BRISTOL— Winning hockey games is much easier if a team starts out three goals to the good. That’s what happened to Holy Ghost Prep Wednesday afternoon.
The Firebirds scored three first-period goals in span of just under eight minutes and went on to a 7-4 Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference win at Hatfield Ice.
Byron Hartley scored four goals for the Firebirds, who improved to 7-3 overall and 2-2 in the APAC.
It was a big win for Holy Ghost Prep on a number of levels. It was the Firebirds’ first start since reaching the semifinals of the National Scholastic Invitational Showcase cover the weekend. It was also the first meeting between the two schools since the Friars (3-4, 2-2-0-1 in the APAC) scored four times in the third period to post a 5-4 win on November 11.
“This was huge win,” Hartley said, “this was a statement win that the first game was just a fluke. We have lines one through four that are able to score and play defense. We’re very happy with ourselves but we’re not done yet.”
Holy Ghost Prep’s number-one line, Hartley, Evan Mudrick, and Anthony Sparo, took on much of the offensive load. Together the trio accumulated 13 points. Hartley had two assists to go with his four goals. Mudrick provided two goals and two assists while Sparo contributed three assists.
Hartley got things started at the 3:25 mark of the opening period with help from Mudrick and Dan Behry before making it a 2-0 game by himself just 16 seconds later. Mudrick scored off assists from his two linemates at 11:23 to give his team a three-goal lead.
After Brady Baesher made it 4-0 3:32 into the second frame, the Friars got on the board with goals from Jack Constabile and Matt Harris to make it a 4-2 game with 4:05 left in the period.
Malvern Prep’s Jack Constabile (in blue) and Holy Ghost Prep’s Byron Hartley (in white) take a faceoff in Wednesday’s APAC game. Photo by Gracie Cleveland.
But Hartley completed his hat trick 4:09 into the third and his team went on to score two additional goals to put the game out of reach.
““It’s never good when a team goes down 3-0,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “We’ve been put in that position a lot this year and it’s hard to come out of it. It was nice to see our boys get a couple in response, but It’s hard to win games when you get put in hole like that.”
Junior Bobby Baehser got the win in goal.
“He played great,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. Booby Baehser is a great teammate, and just a solid effort tonight between the pipes.”
Malvern Prep 0 2 2—4
Holy Ghost Prep 3 1 3—7
First-period goals: Byron Hartley (HGP) from Evan Mudrick and E.J. Pohl, 3:25; Hartley (HGP) unassisted, 3:41; Mudrick (HGP) from Hartley and Anthony Sparo, 11:23.
Second-period goals: Brady Baehser (HGP) from Colin Moore, 3:32; Jack Constabile (MP) from Quinn Dougherty, 4:05; Matt Harris (MP) from Constabile, 11:55.
Third-period goals: Hartley (HGP) from Mudrick and Sparo, 4:09; Kyle Dorman (MP) from Constabile, 6:19; Mudrick (HGP) from Hartley and Sparo; Harrison Campbell (MP) unassisted, 15:10; Harley (HGP) unassisted, 15:49 (pp).
Shots: Malvern Prep 22, Holy Ghost Prep 30; Saves: Anthony Perti (MP) 23, Bobby Baeher (HGP) 18.
The Grundy Skate Shop is a full-service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services. We do a range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. Owner Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Please visit our Facebook page or stop in and check us out!
Other Wednesday scores
C.B. West 4, Pennridge 3
Hatboro-Horsham 8, Wissahickon 2
Council Rock South 10, Souderton 0
Pennsbury vs. Quakertown
Neshamainy vs. William Tennent
Hockey Happenings 