How Ravenwood hockey forced itself into Predators Cup state championship game

Ravenwood junior Cooper Hill tilted his head skyward, nodded four times then swiped his right hand, front to back, over his black helmet as if to suggest he was slicking back his dark blond hair.

Hill was on his way toward the boards to celebrate with Raptors fans inside Terry Crisp Rink at Bellevue Ford Ice Center on Tuesday night. A hat trick was in his immediate past and a chance at his team's third consecutive Predators Cup championship in his immediate future.

Hill's goal with 3 minutes, 4 seconds stuck just long enough to give his team a 5-4 victory against Ensworth and took the "if" out of "if necessary" on the tournament schedule for the GNASH league.

The two teams meet again for the title of the double-elimination tournament at 8:55 p.m. Wednesday at Centennial Sportsplex – one of the last places Hill expected to be after his team began the season 1-6.

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"I'm definitely proud of us," Hill said. "But I was not expecting to go to the state championship this year."

Hill, who wears No. 8 for the tournament's eighth-seeded team, had plenty of opportunities to perfect his celebrations Tuesday against No. 2 seed Ensworth, which co-ops with Nolensville and Lipscomb Academy.

With 2:05 remaining in the first period, Hill slid on one knee, arms raised, toward a revved-up Ravenwood crowd after he put his team ahead 2-1. He repeated the act with 9:06 left in the second period after pinging the puck off the post.

Hill's studiousness of celebrations showed score.

"Just social media," he said of where he gleaned the ideas. "Just creative stuff."

Hill then looked to his left and smiled. Standing a few feet away was Hill's teammate and best friend since fifth grade, Liam Powell, who did some celebrating of his own after scoring his two goals.

His first came with 17:17 left in the first, when he lifted the puck past Ensworth goalie Bingston Soundara before slamming his body into the boards.

A violent collision between a Ravenwood player and an Ensworth player in his peripheral vision, Powell slapped in a screamer for his second goal with 10:37 left in the third to make it 4-3 Ravenwood.

The score came not long after a man emerged through the doors if the rink with both hands cradling the Predators Cup, which sat on a bench between the two teams' benches.

"Last year we were insane," Powell said. "Losing nine seniors this year was hard but we got used to it.

"We're building chemistry and building brotherhood and all I want is that Cup."

A Cup that was packed up Tuesday night in preparation for its trip to Centennial on Wednesday, when its final destination will be decided.