ASHTON—Springfield-Delco and Garnet Valley came out with all engines firing Friday night. What transpired was not an artistic masterpiece but hockey fans who prefer an abundance of scoring left Ice Works satisfied in the wake of the Jaguars 12-5 Central League win.
The goal-scoring barrage started early when Springfield’s Jake Heston beat Garnet Valley goaltender Garrett Stoops just seven seconds after the opening faceoff. Jake Robinson responded for the Jaguars three-and-a-half minutes later and the fireworks display continued unabated.
By the time the first period ended, eight goals had been scored and the Jaguars (2-0) had a 6-2 lead. They stayed in control the rest of the way.
Kaden Longo paced the Jaguars with a hat trick. He also added an assist. A.J. Tenhuisen scored twice and seven other players scored one goal each.
Heston scored twice for the Cougars (1-2).
It was a tough night to be a goaltender. Springfield’s Aidan Fifti saw 40 shots while Garrett Stoops, his Garnet Valley counterpart, had to deal with 31.
Garnet Valley assistant coach Pat Conway thought his team performed well after an uncertain start.
“We were a little sloppy in the first period,” he said, “but we kind of brought back together, started passing the puck and moving the puck around. Letting their practice take over and capitalize on being a team.”
Conway noted the importance of his players remaining committed to the team concept.
“Once they get back into a grove of realizing we got that lead because we were playing like a team and they get back on track playing as a team, it works out a lot better,” he said.
Garnet Valley defenseman Nolan Stott scored a shorthanded goal in the closing seconds of the first period and later added an assist. He was admittedly surprised by his team’s margin of victory.
“I thought it would be way closer,” he said. “In the last couple years, all the games have been close so I thought it would have been closer but the boys came together today. We really rallied against them and worked as a team and got the job done.”
Stott spoke to the importance of getting off to a fast start in the Central League race.
“It means everything to get a fast start,” he said. “Get on the horse early, let the other teams know we’re not here to mess around and we want this league.”
Springfield coach Dan Dilbeck said the evening was another step in his team’s development.
“We have a young team that’s still trying to figure some things out,” he said. “We’re still trying to jell together as a team and sometimes we just get outworked. And that’s what we have to figure out.
Springfield 2 1 2—5
Garnet Valley 6 3 3—12
First-period goals: Jake Heston (S) unassisted, :07; Jake Robinson (GV) from Kevin Walton and Evan Reilly, 3:40; Kaden Longo (GV) from A.J. Tenheuisen, 5:05; Chase Robinson (GV) unassisted, 10:35; Heston (S) from Cole Kuzmick and Mason Stallings, 14:06; Tenhuisen (GV) from Longo , 14:42; Reilly (GV) from Robinson and Walton, 15:41; Nolan Stott, GV unassisted,16:53 (sh)
Second-period goals: Stallings (S) from Ben Wyant, :07 Owen Parker (GV) unassisted, 11:58; Walton (GV) from Stott and Matt Abbonizio, 13:58; Tenhuisen (GV) from Stott, 16:20
Third-period goals: Brett Rosser (S) from Kuzmick, 5:10; Longo (GV) from Reilly, 5:44; Longo (GV) from Stott and Parker, 11:50; Ryan McGhee (GV) from Tenhuisen; Brendan Becker (S) from Joseph Clifford, 13:14
Shots: Springfield 31, Garnet Valley 40; Saves: Aidan Fifti (S) 28, Garrett Stoops (GV) 26
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