The 10U A team finished the job this weekend becoming the playoff champions in the DVHL. “Finish!” was the motto going into the weekend after two 2nd place finishes in recent tournament and EJEPL playoff weekends. The team entered the weekend as the #2 seed after finishing the season 20-2 in league play. Saturday, the Kings played a tough WBS Penguins team that took an Overtime goal by Declan Hatton to seal the victory. Team defense continued to be the focal point for this team as they faced the #1 seeded Delmarva Raptors in what would turn out to be a three game series. The Kings pulled out a 4-1 win with key defensive plays by Beau Green, McKenzie Isola, Peter O’Grady, Ryan Rafter and Whitney Hajek giving the Kings a key series lead.
Sunday featured a late morning game that would test the team. Forwards Brynn Cusa, Levi Papada, Zach Schmerling, Cavan McGovern, Dylan McCrossin and Parker Unruh would all play key roles in shutting down the potent Raptors offense that averaged 9.50 goals per game in the regular season. With the team down 2-1, the Kings pulled their goalie and tied it up with under a minute to play. The Raptors would go on to win the game 3-2 in overtime play.
Sunday evening would present a winner take all game for the Championship. The team approach for the weekend finally paid off as the Kings proved too much for the Raptors to handle and emerged victorious with a 6-2 win! Goals by Jake Tomczak, Bentley Adalbert and a hat trick performance from Declan Hatton would seal the win. Ali Gentile continued her season long outstanding performance in goal by shutting down the Raptors in all three games.
Congratulations to the team for a hard fought weekend and well deserved DVHL Championship. Good luck to the Kings 16U AA team next weekend in their DVHL playoffs!