Downingtown East, Holy Ghost Prep win Flyers Cup titles

Bobby Kiefer turned to his left and looked to head up ice.

The Downingtown East senior took two strides before losing an edge. Instead of trying to regain his balance, Kiefer threw both arms forward and slid on his stomach.

This was as good a way as any to celebrate a Flyers Cup championship.

Earlier, he had slammed home a one-timer to give East a two-goal lead with less than four minutes to go and sealed a 4-1 win over North Penn Friday night in the Flyers Cup Class AA final at Hatfield Ice Arena.

Kiefer was quickly covered by his teammates in a dogpile.

"It's still unreal," Kiefer said. "It was tough. The environment. You come in and they have a crowd up there. It's their home rink."

Kiefer's goal was the middle of a three-goal third for Downingtown East, which won its first Flyers Cup since 2010 and second overall.

Downingtown East gave up the first goal and went to the third tied despite a 25-11 shot advantage.

The Cougars took the lead after Joey Kubachka's shot sneaked through North Penn goalie John Roberts. Jonathan Carreiro waited at the post and tapped it in for the eventual game-winner.

"We trusted them," Downingtown East coach David Hendricks said. "We did say stick to your game plan. It'll work, trust it. You're wearing them down."

Kubachka led tournament with 14 points and won the Bobby Clarke Award as the most valuable player.

Downingtown East took advantage of its excellent puck movement. Thomas Rocco had two assists. He fed Kiefer for the go-ahead power-play goal and assisted on the tying goal.

AAA final. In the nightcap, Holy Ghost Prep ended La Salle's streak of four straight championships with a 6-3 win.

Nicholas Bohatiuk had a goal and two assists to lead Holy Ghost. He led the tournament five goals and 14 points and earned the Bobby Clarke Award.

Holy Ghost Prep won the Flyers Cup for the first time since 2007 and its third overall. La Salle had won six of the previous seven Flyers Cups and nine in its history.

Downingtown East 0 1 3 - 4

North Penn 0 1 0 - 1

Goals: DE-Justin Cohn (Thomas Rocco), 4:31; Jonathan Carreiro (Joey Kubachka), 6:16; Bobby Keifer (Rocco, Cohn), 13:17; Luca Pisano (unassisted), 16:08. NP-Matt Fox (Jared Barkley), 1:26.

Saves: DE-Jeff Cummings, 16; NP-John Roberts, 37.

Holy Ghost Prep 2 3 1 - 6

La Salle 1 0 2 - 3

Goals: HGP-Robert Freiling (Nicholas Bohatiuk), 3:48; Kyle Massari (Nolan Jones), 10:47; Kyle Peters (Bohatiuk), 7:49; Bohatiuk (unassisted), 9:38; Freiling (Robert Ovecka), 16:42; Michael Major (unassisted), 14:24. LS-Jack McDonough (Taylor Smith), 4:13; Coty Thomas (McDonough, Nicholas Washco), 1:32; Albert Washco (Michael Dal Farra, Jeffrey Gratz), 15:02.

Saves: HGP-Alexander Taylor 33; L-Harrison Feeney 22