Month: December 2021

Flyers Cup Rankings for 12-27-21

The first set of Flyers Cup rankings for the 2021-22 season have been released. The rankings are based on results, records, and the opinions of members of the Flyers Cup Committee, who observe games  either in person or virtually.

AAA

  1. Malvern Prep (APAC)
  2. Holy Ghost Prep (APAC)
  3. La Salle College High School (APAC)
  4. St. Joes Prep (APAC)
  5. Father Judge (ICSHL PCL)

AA

  1. Pennridge (SHSHL Continental)
  2. Downingtown West (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
  3. Haverford High (ICSHL Central)
  4. Council Rock South (SHSHL National)
  5. Neshaminy (SHSHL National)

A

  1. West Chester East (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
  2. Springfield (ICSHL Central)
  3. Hershey (CPIHL)
  4. West Chester Rustin (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
  5. Plymouth Whitemarsh (SHSHL American)

SJ/DE

  1. Salesianum (ICSHL PCL)
  2. Shawnee (SJHSHL)
  3. Eastern (SJHSHL)
  4. Kingsway (SJHSHL)
  5. Moorestown (SJHSHL)
  6. Cherokee (SJHSHL)

Girls

  1. West Chester Henderson (ICSHL National)
  2. Downingtown West (ICSHL National)
  3. Avon Grove (ICSHL National)
  4. Unionville (ICSHL American)
  5. Conestoga (ICSHL American)
  6. Radnor (ICSHL American)

The first installment of the Hockey Happenings podcast featuring Rick Woelfel and Flyers Cup Committee President Eric Tye is now live.

If you’d like to promote your product or service on this blog or the Hockey happenings podcast contact us at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com

Purple Puck, Mount St. Charles Tournaments Cancelled

Two holiday hockey tournaments that are traditional destinations for La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep have been cancelled because of Covid concerns.

Mount St. Charles (RI) Academy announced Sunday afternoon that it’s 25th annual Holiday Faceoff tournament has been called off. La Salle was to be part of the eight team field; the tournament to Woonsocket, RI is an annual trip for the Explorers.

The 28th annual National Capital Hockey Tournament, more familiarly known as the Purple Puck Tournament, has also been cancelled. The tournament was scheduled to be played in Washington, D.C. beginning this coming Tuesday and continuing through Thursday.

St. Joseph’s Prep was scheduled to be part of the eight-team Prep Division. The tournament was also to include four teams competing in a separate High School Division.

It’s the second straight year the tournament has been cancelled.

PA State Hockey Rankings

compiled by Jeff Mauro

 Class AAA

  1. Malvern Prep 7-2
  2. Holly Ghost Prep 9-3
  3. North Allegheny   10-1
  4. Pine Richland     9-2
  5. Peters Township 9-4-1
  6. Baldwin 6-2-3
  7. La Salle 3-4
  8. Seneca Valley 6-4

Class AA

  1. Thomas Jefferson 10-0
  2. Haverford 8-2
  3. Pennridge 8-0
  4. Downingtown West 7-1
  5. Franklin Regional 10-1-1
  6. Armstrong 9-1-2
  7. Penn Trafford 7-2
  8. Meadville 9-2 and Council Rock South 5 -1-1

         Class A

  1. West Chester East 10-0
  2. Quaker Valley 9-0
  3. Springfield Delco 6-1
  4. Fox Chapel 11-0
  5. Norwin 9-2-1
  6. Hershey 5-1
  7. North Catholic 8-2-1
  8. West Chester Rustin 7-5

Pennridge 3 Holy Ghost Prep 2 OT

     TRENTON, N.J.—The Pennridge Rams took the ice Wednesday night looking to make a statement. And they did. Andrew Savona’s goal with 1:26 remaining in overtime gave the Rams a 3-2 non-league victory over Holy Ghost Prep. 

The win was Pennridge’s eighth this season without a blemish and it came on a night when the Rams were without veteran forwards Aidan Boyle and Andrew David. And while only a sparse crowd was on hand to witness the encounter inside the cavernous Cure Insurance Arena, the result is sure to reverberate within the area hockey community.

“These guys really wanted to play this game,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “They wanted this game. “And (when it was scheduled) they were really excited. Because, they wanted a chance to show that they were as good as anybody and that they could play with anybody.

Montagna was proud of the way his team battled the Firebirds.

“They didn’t back down,” he said. “They went toe to toe with them and they deserved everything they got tonight. I don’t know if it’s making a statement but I hope it showed them they can play with anybody of they do what they’re supposed to do.”

Holy Ghost Prep (9-3) had the better of the in a scoreless period but was the Rams who struck first, 4:50 into the second frame finished off a play that originated deep in the Pennridge defensive zone.

The goal seemed to wake up the Firebirds and Landon Stout tied the game at the 6:25 mark.

 His teammate Brady Baehser gave Holy Prep a 2-1 lead 6:43 into the third period when he scored during a four-on-four situation.

The game seemed to be flowing the Firebirds way at that point but Shane Dachowski tied the game for Pennridge when he beat Holy Ghost Prep goaltender Jason Soule from close range at the 10:42 mark.

Soule and Pennridge’s Ryan Pico each made one big save in overtime before Savona’s game winner.

Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside said his team needs to make some changes.

“(Changes in) how we approach the game,” he said. “How we approach each shift, how we approach each other.

“I thought we were a little two individualistic tonight but they’re high-school kids. And talking to these guys after the game, I know they have each other’s backs.”

• There was a scary moment when Pennridge forward Aeryk Lehrhaupt was taken into the wall with 3:52 left in the second period. Lehrhaupt was down on the ice for several minutes but left the ice surface under how own power … The Rams enjoyed a 35-25 edge in shots.

Pennridge 0 1 1 1—3

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 1 0—2

Second-period goals: Jack Lowery (P) from Aeryk Lehrhaupt, 4:50; Landon Stout (HG) from Brian Butler and Kieran Mulholland, 6:25

Third-period goals: Brady Baehser (HGP) from Colin Moore and Sean Marshall, 6:43; Shane Dachowski (P) from Ryan Shuler, 10:42

Overtime goal: Andrew Savona (P) from Colin Dachowski and Shane Dachowski, 3:34

Shots: Pennridge 35, Holy Ghost Prep 25; Saves:  Ryan Pico (P) 23, Jason Soule (HGP) 32

Jeff Mauro has written a book on the history of the Pennsylvania state high school hockey championship. To find out more and order a copy CLICK HERE

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Haverford 2

Joe Samango exploded for four goals as the Hawks downed the Fords Tuesday night in the 10th annual Pink The Rink Game at the Skatium.

Samango, a sophomore, scored twice in the first period to help his team overcome an early 1-0 deficit before adding two additional goals in the second.

Jagur McClelland Nate Rabadam scored for Haverford, the reigning Flyers Cup Class AA champion.

The Hawks will compete in the National Capital Tournament aka the Purple Puck Tournament beginning next Tuesday.

Haverford 1 1 0—2

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 2 0—4

First-period goals: Jagur McClelland (H) from Gus Scuderi, 2:12 (sh); Joe Samango (SJP) from Shane O’Neill, 4:20; Samango (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond and Michael Ahearn, 6:50 (pp)

Second-period goals: Samango (SJP) from Declan Pierce and Christian Short, 2:16; Nate Rabadam (H) from McClelland Owen Rabadam, 2:49 (pp); Samango (SJP) from Nick Storti, 11:35 (sh)

Shots: Haverford 30, St. Joseph’s Prep 39; Saves: Ajay White (SJP) 15 and Rocco Bruno (SJP) 13; Jai Jani (H) 35

SHSHL Update for 12-20-21

 National/Continental-Class AA     W     L     T    OTL     Pts

Pennridge (7-0)                                  4     0     0       0        8 

Souderton (5-3)                                  3      2     0      0        6

Council Rock South (5-1-1)               3      1     0       0       6

Neshaminy (5-1-1)                             2      1     0      0        4

Central Bucks East (3-4)                    2     1     0      0        4

Bensalem (3-3)                                   1      1     0      0        2

Central Bucks South (1-5-1)              1      1     0      0       2

Pennsbury (3-2-1)                              1      1     0      0        2

Council Rock North (2-4)                  1      3     0      0        2

Central Bucks West (3-4)                  0      3     0      0        0

North Penn (1-6)                                 0      3    0       0       0

American Division-Class A                  W    L   T    OTL      Pts

Abington (5-1)                                        4     0  0     0          8

Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-0)                 3      0  0     0       6

Wissahickon (3-4)                                   3     1  0     0        4

Quakertown (3-5)                                  3      3  0     0         6

Upper Dublin (3-5)                                 2    3   0    0           4

Hatboro-Horsham (1-5)                        0    4  0     0            0 

William Tennent (0-7)                           0      4  0     0          0

Scoring

Class AA                                                  G      A      Pts

Shane Siegmund (PB)                           9       10      19

Karson Grainey (CRN)                         12      6        18

Kevin Pico (Pr)                                      11      5        16

Max Gallagher (Nesh)                         8       7        15

Nick Hahn (CRN)                                  6       8        14

Kevin Koles (CRS)                                 6      7         13

Alex Hood (Bens)                                 9        5       14

Julian Sarne (CRS)                               10      3        13

Kevin Koles (CRS)                                 6       7        13

Seth Grossman (Soud)                        7       5        12

Class A                                                     G       A      Pts

Matt Kramer (Ab                                   14      8      22

Jack Bocul (UD)                                     14      5      19 

Joe Stelacio (Ab)                                    8     11      19

A.J. Pounds (Wiss)                                10     8       18

Matt Cholaj (Ab)                                    8       9      17

Will Hussa (Wiss)                                   10       6    16

Aidan Keogh (PW)                                 7         9    16

Nick Hussa (Wiss)                                  5        11   16

Luke Weikerl (PW)                                7         7    14

Danny Hussa (Wiss)                             10       3    13

Anthony Pagliei (Q-town                     5        8    13

Goals Against

Class AA                                     Minutes       GA           GAA

Ryan Pico (Pr)                             301              7            1.19

Brian Nelson (Nesh)                  257             12           2.38

Liam Rogers  (CBW)                  204             10            2.50

Carson Lopez (CRS)                   362              18          2.54

Jason Magaruh (CBS)                155              8            2.63

Class A                                     Minutes       GA           GAA

Ben Panella (Ab                       153               6              1.88

Kolton Galie (PW)                   195               10            2.61

Sam Nemec (Ab)                      153             10             3.14

Matt Krem (Q-town)               405              40            4.74

Michael Bonnani (Wiss)          354             36            4.88

A Night That’s About More Than Hockey

The Skatium in Haverford Township will host a special evening of hockey Tuesday night. The occasion is the 10th annual Pink The Rink Game, which will feature St. Joseph’s Prep from the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference and Haverford High, the reigning Class AA Flyers Cup champion, the in a varsity/junior varsity doubleheader.

The varsity game is set for a 7:30 start with the junior varsity game to follow at 9:45.
Proceeds from the game will benefit the Living Beyond Breast Cancerorganization which provides support to breast cancer patients.

Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door.

Shane O Neill is in his first varsity season with the Hawks. The sophomore defenseman is looking forward to being on the ice Tuesday night.

“There’s a lot of excitement going into it,” he said, “knowing that we’re going to have good competition with Haverford and obviously a lot of excitement knowing we’re playing for a cause, a cause that will help a lot of people. It feels good.”

O’ Neill says he and his teammates embrace giving back to their community by being part of this game.

“It helps a lot,” he said. “I know a lot of people personally who are struggling with cancer, and form of cancer. (The Pink The Rink Game) means a lot, not only to the people who have cancer, but the people who are praying for them. [It feels good] to be able to represent them and help them out.”

Council Rock South 3 Central Bucks West 0

HATFIELD­—It was a night when hockey was a force for good, a night when a group of hockey players stepped up to a teammate who was suffering. For the record, Council Rock South defeated Central Bucks West 3-0 Wednesday night in a Suburban High School Hockey League matchup ay Hatfield Ice Arena. 

But in some respects, the result was immaterial. What mattered most was that the Bucks were there to support their teammate, senior Joe McFadden, whose mother passed away suddenly on Tuesday.

McFadden attended the game with his father but did not dress. The two teams observed a moment of silence prior to the opening faceoff.

Dave Baun, the Bucks’ veteran coach, sensed the emotion of the moment. “I really felt that,” he said. “The kids almost all knew about it. Several of the ninth graders are not in the high school so they didn’t know about it. But all the kids in the high school knew about it.

“The kids really, really showed a lot of support and I appreciate Council Rock South. A couple of their fans came up and wished me well about it which I thought was very nice. 

“It’s not going to be easy for Joey, but it’s always a little bit easier when you have friends.”

Julian Wagenmann scored a goal in the first period to give the Golden Hawks (5-1-1, 3-1 in divisional play) a 1-0 lead 6:18 into the first period. Julian Sarne scored a pair of goals in the second period.

Sarne says the Golden Hawks have grown since the start of the season. “I think throughout the season we’re getting better with our chemistry,” he said. “Our lines are taking short shifts and I think that we’re finally all clicking together.”

The Golden Hawks called up four players who normally play junior-varsity hockey, to step into the varsity lineup.

Carson Lopez who pitched shutout in goal for the Hawks (14 saves) noted that the call-ups would have prepared for the game in the same manner as their older teammates.

 “You kind of prepare for it like every other game,” the junior said. “At the end of the day you get the ‘W’ and process to get there is always the same.”

At the other end of the ice, the Bucks’ Reese Dalzell was outstanding making 45 saves. “You couldn’t have been more proud of the way (Dalzell) played tonight,” Baun said. “What did he stop? 45 shots? And some of them were really, really good shots.”

The Bucks now stand at 3-4 overall and 0-3 in the division.

C.R. South 1 2 0—3

C.B. West 0 0 0—0

First-period goal: Julian Wagenmann (CRS) from Matt Constantini and Nolan O’Brien, 6:18

Second-period goals: Julian Sarne (CRS) from Evan Mostoller and Blaize Pepe, 11:06; Sarne (CRS) from Kyle Schneider and Pepe, 14:48

Shots: Council Rock South 48, Central Bucks West 16; Saves: Carson Lopez (CRS) 16, Reese Dalzell (CBW) 45

Jeff Mauro has written a book on the history of the Pennsylvania state high school hockey championship. To find out more and order a copy CLICK HERE

Greg McDonald Bringing New Life to Council Rock North

Greg McDonald has coached hockey for more than a decade. His coaching experience was exclusively at the club level until this season when he was asked to take the reins at Council Rock North.

McDonald is no stranger to the high-school game; he skated for Father Judge in the mid-1990s. He took on the position at Council Rock North at the request of a friend. The Indians won three Flyers Cup titles in the late 1980s and early ‘90s but didn’t field a varsity team last season

McDonald was not starting from scratch but his team is less experienced than many of its Class AA opponents in the SHSHL.  The Indians completed their pre-holiday schedule Wednesday night with a 6-3 over Bensalem to move to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in divisional play.

When we caught up with him a while back, McDonald was quick to point out he and his players were enjoying the experience of reenergizing their school’s hockey program.

 It’s a great group of kids,” he said. “Practices are good and well attended. They’re excited to be out there. It’s a whole new group for me. I’m still kind of getting familiar with them. But it is fun. Practices are high tempo. There’s a lot of talent out there. It’s a big range of talent out there. But, they genuinely enjoy each other and they’re on the ice and they love it so it’s good, its good all around.”

When the SHSHL was formed in the mid-1970s, club hockey had minimal impact compared to the high-school game. While that dynamic has changed in the years since, McDonald embraces the unique qualities of high-school hockey.”

“(Club hockey) is where the focus is,” he said, “but I do think there’s something to be said about school spirit and everybody being at the same school and talking about the game together and the student body here.

I think it’s a good environment the kids honestly, and I think it brings something club hockey doesn’t.”

McDonald reflects on how his high-school hockey career impacted and continues to impact his life.

“I graduated from Father Judge in 1995,” he said. “I didn’t start playing hockey until I was a freshman in high school. Honestly those years, in the locker room, those bonds, that’s what you take with you through life.

“For me I’m really happy to still be around hockey in a competitive light and with greats kids. I couldn’t ask for more honestly. I’m really happy about it.”

Malvern Prep 7 Hun School 2

WEST GOSHEN—The rest of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference is looking up at Malvern Prep. The Friars are a perfect 4-0 in conference play after a 7-2 win over The Hun School Wednesday evening at Ice Line and have defeated each of their conference opponents once.

Wednesday’s win wasn’t an easy one, at least not at first. The teams traded goals twice in an opening period that ended in a 2-2 deadlock. The hosts went on to score five goals over the last two periods.

Jimmy Jacobs and Matt Harris contributed two goals each Jacobs added three assists and Harris two.

Pierre Larocque, Quinn Dougherty, and Jeremy Jacobs also scored goals as Malvern Prep advanced to 7-2 overall.

“We came out a little slow,” Jimmy Jacobs said, “but once we got the first one, we started clicking. I think overall our speed was able to beat their physicality.

Jimmy Jacobs scores a second-period goal

“I think we just used our speed to win some of the puck battles and also had to step up and be more physical.”

Pierre Larocque and Quinn Dougherty scored first-period goals for Malvern Prep while Josh Ovelette and Mark Gall countered for the Raiders,

Jimmy Jacobs put his team in front for good 2:17 into the middle period. Harris extended his team’s lead with 33 seconds left in the session.

The outcome was still in doubt entering the third frame but when Jacobs scored his second goal just 53 seconds in, the Raiders (5-5 overall, 1-2-1-0 in the APAC) seemingly had depleted their energy reserves.

Matt Harris scores on a tip-in

It was Malvern Prep’s second game in 24 hours; the Friars dropped a Mid-Atlantic Prep League game to Lawrenceville 5-4 on Tuesday after holding a 4-1 lead.

Raider head coach Ian McNally said his team had an off day all around. “We just didn’t have it,” he said. “We never had it for a second. We had a pretty devastating loss yesterday and you could tell it took its toll. 

“As soon as we got down one or two it was pretty hard to motivate to try to claw back a little bit.”

The Raiders are now off until after the holidays. McNally it was important for his players to prove themselves to each other over the first half of the season. 

‘We’re in a good spot,” he said. “I wish we had won more than we have but I think the important part of the first half is kind of prove to each other and give yourself confidence like ‘Hey, if we can do this, we can actually win a bunch of games here.’”

Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenen is pleased to be at the top of the standings at the holiday break but knows his team his still evolving.

“You can’t expect anything better from our team,” he said, “going 4-0 in the APAC early. But hey, it’s a long season and we know that going into the second half it’s a completely different game. Teams get refocused and over the break and they get ready for playoffs and the Flyers Cup.

“So, our message is we’ve got to stay dialed in, we’ve still got the task at hand, and we’ve got to execute.”

Hun School 2 0 0—2

Malvern Prep 2 2 3—7

First-period goals: Pierre Larocque (MP) unassisted, 4:34; Josh Ovelette (HS) from Seth Kaplan, 8:15; Quinn Dougherty (MP) from Jeremy Jacobs and Jimmy Jacobs, 10:06 (pp); Mark Gall (HS) unassisted, 14:39

Second-period goals: Jimmy Jacobs (MP) from Jeremy  Jacobs, 2:17; Matt Harris (MP) from  Aidan Kelly, 16:27

Third-period goals: Jimmy Jacobs (MP) from Harris, :53; Harris (MP) from Jimmy Jacobs, 5:36 (pp); Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Harris,  12:03 (sh)

Shots: Hun School 33, Malvern Prep 42; Saves: Stephen Cheng (MP) 26 and Jack Borek (MP) 9, Anthony Perti (MP) 21

For More about Malvern Prep CLICK HERE

For More about The Hun School. CLICK HERE