Wissahickon’s Dicus Has Picked Up a Whistle

When Logan Dicus isn’t on the ice with a stick in his hands he might be found on the ice blowing a whistle. The Wissahickon senior is a USA Hockey referee and spends his Saturday and Sunday mornings officiating youth games.

Dicus started thinking about officiating last summer.

“I didn’t really have much going on so I thought I’d just look into it. A couple of my friends did it so I thought ‘Why not?’ So, I signed up and have been doing the early morning games and slowly making my way up.

I have a lot of fun doing it as well. And it’s a good time.”

As a Level 1 official, Dicus is certified to work games including players as old as age 10. But hockey, like all sports, is dealing with a shortage of officials and it’s theoretically possible he could be assigned at a high level.

USA Hockey’s requirements for new referees include paying an application fee ($55), completing on-line and classroom training sessions, a rules test, and a background check. Those 18 and older (birth year 2008, as Dicus is, or prior) must also complete a SafeSport training protocol.

Dicus says officiating has him seeing the game differently than he does as a player.

“When you’re reffing, you see a different perspective from when you’re playing the game,” he said. “You’re not even paying attention to the score, honestly.

“You’re staring at the puck. You’re staring at the players around the puck. You’re barely paying attention to the game, honestly. You’re just kind of watching in areas. It’s definitely a different perspective than playing the game.”

Dicus has gotten an abundance of support from his more experienced officiating partners.

“All the refs that I have {officiated} with have been very nice,” he said, “very respectful, and that makes it an easier environment to learn in.”

Dicus will head to college next fall but plans to take his striped shirt and whistle with him. He says being on the ice as a referee brings back memories of when he was getting started in the game himself.

“Watching younger kids playing the game and knowing that I was once on that position,” he said. “I didn’t really understand hockey at that point and how much it was going to have to do with my life. And I just get to see my life all over again.”

Pennsbury 4 Pennridge 3

Elite players have a way of taking over a game. Shane Gleisner did just that Thursday night.

The Pennsbury senior delivered three goals, including the game winner, as the Falcons bested Pennridge 4-3 in a SHSHL National matchup at Hatfield Ice.

Gleisner took the ice Thursday night as the National Division’s leading scorer. He now has 34 goals and 16 assists for 50 points in divisional games; 39-19-58 overall, which puts atop him both scoring lists for both goals and points

Being his team’s primary offensive force is a role Gleisner has grown into over the course of his four varsity seasons.

“When I was a freshman, sophomore, and junior, I was working my way up to be the guy,” he said. “It feels good to be relied on. Now that I’m a senior, I’d say I’ve worked out all the mistakes I used to make, so I’m finally ready to be the goal-scoring guy.”

Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley cited Gleisner’s impact.

“He’s had a phenomenal year so far,” Daley said. He was a big role player the year we won the Flyers Cup (2023) and we could tell the best was yet to come with him.

“He just filled into that body, got big, got fast, with one of the hardest shots you’ll see in this league.”

Gleisner’s talents allow the Falcon to employ the up-tempo style Daley prefers.

“That’s kind of been what we’ve tried to have as our calling card the last few years,” Daley said. “This year, we’ve finally got kind of the right pieces again to have that explosive offense, stretch the ice a little bit, get those odd-man rushes.”

Pennsbury (10-4-1, 8-4-1 in the division) had to play from behind early on. The Rams (5-8-1, 5-8), who had just 10 skaters dressed, took a 1-0 lead on Landon Bishop’s goal 3:32 into the opening period. Gleisner tied the game 2:04 into the second frame and after Shane Hicks put the Falcons in front at 9:18 they never trailed again.

Gleisner extended his team’s lead with 5:03 remaining in the period but Pennridge, which had just 10 skaters dressed, refused to go away.

James Rush made it a one-goal game 18 seconds into the final period but Gleisner responded when he finished a solo breakaway 25 seconds later. Even then the Rams refused to yield. Dinsmore made it a 4-3 game with 13:36 still remaining and Pennsbury goaltender Brendan Milliken made some big saves down the stretch to keep his team in front.

“We lost to the best goal scorer in the league this year,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “And that’s the way it goes sometimes. He did a great job, he finished the chances he had to. We kept fighting back and came up a little bit short tonight.”

Pennsbury 0 3 1—4

Pennridge 1 0 2—3

First-period goal: Landon Bishop (Pr) from Justin Dinsmore, 3:32

Second-period goals: Shane Gleisner (Pb) from Francis DeLucia,  2:04; Shane Hicks (Pb) from Jake Sarver, 9:18; Gleisner (Pb) from  Connor Gray, 11:57

Third-period goals: James Rush (Pr) from  Ryan Burke, 2:42; Gleisner (Pb) unassisted, 3:07; Dinsmore (Pr) from Rush, 3:24

Shots: Pennsbury 25, Pennridge 27: Saves: Brendan Milliken(Pb) 24, Andrew Slutsky (Pr) 21

St. Joseph’s Prep 3 La Salle 2

St. Joseph’s Prep used two third-period goals to post a 3-2 win over La Salle Wednesday evening in an APAC game at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Rink.

The win lifted the hosts to 14-5 on the season and 4-3 in conference.

Two of the Hawks’ three goals came while they were shorthanded.

Cole Gargon scored what proved to be the winning goal with 6:16 remaining in the third period. It came in the aftermath of a skirmish that sent five players to the penalty box and left St. Joseph’s Prep shorthanded.

Matthew Jones opened the scoring when he gave the Explorers (5-12, 2-6) a 1-0 lead 8:22 into the second period. Adam Charaffi tied the game for the Hawks with 6:38 remaining in the period while his teammate Michael Castelli was in the box serving a hooking penalty.

James Fratantuono put the Hawks in front for the first time 9:25 into the third period. Gargon extended his team’s lead when he beat La Salle goaltender Dylan Brown 1 minute 19 seconds later.

William Paulka scored for La Salle with 4:19 left in regulation to complete the scoring.

Declan Geary made 23 saves in goal in his winning effort.

“We relied heavily on Declan to make some big saves for us,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula. “”Hats off to La Salle, who battled hard all game.

“We have not been doing ourselves many favors lately with how we have shown up for games and its apparent. That’s on me. The road only gets harder from here with ther playoffs around the corner.”

St. Joseph’s Prep will conclude its conference schedule next Wednesday at Holy Ghost Prep in a game that was originally scheduled for this past Monday. La Salle, which has two non-conference games remaining on its schedule, will play in the APAC play-in game as either the fourth or fifth seed on a date to be determined.

 La Salle 0 1 1

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 2

Second-period goal: Matthew Jones (L) from Roman Tkach and Matthew Martin, 8:22; Adam Charrafi (SJP) from Frank Ely and Jake Ely, 10:22 (sh)

Third-period goals: James Fratantuono (SJP) from Noah Stuhl, 9:25; Cole Gargon (SJP) from Bradan Fisher, 10:44 (sh); William Podulka (L) from Owen Reinhart and Jones, 12:41;

Shots: La Salle 25, St. Joeph’s Prep 37; Saves: Dylan Brown (L) 34, Declan Geary (SJP) 23

Lunsford Maturing at La Salle

Patrick Lunsford is at home at La Salle, in the classroom and on the ice. The junior forward is in the midst of his first season of varsity hockey.

A Blue Bell resident, Lunsford was pointed toward La Salle at a young age.

“A lot of my family went to La Salle,” he said. “It was a very popular school at my grade school (St. Helena), and it was great for me so, that’s what made me go to La Salle.”
Like three of the other four schools in the APAC, La Salle’s student body is all male. Lunsford cites the upside to that environment.

“It really helps us focus,’ he said. “And, there’s the brotherhood. You just become so close with your classmates. It’s a really great opportunity. You just do a lot of things with your classmates; the classes. You make so many friends. It’s a great way to expand your friendships and just meet so many new people.”

Lunsford says he adjusted relatively quickly to La Salle’s academic demands.

“It was very different from grade school,” he said. “But, within the first couple weeks of my freshman year, I did very well. I did a great job adapting to the time management. You’ve just got to tackle your work early and if you get it in early, you’ll excel.

I think the kids at the schools around here, they get it and they understand so, everyone does a great job with schooling.

Like his peers, Lunsford has become adept at managing his time successfully.

“It’s hard,” he said. “But at the same time, La Salle does such a great job of giving you time throughout the day and time after school to get your work done. We don’t have the same classes every day. We have them every other day. So, we have two days to get our homework in, which is very huge with sports, and all the kids have outside activities.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone. Time management, it is a struggle sometimes, but if you can get your work in, you’ll be just fine. That’s worked out great for me.”

Lunsford says the curriculum at La Salle teaches students to make independent decisions.

“My grade school did a really great job of preparing me for things like that in high school,” he said, “and it funneled into La Salle very well for me.”

From a hockey perspective is part of a team that began the season young in terms of age and more importantly varsity experience. They found themselves navigating a steep learning curve early on but recorded their two first two APAC wins of the season heading into Wednesday’s scheduled game at St. Joseph’s Prep.

“{Varsity hockey} is very different from the jayvee level,” Lunsford said. “The first couple games took some really getting used to, but over time I think myself and all my teammates, we’ve done a great job.

“The passing, the hitting, everything. It’s just a different level but I think we’ve done a really great of adapting to that.”

SHSHL Update 1-26-26

National Division              W    L   T  OTW OTL    SOW    SOL    Pts

North Penn (14-1)              11    0   0   –       –          –            –       44

Council Rock South (12-2)   9     2   0    –        –         –           –     36

Central Bucks South (9-4)          8      3    0      –         –          –      32

Pennsbury (9-3-1)                 7     3   1   –    –            –            –     30

Pennridge   (5-5-1)               5     5  –     –      2           –            –     22

Central Bucks East (5-7-1)   5    6   1   1    –            –            –       21`

Souderton (3-9)                     3    7   0   1    1          –           –       12

Neshaminy (2-10)                  2  9   0    1    –           –            –     7

Central Bucks West (0-13)  0   12   0    –     –           –           –       0                                 

American Division          W    L    T    OTW     OTL   SHW   SOL PTS  

Hatboro-Horsham (11-1)  11    1     0     –            –         –          – 44

Plym. Whitemarsh (8-1)  10    1     0     –           –         –          –    40

Wissahickon (3-6)            4   7      0    1          –        –          –          15  

Springfield (3-7)               3    7     0          –      –           –                  12

Abington (0-10)                0    11    0      –       1       –          –          1

Scoring   All League Scheduled Games                        

 National Division                      GP    G     A      Pts

Shane Gleisner   Pb                    13    35   18     53

Jake Weiner CRS                        13     34  17      51

Samuel Norton NP                     14     17  23    40

Chris Silvotti NP                          15     16   16   32

Landon  Bishop Pr                      10     17   12   29

Jordan Sarne   CRS                      12    14   15    29

Shane Hicks Pb                            12     12   17   29

Max Ryon Sou.                            8      16    13    29

James Rush Pr                             12     17    11   28

Nolan Shingle                              14     14    13   27

Ryan Frey     C.B. South             12      9     16   25

Jackson Kelly Soud                      8      11    10   21    

Dominic Gibson                           9     10      10  20

  American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

  Vincent Graziani HH      13      23   23   46

 Daniel Guller       PW        11    12    26  38

 Nate Nemchinov HH      11     19   18   37

 Bill Moffa   HH                13      11   16    27

Luca Staffieri HH            12      13    13   26

Cooper Kanze   PW         8       13     11   24

Mack Risnychok Wiss    11      16     7     23

Grayson Quinn Sp.         11      15     7     22

Blake Ambler PW            9        8      13   21

Reid Rochestie     HH     13       7     14   21

Blake Ambler      PW       8       7      12   19

Aiden North  HH             12      5      12   19

Grayson Quinn Spr.       9       13    3       16

Julia Kaminsky Soud                   6      9      4       13

Jackson Kelly Soud                       5      6      7      13

Nolan Shingle NP                        7       6      7      13

Ryan Burke       Pr                          5      4     7     11

Cameron  Fairweather  Sou.        5      3     8      11   

James Boyle NP                            6       2      9    11

Shawn Mooney  Nesh                  4       3     4      7

Joseph Mangin    HH      3        5      2      7

Cooper Kamze     PW     2         5     1      6

Dominic Gibson CBS                      3       3      3     6  

Goaltenders-Min.200 minutes

National Division         GP     MP  Shots  GA  Save %     GAA

Andrew Norton NP      7       357    134     8    .940         1.14

Cameron Young CBE    6      306     279    24   .914         4.00

Aidan Quigley NP         8       408     179     17  .905         2.13

Brendan Milliken Pb   13     662      395    41   .896        3.16

Trey Prozzillo    CRS     11       560    269    28   .896        2.55

American Division         GP     MP  Shots  GA  Save %     GAA

Max Youder   PW           5        255   148     12  .919        2.40

Dominic Sestito HH        5       236    80       8     .900       1.73

Lucas Bennett    PW        5      254    125     13   .896       2.61

Matthew Evangelist Ab  11    565    482     63   .869      5.69 

Eric Miller HH                   7      357  144       19   .868       2.71

Flyers Cup Rankings 1-26-26

The Flyers Cup Committee has released its second and last set of rankings for the 2025-26 regular season. The rankings are based on on-ice performance and the evaluations of members of the committee.

The field for the 47th Flyers Cup Tournament will be announced on the evening of Sunday, February 22.

Class AAA

  1. Holy Ghost Prep
  2. St. Joseph’s Prep
  3. Malvern Prep
  4. La Salle
  5. Father Judge

Class AA

  1. North Penn
  2. Council Rock South
  3. Boyertown
  4. Conestoga
  5. Owen J. Roberts

Class A

  1. Hershey
  2. Kennett
  3. Pernncrest
  4. Marple Newtown
  5. Hatboro-Horsham

Girls

  1. Avon Grove
  2. Downingtown West
  3. Lower Merion Maroon
  4. Conestoga
  5. West Chester East

Wissahickon 8 Springfield 5

Wissahickon and Springfield have labored in obscurity much of the season, their efforts limited by roster size. Hatboro-Horsham and Plymouth Whitemarsh have dominated the SHSHL’s American Division, leaving the Spartans, the Trojans (and Abington) in their wake.

But on Thursday night, the Trojans and Spartans were able to compete on an equal footing. The result was an 8-5 Wissahickon win at Hatfield Ice that added to the festive mood on the Trojans’ Senior Night and not incidentally tightened their hold on the third and final American Division playoff slot.

The win improved Wissahickon to 4-7 overall and in the division while Springfield fell to 3-8 overall and 3-7 in divisional play.

The result also allowed Wissahickon to avenge a 10-0 loss to the Spartans on November 20; the teams are scheduled to face each other on two additional occasions before the regular season concludes next month.
Joseph Gambino, one of Wissahickon’s captains, spoke of what the victory meant to him and his teammates and the experience they’re having this season

“This group definitely isn’t the most talented,” he said, “but we have the most heart. Last year on Senior Night we couldn’t get it done for them. It was a heartbreaking OT loss that definitely motivated us this year.

“We came prepared, suits and ties and ready to play and we came out and proved it today. I think that was our best game of the year.”

Wardrobes aside, Wissahickon got contributions from multiple sources. Mack Risnychok had a five-point night with four goals and an assist. Gambino added two goals and an assist while Chase McClintic delivered two goals. Logan Dicus, one of five seniors in the Trojan lineup, chipped in with two assists.

“Like any team I guess eight now, we have a short bench,” said Wissahickon coach James Rumsey. “Each one of them did their part. They all did something special to come out and take the win.”

The teams traded goals for most of the first two periods a before McClintic and Risnychok scored goals 82 seconds apart to put Wissahickon up 6-4 with four minutes left in the second period. Gambino’s goal 3:05 into the third frame have his team some additional breathing room.

Grayson Quinn had a hand in every Springfield goal; he scored their first and added four assists after that.

“After the first period it was 2-2 and each team had nine shots,” said Springfield coach Don Quinn. “You can’t get more even than that.

“We traded goals back and forth and then they took advantage of some mistakes and the net thing.” you know, it’s 8-4.”

Quinn notes his team has some critical games coming over the final month of the regular season.

“We know P-W and Hatboro-Horsham kind of have those one and two positions in our league,” he said. “It’s between us, Wissahickon, and Abington to get that final spot.”

 Wissahickon 2 4 2—8

Springfield 2 2 1—5

First-period goals: Mack Risnychok (W) from Logan Honeycutt, 4:41 (pp); Grayson Quinn (S) from Richard Belles, 12:38 Owen Campbell (S) from Grayson Quinn, 14:36; Risnychok (W) from Dryden Jaisle and Logan Dicus, 16:50

Second-period goals: Lincoln Coleman (S) from Quinn, :30; Chase McClintic (W) from Dicus, 5:21; Joseph Gambino (W) from Honeycutt, 7:45; John Barr (S) from Quinn, 9:06; McClintic (W) from Risynchok and Jaisle 11:38 Risnychok (W) unassisted, 13:00

Third-period goals: Gambino (W) from Link Matozzo, 3:05; Gavin McManus (S) from Bennett Warman and Quinn, 5:04;  Risnychok (W) from Gambino, 5:57

Shots: Wissahickon 30, Springfield 29; Saves: Fletcher Lynch (W) 24, Emmett Kline (S) 22

St. Joseph’s Prep 1 Malvern Prep 0 (shootout)

St. Joseph’s Prep 1 Malvern Prep 0 (Shootout)

Bradan Fisher scored the only goal of a shootout and that was the difference between St. Joseph’s Prep and Malvern Prep Thursday night in an APAC game at Ice Line

The Hawks’ Declan Geary and the Friars’ Ryan Caterino were perfect in regulation, stopping 52 shots between them.

St. Joseph’s Prep improved to 13-5 overall and 3-3 in the APAC.

“It was a big win for us coming don the stretch of APAC play,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula. I thought we played better than we did against Malvern a couple weeks ago but we still haven’t quite found our groove.”

Malvern Prep stands at 4-9-2 overall and 2-5 in conference.

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 0 0 (1)—1

Malvern Prep 0 0 0 0 (0)—0

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 28, Malvern Prep 24

Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 24, Ryan Caterino (MP) 28