Holy Ghost Prep 2, La Salle 1

BRISTOL—If familiarity doesn’t breed contempt it certainly breeds a certain amount of hostility. Friday’s game between La Salle and Holy Ghost Prep was the third of the season between the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference rivals and Grundy Arena was filled to the brim with emotional energy.

Anthony Sparo’s goal with 8:28 left in regulation was the difference in the Firebirds’ 2-1 win. The win moved Holy Ghost Prep into first place in the APAC with a 4-3-1-0 league mark for 14 points, one point in front of St. Joseph’s Prep, which has a game in hand.

La Salle dropped to 9-14 overall and 1-3-2-1 in conference play.

“There was a lot of emotion,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “Two very good hockey teams, great energy in the building tonight. Just happy to get out of here with a win.”

The Explorers’ Chris Wnek opened the scoring 3:15 into the first periods off a feed from David Kimmel.

Early in the second frame the Firebirds found themselves with an opportunity to draw even when they were presented with an 83-second two-man advantage. EJ. Pohl thought he had tied the game at the 2:11 mark with a shot from the right wing but the referee ruled the puck hit the post and did not cross the goal line and the Explorers killed off the remainder of both penalties. A few minutes later, Sean Joyce made a pair of big saves seconds apart to keep it a one-goal game,

The Firebirds did tie the game with a minute left in the period when Brady Baehser scored on an effort that got through a pile of players in front of the net and past La Salle netminder Matthew Bant.

The two teams started the third period on fresh ice and if anything, the pace of play picked up.

Sparo’s game-winning goal came off a left-circle faceoff in the offensive zone.

With 1:29 left in the game the emotions of the evening boiled over when La Salle’s Andrew Budzynski was called for cross checking. Moments later it appeared the Explorers’ Max Maddalo was knocked into the boards but no additional penalties were called and La Salle skated a man short until the Explorers’ Nathan Benner and the Firebirds’ Dan Behr got into a scuffle with eight seconds to go that led to five additional penalties.

La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner was unavailable for comment following the game.

Notes—Brant stopped 39 shots in the La Salle net … La Salle will close its conference campaign at Malvern Prep Monday night … Holy Ghost Prep will host St. Joseph’s Prep Wednesday afternoon. A regulation win would give the Firebirds the APAC regular-season title.

La Sallle 1 0 0—1
Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 1—2
First-period goal: Chris Wnek (L) from David Kimmel, 3:15;
Second-period goal: Brady Baehser (HGP) from Aidan Mulholland, 15:00 (pp)
Third-period goal: Anthony Sparo (HGP) unassisted, 7:32
Shots: La Salle 16, Holy Ghost Prep 41; Saves: Matthew Brant (L) 39, Sean Joyce (HGP) 15

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Neshaminy 5, Pennsbury 2

BRISTOL— The atmosphere resembled that of a Flyers Cup game, Which was not surprising; any contest between Pennsbury and Neshaminy, whatever the sport, is sure to be crackling with intensity.

It was Neshaminy that had the better of things Thursday night, 5-2 in a SHSHL Class AA Division game before a large and energetic audience at Grundy Arena. Joey DeMatteo scored three goals to help the Skins (9-3, 7-2 in divisional play) avenge a Thanksgiving Eve loss to the Falcons (8-4-1, 4-4-1)

The game was tight for 32 minutes before Neshaminy scored three goals in the third frame.

Neshaminy coach Matt DeMatteo said his team responded to the emotions of the evening without being overwhelmed by those emotions.

“We’re still a bit of a younger team,” he said. “We only have three seniors and part of learning how to win is learning how to play mature, and learning how to play the way the game dictates.”

The first period was played on even terms with the ‘Skins looking for open ice while the Falcons employed a dump-and-chase strategy. Neshaminy’s Robert Seewagen scored the period’s only goal with 40 seconds remaining off a Pennsbury turnover, It was one of a series of miscues that hurt the Falcons’ cause and undermined a solid performance by Topher Seiler, their goaltender.

“Our goalie stood on top of his head,” said Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley. “He couldn’t have played any better.”

Thomas Gallagher extended Neshaminy’s lead 1:40 into the second period when he found open space in the right circle and put the puck in the top right corner of the net. Erik Eisler answered back at 11:46 to make it a one-goal game heading into the third period.

Joey DeMatteo took over from there, scoring twice in a seven-minute span to put his team up 4-1 with 6:44 left in regulation. Eisler scored his second goal of the game on a power play with 4:57 left but DeMatteo fired the puck into an empty net with 37 seconds remaining.

The senior said his team took a different approach to the rematch with the Falcons. “We focused on emotion way too much in that game,” he said, “and we just kind of put all that aside and just played the game and focused on the game.”

Neshaminy came into the game ranked sixth in the Class AA Flyers Cup power rankings. The Falcons were ranked 10th this week.

Pennsbury 0 1 1—2
Neshaminy 1 1 3—5
First-period goal: Robert Seewagen (N) unassisted, 15:20.
Second-period goals: Thomas Gallagher (N) from Trevor Kuhn, 1:40; Erik Eisler (P) from Beau Bruslius and Ben Dous, 11:46.
Third-period goals: Joey DeMatteo (N) unassisted, 2:15; DeMatteo (N) from J.J. Hathaway and Matt Buchinski, 9:16; Eisler (P) unassisted, 11:03 (pp); DeMatteo (N) from Michael Knipple, 15:23 (en).
Shots: Pennsbury 21, Neshaminy 38; Saves: Topher Seiler (P) 33, Brian Nelson (N) 19

Volunteers Needed for Learn to Skate Program

The Andrew L. Hicks Jr. Foundation is seeking volunteers for its 10^thannual Learn to Skate event, which will be held on Sunday, March 29 from 4:00-7:00 at the Ice Line rink on Lawrence Road in West Chester. It is an opportunity for youngers from Chester in grades 3-5 to learn what ice skating is all about.

If you’re interested in helping out at the event, go to:
http://www.andrewlhicksjrfoundation.org/open-events/learn-skate-volunteer-registration/

Or contact Event Coordinator Julie Bernard at julie@alhjr.org or at:

1-866-ALHJR10 Ext #3 or at 215-823-9726 – cell

Central Bucks East 5, Central Bucks West 0

HATFIELD— Central Bucks East did a lot of things well on Wednesday night. The Patriots strengthened their case for a place in the Class AA Flyers Cup field with a 5-0 win over Central Bucks West at Hatfield Ice in a SHSHL matchup. Sean Gorman scored twice for East, which is now 9-2-1-1 overall and 6-2-1-1 in divisional play. They were ranked 10th in the Flyers Cup power rankings at the start of the week.

Sean Gorman scored twice for the Patriots, but the evening will be remembered for what happened at the other end of the ice, where Chris McIntyre was perfect. He saw 55 shots and turned aside every one of them.

“I don’s think in all my years of coaching I ever saw a team get (55) shots and not win,” said West coach Dave Baun, “let alone lose 5-0.”

The Bucks (6-4-2-1, 3-4-2-0 in the division) didn’t make it easy on McIntyre. Many of their shots were dangerous and several we’re from point-blank range. But the junior was more than equal to the task.

“He was technically superb,” Baun said.

It was Senior Night for both schools but McIntyre didn’t prepare any differently than usual. “I try to be sharp for every game,” he said, “prepare the same for every game, even if I’m not playing. Every game is the same.”

Connor Keiser and Phil McIntyre scored first-period goals to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead. Chris McIntyre signaled what was to come when he denied Jake Lang on a breakaway with just over five minutes left in the period. Lang is the leading scorer in the SHSHL’s Class AA division.

The Bucks had a chance to get back in the game six-and-a-half minutes into the middle period when back-to back penalties to Max Ermigiotti and Marc Green gave them a two-man advantage for 1 minute, 39 seconds. West failed to score however and Keiser added his second goal of the night nine seconds after the second penalty expired to make it a 3-0 game.

Gorman added two goals in the third period. The final shot totals were 55-33. In the Bucks’ favor. West failed to score despite having six power-play chances.

That statistic was a concern to East coach Ken Latchum. “Your goalkeeper makes up for your mistakes,” he said, “and he made up for every one of them.””

With Flyers Cup selection Sunday now three-and-a-half weeks out, Latchum senses his team is getting more focused. “We’re starting to hit a good stride,” he said, “a very good stride. “Tonight they were hyped, they were playing as a team.

“I thought our first period was probably our best period. (Then) we started taking penalties.”
C.B. East 2 1 2—5
C.B. West 0 0 0—0
First-period goals: Connor Keiser (CBE) from Ian Treger, 5:24; Phil McIntyre (CBE) from Sean Gorman, 8:22.
Second-period goals: Conner Keiser (CBE) unassisted, 8:31.
Third-period goals: Sean Gorman (CBE) from Max Ermigiotti, 12:21; Gorman (CBE) unassisted,14:06.
Shots: C.B. East 33, C.B. West 55; Saves: Chris McIntyre (CBE) 55, Jake Coddington (CBW) 28

Princeton Day School 3, Malvern Prep 2

WEST GOSHEN— Coaches talk a lot as out staying out of the penalty box. Malvern Prep was unable to do that Monday afternoon and that proved to be its undoing.
John Oliver’s power-play goal with 2:16 left in the third period gave Princeton Day school a 3-2 win over the Friars in a non-league matchup Ice Line.

Oliver’s game winner was the second power play goal of the game for the Panthers (6-6) who compete in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League. Malvern Prep (6-7) was accessed all five penalties that were called in the game, all of them minors. Two of them came back-to-back late in the third period. As a result, the Friars’ Jack Constabile found himself in the box for four minutes over the final 5:29 of the game.

Princeton Day School’s Drew McConaughy (in gray) and Malvern Prep’s Caimin Hayes battle for the puck. (Photo by Gracie Cleveland)

Constabile opened the scoring when he got the Friars on the board 12:02 into the first period of a setup from Ryan Sambuco. Malvern Prep extended its lead 57 seconds into the second frame when Sambuco beat Panther goaltender Timothy Miller on a shot from the left circle.

The Panthers responded at the 5::03 mark when Luke Austinacci scored a power-play goal and tied the game at the 13:13 mark when Drew McConaughy found the back of the net.

Both teams had opportunities in the third period but Miller and the Friars’ Anthony Perti were up to the task of protecting their nets. Constabile was sent to the box for a check from behind with 5:29 left in the third period. Just 10 seconds after stepping back on the ice he was boxed again, this time for tripping; the second infraction led to Oliver’s game-winning goal.

“Anytime you go down and take penalties, it’s hard to get a rhythm going,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “We started to click well there at the beginning of the third period, but two late penalties hurt us.”

With an eye toward the end of the season, the Friars will now regroup and refocus, Three regular season games remain, including the APAC finale against La Salle next Monday night.

“The couple games we’ve taken some shifts off,” Keenan said, “but I think we’re headed in the right direction,”

Keenan points out that the conference race has been a wide open one so far this season; he does not expect that to change. “(The league) had four strong teams and we know we very time we go up against one of those teams it’s going to be a battle,” he said. “We’re just hoping that e can start clicking at the right time and hopefully go far.”

Princeton Day School 0 2 1—3
Malvern Prep 1 1 0—2
First-period goals: Jack Constabile (MP) from Ryan Sambuco, 12:02
Second-period goals: Sambuco (MP) from Chris Blango, :57; Luke Austinacci (PDS) from David Sherman, 5:03 (pp); Drew McConaughy (PDS) from Stephan Gorelenkov and Oliver Hall, 13:13
Third-period goals: John Oliver (PS) from Gibson Linnehan and Birch Gorman, 13:44 (pp).
Shots; Princeton Day School 32, Malvern Prep 22; Saves: Timothy Miller (PDS) 20, Anthony Perti (MP) 29

Flyers Cup Power Rankings 1-27-20

The latest edition of the Flyers Cup power rankings include some changes in Class AAA. La Salle, the defending Flyers Cup and state champion, has moved to the top of the rankings thanks to a 5-4 shootout win over St. Joseph’s Prep last Friday.

For more details on the 2020 Flyers Cup tournament CLICK HERE.

And check out our Flyers Cup podcast. A new episode will be posted each Friday.

Class AAA

LaSalle (6-2-0-1)
St. Joseph’s Prep (6-0-0-4)
Holy Ghost Prep (6-3-0-0)
Malvern Prep (6-4-0-0)
Father Judge (11-5-0-0)

Class AA

Central Bucks South (10-0-0-1)
Haverford (14-1-0-0)
Perkiomen Valley (10-2-0-1)
North Penn (7-2-0-0)
Downingtown West (8-5-0-1)
Neshaminy (8-3-0-0-0)
Council Rock South (6-3-0-0)
Boyertown (9-5-1-0)
Central Bucks East (8-2-1-1)
Pennsbury (8-3-1-0)

Class A

West Chester East(12-3-0-0)
Springfield Delco (10-2-0-2)
West Chester Bayard Rustin (8-4-0-2)
Unionville (8-5-0-0)
Palmyra (15-1-0-1)
Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-1-0-0)
Strath Haven (9-3-0-1)
Hershey (11-2-1-2)
West Chester Henderson (5-6-1-1)
Lower Dauphin (10-5-0-0)

NJ/Delaware

Eastern (11-2-3-0)
Salesianum (7-6-1-1)
Moorsetown (8-4-5-0)
Appoquinimimk (11-1-0-2)
Cherokee (7-5-4-0)

The girls’ rankings were be updated this week due to a scarcity of games.

Last week’s rankings were as follows:

Girls

Bux-Mont Catholic (10-1-0-0)
Unionville (8-2-0-2)
Avon Grove (8-3-0-1)
West Chester East (3-7-0-0)

Founders Cup Playoff Dates Set

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has finalized the dates for its Founders Cup playoffs. All four teams will participate in the semifinals on Monday, February 24^thwith the top seed hosting the fourth-place finisher and the second seed hosting the third seed.

The championship game will be played on Wednesday, February 26 and will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.

La Salle is the defending Founders Cup champion.

SHSHL Update

Includes results reported through game of 1-24-2020

Class AA W L T OTL Pts

C.B. South (10-0-0-1) 8 0 0 0 16

North Penn (7-2-0-0) 6 0 0 0 12

C.R. South (6-4-0-0) 6 1 0 0 12

Neshaminy (8-3-0-0) 6 2 0 0 12

C.B. East (8-2-1-1) 5 2 1 1 12

Pennsbury (8-3-1-0) 4 3 1 0 9

Pennridge (7-5-0-0) 4 4 0 0 8

C.B. West (6-3-2-1)) 3 3 2 0 8

Souderton (3-8-1-1) 3 4 1 1 8

William Tennent (4-7-0-1) 2 5 0 1 5

Abington (2-9-0-0) 1 6 0 0 2

Quakertown (1-9-1-0) 0 6 1 0 1

Council Rock North (1-12-0-0) 0 9 0 0 0

Class A W L T OTL Pts

Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-1-0-0) 8 0 0 0 16

Wissahickon (8-6-0-0) 6 4 0 0 12

Hatboro-Horsham (10-3-0-1) 5 2 0 1 11

Lower Moreland (1-11-0-0) 1 6 0 0 2

Truman (0-12-0-0) 0 7 0 0 0

Standings are calculated as follows

2 points for a win whether in regulation or OT

1 point for a tie or overtime loss

If a game is tied at the end of regulation there will be five minutes of three-on-three overtime. If the game is still tied it will be recorded as a tie game.

The shootout will not be used

Scoring

Class AA G A Pts

Jake Lang (CBW) 24 17 41

Robert Seewagen(Nesh) 20 13 33

Chris Trefz (CBW) 10 22 32

Michael Roby (CRS) 20 11 31

Beau Brusius-Yedman (Pb) 12 15 27

Antii Autere (CRS) 9 18 27

Tyler Greenstein (NP) 9 17 26

Sean Gorman (CBE) 22 3 25

Dominic Patrone (CBS) 11 13 24

Justin Carrelli (WT) 17 7 24

Colin Abbonizio (CBS) 14 10 24

Phil McIntyre (CBE) 10 14 24

Reece Millman (Pb) 14 9 23

Class A G A Pts

Aidan Keogh (PW) 15 24 39

Jake Weikel (PW) 21 14 35

Alex Howieson (HH) 20 15 35

Nicholas Hussa 24 6 30

Dean Keller (PW) 17 13 30

Seth Lerner (HH) 17 12 29

Luke Weikel (PW) 14 14 28

Bryan Gary 17 12 27

Aidan Esack (HH) 11 14 25

Tarek Elsabbagh (HH) 11 10 21

Goals Against

Class AA MP GA GAA

Mason Moyer (CBS) 513 16 1.50

Jimmy Sweeney (CRS) 361 12 1.60

Brian Nelson (Nesh) 428 20 2.24

Chris McIntyre (CBE) 582 28 2.31

Ryan Pico (Pr) 528 31 2.82

Class A MP GA GAA

Ben Yuter (PW 410 24 2.81

Joe Gambimo (HH). 388 39 4.82

Save Percentage

Class AA

MP Shots Svs. SvPct.

Mason Moyer (CBS) 480 237 221 .932

Jimmy Sweeney (CRS)361 151 139 .921

Chris McIntyre (CBE) 582 349 321 .920

Ryan Pico (Pr) 528 291 260 .893

Austin Stoudt (Q)) 475 522 461 .883

Class A MP Shots Saves Sv. Pct

Joe Gambino (HH) 403 306 267 .872

Ben Yuter (PW) 410 182 158 .868

La Salle 5, St. Joseph’s Prep 4 SO

HATFIELD— For anyone with a healthy appetite for hockey, Friday night’s Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference matchup between St.Joseph’s Prep and La Salle was the ultimate buffet. It took a shootout to decide matters, with Nolan Woudenberg’s goal in the bottom of the third round giving the Explorers a 5-4 win.

Before that, the audience at Hatfield Ice had the chance to sample a bit of everything, close checking, first-rate goaltending, and some outstanding individual efforts.

“It was an awesome game to be a part of,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin. “Like I’ve said many times, I think this division is very evenly matched and what you get that day is hopefully great hockey. I think both sides played hard and it was a great game.”

The result Haden impact on the APAC standings. The Explorers improved to 9-12 overall and 1-2-2-1 in conference play. The Hawks are now 10-10 overall and 3-0-0-4 in conference; they’ve taken at least one point from all seven league games.

The result could have have an impact on the Flyers Cup power rankings as well. The Hawks were ranked first, the Explorers second at the start of the week. A new set of rankings will be released on Monday.

All eight of Friday night’s regulation goals came in the last two periods after a scoreless first frame that featured an abundance of close checking as the players on both teams searched in vain for a patch of open ice to work in.

Nolan Woudenberg opened the scoring for La Salle at 11:23 of the middle period. Jake Hannon made a 2-0 game just 28 seconds later but the Hawks got tallies from Paulo Colavita and Dominic Fantozzi in a 29-second pan to draw even with 2:45 left in the period.

The third period was dominated by special teams. The first three of the four goals in the period came on power plays.

The Hawks’ Michael Urbani and the Explorers’ Woudenberg traded goals early on before Andrew Centrella scored on a shot from the right circle to give the Hawks a 4-3 lead with 11:34 left in the game. David Kimmel tied the game for La Salle with 6:44 left in regulation.

The Explorers got a break when the Hawks’ Nick Storti drew an elbowing penalty with 45 seconds left in regulation, one which allowed LaSalle to start the overtime period with a man advantage.

Both goaltenders came up big in the extra session. The Explorers’ Aidan McCabe denied the Hawks’ Matthew Moresco and St. Joseph Prep’s Andrew Custer got the better of Woudenberg. Either play could have ended matters. In the end, Woudenberg provided the winning effort in the shootout.

“It’s a step forward for us,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner. It would have been nice to win in regulation but it was similar to our last game against them. Two pretty evenly matched teams.”

McCabe spoke to the nature of the rivalry between the Explorers and the Hawks. “It’s definitely an easy game to get up for,” he said, and to stay motivated through the whole game. And once you know it’s going into overtime, it’s even easier to focus on. We were able to get the win in the shootout, which is nice.”

Ice Chips—The Explorers won the first meting between the two teams, 4-3 in overtime, on November 20. The two teams will close the regular season against each other on the evening of February 21 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Arena.

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 2 2 0 (1)—4
La Salle 0 2 2 0 (2)—5
Second-period goals: Nolan Woudenberg (L) from Chase Hannon and Jack Armstrong, 11:23 (pp); Jake Hannon (L) from Colin Keiser and David Kimmel, 11:51; Matthew Moresco (SJP) from Paulo Colavita, 13:44; Dominic Fantozzi (SJP) from Jimmy Craig, 14:15.
Third-period goals: Michael Urbani (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond and Craig, 1:29 (pp); Woudenberg (L) from Hannon and Armstrong, 2:32 (pp); Andrew Centrella (SJP) from Hammond and Craig, 5:26 (pp); Kimmel (L) from Keenan Schneider, 10:16.
Shootout goals: SJP: Ben Briskin; L: Max Maddalo and Woudenberg
Shots: SJP 25, La Salle 26; Saves: Andrew Custer (SJP) 22, Aidan McCabe (L) 21

Elsewhere

Holy Ghost Prep 3, St. Augustine 0—The Firebirds bested the Hermits Friday in a non-league game. Landon Stoudt and Anthony Sparo scored in the first period to give the Firebirds a 2-0 lead. Luke Panepresso added an empty net goal in the third period. Sean Joyce made 25 saves in goal.

Check out the Hockey Happenings podcast

APAC Update

Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference Standings

Includes games played and reported through 1-28

W L OW OL Pts GF GA

St. Joseph’s Prep (11-10) 3 0 0 4 13 25 23

Holy Ghost Prep (10-4-1) 3 3 1 0 11 25 21

Malvern Prep (6-7) 2 4 2 0 10 33 36

LaSalle (9-13) 1 2 2 1 8 28 19

Teams receive:

3 points for a regulation win

2 points for an overtime or shootout win

1 point for an overtime or shootout loss

0 points for a regulation loss

Check out our Hockey Happenings podcast with hosts Rick Woelfel and Eric Tye HERE

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We cab help. Contact us HERE

Scoring Leaders Games G A Pts

Byron Hartley (HGP) 14 17 11 28

Matt Harris (MP) 12 17 8 25

Jack Constabile (MP) 8 5 15 20

Evan Mudrick (HGP) 12 10 9 19

Ryan Sambuco (MP) 12 5 11 16

Anthony Sparo (HGP) 12 4 10 14

Nathan Benner (La) 15 8 5 13

Jimmy Craig (SJP) 13 4 8 12

Braedon Barsher (HGP) 11 10 1 11

Keenan Schneider (La) 15 2 9 11

Andrew Centrella (SJP) 12 1 10 11

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 full 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. Stop in an check us out or please visit our Facebook page