The Flyers Cup Class AAA semifinals will go on as scheduled Thursday night at Hatfield Ice. Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep will face fifth-seeded Father Judge in the 6:30 opener. Second seed and defending champion La Salle will face St. Joseph’s Prep in the 8:45 nightcap.
The finals will be held Friday at Ice Line with a scheduled 7 p.m. start.
Holy Ghost Prep vs. Father Judge 6:30
Fifth-seeded Father Judge carries a 12-game winning streak into the semifinals. The Crusaders are 18-5 overall and are the champions of the Intercounty League’s PCL Division. Sean Melso leads the Crusaders in scoring with 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points. Robert Werner has provided 27 goals and 15 assists for 42 points. The Crusaders have won two Cups, the Class AA crown in 1993 and the Class AAA title in 2000.
Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (14-4-2-1-0) has won eight of its last nine games. It’s only loss in that span came against La Salle in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference championship game. Byron Hartley leads the team in scoring with 23 goals and 15 assists for 38 points. Evan Mudrick has added 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points. The Firebirds won the Class AA championship in 2003 and Class AAA titles in 2007, ’15, and ’17.
La Salle vs. St. Joseph’s Prep 8:45
La Salle, the defending champion and second seed, is seeking to win its 12th Flyers Cup title, an all-time record (11 have come in Class AAA, one in Class AA. The Explorers are 13-11-2-2 heading into the semifinals. They’ve won six straight games and seven of their last nine. Keennan Schneider leads the Explorers in scoring with nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points. David Kimmel has provoded 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points.
St. Joseph’s Prep (11-9-1-4 in all competitions) captured its first Flyers Cup title two years ago. This year’s team relies on balance. Jimmy Craig is pacing the team in scoring with seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points.
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