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Paul Eyerman couldn’t predict the outcome.

Yet, there was one thing the Crestwood hockey head coach knew for sure.

Anytime his Comets lined up across from Wyoming Area goalie Jacob Urban, goals were going to be at a premium.

“You knew you weren’t going to score five, six or seven goals,” Eyerman said. “You have to shift more from an offense-minded game to more of a defensive game plan. That’s because you knew you were going to be in a 2-1, 3-2 or 1-0 game.”

And Urban’s junior season is one he won’t forget. For his efforts, the goalie was selected MVP of the NEPA Scholastic Hockey by the coaches.

“A great season with a good bunch of players,” Urban said. “It’s probably the farthest we’ve gone in a long time. Everything seemed to just click for us.”

Talk about a season of ups and downs.

The biggest down happened before the 2016-2017 campaign began. Before the standout even skated in front of the goal.

Urban was diagnosed with mono.

“When I had mono, I couldn’t do anything,” he said. “One day, you feel OK and you think everything is starting to get back to normal. Every time you think it’s done, it comes back. It sucks, but really, there is nothing you can do.”

On the sidelines, Urban watched, and patiently waited for his moment.

And he’ll never forget the day the call came.

Championship night of the Casey Classic.

“When I got the news, all I wanted to do was get on the ice,” he said. “I was ready to play, that’s for sure.”

No doubt, he was. Urban saved 43 shots in that game, a 6-1 win over Crestwood to claim the title.

“It was such a special moment for everyone,” he said. “It really was a team victory. I played well, and the team was able to score a lot of goals. When you see your team scoring like that, it just really gives you a lot of confidence.”

That’s how Eyerman knew scoring goals against Urban would be tough. He saw it first hand.

“He’s one of the premier goalies in our area,” the Crestwood head coach said. “When you see Jacob Urban, you know that you better bring your ‘A’ game. When you shoot, it better be for quality and not quantity because you know your chances will be slim. He covers a lot of the net, so he’s tough to score on.”

Wyoming Area advanced to the NEPA Scholastic Hockey League championship, falling 4-3 to the Susquehanna Stampede.

“It was a special season,” Urban said. “I’ll never forget my teammates and how much fun we had this year. It meant the world to all of us.”

While Urban still has one season left, it won’t be at Wyoming Area.

Yes, he’ll still be a student at the school and will graduate with his classmates.

But for most of the year, Urban will be taking classes through cyber school while he lives near Boston as the standout has been selected to be a member of the 95 Giants, an 18U youth hockey program that plays in the Elite 9 Hockey League and the Boston Hockey League.

“Next year is going to be interesting,” said Urban, who will be leaving in August and returns to the area in March. “It’s a new team and a new program. It’s going to be tough because you will face some of the best players in the country. I’m ready for the challenge.”

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Wyoming Area goalie Jacob Urban has been a major force in the net for the Warriors. He made 43 saves in Wyoming Area’s 6-1 win over Crestwood at the Casey Classic.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_JacobUrbanPOY-1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area goalie Jacob Urban has been a major force in the net for the Warriors. He made 43 saves in Wyoming Area’s 6-1 win over Crestwood at the Casey Classic. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Tom Fox

For Times Leader

FIRST TEAM

• Corey McAndrew, Senior, Back Mountain, Forward

Brenden Jesse, Sophomore, Back Mountain, Forward

• Shane Angle, Junior, Crestwood, Defense

• Josh Edwards, Senior, Crestwood, Defense

• Ryan Boland, Junior, Hazleton Area, Forward

• Mike Paisley, Senior, Hazleton Area, Defense

• Joey Gaila, Senior, Pittston Area, Defense

• Ryan Winters, Sophomore, Pittston Area, Defense

• Colton Buckland, Senior, Wyoming Valley West, Defense

Ken Vought, Sophomore, Wyoming Valley West, Goalie

Alex Chronowski, Senior, Wyoming Area, Forward

• Brenden Lee, Senior, Wyoming Area, Forward

• Trey Leo, Sophomore, Wyoming Seminary, Forward

• KC Medico, Sophomore, Wyoming Seminary, Forward

Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @tlsports.