Koblick’s 2 goals in 3rd help CB South edge CB West in SHSHL AA final
HATFIELD TWP. >> It was more grit than glamour for the Central Bucks South ice hockey team Thursday night. And while the scoring may not have been stylish, it was enough to edge Central Bucks West in the SHSHL Varsity AA Final.
Jackson Koblick broke a 2-2 tie at 9:55 in the third period, then doubled the Titans’ lead a little more than three minutes later. West climbed back to within a goal late, but South held on and to defend their league tournament title with a 4-3 victory at Hatfield Ice.
“A lot of times we get those pretty goals, but tonight it just wasn’t bouncing our way,” South’s Jackson Koblick said. “But we just kept digging and shooting the puck, finding the net and driving the net and got lucky a few times.”
Joseph DeLaurentis scored twice while Frank Carter finished with three assists as the Titans stayed undefeated against AA competition this season.
“Our guys could cycle until they were blue in the face and it’s just trying to get through to them it’s not always going to be a pretty play, especially in the playoffs,” CB South coach Tom Coyne said. “That’s what we were aiming for, throw it on the pillows and go get it.”
Eddie Shields, Shawn Phillips and Ryan Trefz each had a goal for CB West, which lost to South for the third time this season.
“We figured to beat them we got to play our best hockey and we got to get a couple breaks, too.” Bucks coach Dave Baun said. “And I thought we played a really solid game. I mean, you don’t see too many teams in close games like that against them.
“We played well. We played a good game. I can’t criticize anything about our game. We were good offensively, defensively, our goaltender played well. They scored one extra goal.”
West goalkeeper Jonah Brous made 42 saves on 46 shots while South netminder Aaron King stopped 29 of 32 shots.
Both teams now get ready for Flyers Cup AA Tournament first round matchups Wednesday back at Hatfield. Top-seeded CB South faces either No. 16 Avon Grove or No. 17 Council Rock North, while No. 3 CB West takes on either No. 14 Truman or No. 19 Conestoga.
“The kids, they’re very disappointed now, but I’m hoping they come back Monday, have a good practice, get a rest, have a good outlook and they come back and play their best hockey next week.
South will be looking to send Coyne, who is retiring at season’s end, out on a high note with a second Flyers Cup championship in three seasons. Koblick says picking up another title Thursday was big motivator for the Titans.
“I think it was try to pull this one off for coach,” he said. “We kept having that in our mind and doing it for each other, too.”
Koblick broke a 2-2 deadlock at 9:55 in the final period when backhanded in a loose puck.
“I was just trying to drive the net and the puck just kind of bounced my way,” he said. “I was just trying to stay in front of the net and the puck bounced my way and got lucky.”
Koblick gave the Titans a 4-2 lead as he scored right in front of the Bucks’ net with 6:21 remaining.
“That second one was kind of an odd bounce,” Koblick said. “It was a dump in, and (Matt) Stoll dumped it in and just bounced to the other side of the net and went and got it. Just had to drive the net and got it by the goalie.”
CB West pulled to within 4-3 as Trefz’s put a puck past King at 3:52. The Bucks pulled Brous with about a minute left, but could not find an equalizer to deny the Titans’ a second straight SHSHL AA crown.
“They’re a tough team, they come at you in waves,” said Bucks coach Dave Baun of South. “I can’t say enough about how talented they are and how hard they work. So my hats go off to them. I’m happy for Tommy getting the win in his last regular season game, so that was great for them.”
Shields gave West its lone lead of the contest, scoring after a faceoff at 8:41 in the opening period, but South was even 16 seconds later thanks to DeLaurentis’ goal.
DeLaurentis put in a rebound at 6:30 in the second period to put the Titans up 2-1. West pulled level at 2:21 just after its power play ended, as Phillips speed down the right side of the South zone before cutting in and finding the back of the net.
