Winning a state championship requires more than marquee talent.

Pelham has won a lot of games with Ben Hurd and Stefan Miklakos setting a ridiculous pace and Mamaroneck has remained on top with Tommy Spero and Michael Carducci delivering big play after big play. What makes these teams worth the price of admission, though, is the roster of glue guys that stand and deliver in critical moments.

They skate on the outside edges of the spotlight, but neither program would be in play for a NYSPHSAA hockey title without them.

“I’ve always been kind of a physical presence on the ice,” said Tigers forward James Torre, who’s been on the varsity for the last four seasons. “It’s not always the goal-scorers who win games. Sometimes it’s the guy who makes the extra pass or plays the body or works hard in the corners.”

Torre checks off all those boxes and has become a reliable scorer with five goals and seven assists in four postseason games.

“James is our speed and wingspan guy,” said coach Mike Chiapparelli, whose team faces Section 6 champion Williamsville North at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in a Division I semifinal at HarborCenter in Buffalo. “He’s got 82 career points and 44 of them came this year, so James has really turned it on. He sees the ice. He kills penalties. He back checks. He uses his line mates very well and has scored big goals for us.”

DIVISION I: Mamaroneck routs Monroe-Woodbury to earn another title shot

DIVISION II: Defense-minded Pelham crushes Queensbury in regionals

SCHEDULE: A look at the NYSPHSAA hockey brackets

Mamaroneck also has a reliable catalyst in Matt DiCicco, who adapted quickly after teammates passed him by on the growth chart.

He is constantly in motion.

“I’m definitely cool with being one of those guys,” said DiCicco, another four-year varsity player. “When the other guys started to catch up to me, I told myself, ‘If you hustle and pass and grind, you can still be a good player.’ I love playing that role.”

The high level of intensity can be inspirational or intimidating.

“Matt has the heart to stop another team,” Chiapparelli said. “He hustles. He can be physical or use finesse, whichever works. Matt never backs down. When an opponent has us pinned with their first line, he gets the puck and finds a way to break out. He’s an animal.”

Winning is the priority, so the conversation wasn’t long when the Tigers needed to strengthen the defense. Will Payne stepped off the first line and went back to the blue line.

“I think what he did coming back to D was the most unselfish move all year long,” Spero said. “He’s a rock. He’s got the ability to look guys off and read the forecheck on the fly, and makes my job easier. Will helped our new D get to another level.”

The Pelicans have always held role players in high regard.

Section 5 champion Brockport will get a high dose of Nat Heintz, Will Case, Michael MacInnis and Russell Mazzaro when it faces off against Pelham Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in a Division II semifinal at HarborCenter.

They are the perfect complements to Hurd, Miklakos and Gib Smith.

“I would rather be going to states with Pelham than play on another team where I might get more recognition,” MacInnis said. “There are so many good players on this team, I’m OK with being a role player. You have to have selfless players. It’s critical to winning, and we have so many like that on this team. We’d all rather win games than get recognition.”

Heintz skates with Hurd and Miklakos. His strength is getting to the right spot at the right time and finding the puck. He’s got 30 goals and 28 assists to prove it. MacInnis has been called on to fill in for Hurd and Miklakos on the top line and has enjoyed nothing but success in those games.

“You can’t win 23 games with three or four players,” Pelicans coach Ed Witz said. “Nat is so consistent. He finds goals on rebounds and can do so many things for us. No matter what the situation is, they never seem to get overwhelmed.”

Case and Mazzaro would be the top defensemen on a majority of the programs in Section 1.

“It helps to have other players a team can rely on,” Mazzaro said. “We do have our big guys, but we also have a good second and third line to back them up. We do have fun with Ben and Stef and Gib. We give them a hard time, but we don’t mind being grinders, fighting to get the puck in the corners and always digging for everything we get.”

NYSPHSAA Hockey Tournament

Semifinals

Division I

Mamaroneck (22-1-1) vs. Williamsville North (20-4)

2:30 p.m. at HarborCenter

NYSSWA ranking: Tigers No.1; Spartans No. 3

Scoring leaders: Mamaroneck –  Michael Carducci 18G, 29A; James Torre 21G, 23A; Will Payne 7G, 19A. Williamsville North – Brett Sardina 14G, 15A; Andrew Bruno 10G, 18A.

Up next: The winner plays Massena or Pittsford in the championship game on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Division II

Pelham (23-1) vs. Brockport (19-5)

9:30 a.m. at HarborCenter

NYSSWA ranking: Pelicans No. 1; Blue Devils No. 3

Scoring leaders: Pelham – Ben Hurd 35G, 34A; Nat Heintz 30G, 28A; Stefan Miklakos 16G 31A. Brockport – Maison Fadale 33G, 35A; Andrew Farley 28G, 30A.

Up next: The winner plays Beekmantown or St. Lawrence Central in the championship game on Sunday at noon.

Twitter: @lohudhockey