The Emmaus ice hockey team lost both games in a best-of-three series for the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League's Pure Division championship. Parkland won the second game 6-1 on Friday night to complete the sweep.

The Green Hornets finished the season with an 11-5-2 record, outscoring opponents 81-50. The second place finish was a pleasant surprise for first-year head coach Brian Braun.

"I didn't have expectations, I had no idea about any of the teams," said Braun, a Madison, Wisconsin native. "Things went great, things went our way. I worked with the kids well and I had fun, I hope they did too."

The Green Hornets showed tremendous heart, coming up just short of a championship. Trailing 1-0 early in the second period, Drew Phillipes netted a power-play goal to even up the score.

The game was incredibly physical throughout, but the Hornets just did not have enough to keep up with the Trojans.

"We have a group of really good guys, it was a shame we couldn't go further," said Braun. "Lots of heart, they didn't give up. We just had some bounces go against us."

The game stayed even, a defensive battle, until a minute remained in the second. From that point to the end of the game Parkland scored five goals to put the game out of reach.

In an electric atmosphere and a hotly contested game, the Emmaus fans could be heard throughout.

Freshman goalie Michael Smoker saved 18 of the Trojans 24 shots. With him and others back next season, the future is bright for the Green Hornets, as they look to continue to contend in the Pure Division.

Emmaus showed that it has the guts to keep up with a team like Parkland, and with a little more experience, pose a serious threat to the rest of the LVSHL for a long time.

Second place in his first year with the team, Braun can now mold his kids to fit his style of play, a style that is very physical, and very fast.