How Benjamin Sonkin led Ensworth to the Predators Cup state hockey championship

Benjamin Sonkin's hat trick lifted Ensworth hockey to its first Predators Cup state championship Tuesday night in a 6-4 win over Ravenwood, which had claimed the previous two titles, at a jam-packed Centennial Sportsplex.

Sonkin, the team captain and one of only two seniors on the roster, scored two goals in the final period, including one to break a 4-4 tie and another on an empty net in the final 20 seconds.

His first goal came late in the first period to give Ensworth its first lead at 2-1. All three of Sonkin's goals were unassisted. He was named the tournament's most valuable player.

No. 2 seed Ensworth, which co-ops with Lipscomb Academy and Nolensville, finished the season 15-3-1. The Ice Tigers had beaten the Raptors 7-4 in the regular season in November at a neutral site, but lost to them 5-4 Monday in the double-elimination tournament.

"They're a good team. They came out firing and we had to respond," Sonkin said. "After they took a (1-0) lead, we got desperate. Desperate might be the wrong word. We got a sense of urgency in our game. We started out slow, thought we were the better team, and then started playing much better after they took the lead."

Sonkin, 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, has played with the Junior Predators AAU team since he was 14.

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Sonkin was given the postgame honor of skating the Predators Cup across the ice and hoisting it above his head for the throng of his team's fans who were pressed against the glass.

Coach Tim McAllister said he was not surprised by the manner in which Sonkin took control of the game.

"I've coached him since he was 10 years old, so I've had the very fortunate experience of coaching him and training him for a lot of years and he's a captain for a reason," McAllister said. "He works hard for us. He's a good leader in the locker room. He's all that you want from a captain."

He's also the player you want to have the puck on his stick when the game is on the line.

"If there's one thing he has that's unbelievable, it's his shot," McCallister said. "He's not afraid to use it. We just want him to be accurate with it. All playoff long, he was a leader for us and he came through tonight again."

Ravenwood took the 1-0 lead on a goal in heavy traffic by Jake Lapinsky in the first. Ensworth's first lead came after back-to-back goals in the final 2:48 of the first, then Ravenwood's Jack Ready scored in the second to tie it 2-2.

Ready was sent to the penalty box in the second period, which put Ensworth on the power play. Justin Nozko scored on a put-back of his own shot, giving the Ice Tigers a 3-2 advantage.

Ready added another goal with 10:49 left in the third to tie it 4-4.

Ensworth finished with 29 shots on goal to Ravenwood's 24.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.