Council Rock South defeated Cherokee to capture the coveted Flyers Cup on Sunday. Check back on Monday night for a follow-up story. To view photos of all the action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
PHILADELPHIA – Kyle Walter didn’t hear his name announced over the public address system after he scored his second-period goal in Sunday’s Flyers Cup Class AA final. The P.A. announcer called the wrong name for the goal.
So Walter made sure there would be another opportunity to hear his name.
The sophomore forward scored his second of the game 21 seconds into the third period to spark a dominating final frame as third-seeded Council Rock South powered past ninth seed Cherokee to claim its second consecutive Flyers Cup title and its third in four years.
Walter’s second goal – which was correctly announced to the crowd at the Wells Fargo Center – held up as the game-winner. The tally came as a result of hard work around the crease, as Walter scored on the second rebound of a Nick Keck shot that Steve Junod also had a poke at in front before Walter tucked it in.
“I just cut to the net from the point,” Walter said. “Nick brought it in and I cut to the middle and there it was.”
South would add two more – including an empty net goal – while holding the high-octane Chiefs to just five shots on goal in the third period, en route to hoisting the Flyers Cup for the third time in four years.
“Our experience helped out a lot, especially coming into the third period and getting that quick goal,” Junod said. “A lot of these guys have been here in the past, been here last year, we’re all veteran guys, we all know what to do in big situations.”
“I’m very happy for these kids,” said South coach Joe Houk. “This was more emotional than the other (Flyers Cup titles). The kids who have been here for the last couple years felt it, too, this was one that we really had to battle for.
“The best thing about this team, everybody jelled at the right time, and that’s the key to everything. I’m more proud of these guys because we had to battle, we had to face adversity.”
That adversity came in the second period, when Cherokee tied the game at 2-2 with just 14 seconds left in the period on a spectacular through-the-legs deflection by Jason Spieker that got past Rock South keeper Justin Houk.
But South would not allow the Chiefs to gain any momentum from the goal. The Hawks came out with guns blazing in the third period and controlled the play from start to finish.
“When they tied it up with 14 seconds left in the second period, I was ready to flip out,” Houk said. “But it wasn’t going to make any sense to come into the locker room yelling and screaming. All I said was, ‘You know what we have to do. Let’s go out and do it.’ And we did.”
“Cherokee was totally underrated,” said South junior forward Mitchell Vaysman, who recorded three assists on the night. “Those guys easily could have been the number 1 seed – they’re that good. But we have that last level no one else has. That third period, we come out stronger than anyone.”
Three minutes after Walter gave South the 3-2 lead, junior Tom Kozior added the insurance goal, reaching out and shoveling the puck under the outstretched stick of Cherokee goalkeeper Dan Navarra on the rebound of a Vinnie Primavera shot.
“That was huge,” said Kozior. “That goal gave us some breathing room. It really felt good to be able to help out the team in a big game like this.”
Primavera capped off a three-point night with an empty net goal with 32 seconds left in the game.
“Words can’t explain it,” the senior forward said. “This is the best thing I can possibly imagine. Being on TV, in front of fans, family, in the Wells Fargo Center, it’s just amazing.
“To win this as a senior is beyond words. I’m really glad my team was here, wouldn’t want this with any other group of guys.”
Primavera also scored the Hawks’ first goal of the game. Defenseman Paul Cloud zipped a shot that Navarra denied with his blocker. But Cloud picked up his own rebound behind the net and centered it to Primavera on the edge of the crease, who fired it in to tie the game at 1-1 and erase Cherokee’s only lead of the game.
And though the Hawks found the net late in the period, the first 14 minutes weren’t quite as successful. Though they outshot the Chiefs 9-6, Cherokee controlled the play and created several odd-man rushes, scoring their first goal on a three-on-one.
But South goalkeeper Justin Houk kept his team in the game. He made a pair of quick saves in the opening minute of the game against the speedy Chiefs and made a nice glove stop on a two-on-one later in the period.
Houk stopped eight of nine in the second period, including several huge saves. He stoned Brian Miller by flashing the leather on a two-on-one break midway through the period, and denied a long shot and a point-blank rebound shortly thereafter to keep the game tied at 1-1.
“Justin was phenomenal again,” said coach Houk. “That’s your key. Good teams are built from the goal line out. And I think our defense elevated their play in the third period.”
The junior goalkeeper – who allowed five goals in four Flyers Cup games – was named the first star of the game, named to the All-Tournament Team and earned the Most Valuable Player award.
Not too shabby for a guy who wasn’t even the starting goalkeeper coming into the season.
“This was just amazing – best time of my life,” he said. “I won a state championship for baseball but I think this tops it, there’s much more excitement here.
“This is my first year on varsity. Earlier this year I was having a rough time. But my teammates never got down on me, and once I got going, they give me more confidence.”
His teammates believe that his Flyers Cup accolades are well-deserved.
“Justin played amazing,” Junod said. “As the season went on, he’s played better and better, and he kept us in the game tonight. We didn’t play our best in the first period. He kept us in it, and we picked it up after that.”
“Justin was huge tonight,” Kozior added. “He had tons of big saves, stopped a bunch of odd- man rushes. I think he really saved us tonight.”
Houk, however, felt there was plenty of credit to be shared.
“It’s a team effort,” he said. “The whole team played a part, the defense played a part. Our defense just played awesome tonight. I did my job, they did their jobs, too.”
Houk finished with 18 saves as the Hawks completed their run to back-to-back Flyers Cup Class AA championship.
“It’s incredible to win two years in a row,” Kozior said. “For me, this is more special because I had more of a role on the team this year, and to win in the Wells Fargo Center is always special. I’ll never forget it.”
For four-year varsity seniors Junod and Dan Ufberg, hoisting the Cup never gets old.
“It gets better and better every time,” Junod said. “Playing at the Wells Fargo Center, with the fans, the environment, my team, it’s indescribable.”
“I’ve never been more proud of a group of guys, the way we came together as a unit,” Ufberg said. “And tonight, the way we turned it on in the third period was just amazing. We absolutely killed it. We knew they were fast, they have an unbelievable first line, but we went out there and played the way we’ve been playing the last couple of games and put it away.
“I’m so proud of everyone, I can’t even say. It doesn’t get better than this.”
Three Stars of the Game
3. Jason Spieker, Cherokee
2. Kyle Walter, Council Rock South
1. Justin Houk, Council Rock South
All-Tournament Team
Offense
Kyle Walter (CRS)
Cole Zucker (C)
Steve Junod (CRS)
Defense
Jason Spieker (C)
Tom Kopania (CRS)
Goalkeeper
Justin Houk (CRS)
Most Valuable Player
Justin Houk, Council Rock South
Cherokee 1 1 0 – 2
Council Rock South 1 1 3 – 5
Scoring
First period
C – Cole Zucker (Brian Miller, Jason Spieker), PP, 3:29.
CRS – Vincenzo Primavera (Paul Cloud, Mitchell Vaysman), 0:56.
Second period
CRS – Kyle Walter (Vaysman, Tom Kopania), PP, 6:33.
C – Jason Spieker (Casey Forte, Miller), 0:14.
Third period
CRS – Walter (Steve Junod, Nick Keck), 14:39.
CRS – Tom Kozior (Primavera, Vaysman), 11:22.
CRS – Primavera (Jared Hershman), EN, 0:32.
Shots on goal
Cherokee 6 9 5 – 20
Council Rock South 9 9 7 – 25
Saves: Dan Navarra (C) 14, Justin Badurina (C) 6; Justin Houk (CRS) 18.
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