The Owensboro Rampage high school hockey team was just crowned state champions for the third time in a row. The back-to-back reigning champions defeated their cross-state rival, Northern Kentucky, in Lexington by a score of 4-0 in the finals.
Branson Link, Ray Sachetti, Wyatt Fireline, and Evan Crang were all named to the all-tournament team, while head coach Jason Link was awarded coach of the year honors.
“This success is a direct reflection of how well these boys represent our city and our state,” Link said. “It’s a reflection of the time they’ve put in and how hard they’ve worked. Without them, this organization doesn’t exist.”
The team’s first state title came in 2012 and again in 2016 before stringing the last three together under Link’s lead. They’ve defeated the same Northern Kentucky team the previous two years in the championship.
The team is comprised of high school youth, primarily from Owensboro and surrounding areas, and they proudly call the Edge Ice Rink home.
“Owensboro has the only city-owned ice rink in the state, and it’s the nicest in the state, hands down,” Link said. “We have to send a big thank you to the staff at the Edge for all they do and for giving us a place to play and practice that we can be proud of.”
Link said his team spends countless hours on the ice and in the gym throughout the week and that his guys are diligent in their training efforts. He attributed a recently formed partnership with Vox Crossfit for their increased stamina on the ice, allowing them to play the third quarter equally as hard as the first.
Late Sunday evening, the team returned home from Lexington and retired to Legend’s Sports Bar and Grill for celebration dinner. However, it’s back to work tomorrow as they prepare for the national tournament in Dallas, Texas, on March 28.
The victory was history-in-the-making, as no other team in the state has ever been crowned state champions three years in a row.
