March 2, 1998
Gerbron’s hat trick and pep talk helped his team clinch a Flyers Cup spot.
WEST CHESTER – An overflow crowd at Ice Line witnessed Unionville’s 6-2 win over Conestoga on Friday evening. Not even the Indians coaches saw
the events in the locker room before the game, events that helped result in Unionville winning the In- ter-County League Class AA championship and gaining a berth in the Flyers Cup. Senior captain and forward Charlie Gerbron compiled a hat trick against the Pioneers, but his words and actions lifted the Indians before they even took the ice. The Unionville coaches were asked to leave the locker room before the game. Upon their exit Ger- bron asked his teammates to close their eyes and to seize the day. For extra emphasis, Gerbron had taken black tape and written the Latin phrase carpe diem (“seize the day”) above the door, and all the players touched the tape before blasting out of the locker room. Conestoga (14-1-1) needed a tie or a win to take the title and the accompanying Flyers Cup berth, while Unionville (15-1-0) knew its fate hinged on a victory. And that’s what the Indians were intent on obtaining from the very beginning. “I have been playing here for three years and have never seen us play like that,” Gerbron said. “We wanted this game more than anything. We didn’t want to be known as a good team that never won anything.” Unionville won the Inter-County League Class AA regular-season title last season, but Conestoga beat the Indians in the playoffs and eventually won the Flyers Cup. This season, the league decided that the regular-season champion would advance to the Flyers Cup. After the Pioneers’ 5-2 win over Unionville on Nov. 21, both teams were aware that Friday night’s season finale would likely determine the league champion. Both teams were perfect in league play over the next three months. Unionville continued that perfection on Friday, leading by 1-0 after the first period on senior Marc Abels’ wrist shot and by 4-0 after two periods on two goals by junior Andrew Caldwell and a breakaway by Gerbron. “I was so happy to get those goals,” Caldwell said. “We needed to keep the lead.” Meanwhile, sophomore goalie Charlie Gambino thwarted the Pio- neers’ comeback attempt behind at defense that threw itself in front of any wayward pucks. “The defense really helped me out,” he said. Gambino made 15 saves against the Pioneers and preserved the shutout until junior Jason Nackord scored with 3 minutes, 52 seconds gone in the third period. Gerbron. added two more goals before Conestoga concluded the scoring with 2:23 left on a shot by senior Brian Walters. “What a tremendous effort,” Unionville coach George DeDonato said. “The kids knew what they needed to do and came up big.” Unionville isn’t scheduled to play for at least two weeks when the Flyers Cup tournament begins. Meanwhile, Conestoga’s brilliant season comes to an end. “Give their guys credit,” Cones- toga coach Mike Stagnaro said. “They did a great job of protecting their goalie. I can’t remember seeing that many blocks.
By Ira Josephs
Philadelphia Inquirer Correspondent
