Philadelphia Blind Hockey works to ensure that every individual who is blind or partially sighted has the opportunity to participate in the sport. Find out more HERE
What happened on the ice at Ice Line Thursday evening paled in comparison to what happened off the ice.
The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game between Malvern Prep and St. Joseph’s Prep, a 4-1 win for the Friars, was preceded by a dine-and benefit event which raised funds to support the fight against Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, or RTS, a genetic disorder that causes intellectual and developmental disabilities that affects one in 125,000 children.
Connor Keenan, the 3-year old son of Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan is afflicted with the syndrome.
The dine- donate event, which included a 50-50 drawing, was held at Ice World’s Goal Line Pub prior to game time; a portion of the evening’s receipts will be donated to a foundation that is focused on treating and finding a cure for RTS.
During the pregame warmup, both teams wore specially designed jerseys highlighting the fight against RTS and Keenan and his family, including his wife Sarah and Connor, and, along with 6-year old Olivia and 8-year old J.J. took part in a ceremonial puck drop just prior to game time.
Keenan expressed her appreciation for the hockey community’s support of her family.
“It’s very humbling,” she said. “We really feel the love from the whole community, and it just goes to show what a great community the hockey world really is.”
Sarah Keenan spoke of the challenges the family has faced since Connor was diagnosed with RTS last year.
“It’s been overwhelming,” she said, “but we’ve made a lot of progress in the last year. Connor has shown us a lot and taught us a lot too.
Keenan noted the importance of educating the public about RTS.
“It’s very rare,” she said. “So, it’s important just make people aware of it for inclusion purposes and to get that research really going to see if they can help kids with the syndrome out.”
Bill Keenan expressed his thanks for the support he and his family have received.
“The community has been great,” he said. “It’s all new. It’s rare. So, to have a night like this is good and hopefully we can do it in years to come.”
The Keenan family; J.J. Olivia, Bill, Sarah, and Connor join Malvern Prep’s Steven Getsie (left) and St. Joseph’s Prep’s Jeffrey Hammond for the opening faceoff.
• The game—Four different players scored goals for the Friars, who closed the regular season at 8-6 (2-5-0-1 in the APAC. Caiden Canale, Gavin Wilson, Ryan Clark, and Brady Doyle all found the back of the net. Doyle also added two assists. Caiden Kelly scored for the Hawks (14-5-2, 3-4-1-0)
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 1—1
Malvern Prep 1 2 1—4
First-period goal: Caiden Canale (MP) from Brady Doyle, 10:05
Second-period goals: Gavin Wilson (MP) from Aidan Kelly and Canale,: 15 (pp); Ryan Clark (MP) from Doyle, 1:00 (pp)
Third-period goals: Caiden Kelly (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond, 1:59; Doyle (MP) from Kelly, 16:43 (en)
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 25, Malvern Prep 33; Saves: Ajay White (SJP) 29, Brandon Novabilski (MP) 24
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP N.J.— The playoff seedings in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference are now set in stone.
The Hun School took care of business Wednesday afternoon with a 2-1 win over Malvern Prep at Ice Land.
Charles Guida scored the deciding goal with 1:44 remaining in the third period.
The win assured the Raiders (9-12, 3-5 in conference play) of a fourth-place regular-season finish. The Friars (7-6, 1-5-0-1 in conference) will finish fifth regardless of the result of their regular-season finale against St. Joseph’s Prep Thursday night.
Hun School will host Malvern Prep Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 in a play-in game, with the winner to advance to the playoff semifinals against the winner of Monday’s game between Holy Ghost Prep and La Salle.
Wednesday was Senior Night at Hun School and appropriately, Raider goaltender Stephen Chen was at his best, making 40 saves. Brandon Novabilski in the Malvern Prep net was outstanding as well, recording 35 saves of his own.
“(Novabilski) played very good as well,” Chen said. “it was tough for us to score.”
Chen had a sense early on that it would be a good day for goaltenders.
“You kind of get a feel at the beginning of the game,” he said. “You get the first couple shots and you kind of know you’re in that zone and you’ve got to kind of focus and keep yourself in there. I think it was a great effort by our defensemen as well, just to help me stand there with the saves and the rebounds. I think it was a huge team effort.”
Stephen Chen at work, making a save in Wednesday’s game (photo by MaxMangigian)
Brendan Marino gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead when he beat Novabilski with a slapshot from between the two circles with 5:03 left in the opening period.
The two netminders were perfect after that until the midway point of the third frame. Both were tested.
“This was what we were used to the first half of the year,” said Hun School coach Ian McNally. “We’re up by one in the third period, how do we close out the game and when? It was nice to be talking about that again.
“Stephen is a huge part of that. He stopped like four breakaways a couple two-on–oh chances. It was certainly nice to see him back in that form.”
Malvern Prep didn’t roll over however. Jimmy Jacobs tied the game 8:47 into the third period off a right-wing, neutral-zone faceoff.
From that point on there was a sense the next goal would decide matters. Guida’s game winner came on a shot from the left point that beat Novabilski inside the right post to the goaltender’s left.
For Malvern Prep, it was another case of ‘Almost but not quite.’
“Hun is a very good, sound defensive team” said Friars’ coach Bill Keenan. “They’re fast, they’re physical, they have two very good goaltenders. I thought both teams played well, but we’ve got to find that way to win.”
Malvern Prep 0 0 1—1
Hun School 1 0 1—2
First-period goal: Brendan Marino (HS) from T.J. Walsh, 11:57
Third-period goals: Jimmy Jacobs (MP) from Aidan Kelly and Steven Getsie, 8:47; Charles Guida (HS) from Eliian Estulin and Ryan Levesque, 15:16
Shots: Malvern Prep 41, Hun School 37; Saves: Brandon Novabilski (MP) 35, Stephen Chen (HS) 40
CLICK HERE for more information about The Hun School
CLICK HERE for more information about Malvern Prep
When Justin LaPlante first stepped on the ice for The Hun School this season he was uncertain about where and how he’d fit in.
“When the first practice (was held) I was wondering,” he said. “I was in doubt, But I figured my role would be pretty big from the start. I took that role and now I’m one of the leaders of the team. I really like that role.”
A junior at Hun School, LaPlante has played in all 20 of the Raiders’ games this season, scoring 15 goals and adding 19 assists.
His coach, Ian McNally, cites his blend of abilities.
“I think Justin is a rare combination of skill, speed and strength,” McNally said. “Whenever he takes off, someone on the bench is inevitably going to yell out “See ya” because he just flies by people, whether he has the puck on his stick already or he’s racing someone to a loose one.
“He exudes power; he can skate, he can shoot and he can hit. He made an immediate impact with us this year because he’s just a great kid. He’s mature and personable and he wants to win. We’re lucky to have him.”
LaPlante’s arrival at Hun School this past fall was something of a matter of happenstance. A native of Quebec City, where he played football as well as hockey, LaPlante was dealing with an injury when first crossed paths with McNally.
“I had broken my wrist playing football two months prior to meeting Coach McNally,” LaPlante recalled. “I was supposed to be out for another due to my wrist. But I decided to play in a Montreal showcase. I talked to (McNally) and he watched me play and the rest is history.”
LaPlante played football for the Raiders and found himself having to adjust to U.S. rules after learning the game in Canada.
“It was a really big step,” he said. “The Hun football program is simply incredible. I had my role here and I was playing on the special units a lot. I made some big plays throughout the year and it was really fun. I really enjoyed my time playing football.”
For all the adjustments LaPlante has made on the ice and on the football field, his greatest challenges have some in the classroom.
“It’s been a challenge for sure,” he said, “because English is not my first language and English classes here are pretty hard, so I would say that’s my biggest academic challenge. But otherwise, I’ve always been really good in school and I’ve never really struggled with anything, so I’m doing all right.”
While English is not LaPlante’s first language, no one engaging in conversation with him would realize it.
“I adapted to it really well,” he said. “When I speak to my family in English, they tell me that I’ve really improved, that I’ve adapted myself really well.
“I would say the people that spoke just French in my family was the older generation because they never really got English classes, but for the new generation, we got really good English teachers and classes so it’s been easier for me to learn that way.
“Listening to hockey and football in English, and watching the TV too has been really helpful so I think I’ve adapted really well since being here.”
McNally says playing football helped ease LaPlante’s transition to a new setting.
“He fit in seamlessly,” McNally said. “I think by playing football in the fall he was able to come to pre-season before school actually started, move into the dorms early and make friends right away with teammates.
“Hockey is maybe what led him to look at boarding schools, the experience of being away is the real takeaway and I think and so he’s jumped right in. Hun has kids from all over the world, so most of them are initially adapting. It makes it easier when they are all in the same boat.”
Even with the adjustments he’s had to make, in the classroom and as an athlete, LaPlante’s time at The Hun School has been enjoyable and satisfying.
“Honestly, the first thing that comes to mind is life on the border here is pretty crazy and insane,” he said, “because on the weekends you get to do a lot of stuff that other schools can’t.
“I went to see a couple of (NCAA D-1) games, either football or basketball and I’m going to watch an NHL game in a few weeks. Those are experiences that I’ve never had in my life.
“As far as hockey goes, I would say that I’ve never been that much of an offensive guy or the star of a team so it feels good to experience that this year and being one of the best players on my team and being able to be a leader.”
Hockey-wise, it’s been an up-and-down season for the Raiders as they approach their APAC regular-season with Malvern Prep on Wednesday. They stand 8-12 overall and 2-5 in conference play as of February 7. But LaPlante says the team has played better than its record indicates.
“It has been up and down,” he said. “But I feel like we should have won five of those losses so it’s still a really good season for us.
“We haven’t played really bad, it’s just that we can’t close out games. But we’ve been holding up against really good teams, so that’s hopeful for us.
The Suburban High School Hockey League has set its schedule for its upcoming playoffs.
The postseason will commence on Wednesday, February 22 with two National Division first-round games featuring the third-place finisher against the sixth seed and the fourth seed facing the fifth seed.
Those games will at Hatfield Ice and Grundy Arena, with game times and sites to be determined.
The winners will advance to semifinal games on Wednesday, March 1 at Hatfield Ice and Grundy Arena against the first and second seeds, both of whom have opening-round byes.
The championship game will be played on Thursday, March 2 at either Hatfield or Grundy with a scheduled start time of 7:20.
The American Division playoffs will feature just three teams. The second and third seeds will meet on Thursday, February 23 at Hatfield at 7:10. The winner will face the top seed in the division championship game on Wednesday, Match 1 at 7:20 at Hatfield Ice.
The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has set dates for the Founders Cup playoffs.
The postseason will commence the week of February 13 with a play-in game between fourth seed Hun School and fifth seed Malvern Prep on Tuesday, February 14 at 4:00. Hun School will ahve home-ice advantage. The winner swill advance to the semifinals and face the top seed, the winner of Monday’s game between Holy Ghost Prep and La Salle.
The semifinals will be played as a doubleheader on Wednesday, February 22 at Hatfield Ice, with game times set for 4:00 and 6:00. The Holy Ghost Prep-La Salle loser will be seeded second and face St. Joseph’s Prep, which will be seeded third
The Founders Cup championship game will be played Wednesday, March 1 and hosted by the highest seeded finalist.
That means the APAC champion will be determined after the Flyers Cup seedings are unveiled on February 26.
HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP —All the pieces fit together for St. Joseph’s Prep Friday night.
Joe Samango scored three goals and assisted on three others and Jeffrey Hammond added two goals and two assists as the Hawks, with the heart of their roster on hand, celebrated Senior Night with a 7-1 win over The Hun School 7-1 in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at the Skatium.
The win assured St. Joseph’s Prep (14-4-2 overall, 3-3-1-0 in the APAC) of a third-place finish in the conference regular-season standings; the Hawks will conclude conference play against Malvern Prep on Thursday.
The Raiders to 8-12 overall and 2-5 in the APAC.
It was a night when the Hawks had their big guns on hand. That hasn’t always happened this season; there have been multiple occasions on which they were shorthanded because of key players being away on club duty.
After witnessing his team’s effort Friday night, it was impossible for Coach David Giacomin not to speculate on what they might have achieved, and might accomplish going forward.
“I know we’re a really good team when we have everybody here and healthy,” he said.
The Hawks were shorthanded when they absorbed a 7-0 loss to the Raiders on December 7 and Giacomin said that result motivated his team Friday night.
“This was basically all the seniors having that will and desire,” he said. “They didn’t want to lose on Senior Night. That’s what it came down to.
Goals from Samango and Shane O’Neill, sandwiched around a goal from Hun School’s Brendan Marino, gave the hosts a 2-1 lead after one period before they broke the game open with four goals in the second frame, two from Hammond and one each from Samango and Tristan Winata, the Hawks’ number-one line.
Samango completed his hat trick in the third period. The trio accounted for 14 points.
“When we play together as one unit, we score a lot of goals,” Hammond said. “But when we don’t, we break apart.
“Games where we find each other and play s one unit we (do well).
The Raiders outshot the Hawks 31-29 but only Marino could solve Rocco Bruno in the Hawk net. The visitors’ frustrations boiled over on occasion; they were whistled for nine of the game’s 14 penalties.
“Obviously (St. Joseph’s Prep) they flipped the script here today,” said Hun School coach Ian McNally. “That’s kind of been the storyline for two weeks now. “It’s like, we’re trying really hard, we outshoot them, but we basically have very few actual scoring chances. And, every five minutes we let a team rush to the other end and score.”
Hun School 1 0 0—1
St. Joseph’s Prep 2 4 1—7
First-period goals: Joe Samango (SJP) from Patrick Sweeney and Shane O’Neill, 1;53; Brendan Marino (HS) from Justin LaPlante, 11:24; O’Neill (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond and Samango, 14:04 (pp)
Second-period goals: Hammond (SJP) from Tristan Winata and Samango: 23; Samango (SJP) 5:33 (pp) Winata (SJP) from Hammond, 7:46; Hammond (SJP) from Samango, 14:21;
Third-period goal: Samango (SJP) from Winata and Hammond, 14:33
Shots: Hun School 31, St. Joseph’s Prep 29; Saves: Julian Arsenault (HS) 22; Rocco Bruno (SJP) 30
Hockey Happenings 