North Tonawanda, NY — The Tonawanda Lightning Squirt Major team won the 2010 New York State Amateur Hockey Association Tier II championship this past weekend in Binghamton. In what was a total team effort, the Lightning won five straight games against five different opponents en route to the championship.

The finals were held Sunday night with the top-seeded Lightning defeating the host Binghamton Jr. Senators in a 3-2 thriller after twice rallying from behind. After a scoreless first period, the Senators took the lead early in the second until Jesse Decker scored on a nice feed from Andrew Short and Jacob Colosanti, knotting the score at 1-1.

Binghamton quickly responded and took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. The Lightning regrouped in the locker room and came out quickly, tying the score 30 seconds into the third on a goal by Christopher Blachowski with an assist from Dominic Miceli. The teams traded chances throughout the third, but strong goaltending by Chase Ford and Senators goalie Tom Draper kept the score tied 2-2.

The Lightning killed off a Senator power play mid-way through the period and got a power play chance of their own with just over four minutes remaining. Blachowski netted the championship winner with 3:36 left as he tipped a Thomas Cecere shot by the Senators goalie. Colosanti was credited with the other assist.

With Draper pulled from the goal for an extra attacker, the Senators waged an offensive onslaught, but Ford and the Lightning held strong, preserving the victory and capping off a tremendous season.

The Tonawanda Lightning 99s — coached by Don Pray, Dean Miceli, Brian Ienco, Tom Cecere and Tom Donhauser — finished with an overall record of 45-20-3.

Tonawanda earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament by winning the WNYAHL regular season championship. They began the tournament with a 5-0 victory over Massena. Blachowski scored four of the five goals, one of which was on a penalty shot. Cecere added the other Lightning marker, while Decker, Devin Kasperek, and Cole Donhauser chipped in with assists.

In their second game, the Lightning topped the Oswego Buccaneers 5 -2. The game was tight until the third period when the Lightning scored three unanswered goals. Both Miceli and Blachowski had two goals and an assist, while Decker added a goal and an assist. Adam Pray had two assists and Colosanti had one.

Injured Lightning defensemen Jordan Martin added key support to his teammates on the bench when the game was close.

Tonawanda won its third game, an 8-0 blowout over the Greater NY Stars, last year’s state champion. Miceli upped his goal production to a hat trick in this game while Cameron Leber, Cecere, Blachowski and Colosanti added single tallies.

On Sunday, the Lightning crossed over to the other division to take on the Plattsburgh Jr. Cardinals in the semifinals. The Lightning prevailed 8-0 with Ford making some key saves in the first period to keep the Cardinals off the board.

Blachowski led the scoring again with four goals and Miceli added two. Cecere and Decker closed out the Lightning scoring. Colosanti had three assists, while Jacob Pray and Jeremy Ienco each had one.