Burrell hockey coach Drew Burkett was not in a talkative mood Monday after the PIHL D2 Championship game at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

Who could blame him?

For the third time this season, Ringgold had beaten Burrell in overtime, this time 3-2.

Ringgold won the two regular season matchups, 4-3.

It was the Rams third PIHL title. They won the Class A Pens Cup in 1990 and the D2 title in 2019.

It was also the third consecutive season under Burkett that the Bucs lost in the D2 Championship.

This one hurt because the Bucs seemed to dominate the play in the third period and overtime before Ringgold’s Anthony Bonari made a brilliant rush down the left side and beat Burrell goaltender Seth Munda with 2:53 left.

Burrell (14-5-4) has never won the title.

Both goalies — Munda and Ringgold’s Mason Ribnicky — made huge saves in the final minutes of regulation and overtime to keep the score tied.

Both teams played an exciting, fast-paced game and generated numerous scoring chances.

“Both teams made plays,” Burkett said. “It was a great game.”

In overtime, Burrell’s Dom Rosa hit the post during a power play and teammate Dante Taliano almost ended it when he intercepted a clearing pass and fired a shot, but Ribnicky made a glove save.

“We always expect to be here,” Burkett said. “We have a large group of 11 seniors, and we picked up players from Kiski, and they got introduced to how we play at Burrell.

“It was good to see the group of players I started with three years grow to become great players and great young men.”

Burrell grabbed a 1-0 lead when Rosa scored 3:06 into the game. Cooper Suman had the assist.

Ringgold tied the score, 1-1, on a goal by Carl Singr. Vaughn Shannon had the assist.

Burrell reclaimed the lead, 2-1, in the second period when Alyx Hatajik scored unassisted. But late in the second, Ringgold tied the score, 2-2, when Bruce Santina scored from Bonari.

The Rams finished first in the Blue Division, and Burrell finished third.

Burrell blanked Connellsville, 2-0, in the quarterfinals on goals by Jared Wall and Ryan Burkett. Munda had 20 saves.

In the semifinals, the Bucs rallied to defeat Morgantown, 3-2, in overtime on a goal by Jacob Rose.

The Bucs trailed 1-0 and 2-1. Burrell also got goals from Colton Boda and Wall.

“If you look at the past three games, I do not think effort was ever the question,” Burkett said. “Two back-to-back overtime games. We gave it all had.”