlled much of the shot volume (17–12), but the 6ixers capitalized on their first-period looks—getting goals from Dylan Abbamont (#77) (8:22) and Patrick Vulgan (#13) (0:33)—and then locked the game down the rest of the way.

The Sting’s lone goal came from Brendan Reed (#92) at 6:00 of the first, but neither team recorded a penalty and scoring dried up from there as goaltending and structure took over.

Sunday Morning: Pro East Semifinals (Single Elimination)

• 9:00am — (1) Suffolk Sting vs (6) Pittsburgh Inferno

• 9:40am — (2) Buffalo Wings vs (5) Toronto 6ixers

Both semifinals are single elimination, and the two winners will meet immediately after in a best-of-three Pro East Division Final, with a trip to the PIHA Finals hanging in the balance.