Council Rock South defended its SHSHL 2A National Division title with a win over Pennridge on Thursday night at Hatfield Ice. Ben Reese recaps the action. Photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for a gallery: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f710114994
By Ben Reese
HATFIELD — There’s one key goal in every ice hockey game.
In Council Rock South’s 7-2 win over Pennridge at Hatfield Ice to take the Suburban High School Hockey League AA championship, it was the third goal for the Golden Hawks that clinched the title.
“The big goal I thought was that third goal,” said Rock South coach Joe Houk. “We knew we really had to come out … and get the first goal (in the third period).
“I thought they were kind of deflated, gassed. We were outshooting them double, and the goalie looked gassed. They needed the break (between the second and third periods for the ice cut) and they couldn’t put it together.”
His counterpart on the Pennridge side couldn’t have agreed more. And he took full blame for the loss.
“I flat out cost us the game,” Ram coach Jeff Montagna said. “It’s a 2-2 game, I put the wrong combination out there. They scored and it took the life completely out of us.
“They scored that third one and that was it. I don’t know what they had (in the way of shots) in the third period.
“It just deflated us. We’re not built to come from behind.”
It was an even game through the first two periods. While the Hawks were outshooting the Rams, the score was even at 2-2.
But once the third period started, it was all Rock South. The Golden Hawks outshot Pennridge 13-6 and scored the only four goals in the period.
A majority of the Council Rock South goals came from Jake Weiner. He finished the night with four markers and also added an assist.
“I wanted revenge for the last two games, getting shut out (individually),” Weiner said. “It was good to come out on this one.
“This feels great. It’s big but there’s still one more championship we want to win. That’s at states, so that’s more important to us right now.”
Houk certainly appreciated Weiner’s offensive output, but he was more impressed with the way he comported himself on the ice.
“It was more like keeping his composure because Jake likes to retaliate,” Houk said. “They were getting in his face.
“I had to calm him down a couple times. I said ‘Don’t let anything bother you’ and he did exactly that.”
“I had to listen,” Weiner said about Houk’s advice. “It was for the team not me. This team is more important than anything.”
The game itself, despite the final score, was one of the best games of the season.
“It was a great game,” Houk said. “I thought for our guys, probably this was the best game they played all year.
“They stayed out of the (penalty) box. Then again, the referees did a good job. They were letting us play in both ends.”
For Montagna, the game was good, but the loss was not easy to swallow.
“I feel terrible for the kids because it was my fault,” he said. “You obviously want to win the Suburban League championship, but the Flyers Cup is the goal; that’s the one you want to win.
“This one hurts. It hurts for the seniors They don’t like losing; they’re not used to losing. We’ve just got to regroup.”
The Golden Hawks broke out of the gate quickly. They scored their first goal off the stick of Jeremy Rahyer with only 2:03 gone in the game.
But the Rams came right back. Kevin Pico evened the game up at 1-1 at the 5:31 mark.
Council Rock South took a 2-1 lead at 3:09 of the second period when Weiner tallied his first goal on the power play.
But once again, Pennridge came back. Pico netted his second goal at 5:15, also on the power play.
Then came the fateful third goal, the one that hurt Pennridge more than the others. Weiner again took things into his own hands, beating Rams goalie Jacob Winton at 14:47 for a 3-2 lead.
The third period was all Council Rock South. Jake Maurer got things started with a goal with only 52 seconds elapsed.
Blaise Pepe followed that up with a tally at 2:20. Weiner completed his hat trick-plus-one with the final two goals of the game.
Trevor Rakszawski turned away 20 shots to earn the win in goal for Rock South.
“Pennridge is a real good team,” said Houk. “They’ll be back. They’ve got the Flyers Cup coming up and so do we.”
Montagna saluted Rock South for their win.
“Council Rock South played a great game, a phenomenal game,” he said. “Congrats to them.”
Now both teams advance to the Flyers Cup. Pennridge, the No. 1 seed, will play Bensalem, the 16th seed, on Tuesday, March 5, at 8:30 at Hatfield Ice. No. 2 seed Council Rock South will face No. 15 Spring Ford at 6 at Grundy also on March 5.
Council Rock South 7, Pennridge 2
Council Rock South 1 2 4 — 7
Pennridge 1 1 0 — 2
First period: 1, Jeremy Rahyer CRS (James DiIulio, Ilya Kudzinau) 2:03; 2, Kevin Pico P (unassisted) 5:31.
Second period: 3, Jake Weiner CRS (Gavin Nisenzon, Evan Mostoller) 3:09 PP; 4, Pico P (Andrew Savona) 5:15 PP; 5, Weiner CRS (Illia Mukhin) 14:47.
Third period: 6, Jake Maurer CRS (Weiner, Nikita Volobuiev) 0:52; 7, Blaise Pepe CRS (Chase Tovsky) 2:20; 8, Weiner CRS (Kevin Koles, Mukhin) 11:21; 9, Weiner CRS (Peter Pereborow) 14:25.
Shots: CRS 47, P 22. Saves: Trevor Rakszawski (CRS) 20, Jacob Winton (P) 40.
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