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.

Advertisement

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.