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2010 Flyers Cup - Class AA
Downingtown East stops CR South to capture Flyers Cup, 4-2
Downingtown East built a three-goal lead then withstood a comeback bid by defending champion Council Rock South to capture the AA Flyers Cup championship Thursday night with a 4-2 win at the Ice Arena in Hatfield.
The victory for the unbeaten Cougars (24-0-1) puts them in the Pennsyslvania Cup championship on Thursday at noon at the Mellon Center in Pittsburgh. They will face the AA Penguins Cup champion, yet to be determined.
It was a little revenge for the Cougars who were ousted by the Golden Hawks in the quarterfinals last season. South lost to Latrobe in the state cup finals.
"Coach told us it was Council Rock South's year last year but it was our year this year," said sophomore Dave Defazio who scored one of the goals that enabled the Cougars take a 3-0 lead. "We were determined to make it our year"
Ryan Urban scored a pair of goals for the Cougars to build that 3-0 lead but the key to the game was a defense that essentially kept the Golden Hawks' big three, Patrick Grilli, Tyler Deitrick and Peter Malmud off the scoreboard. The trio had accounted for 91 goals before last night but only Grilli managed a goal in the title game.
"They're a very good team," said Council Rock South coach Joe Houk whose team lost its first game to finish 22-1-3. "We saw them play against [Council Rock] North Monday night but that doesn't leave much time to prepare for them."
Downingtown East won the semifinal game against Council Rock North, 2-1.
Urban put the Cougars up 1-0 with his first goal a little more than seven minutes into the first period. DeFazio made it 2-0 four minutes laters.
"I saw Ian (Hall) streaking down the ice and he hit me with a perfect past," DeFazio said.
Urban's second goal made it 3-0 early in the second period. Grilli cut that to 3-1 with his goal with 59 seconds left in the period. When South's Jonathon Houk scored early in the third period, it looked like the Golden Hawks were rallying. But a goal by Hall and some standout goaltending by the Cougars' Ryan Lord cut it short.
Downingtown East 2 1 1 - 4
Council Rock South 0 1 1 - 2
Goals: DE-Ryan Urban 2, David DeFazio, Ian Hall. CRS: Patrick Grilli, Jonathon Houk.
Saves: DE-Ryan Lord 22. CRS: David Chiokadze 24.
2010 Flyers Cup - Class A
CR South facing tough matchup
There's always a sense of anticipation surrounding a Flyers Cup final, but especially so this year.
Thursday's Class AA championship matchup between Council Rock South and Downingtown East, which is set for 7 p.m. at Hatfield Ice, sets up as a contest that will create lasting memories.
The Golden Hawks are the defending champions and seeded first, while the Cougars are seeded third. Seedings aside, these are the two best teams in the tournament.
Between them, they are unbeaten in 53 games. The Golden Hawks have three ties to go with 26 wins, while Downingtown East stands at 23-0-1.
The Cougars bested Abington, 7-0, in the round of 16 and Ridley, 4-3, in overtime in the quarterfinals, before edging Council Rock North, 2-1, Monday night in the semifinals.
Downingtown East senior Justin Baca is the tournament's top scorer, with six goals and four assists in three games. He scored the winning goal in Monday night's semifinal. Senior Robert Melfi has scored two goals and provided four assists during the tournament. Both goals came against Ridley, including the game-winner. Junior Ryan Urban has a goal and four assists.
Senior Ryan Lord is the goaltender.
The Golden Hawks got a scare in the opening round, when they had to go to overtime to beat Pennridge, 5-4, in the round of 16. They got past Central Bucks South, 5-4, in the quarterfinals before shading Pennsbury, 2-1, Monday night in the semis.
Golden Hawks senior Peter Malamud is the tournament's second-leading scorer, with two goals and five assists. His linemate, junior Pat Grilli, has two goals and three assists. Grilli has 45 goals and 40 assists on the season. Malamud has 29 goals and 52 assists, and the third member of the Hawks' top line, senior Tyler Deitrick, has 26 goals and 53 assists, including two goals and two assists in the tournament.
Senior Sean Boyd will be in goal.
Council Rock South is trying to become the second team in the past three years to defend the Class AA Flyers Cup title. Haverford won three straight from 2005-07.
If the Golden Hawks prevail, it will be the fifth Flyers Cup title for the Council Rock School District. Before the district had two high schools, Council Rock captured the Class AAA Flyers Cup in 1988. In 1991 and '92, it won back-to-back Cups and state titles - in 1991 in Class AAA, and the following year in Class AA.
So, who has the edge?
"They're a quick team," South coach Joe Houk said of the Cougars. "I think we're the more skilled team. I think they're a little deeper defensively; it's like they're running a full-court press because they always have two men in on the forecheck. We've got to make sure we don't play around with the puck."
No Downingtown team - East, West or combined - has ever won a Flyers Cup.
That will likely change on Thursday night. In what should be a classic, our prediction is: Downingtown East 2, Council Rock South 1.
Keystone Cup dates
Thursday's winner will play in the Keystone Cup, the Class AA state championship game, next Thursday, April 1, at 1:30 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh as part of a state championship tripleheader. The opponent will be either two-time defending state champion Greater Latrobe or West Allegheny, who will meet for the Class AA Penguins Cup Saturday night.
There is a possibility that a live video stream of the championship game will be available on the Internet, but the details are still being worked out.
Other classifications
Cardinal O'Hara was a 2-0 winner over Malvern Prep for the Class AAA Flyers Cup last Sunday at the Wachovia Center. It was the second Cup for O'Hara; the first came in 2006.
The Class A final, matching Springfield-Delco against Bayard Rustin, will be played 7 p.m. Friday at Ice Line.
Rick Woelfel can be reached at sports@phillyBurbs.com.
Penguins Cup - Class AAA
First Round Highlights
PENGUIN CUP CLASS AAA PLAYOFFS
FIRST ROUND
Score
Score
AAA
12
Mt Lebanon
1
12
Pine Richland
0
Center Ice
Sunday
7-Mar
7:00 PM
OT
FIRST ROUND
Score
Score
AAA
5
Plum
2
12
Mt Lebanon
3
Valley
Thursday
11-Mar
8:00 PM
OT
AAA
6
Norwin
4
11
Penn Trafford
5
Center Ice
Monday
8-Mar
7:00 PM
AAA
7
Bethel Park
5
10
McDowell
1
Bethel Park
Tuesday
9-Mar
7:00 PM
AAA
8
Canon McMillan
3
9
North Allegheny
1
Southpointe
Thursday
11-Mar
8:00 PM
SECOND ROUND
AAA
1
Shaler
3
8
Mt Lebanon
1
Harmarville
Tuesday
16-Mar
7:00 PM
AAA
2
Upper St Clair
4
7
Penn Trafford
0
Ice Castle
Tuesday
16-Mar
7:30 PM
AAA
3
State Collage
1
6
Canon McMillan
2
PSU
Wednesday
17-Mar
8:00 PM
AAA
4
Seneca Valley
2
5
Bethel Park
1
Cranberry
Tuesday
16-Mar
7:30 PM
Penn Trafford's Kevin Fulton scores twice as PT holds a 3-2 lead into the 3rd period. Nico Vecchio ties the game for Norwin with 3:48 to go. PT's Conlon Sodrosky scores the go ahead goal at 1:42 remaining and Chris Corrales adds a huge insurance ENG 11 seconds later as the Warriors hold off the Knights 5-4. Anthony Maroadi scores with under a minute to play on the power play.
Bethel Park's Tyler Shipley scores a hat trick, Kenny Loeffler a short handed tally and Jimmy Stitt and empty netter to lead Hawks over McDowell. Gus Martin scores for the Trojans.
Canon Macs Zach McKown. Michael Shaner and Brett Oldaker score as Big Macs knock out North Allegheny 3-1
Lebo Sophomore Jason Hartman scored with 3:32 left in overtime, and the No. 12 seed Blue Devils upset fifth-seeded Plum, 3-2,
Second Round Highlights
Matt Wreggett made 20 Saves and Justin Selep scored twice and added an assist to lead the Panthers to the Semis at Mellon Arena for the 2nd straight year
Seneca Valley's Logan Pfeffer scores twice including a shorthanded goal to eliminate Bethel and send the Raiders to the Semi-Finals for the 2nd straight year
Shane Shiring, Zac Lynch and Pat Schafer score as # 1 Shaler knocks out Mt Lebo 3-1. Ricky Cannon stops 20 shots and the Blue Devils goaltender Travis Lisowski makes 37 saves.
Canon McMillan scores with 1:49 to play to knock off # 3 Seed State College
2010 Flyers Cup Playoffs
Pa Hockey will bring wire to wire coverage of the Flyers Cup Tournament all the way to the State Finals on April 1 at Mellon Arena
Pennsylvania State Championship PReviews
www.eteamz.com/pahockey/files/PACUP10PREVIEW.xls
Visit the Flyers Cup Tournament Site
Flyers Cup AAA Semi-Finals | ||||||||
AAA-S1 | 16-Mar | Tues | 7:00 PM | Grundy | 1 | Malvern Prep Friars | 0 | Roman Catholic |
AAA-S2 | 16-Mar | Tues | 7:00 PM | Hatfield | 2 | LaSalle Explorers | 3 | Cardinal O'Hara Lions |
Flyers Cup AAA Championship | ||||||||
AAA-CH | 21-Mar | Sunday | 1:00 PM | Wachovia | 2 | Cardinal O'Hara Lions | 0 | Malvern Prep Friars |
Flyers Cup AAA Champions - Cardinal O'Hara Lions |
Flyers Cup AA Semi-Finals | |||||||||
AA-S1 | 22-Mar | Mon | 7:00 PM | Hatfield | 2 | Council Rock South Eagles | 1 | Pennsbury Falcons | |
AA-S2 | 22-Mar | Mon | 9:00 PM | Hatfield | 1 | Council Rock North Indians | 2 | Downingtown East Cougars | |
Flyers Cup AA Championship | |||||||||
AA-CH | 25-Mar | Thursday | 7:00 PM | Hatfield | 2 | Council Rock South Eagles | 4 | Downingtown East Cougars | |
Flyers Cup AA Champions - Downingtown East Cougars |
Flyers Cup A Semi-Finals | ||||||||
A-S1 | 23-Mar | Tues | 7:00 PM | IceLine | 2 | Springfield Cougars | 1 | Haverford High Fords |
A-S2 | 23-Mar | Tues | 8:45 PM | IceLine | 8 | Bayard Rustin Knights | 3 | Methacton Warriors |
Flyers Cup A Championship | ||||||||
A-CH | 26-Mar | Friday | 7:00 PM | IceLine | 1 | Springfield Cougars | 4 | Bayard Rustin Knights |
Flyers Cup A Champions | Bayard Rustin Knights |
Penguins Cup - Class AA
Class | Seed | Home | Seed | Away | Rink | Day | Date | Time | ||
PENGUIN CUP CLASS AA PLAYOFFS | ||||||||||
SECOND ROUND | ||||||||||
AA | 1 | Latrobe | 9 | 8 | Moon | 1 | Kirk Nevin | Thursday | 18-Mar | 7:00 PM |
AA | 2 | Canevin | 11 | 7 | Chartiers Valley | 4 | Mt Lebanon | Tuesday | 16-Mar | 7:00 PM |
AA | 3 | West Allegheny | 4 | 6 | Montour | 1 | Airport | Monday | 15-Mar | 7:00 PM |
AA | 4 | Peters Twp | 4 | 5 | Meadville | 2 | Iceoplex | Monday | 17-Mar | 7:00 PM |
Second Round Highlights
Tyler Fitzgerald and Jared DiSanti scored a goal and an assist each to lead West A to the Semis for the 3rd time in 4 years.
Canevin pummels rival Char Valley with 6 3rd period goals to break open a 5-2 game. Frankie Vance scores the hat trick and Jon Kostial, Dale King, John Facchiano, Tommy Gegick, Peter Karney, Vince Nicolella and Matt Walsh scored for the Crusaders. Justin Sabilla tallies a goal and three assists for the Colts.
Peters Twp Paul Henney scored with 11:50 to go in the 3rd period to break a 1-1 tie and give the Indians the lead. Matt Lison scored twice and Matt White scored an ENG for Peters.
Latrobe waltzes Moon 9-1 and Zack LaDuke scores the hat trick