Robbinsville/Allentown ice hockey captures first MCT title on back of senior class

WEST WINDSOR — The 15-year wait is over for coach Dan Bergan and the Robbinsville/Allentown ice hockey co-op as the Ravens secured their first Mercer County Tournament title with a 3-1 win over Notre Dame on Friday.

R/A was the best team in the Colonial Valley Conference all season and are a deserving champion. The Ravens won the CVC tournament in 2021 when no Mercer County Tournament took place. This one meant a little more to the Ravens.

“I can die in peace now,” Bergan said. “This is 15 years of working and I’m a workaholic. This has so much meaning. These kids are so great. They believed right from the start and did everything I’ve asked them to do.”

The Ravens have one of the oldest teams in the CVC, boasting 10 seniors. It’s a group that Bergan knew would have a shot at winning some hardware.

“I’ve grown so close to this group. It’s their unselfishness and love for each other that got us this far,” Bergan said. “There’s stories with every one of these kids. Sometimes you have to piece it together with bubble gum and glue. There’s so many things that get you there. It’s really special.”

The Ravens got out to a flying start and were determined to assert themselves early. They did just that with constant pressure in the Irish defensive zone and it paid off with a goal just over a minute into the contest.

Notre Dame goalie Nathan Mayer got turned around after an initial save and the puck careened in off an Irish stick near the goalmouth, giving R/A the first goal of the game. It was claimed and credited to senior forward Jamison Pike.

Notre Dame’s defense stayed tough as the first period progressed and the Irish found its legs, finally gaining some opportunities in their offensive zone.

The Ravens were the ones who delivered consistent pressure though and another fortunate bounce made it a two-goal game in favor of R/A as junior Zach Duggan scored his 30th goal of the season.

Duggan was named tournament MVP after recording 11 points in three games. He added an assist to his goal on Friday and will enter his senior season later this year with 99 career points.

Things looked like they were falling apart for Notre Dame after they gave up a penalty a minute into the second period. It was the Irish who scored during their penalty kill though, as junior Gavin Frith potted his 10th goal of the season. It was a shorthanded snipe from the left dot that beat Ravens goalie Zander Wiley blocker side, making it a 2-1 game.

With the deficit cut to one, the game slowed down for both teams. With 4:19 left in the second period, R/A scored the final goal of the game and added some insurance off a Charlie Luizza goal. Unsurprisingly, it was his linemates Duggan and Luke Gensinger who set Luizza up.

That first line for R/A has combined for 168 points and scored 70 percent of the Ravens’ goals this season.

As R/A says goodbye to most of its core next season, Notre Dame is beginning to build something with their crop of young players.

Making a run in the county tournament this year will likely pay huge dividends for the Irish as the underclassmen get some great postseason experience.

“It’s huge,” Notre Dame head coach Mike McVey said. “I think you have to learn to lose with class and understand the ups and downs of high school hockey. Then you can appreciate the flip side.”

R/A had so many opportunities to win this tournament over the years. Finally, Bergan and the Ravens can rest easy knowing they more than earned this Mercer County Tournament title.

“Many years I had to console the tears of our players when someone beat us. It hurt,” Bergan said. “This year, they might have to take care of my tears."