Ryan Uchniat is having to do some juggling at Souderton this season. Two of the Big Red’s big guns, Drew Savarese and Matt Cross, have been lost for the season with injuries and Uchniat, who is back behind the Souderton bench after taking last season off, is working to fill the resultant holes in his lineup.
“They’re keep parts of our team,” he said. “They have been over the last couple years so it really hurts, not having them, but the team itself is trying to pick up. A lot of it comes down to doing everything by committee.
“We roll three defensemen for the most part. We’ve got so many players shifting in in different areas, and it helps. But, we certainly miss [Savarese and Cross}.”
The pieces of the puzzle all fit together for Souderton Thursday night in the course of a 12-0 win over Central Bucks West at Hatfield Ice, including Alex Archer in goal.
Archer had never played organized hockey at any level before trying out for the Big Red last season. But the junior plays football and lacrosse. Uchniat said his arrival was “A very pleasant surprise.
“I was away from the team, but I heard a lot of good things about him. He picked things up very quickly and he has a very strong will and a strong desire, a strong work ethic.”
Archer transferred his skills from the practice rink to games this season. He became interested in perhaps being a goaltender after watching NHL netminders on TV.
“I just picked it up,” said. “I started playing and I really enjoyed it and stuck with it.”
When Archer first stepped on the ice he was a blank canvas a with no ingrained bad habits, which he says are things a bit less difficult.
“I think so,” he said. “I still have some stuff I don’t really know but I keep practicing and pick things up a little bit.”
Archer’s favorite NHL goaltender to watch is Connor Hellebuyck.
“I think he’s a great role model,” Archer said.
• Souderton took control of Thursday’s game by scoring five times in the game’s first 5:38. Max Ryon was tops on the scoresheet with six goals and three assists. Julia Kaminsky scored five goals a contributed two assists.
The win was the first for the Big Red in three starts.
Isaac Mays stared in goal for the Bucks and made 34 saves before being lifted midway through the second period.
‘Isaac is the backbone of our team,” said West coach Frank Blust. “He was last year and {West} had a tough season as well.
“He’s our backbone and will continue to be,”
C.B. West 0 0—0
Souderton 8 4—12
First-period goals: Julia Kaminski (S) from Jackson Kelly and Max Ryon,:26; Kaminski (S) from Kelly and Evan Siegler, 2:04; Ryon (S) from Kaminski, 2:27; Kaminski (S from Kelly and Caden O’Neill; 330; Ryon (S) from Cameron Fairweather, 5:38 (pp); Kelly (S) from Kaminski and Ryon, 7:55; Ryon (S) unassisted, 8:15; Ryon (S) from Kaminski, 14:24
Second-period goals: Ryon (S) from O’Neill, 12:09; Kaminski (S) from Kelly and Ryon, 12:19; Ryon (S) from Kelly, 13:00; Kaminski (S) from Kelly, 17:00
Shots: C.B. West 8, Souderton 49: Saves: Isaac Mays (CBW) 34, Joseph Carter (CBW) 3; Alex Archer (S) 8
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