King Cobras Bring Home Two Thanksgiving Championships

The King Cobras turned Thanksgiving weekend into a trophy run. Both 14U Black and 12U White finished the Nov 28–30 stretch as tournament champions, skating through tight schedules in two different events and closing things out with statement wins.

14U Black rolls through Hershey

Playing in the Thanksgiving Tournament in Hershey, PA, Ryan Strapp’s 14U Black squad set the tone early and never let up.

They opened round robin play with a 5–1 win over the Hershey Selects, shaking off any holiday rust and establishing the formula that would carry them all weekend: quick starts, heavy pressure, and very few mistakes in their own end.

Game two brought the Cape May Kraken, and the Cobras’ offense really opened up. An 8–1 win put them firmly on top of the standings and showed how deep the scoring runs in this group. Shift after shift, they rolled four lines, wore teams down, and turned defensive stops into rush chances.

On Saturday they faced the Hunterdon Bears for the first time and delivered a dominant shutout that locked up the top seed for Sunday. The Cobras controlled the puck, limited second chances, and never really let the Bears get comfortable.

Sunday’s championship was a rematch with Hunterdon, and the Cobras looked ready from puck drop. They finished the weekend with a 5–1 win in the title game, capping a perfect 4–0 run where no opponent scored more than once in a game. It was a complete tournament performance, front to back, and a well earned banner for Strapp’s group.

12U White grinds out the Battle at the River

While 14U Black was taking care of business in Hershey, Frank Kern’s 12U White team was busy chasing its own banner at the Battle at the River Turkey Cup in Toms River, NJ.

They opened the event with a solid 4–1 win over Montclair, using a strong forecheck and timely finishing to start the weekend on the right foot. That momentum carried straight into an all-Cobras matchup later in the day, where White outpaced Cobras Black in an 8–3 win that showed just how explosive this group can be when they get rolling.

Saturday brought their only stumble of the tournament. A 3–0 loss to the JS Wildcats tightened the standings and set up an important Sunday morning game. Instead of folding, 12U White answered exactly how you want a championship team to answer.

In the finale they shut down Rockets HC, skating to a 5–0 win that not only secured the shutout but also locked up the Turkey Cup title. Three wins out of four, two big offensive outbursts, and a shutout to clinch it is a pretty strong way to spend Thanksgiving weekend.

A big weekend for the program

Between Hershey and the Battle at the River, King Cobras teams combined for seven wins in eight games and two tournament championships. Credit to coaches Ryan Strapp and Frank Kern for having their groups prepared and playing fast in the first big travel weekend of the season.

It is early in the year, but weekends like this matter. They build confidence, set expectations in the room, and show what the standard looks like when everyone pulls in the same direction.

Congratulations to 14U Black and 12U White on their banners, and to the entire King Cobras family for a huge Thanksgiving weekend.