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This wasn't how the members of the Kinnelon hockey team had envisioned it. They weren't expecting to watch someone else celebrate on the ice at the Prudential Center. But there the Ramsey Rams were, jumping around and raising the Public B state championship trophy, just as the Colts had done the year before.
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Ramsey defeated the Colts 2-0 in the final, playing the kind of disciplined, opportunistic ice hockey that brought them to the final. While the final shot totals showed Kinnelon with 40 to Ramsey's 26, the Rams truly had the better chances all game and could have scored several more, if not for the goaltending heroics of Jeff Molnar.
Despite being the first Bergen County public school ever to play for a state title, Ramsey did not betray any nerves, instead taking the play to Kinnelon early. They broke through when Patrick Rutkowski intercepted a clear attempt and whipped a shot at net that John Kirk deflected into the goal.
"We started a little slow, but we came back," said Kinnelon coach Jeff Myhren. "We've got a lot of young guys so I think they were a little star-struck."
Each team had good chances before the first period ended. Ramsey's Jonathan Rainey was denied on a breakaway attempt by a tremendous Molnar glove save. Kinnelon almost got on the board when Mike Crampton's wrister clanged off the post, but the Colts went to the locker room down 1-0.
Early in the second, that lead was doubled. Just after Kinnelon took the first penalty of the game, Tyler Bishop made them pay, tipping the puck away from a defender, then beating Molnar to the short side. The Rams had several chances to extend that lead, but Molnar made a number of excellent stops to keep it 2-0.
"I think he's one of the best goaltenders, if not the best, in the state of New Jersey," said Myhren.
Late in the second period and throughout the third, Kinnelon fired shot after shot at the Ramsey net, including a number of power play opportunities. But many of the shots were from the blue line or beyond, and the few good chances the Colts got were denied by Ramsey goalie Matt Braun. As the time ticked off the clock, it was the Rams throwing their equipment in the air and celebrating, much as the Colts did after defeating Jefferson in last year's final at the Rock.
Kinnelon loses only one senior from this year's squad, but he's a critical member of the team, leading scorer Pete Crampton. "I had a great career here," he said. "I took a lot from this program, I soaked up every moment of it."
Crampton enjoyed the opportunity to play with his brother and cousin, but credited everyone involved with the program. "My coaches were great, all my teammates were great. I couldn't ask for anything more."
"Pete and I came in together, and you knew from Day 1 that he was going to be a special player," Myhren said. "We're really going to miss him. He really brought the program to much better things."
Despite the loss of Crampton, the Colts should be a strong hockey team again next year, with a solid chance to make another run in the states. Mike Crampton and Molnar return, along with the rest of the roster, who should only benefit from this experience. "We're optimistic about next year," Myhren said. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now
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