Holy Ghost Prep Falls in Jamestown Finale

Holy Ghost Prep fell to Culver (Ind.) Academy 5-1 Sunday morning in the semifinal round of the National Scholastic Invitational Showcase in Jamestown, New York.

Braedon Baehser gave the Firebirds (6-3) a 1-0 first period lead before Patrick Brandeberg and Andrew Douglass scored second-period goals for Culver Academy. Michael Sobaski extended Culver Academy’s lead with a goal in the third period before Matthew Peterson added two additional goals.

Culver Academy went on to the championship game and fell to Erie Cathedral Prep 4-3.

Holy Ghost Prep Wins in Jamestown

Four different players scored goals as Holy Ghost Prep defeated University School (Ohio) 4-0 Saturday evening in the National Scholastic Invitational Showcase in Jamestown, N.Y.

Braedon Braehser,Sean Marshall, Evan Mudrick, and Eric Pohl scvcored the goals as the Firebirds prevailed for the third time in two days. Sean Joyce earned the win in goal by stopping all 32 shots he faced.

The Firebirds (6-2 overall) will play a semifinal game Sunday morning and possibly a championship game in the afternoon.

Brandon Baesher scored twice as Holy Ghost Prep defeated Bethel Park (Pa.) 6-0 Saturday afternoon in the second round of the National Scholastic Invitational Showcase in Jamestown, N.Y.

The Firebirds have won their first two starts on the trip.

Byron Hartley, John Connelly, Anthony Sparo, and Landon Stoudt also scored goals.

Bobby Baehser earned the shutout in goal by stopping 16 shots.

Plymouth Whitemarsh 13, Hatboro-Horsham 3

HATFIELD—Plymouth Whitemarsh took the ice Friday night immersed in a cauldron of emotion. Senior Colin Franzoni was in uniform in the wake of the recent death of his mother from. On this night, the rink was his sanctuary, his teammates his support system.

It was somehow fitting that Franzoni scored the first goal of the game just 18 seconds after the opening faceoff. The Colonials went on to score seven goals in the first period and went on to a 13-3 win in a game that was halted via the 10-goal mercy rule with 3:40 remaining in the third period.

The win lofted Plymouth Whitemarsh to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Suburban High School Hockey League’s American Division. The loss was the first after five wins for the Hatters, who were opening their conference schedule.

There were some impressive numbers on the scoresheet. Aidan Keogh scored three goals for the Colonials and added five assists. He has now compiled 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in six games. Jake Weikel also had a had trick and three assists. Luke Weikel provided two goals and two assists. Dean Keller scored twice.

Franzoni added a second goal himself but what was most memorable about the evening was how his teammates supported him.

Keller is the Colonials’ captain. “It was obviously a tough week,” he said. “We lost someone who was really close to us and we put it all out on the ice for them and I’m proud of every one of (his teammates). It was just a great overall team win.”

Keller describes the Colonials as a close-knit group. “This is one of the closest hockey teams I’ve ever played on,” he said. I’m happy to say that; this is one of the best years of my life.”

It was an emotional evening for Colonial coach Josh Aiello. Prior to the game the Colonials’ middle-school team practiced and visited the varsity dressing room and the Plymouth Whitemarsh junior varsity team took the ice following the varsity contest.

“It’s pretty cool being involved with this team,” Aiello said. “Because they’re really young men, it’s not like they’re children. I guess technically by age they are, but they’re very nature for their age. They’re very goal oriented and if anything happens, they have each other’s backs. It’s a great group and I’m privileged to be involved.”

Seth Lerner, Tarek Elsbbagh, and Ben Lerner scored the Hatboro-Horsham goals.

Hatboro-Horsham 1 2 0—3

Plymouth Whitemarsh 7 3 3—13

First-period goals: Colin Franzoni (PW) from Zach Spera, :18; Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh, 1:29; Seth Lerner (HH) from Alex Howieson and Nick Maslij, 2:13; Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh and Luke Weikel, 2:37; Dean Keller (PW) from Conor Keogh, 4:58 (pp) Aidan Keogh (PW) from Jake Weikel, 10:50; Luke Weikel (PW) from Jake Weikel and Keogh, 12:21; Keller (PW) unassisted, 12:32.

Second-period goals: Tarek Elsabbah (HH) from Seth Lerner, 1:19; Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh and Conlan Carpenter, 2:21; Ben Lerner (HH) unassisted, 8:29 (sh); Franzoni (PW) from Keller, 14:03 (pp); Spera (PW) from Dean, 14:21.

Third-period goals: Aidan Keogh, from Luke Weikel and Spencer Reilly, 3:48 (pp); Aidan Keogh (PW) from Jake Weikel, 10:49; Luke Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh, 12:20.

Game called at 12:20 of the third period.

Additional Score

Holy Ghost Prep 7, Glenbrook South, Illinois 3—Byron Hartley scored two goals as the Firebirds prevailed in the opening round of the National Scholastic Invitational in Jamestown, N.Y.

Abington 5, Souderton 4 OT

HATFIELD— What played out at Hatfield Ice Thursday night was a splendid advertisement for high-school hockey. Abington and Souderton feature two of the youngest lineups in the Suburban High School Hockey League and both have been going through some early season growing pains.

But they battled hard against each other before Colin Bruton’s goal with 52 seconds remaining in overtime gave Abington a 5-4 win.

The result allowed the Galloping Ghosts to square their league mark at 1-1 (2-3 overall) and they had to climb out of a hole to do it. Tom Rourke drew a tripping penalty with 1:36 left in regulation so Souderton (0-6, 0-4) started the three-on-three overtime session with a 24-second four skaters to three advantage. The Indians had the better of the play for much of the extra period but got caught in a change, allowing Bruton to find open space up the middle of the ice and beat Souderton goaltender Noah Connor.

After giving up 31 goals in their previous four games, three of them losses, Thursday’s effort was a step forward for a young Abington team finding its way.

“We’ve got 15 freshmen and sophomores on the team,” said Abington coach Ken Brzozowski. “We have no seniors. So, as I was just saying to them now in the locker room, this is a character builder for us, and hopefully we can take, and build, a little momentum with it and see what it does for us as the season goes on.”

Outside the other dressing room, Souderton coach Ryan Uchniat was expressing many of the same positive sentiments despite the defeat. “I was very happy with the game out there,” he said. “It was back and forth, it was competitive. I thought both teams skated well, they skated hard. And neither team gave up until the very end.”

The Indians didn’t have a lot of experience with three-on-three overtime, which is being used in club hockey this season as well as the SHSHL. “There was a little bit of a mixup with a change at the end of the game,” Uchniat said, and they capitalized on it. I’ve got to give it up that team, I think they’ve got nine or 10 freshmen on that team and they’ve got a good program moving forward.”

Tyler MacPhee delivered a hat trick for Souderton in the loss. He and Rourke traded early goals before Sean Faye gave the Galloping Ghosts a 2-1 lead with 2:51 left in the first period. Liam O’ Neill tied the game for Souderton with a shorthanded goal 6:22 into the second session before Joe Stelacio and Griffin Carpenter scored goals 56 second apart to give Abington a 4-2 lead with 6:22 left in the period. MacPhee scored his second goal with 2:28 left the second period and completed his hat trick with a shorthanded effort 1:34 into the third.

Abington 2 2 0 1—5
Souderton 1 2 1 0—4
First-period goals: Tom Rourke (A) from Joe Stelacio and Griffin Carpenter, 5:08; Tyler McPhee (S) unassisted, 6:33; Sean Faye (A) from Sam Paulik and Carpenter, 13:09.
Second-period goals: Liam O’ Neill (S) from McPhee, 6:22 (sh); Stelacio (A) unassisted, 7:32; Carpenter (A) from Stelacio and Rourke, 9:38; MacPhee (S) unassisted, 13:32.
Third-period goals: MacPhee (S) unassisted, 1:34.
Overtime goal: Colin Bruton (A) unassisted, 4:08
Shots: Abington 35, Souderton 35; Saves: Ben Panella (A) 31, Noah Connor (S) 30

Other Scores from 12-5

C.B. West 11, William Tennent 3—Daniel Police had a hat trick for the Bucks

North Penn 8, Pennsbury 3—Tony Tuozzo had a hat trick for the Knights, who put the game away with four goals in the third period. Josh Kaufhold scored twice. Tuozzo, Kaufhold, Tyler Greenstein, and Luke Van Why all had four-point nights.

Lower Moreland vs. Wissahckon

APAC Update 12-3-19

Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference

W L OW OL Pts GF GA

St. Joseph’s Prep (4-4) 3 0 0 1 10 16 12

Malvern Prep (3-4) 2 2 0 1 7 22 23

Holy Ghost Prep (7-3) 2 2 0 0 6 17 13

LaSalle (4-5) 0 2 1 0 2 14 9

Game of Wednesday, December 11

Holy Ghost Prep 7, Malvern Prep 4

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!

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William Tennent 4, Council Rock North 3

WARWICK—Persistence and resolve paid off for William Tennent Wednesday night. Down by two goals entering the third period, the Panthers rallied for a 4-3 win over Council Rock North in. Suburban High School Hockey League Class AA encounter at Revolution Ice Gardens.

Tom Hartenstein’s goal with 52 seconds left in regulation capped a three-goal third frame as the Panthers squared their league record at 1-1 (3-2 overall).

Tennent’s resurgence came after coach Nick D’Aurizio gave his troops a talking to after the second period.

‘We challenged the guys and they responded,” he said. “That’s what being a high-school coach is all about, or just a coach in general. Challenging guys when you’re not getting the results that you want and challenging guys to be better than the status quo.”

Hartenstein’s goal came off a deflection in front of the North net; he deposited the puck over the left shoulder of North netminder Rex Goldberg.

”I think this win was one of (our) most important wins,” the senior said. “This was a team very similar to ours and they’re in our division. We really needed that to get ahead of them.”

Council Rick North (1-5, 0-4) took a 3-1 lead after two periods on goals from Wyatt Pasch, Colin Kiefer, and Vlad Litvinov. Kiefer and Litvinov both scored on second-period power play; the Indians needed just 20 seconds of power play time to score the two goals. Anthony Catalo got Tennent on the board with a goal in the first period.

Goldberg meanwhile was magnificent in goal. He made 24 saves over the first two periods and finished the 48-minute game with 41 saves.

“He did a heck of a job tonight said North assistant coach Mike Epstein. We were outshot two to one (actually 45-25) but yet we were in the game until the last 30 seconds of the game.”

Tennent started its comeback when Matthew Castan scored 5:50 into the third period. Zach Devor tied the game at the 11:49 mark to set up the finale.

Through it all, Tennent goaltender Trey Smith was stalwart. So was the defense in front of him which limited the Indians to five shots in the third period.

Hartenstein had two assists to go with his game-winning goal. He says part of the Panthers’ early season success can be attributed to the youth in the lineup. “The fact that they don’t have a JV team, that they’re playing varsity right now is really impressive,” he said. “They’re really stepping it up. I’m proud of them, they’re doing their part.

Council Rock North 1 2 0—3

William Tennent 1 0 3—4

First-period goals: Wyatt Pasch (CRN) from Noah Epstein and Jude Hollister,m 6:57; Anthony Cattalo (WT) from Tom Hartenstein, 15:37.

Second-period goals: Colin Kiefer (CRN) from Vlad Litvinov and Epstein, 6:29 (pp); Litvinov (CRN) from Wilton Pasch, 13:20 (pp).

Third -period goals: Matt Castan (WT) from Jonathan Kreider, 5:50; Zach Devor (WT) from Hartenstein, 11;49; Hartenstein (WT) from Kreider, 15:08.

Shots: Council Rock 25, William Tennent 45; Saves: Rex Goldberg (CRN) 41, Wyatt Smith (WT) 22.

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 scores

Hun School 6, La Salle 3

Princeton Day 6, St Joseph’s Prep 3

Pennridge 9, Upper Dublin 2,

C.B. South 10, Souderton 0

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Flyers Kick Off Holiday Season by Launching Toy Drive

All Toys to Be Donated to the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia for Families in Need

Philadelphia, PA (December 2, 2019) – As the season of giving commences, the Philadelphia Flyers announce their annual Holiday Toy Drive presented by Nissan. The club is encouraging fans to bring new and unwrapped toys to select home games in December. Toys will be delivered to the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia to benefit less fortunate children and teens throughout the region.

Collection bins for donations will be available at all entrances at the Wells Fargo Center at the following games:

– Thursday, December 5 vs. Arizona Coyotes

– Saturday, December 7 vs. Ottawa Senators

– Tuesday, December 17 vs. Anaheim Ducks

– Thursday, December 19 vs. Buffalo Sabres

Additionally, collection bins will be available at local Nissan dealerships and all SkateZone locations.

The Toy Drive will culminate with a festive toy drop off and sorting session at the Greater Philadelphia Salvation Army Foster Care Center with Gritty leading the charge on December 20, backed by Flyers Wives and front office staff members.

More Than a Hockey Trip

Sometime Thursday morning the Holy Ghost Prep hockey team will head north on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the direction of Jamestown, New York where it will compete in the National Scholastic Invitational Scholastic Showcase this weekend.

The Firebirds are scheduled to face Glenbrook South (Illinois) Friday afternoon and Bethel Park (Pa.) and University School (Ohio) on Saturday; they could also see action on Sunday.

The Showcase is a regular stop for the Firebirds each season. The 16-team tournament features some top-flight high school teams but the trip is about a lot more than hockey. The weekend is structured to allow the players, regardless of their academic standing or the amount of ice time they have earned, to bond and get to know one another as people.

Junior defenseman E.J. Pohl is one of the Firebirds alternate captains. “It’s a tournament” he said, “and we obviously want to win games up there, but it’s a lot more than that. It’s more about brotherhood and coming together as a team and for me I didn’t really feel like I belonged until after the Jamestown trip my freshman year.”

Pohl recalls his anxiety when he made his first trip to Jamestown two years ago. “Obviously, I was afraid,” he said. “I was one of the younger kids on the team but after the Jamestown trip I felt like we really came together as a team and I felt more involved and like I mattered and had a place on the team.”

Pohl points out that weekend is about togetherness, on and off the ice. “We all hang out together as one,” he said, “whether we’re hanging out together, eating together playing together. It’s freshmen seniors, juniors, sophomores all hanging out together as one. And I think building relationships with those older kids really helped me to grow, as a person on the team and as a player.”

Pohl, who is carrying a 4.3 academic average on a 4.0 scale at Holy Ghost Prep, reflects on how his role with the team has evolved from anxious but eager newcomer to a veteran leader.

“Before, it was exciting for me,” he said, “but I didn’t really feel like people relied on me. I could rely on other people for help to grow, but now I feel like I’m in that role where people are looking up to me, so I’m looking to set a good example, on the ice and off the ice.

“I’m excited to get to know the freshmen and the younger people more and hopefully do the same as the older captains from the last two years did for me and bring them into the team and make them feel that they have a spot and they matter, because they do.”

E.J. Pohl (photo provided by Chris Paul)

Pohl notes that receiving positive reinforcement from a teammate can be more meaningful to a younger player that getting those same assurances from a coach. “It means something from the coaches but when you hear it from your peers it means a lot more,” he said. “Because you know the people you’re working alongside are rooting for you as much as you’re rooting for them,”

That mindset is in keeping with the core philosophy at Holy Ghost Prep which was founded by the Spiritans as a prep school and junior college seminary in 1897 (it became Holy Ghost Prep in 1968) and teaches its students that success is measured by the ability to help others.

“The brotherhood that we often talk about, that we have at Ghost, definitely fits into this trip a lot,” Pohl said. “Building that brotherhood with our younger teammates and even the older ones coming together as one, it definitely fits into that one goal, one team mindset that we have.”

By Rick Woelfel

For more information about Holy Ghost Prep CLICK HERE