Edison exits ADHSHL playoffs early with 5-4 loss to JSerra

A hat trick from senior standout Ryan Osterkamp was not enough for the Edison High ice hockey team on Thursday night.

The No. 7-seeded Chargers watched their season come to a close with a 5-4 loss to No. 2 JSerra in the first round of the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League Division 1 playoffs at the Rinks Anaheim Ice.

The loss concluded Edison’s first campaign since returning to Division 1. With 13 seniors on the roster, the team made the decision to move up for a challenge after claiming the Division 3 title last year.

The Chargers went 2-13-1, but as coach David Walker would note, the season was hardly a disappointment.

“While the record may not show it, the effort and amount of one-goal losses we had this year shows that we can compete at this level,” Walker said. “It’s a matter of getting over that hump. Getting that extra goal here and there to separate those one-goal losses. At the end of the day, there are some hurdles that we have to jump through as a public school. That’s just the reality, and as I told the kids, they should be really proud.”

The Lions will continue their playoff journey on Friday.

JSerra struck first in the waning moments of the opening period, as Daniel Pillette ricocheted a shot from Brett Rudy past Edison goalie Garrett Dato.

Following a quiet first period, both teams came alive offensively in the second, compiling a total of six goals.

JSerra appeared set to open up a blowout in the opening minutes of the period.

Max Lynch fired a rocket from just inside the blue line, finding a gap over Dato’s shoulder in the top left corner for an unassisted goal at the 14:07 mark. Less than 90 seconds later, Michael Pellegrino evaded a pair of defenders for an unassisted goal of his own to put the Lions ahead 3-0.

Edison would not go away quietly, though.

Osterkamp picked up a pair of goals, with his younger brother, Evan, scoring one of his own. The second of the elder Osterkamp’s goals came on the power play with 2:13 left in the period, cutting the deficit to 4-3 and setting up an exciting finish.

“We got off to a good start,” JSerra coach Jeff Noviello said. “We got behind them and got some good chances. Then all of a sudden we got a lead in the game and got a little comfortable. What happens in a game situation like that is you start gripping the stick a little bit too tight and rely on other people to do your job instead of doing your own job.”

While nearly allowing their lead to slip away, the Lions secured a victory on an even-strength goal from star forward Blake Reed with just over three minutes remaining.

Osterkamp connected for his third goal with five seconds left in the contest, cutting the lead down to one before the final buzzer.

“As much as I liked the hat trick, it wasn’t enough,” Osterkamp said. “I’m not very content with it. I wish we would’ve gone further and worked just a little harder.”

While Osterkamp will look to continue his hockey career at the next level — ideally at Colorado State, whom he is hoping to try out for — his program also has a big decision on its hands.

With a mix of outgoing seniors, returning contributors and incoming players, the Chargers are left to ponder whether they should remain in Division 1 or return to their former division.

“A lot of it has to do with two things: what the kids and parents feel comfortable with, and what kids we have coming in,” Walker said. “We have a lot coming in that came to our initial meet-and-greet, but that’s differently than them actually showing up to tryouts. It’ll be something we talk about over the year, but losing 13 seniors, it’ll be tough. No matter what division we play in, we’re going to be trying to win it.”

JOSH CRISWELL is a contributor to Times Community News. Follow him on Twitter: @joshccriswell