Owen J. Roberts tops Boyertown in overtime for Pioneer ice hockey title

OAKS >> If Owen J. Roberts’ ice hockey team was looking for motivation going into this week’s Pioneer Conference championship tournament, they got it on Sunday night.

“We had a team get-together Sunday night for the Flyers Cup selection show,” explained coach Chuck Gorman. “But we missed out on the last spot, and I think it was motivation.”

It took a few extra minutes, but the motivation paid off Wednesday night at Oaks Center Ice when Cael Primanti scored his second goal of the game 3:41 into overtime, giving the Wildcats a 5-4 victory and their third consecutive ICSHL Pioneer Conference ice hockey championship.

In the process, they ended Boyertown’s 17-game winning streak. The Bears swept through the two matchups each against OJR, Perkiomen Valley, Spring-Ford and a combined team from Great Valley and Phoenixville, plus a Monday semifinal with Spring-Ford before running into OJR on Wednesday.

For a while, it looked as though the winning streak would continue, as Noah Cutillo brought Boyertown all the way back from a two-goal deficit to take a 4-3 lead with 7:26 remaining.

But with the goalie pulled, OJR’s Max Connell bagged his second of the contest with 1:04 to play, sending the game to overtime where Primanti settled matters with his own second goal and fourth point of the night.

OJR captain and game-winning goal scorer Cael Primanti shakes hands with ICSHL President John Graves.

Despite playing only a dozen games, Primanti recorded 15 goals and 15 assists for Owen J. Roberts this season. He plays club hockey for Junior Flyers and has already been drafted to the Green Bay franchise of the United States Hockey League. It’s safe to say he’s got a bright present and future in the game.

Yet several minutes after the game-winning goal, after the individual and team trophies were presented, Cael Primanti sat alone at the blue line, overcome with emotion.

“I lost my cousin back in November,” he said, remembering the late 20-year-old Aidan Primanti. “He was a huge part of my childhood; he loved seeing me play hockey.

“And I think it all just hit me. I know he’s not here with me anymore, but I carry him with me on the ice.”

When the Wildcats gathered for the selection show on Sunday, it was semifinal opponent Perkiomen Valley who claimed the final spot in the Flyers Cup AAA bracket they’d hoped would be their own. OJR evened the score with a 6-5 win over PV in Monday’s semifinals to set up the showdown with Boyertown.

“I didn’t feel like I had my full squad until last week, Senior Night against Downingtown East,” said Gorman. “We shut them out, 3-0, and since then we’ve been motivated.

“This is the best team locker room I’ve had. They’re respectful, they love the game, and they love one another.”

One example was the season-long goalie competition between Wednesday night’s starter, Page Faith, and teammate Josh Burnheimer. “As a coach, it’s whoever’s the better of the two at that moment,” explained Gorman. “Page ended up being the guy we went with, and he turned it all around.”

Faith turned away 33 of Boyertown’s 37 shots in Wednesday night’s win.

OJR coach Chuck Gorman with winning goaltender Page Faith.

“I worked hard, and I saw good results,” he said. “That’s motivation to keep getting better. I love my teammates, and now I love them!”

The three-peat was a great way to go out for seniors like Primanti, although OJR’s season isn’t over just yet. They’ll represent the Atlantic District at the USA Hockey High School Nationals, to be played from March 20-24 at Ice Line in West Chester.

But for underclassmen like sophomore goalie Faith and junior Grady Jones, who joined Primanti with four points (goal/three assists) Wednesday, the story doesn’t stop.

“Four for four? It’s definitely possible,” said Jones. “We’ve got a great group of freshmen coming in next year, and the guys right here are the best. No one’s ever gone three for three, so why not?”

For Boyertown (18-2), they’ll get a chance to shake off the disappointment when they start Flyers Cup play in the AA bracket on Tuesday night at Ice Line, entering as the No. 3 seed to take on No. 14 Pennsbury.

Wednesday’s loss doesn’t take away from the Bears’ remarkable season, their last loss coming back on November 10 against Father Judge. Leading scorer Ryan Derstine was his usual self with a goal and assist, while goalie Tyler Griffith has been the standout of a defense allowing less than two goals per game over the balance of the year.

But Wednesday night belonged to the Wildcats, who delighted a capacity crowd with their late heroics and brought home some championship hardware for the third straight year.

“You can’t write a better script than that,” said Primanti.

“When he (Primanti) scored that goal? I will always remember the sound of that crowd,” concluded Jones. “Best moment of my life, and it’s not even close.”