HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—It was a game both teams needed. For Central Bucks East and Pennsbury, Thursday night’s encounter was essentially a pre-playoff game.
It was the Patriots who prevailed. Jaden Young scored two goals and four other players added one goal each in East’s 6-1 win that solidified its quest for a SHSHL National Division playoff spot.
The result lifted the Patriots to 7-4-1 on the season and put them in fourth place in the division standings, one point ahead of North Penn, which has a game in hand. East is unbeaten in its last three starts.
Pennsbury dropped to 3-9 on the season, putting the Falcons three points behind sixth-place Souderton, which defeated Neshaminy Thursday night and now occupies the sixth and final playoff spot.
Despite missing three players due to injuries and club duty, the Patriots had the necessary ingredients for a winning recipe. Chief among them was a commitment to sharing the puck.
“We had a lot of good production out of everybody tonight,” said East coach Jeff Mitchell. “Even out of Line Three, they were kind of taking care of business and did a good job to get us an overall win tonight.”
Corey Kosick’s goal, which came at the 7:34 mark of the first frame, gave East a 1-0 advantage. David Brown, with Kosick’s help, made it 2-0 with a shorthanded goal just 39 seconds into the middle period. Gavin Wilmer’s shot from the right point made it a 3-0 game with 6:19 left in the period before Young added his first goal of the game with 59 seconds left.
The Falcons, who were also missing several players because of club duty, got on the scoreboard on Chris Sarver’s goal 61 seconds into the third period.
Young responded with his second goal of the game at the 6:05 mark and Ethan Cenci put a wrap on the evening with 1:08 remaining.
Young had an assist to go with his two goals while Alex Wilson contributed two assists.
Mitchell noted that his players have been more focused on the task at hand during their unbeaten streak.
“I think we’ve got our lines kind of settled for the rest of the season,” he said. “So, we’re starting to see some good chemistry with everybody and everybody’s kind of buying into the same page.
“So, we’re seeing a lot of good things out of pretty much all three lines right now. So, we hope it continues.”
Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley praised the work of East netminder Cole Breen, who finished with 30 saves.
“[Breen] had a great game,” he said. “We had our fair share of chances but he was tough to crack.
“I liked the way we played for the most part but a few mistakes ended up in our net, and with the performance they were getting from their net those mistakes are hard to come back from.”
Pennsbury 0 0 1—1
C.B. East 1 3 2—6
First-period goal: Corey Kosick (CBE) from Jaden Young, 7:34
Second-period goals: David Brown (CBE) from Kosick, 1:21 (sh); Gavin Wilmer (CBE) from Alex Wilson and Sam Gottesman, 6:19; Young (CBE) from Wilmer, 16:01
Third-period goals: Chris Sarver (P) unassisted, 1:01; Young (CBE) from Wilson, 6:05; Ethan Cenci (CBE) from Drew Trask and Charlie Keiser, 15:52
Shots: Pennsbury 31, C.B. East 27 Saves: Aaron McDaniel (P) 21, Cole Breen (CBE) 30
Hockey Happenings 