Playoff Ponderings-SHSHL

Uncategorized 2 Minutes

Wednesday, February 21

National Division Quarterfinal

3. Central Bucks South vs. 6. Souderton

7:20 at Hatfield Ice

Winner faces Council Rock South in semifinals on 2-28

Central Bucks South (12-7-1, 12-5-1 in divisional play)

The Titans have been an up-and-down team this season. They enter the postseason having split their last six games.

D.J. Lindenmuth paces the team in scoring with 21 goals and 14 assists for 35 points. Sean Cutter has produced eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points. Dom Varacallo offers a veteran’s presence in goal with an .880 save percentage and a 3.08 GAA. Nathan Napolitano offers an .876 save percentage and a 2.83 GAA.

South split two meetings with Souderton this season.

Souderton (7-11)

The Big Red was third in the division in goals scored with 111 but also surrendered the most, 153. Maxwell Ryon tops the scoring column with 43 goals and 20 assists for 63 points.  Seth Grossman is next with 24 goals and 30 assists for 54 points while Nick Smith has added 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points.

Connor Paulus took over in goal when his team needed a netminder. His season-long save percentage is .732 and his GAA stands at 8.50 but his level of play has risen impressively since the holiday break,

American Division Semifinal

2. Bensalem vs. 3. Abington

7:20 at Grundy Arena

Winner faces Plymouth Whitemarsh in final on 2-28

Bensalem (12-3, 9-3 in divisional play)

The Owls have attracted a lot of attention this season; they’ve averaged seven goals a game. Alex Hood stands third in the entire SHSHL in scoring with 52 goals and 18 assists for 70 points. Alex Bazylevich has provided 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points.

Ricky Gonzalez is a premier goaltender, who’s carrying a .901 save percentage and a 3.06 GAA.

Abington (6-9-1, 5-7 in the division)

A young Abington team struggled at time this season but the Galloping Ghosts get a fresh start with the start of the postseason.

Seamus Donofry paces his team in scoring with seven goals and 23 assists for 30 points. Michael Romano is next with 11 goal and nine assists for 20 points.

Matt Evangelist (.864 save percentage, 4.33 GAA)  and Devin Brown (.808/7.33) split time in goal.

Thursday, February 22

National Division Quarterfinal

4. Central Bucks East vs. 5 North Penn

7:10 at Hatfield Ice

Winner faces Pennridge in semifinal on 2-28

Central Bucks East (11-5-2)

The Patriots enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the SHSHL; the went 6-1-2 in their final nine games. They’re 1-0-1 against the Knights this season.

Corey Kosick leads the team in scoring with 26 goals and 12 assists for 38 points. Jaden Young is next with eight goals and six assists for 14 points. Eight players on the roster have accumulated 10 points or more.

 Cole Breen is a force in goal with an .891 save percentage and a 3.51 GAA

North Penn (10-7-1)

After struggling much of last year, the Knights staged a big-time resurgence this season. Nolan Shingle is the top scorer with nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points. Samuel Norton has provided 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points while Cole Pluck has contributed 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points.

Maks-Joseph Harkins, Aidan Quigley, and Ian McAteer all see time in goal. Harkins has the most noteworthy numbers, a .918 save percentage and a 2.41 GAA.

  • Results of the playoffs will not impact Flyers Cup tournament selections/seedings. Abington and Bensalem are both classified ‘AA” for Flyers Cup purposes.
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Published by Rick Woelfel

Rick has worked in print and broadcast journalism for more than 35 years. He's covered golf in one medium or another for more than 30. He is the co-author of the book So You Want to Play Golf with PGA professional Kim Verrecchio and the host of the Women's Golf Report podcast. Most recently, Rick served as an associate editor for The Mulligan Magazine. He also served as an associate editor for Philadelphia Golf Magazine and New Jersey State Golf from 2004-07. Rick covered his first LPGA Tour event in 1986 and continues to cover women's golf for various media outlets. High on his bucket list is having the opportunity to one day play in an LPGA Tour pro am. Rick is also a longtime correspondent for two suburban Philadelphia daily newspapers, the Intelligencer and the Bucks County Courier Times in Doylestown, PA. Over the course of his career he has coverzed a wide variety of sporting events. He is also a veteran play by play and public address announcer, and handles the PA mic for the nationally ranked Delaware Valley University football program. Rick is also a longtime contributor to Referee, a magazine devoted to sports officiating. He called his first baseball game at age 13 and continues to umpire softball and baseball today.

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