by Zachary Harmuth
Centennial could not have picked a bigger game or better time to get a gorilla called Brentwood hockey off its back Saturday evening.
It took five meetings, but for the first time this season, Centennial beat BHS in Bridgestone Arena.
It took overtime, but for the first time since 2001 the Cougars won the Predators Cup, beating the Bruins 2-1, in a game that started shortly after the Predators left the ice in a loss to Winnipeg.
The puck shot by Centennial forward Kyle Kawamura crossed the goaline with 8:28 left in the extra period and gave the Cougars the cup.
For most of the game, the game froze tied at 1.
Brentwood took an early first period lead with a Spencer Pennisi goal. 
Centennial answered back when Kendrick Jones tied the game in the second period.
Then came Kawamura, after almost two full scoreless periods, who he and now the cup, for a year at least, call Centennial home.
And just a week ago, this all seemed quite unlikely. In the round-robin Predators Cup tournament playoffs, BHS beat Centennial 4-2
The Bruins (13-4-1, 3-1 in Cup play), who finished first in G.N.A.S.H. tier one, looked stunned in its defeat by this underdog, at least subdued. The Cougars (9-8-1, 4-1 in Cup play), who finished fifth in tier one, lost the four previous games this year against BHS by a combined 15-6.
After winning the cup two of the last three years and playing in now four straight cup finals, the outcome of the game must be just as shocking to BHS as it is redeeming to Centennial, who had not hoisted the cup since 2001 nor played in the final since 2006.
Please join our FREE Newsletter
