Central Bucks South and Wissahickon captured the titles in Class AA and A respectively
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By Ben Reese
HATFIELD -- Depth played a huge part in Central Bucks South's winning the Suburban High School Hockey League's AA championship Thursday night at Hatfield Ice.
The Titans used four forward lines and finally wore Central Bucks East down for a 3-2 victory. The defending PIAA champions can now focus on repeating last year's win in the Flyers Cup and – after that - the state title.
One large reason that South could push East to the limit was the Patriots' fatigue after playing four overtime periods the night before to reach the 
AA championship game. East knocked off Council Rock South on Wednesday night 5-4 but had to play an additional four periods to do it while CB South needed only regulation to best William Tennent.
"The guys came in and played as hard as they could," CB East coach Sean Mullin said. "I was proud of the way they did play.
"They dug deep and grinded it out again. Unfortunately, we couldn't do it."
Tiring out the Patriots was part of CB South coach Tom Coyne's game plan.
"I thought throwing four lines (on the ice) would (tire them out)," Coyne said. "Down the stretch in the third period, I thought they would be a little fresher after the ice cut.
"There was a time when we had them pinned in there. I think they lost a little bit of their legs in the third."
That all tied into the depth factor for South. The use of the third and fourth lines proved beneficial.
"If we can get that matchup where Moose's (Brian Uzelac) and Clem's (Brendan Clements) lines are there grinding against Chase (Austin Chase) and (Nick) Chimera and they have to work in the D (defensive) zone, that's what we wanted," Coyne explained. "Those three and four lines did a good job recycling the puck until they were blue in the face."
Titan team captain Connor Matsinger, who scored the winning goal in the third period, recognized the benefits of his team’s depth.
"It definitely hurts when they played four extra periods the night before," the senior defenseman said. "Being able to roll three or four lines of forwards really wears the other team down. Our lines really came out to play tonight."
However, as evidenced by the final score, the Patriots didn't quit. They played hard to the final buzzer.
"A couple of lapses in judgment led to a couple of goals they had," Mullin said. "We hung with them fine."
As for the winning goal, Matsinger – who broke a 2-2 tie with a goal just over two minutes into the final period - put all the emphasis on his teammates.
"It was a good pass by my teammate," he said of the assist by Anthony Rubas. "I was just lucky to be in the right spot to put it in.
"I love being able to contribute especially with that much time left in the game. To get the only goal there to put us over, it feels great."
East came out quickly in the first period, scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead. Chase scored both East goals sandwiched around a goal by South's Leo Flick.
The Titans evened the score in the second. Jared Conroy netted the tying goal on the power play late in the period.
Then Matsinger took care of the rest.
CB South 3, CB East 2
CB East 2 0 0 – 2
CB South 1 1 1 – 3
First period: Austin Chase CBE (Bryan McIntosh) 5:20; Leo Flick CBS (Damon Delaurentis, Joe Delaurentis) 10:36; Chase CBE (Luke Rossi, Nick Esposito) 12:57 PP.
Second period: Jared Conroy CBS (Anthony Rubas) 2:39 PP.
Third period: Connor Matsinger CBS (Rubas) 2:10.
Shots CBE 29; CBS 34. Saves: Evan Angotti (CBE) 31; Aaron King (CBS) 27.
WISSAHICKON 11, HARRY S TRUMAN 4
HATFIELD -- The championship game in the A division of the SHSHL looked to be, on paper, an offensive bonanza.
Both Wissahickon and Truman boast prolific offenses. The Trojans scored the most goals of any team in the SHSHL with 165 and Truman was right behind with 157.
In Zach Bennett, the Tigers had the league's leading scorer. He came into the game with 33 goals and 45 assists for 78 points.
The Trojans, however, found a way to negate Truman’s high-powered offense with an effective defensive effort.
"Their big scorers -- 14 (Mike Roarty 35 goals), 22 (Kyle Bennett, 34 goals) and 77 (Zach Bennett) -- we shut them down," Wolf said. "Our little scrappy defensemen, they played tough.
"The guys who aren't the heroes, they stepped up, just getting the puck out of the zone and frustrating them all night."
The pleasure in the win was evident in Wolf's voice and demeanor.
"Poetic justice," he said after the game. "I think we were the best team all year, but they were right there with us.
"We knew it was going to be a war tonight. Our goalie made some saves; their goalie might not have made some saves.
"We played a great game. We did what we had to do to win. It's a really good feeling after all we've been through."
Jake Segelbaum, the Trojans' captain, had a big offensive night. He scored three goals and assisted on two others.
His final goal of the night, Wisaahickon's 10th of the game, came with one minute left to play. He scored into an empty net after Truman had pulled its goalie.
"Jake Segelbaum is a leader," Wolf said. "He gets the empty netter at the end; that's justice."
As for Segelbaum, he couldn't wipe the grin off his face.
"This is the most satisfying win of my high school career so far," he said. "Right now, I'm just looking forward to the Flyers Cup next week."
Segelbaum had his theory why the Trojans were so dominant in the title game.
"What we did that we've kind of been lacking for in the rest of the season was that we played hard every shift," he said. "There wasn't any time that we played weaker than the other. We just played our game all the time."
Wissahickon grabbed the lead early and never let go. The Trojans scored three times in the first period, allowing only one Truman goal. Scoring for the Trojans were Jake Flancer (Andrew Cade assists), Kyle Wolf and Segelbaum (Ed Burkart/Jacob Dalseer assists). Zach Bennett account for Truman’s only goal
The Trojans added a fourth goal in the second period to take a 4-1 lead into the third. In the third, things got crazy.
The Trojans knocked seven goals into the nets to salt the title away. They allowed Truman only three more markers.
Wolf summed up his team's season.
"Eighteen, one and one on the season," he said, reciting Wissahickon's record. "The only team we lost to was them (Truman).
"I'm just happy. It's a very good feeling."
Wissahickon 11, Truman 4
Wissahickon 3 1 7 – 11
Truman 1 0 3 – 4
First period: Jake Flancer W (Andrew Cade) 2:08; Zach Bennett T (unassisted) 9:47; Kyle Wolf W (unassisted) 11:36; Jake Segelbaum W (Ed Burkart, Jacob Dalsemer) 14:26.
Second period: Burkart W (unassisted) 5:39 PP.
Third period: Segelbaum W (Burkart) 0:46 PP; Ross Koenig T (Mike Roarty) 2:38; Kyle Wolf W (Segelbaum) 5:52; Matt Wilson W (Segelbaum) 6:47; Burkart (Dylan Alioto) 7:11; Roarty T (Kyle Bennett) 7:42 SH; Alioto W (unassisted) 8:40; Z. Bennett T (unassisted) 12:15; Segelbaum W (unassised) 15:00 SH EN; Alex Lightman W (Brandn Rosoff) 15:34.
Shots: T 14, W 24. Saves: Kyle Huth (T) 13; Noah Katz (W) 10.
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