WEST WINDSOR — It should come as absolutely no surprise which player had the final say in the Robbinsville/Allentown ice hockey’s team’s thrilling 5-4 win over Paul VI in the finals of the Colonial Valley Conference Championships on Friday night. The player, of course, was outstanding senior J ake Lachance, who continued his historic season when he scored the game winner with 3:42 remaining as Robbinsville/Allentown won the Puchalik Cup for the third time in the history of the program. For his efforts he was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament at the Mercer County Skating Center. “Oh yeah,” replied Lachance when asked if this was the biggest goal he’s ever scored. “It’s crazy.” Robbinsville/Allentown coach Dan Bergan lifts the Puchalik Cup as the winner of the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s James Morino, 22, lifts the Puchalik Cup after defeating Paul VI, 5-4, during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown poses for a photo with the Puchalik Cup after defeating Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown players celebrate with fans after defeating Paul VI, 5-4, during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Jake Lachance, 17, scores the game-winning goal in the third period against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Jake Lachance, 17, celebrates his goal in the third period with teammates against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Jack Lawrence, 11, shoots the puck against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Paul VI’s Nicholas Lento, left, moves with the puck as he’s chased by Robbinsville/Allentown’s Jack Lawrence, right, during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown ‘s Zack Guttormsen, left, and Paul VI’s Brayden Mills, right, battle for the puck during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Jake Lachance, left, is checked by Paul VI’s Mason Jones, right, during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Jake Lachance looks on against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown coach Dan Bergan, center celebrates his 250th win in the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown coach Dan Bergan, left, presents Jake Lachance, right, with the MVP trophy during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown coach Dan Bergan looks on from the bench against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Paul VI coach Chalie Hall looks on from the bench against Robbinsville/Allentown during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Jake Lachance, 17, lifts the Puchalik Cup after defeating Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Reese Corneau, 10, tries to control the puck as he’s pressured b Paul VI’s Riley O’Lano, right, during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Cole Martinez, 12, and Paul VI’s Brayden Mills, 28, go after the puck during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown goalie Tyler Wagner in action against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Thomas Krause, 14, celebrates after scoring in the third period against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown goalie Tyler Wagner makes a save against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Jake Lachance, right, checks Paul VI’s Matt Capalbo, left, during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Paul VI goalie Luciano Lisanti makes a save against Robbinsville/Allentown during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Cole Martinez, 12, and Paul VI’s Mason Jones, 27, get tangled up as Paul VI’s Jason Bloor, 11, plays the puck during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Paul VI’s Jason Bloor celebrates after scoring against Robbinsville in the first period during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Paul VI’s Nicholas Lento, right, celebrates with teammate Matt Capalbo, left, after Lento scored a shorthanded goal in the third period against Robbinsville/Allentown during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Robbinsville/Allentown’s Shane D’Auria, 6, plays the puck across the ice against Paul VI during the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at the Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Show Caption1 of 27Robbinsville/Allentown coach Dan Bergan lifts the Puchalik Cup as the winner of the CVC Ice Hockey Tournament on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Mercer Skating Center in West Windsor. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Expand The numbers tell the story for Lachance, who scored twice on Friday to finish with nine goals in three CVC Tournament games. He also upped his school-record total to 46 goals on the year and 105 in his career. This was all needed because Robbinsville/Allentown (18-4) got a stiff challenge from a Paul VI team (16-4) that was seeking its first CVC Championship. Lachance’s game winner was on the power play after Paul VI had evened the score at 4-all with a shorthanded goal less than three minutes earlier. It looked like it might be headed to overtime at that point, but a cross checking penalty opened the door for Robbinsville/Allentown. Lachance did the rest by pouncing on a rebound following a shot by Jack Lawrence, who had a strong game himself with a goal and the assist on the game winner. “It was on the power play, I knew we could score” said Lachance of his third goal that set off an ecstatic celebration by his teammates a few minutes later. “We knew coming into this game we had a really good chance to win if we played our game.” It was a back-and-forth affair as the Ravens took the lead at the 9:42 mark of the first period when Lawrence scored while a Paul VI player crawled across the ice to his bench after breaking a blade. Paul VI roared back with two goals in the first period on tallies by Nicholas Lento and Riley O’Lano Lachance’s first goal of the game and a Lawrence goal assistant by Lachance put Robbinsville/Allentown ahead in the second period, only to see Paul VI tie the score on a shot from a very difficult and angle by Jason Bloor. After a tripping penalty, Robbinsville/Allentown regained the lead on a goal by Thomas Krause. When Paul VI was penalized for roughing, the Ravens had a chance to possible take control, only to give up a shorthanded goal to Lento. This set the stage for Lachance to do his thing and as he has done over and over the senior delivered. Robbinsville/Allentown goalie Tyler Wagner also did his part with several fine saves. “These last two years have been unforgettable,” said Lachance. “Its a great feeling to win this, but there’s more to do with the state tournament coming up.” Prior to states, Robbinsville/Allentown will host Ramapo on Monday. In one of those believe it or not stories, Lachance’s father Patrick Lachance set a state record when he scored 47 goals in one season for Ramapo. Now the son can break his dad’s record and that would also come also come as no surprise for a player who said he hopes to play club hockey in college. Paul VI (16-4) 2 1 1 — 4 Robbinsville/Allentown (18-4) 1 2 2 — 5 Goals: PVI-Lento 2, O’Lano, Bloor. R/A-Lachance 2, Lawrence 2, Krause. Assists: PVI-Aversa 2, Jones, Mills, Capalbo, Jones. R/A-Morino, Buchanan, Lachance, Lawrence. Goalie Saves: PVI-Lisanti 31. R/A-Wagner 32. ...read more read less