UNIVERSITY PARK — It is been eight years due to the fact Hollidaysburg has appeared in the Laurel Mountain Hockey League championship game, and 20 years due to the fact the Golden Tigers have won a league title.

Hollidaysburg — which is seeded initial in this year’s 4-group league tournament — is hoping to make up for that lost time this coming Tuesday evening, when the Golden Tigers will face third-seeded State College in the LMHL championship game at Johnstown’s Very first Summit Bank Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial at 7:30 p.m.

Led by junior center Carson Young’s two third-period ambitions and an exceptional goalkeeping work by junior Tyler Duey, Hollidaysburg earned its spot in the championship game by grinding out a five-three semifinal victory more than Central Cambria Thursday evening at the Pegula Ice Arena.

State College sophisticated to the title game with a five- victory more than second-seeded Richand in Thursday’s other semifinal that was played at Pegula.

“This was a wonderful group work,” mentioned Hollidaysburg coach Cory Reed, whose Golden Tigers enhanced their season record to 16-three. “We knew that this was going to be a hard game.

“We began slow tonight, and we realized that we had far better choose it up for the reason that it wasn’t going to be simple for us,” Reed added. “We haven’t been to a league championship game in eight years, and we’re glad to be acquiring this chance.”

Right after Kase Kamzik’s unassisted energy play aim tied the score for fourth-seeded Central Cambria, two-two, at the 54-second mark of the third period, Young came up major to give the Golden Tigers a two-aim lead.

Young got his stick on a loose puck close to the net and scored at the five:19 mark of the third to give the Golden Tigers the lead for excellent, three-two.

“One of their players attempted to pass it out, but it bounced correct in front of the net, and I came in and place my stick on it, and it went in,” Young mentioned.

Just more than 4 minutes later, at the 9:47 mark, Young scored on an unassisted shot from the left lip of the aim crease to place Hollidaysburg ahead, four-two.

“Carson has been clutch for us all season,” Reed mentioned of Young, who centers a line with sophomore Isaac Miller and senior Colin Horn on the wings. “Carson is a wonderful center who plays a 200-foot game. He’s all that you can ask for in a player.

“His aim to place us up three-two was a major 1 that got us going,” Reed added. “Then he applied the dagger by scoring our fourth aim.”

The Young line played a pivotal function in Thursday’s game for Hollidaysburg. Miller scored a aim on a tip-in to tie the game for Hollidaysburg, 1-1, just 24 seconds into the second period.

Standing at the side of the cage, Horn rapped Miller’s sharp pass behind Central Cambria goalie Charles Edwards with Hollidaysburg on the energy play at the 15:22 mark of the second period to give the Golden Tigers a two-1 lead at the second intermission.

Fourth-seeded Central Cambria (12-7), which opened the scoring on Brayden Rado’s initial-period aim five:58 into the game, tied the score two-two on a energy play aim by Kamzik 54 seconds into the third period.

Miller also had two assists for Hollidaysburg, which got a 36-save overall performance in net from Duey that drew the admiration of each coaches.

“Their goaltender played a heck of a game — he was exceptional,” Central Cambria associate coach Bryce Boring mentioned of Duey. “I’m incredibly delighted with the way that our guys played, but give Hollidaysburg credit. They played a strong, all-about game.”

Reed mentioned that Duey has been lights-out in aim for Hollidaysburg all season extended.

“Tyler has been strong for us all season,” Reed mentioned. “In my opinion, he’s the very best goaltender in the league. He often shows up major for us in the major games.”

Central Cambria drew to inside four-three on Rado’s second aim of the game, with the Red Devils on the energy play, at the 14:11 mark of the third period.

A Central Cambria player was whistled for hooking with just 1:12 left even though, negating any benefit that Central Cambria may well get by pulling its goaltender for an additional attacker in the final minute.

Edwards did leave the aim, having said that, and just as he had reached the bench, Hollidaysburg padlocked the outcome on an unassisted empty-net aim by senior defenseman Braden Burkey with just 45 seconds left in the game to clinch its initial berth in the league title game in rather a extended time.

“It feels wonderful, to be truthful,” Young mentioned. “This a fairly major moment for us.”

SCORE BY PERIODS

Central Cambria 1 two — three

Hollidaysburg 0 two three — five

Very first PERIOD

Scoring: 1, CC–Rado (Lundberg, Semelsberger), five:58. Penalties: Central Cambria (roughing minor), eight:51.

SECOND PERIOD

Scoring: two, H–Miller (Smith, Horn), :24 three, H–Horn (Miller, Young), ppg, 15:22. Penalties: Central Cambria (tripping minor), 13:42 Hollidaysburg (hooking minor), 16:07.

THIRD PERIOD

Scoring: four, CC–Kamzik (unassisted), ppg, :54. five, HOL–Young (Miller), five:19. six, HOL–Young (unassisted), 9:47. 7, CC–Rado (D. Park), ppg, 14:11. eight, HOL–Burkey (unassisted), ppg, 16:15. Penalties: Hollidaysburg (holding minor), 13:41 Central Cambria (hooking minor), 15:48.

Shots on aim: Central Cambria–9-14-15-39 Hollidaysburg–8-12-eight-28.

Saves: Edwards, CC, 23 Duey, H, 36.

Records: Central Cambria (12-7), Hollidaysburg (16-three).

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