There was an abundance of emotion on display at Ice Line Wednesday evening following the APAC semifinal between St. Joseph’s Prep and The Hun School. The Hawks earned the right to play for a conference title while the Raiders were a study in frustration, wondering what might have been.
Four different Prep players scored goals as the third-seeded Hawks (16-6) prevailed 4-2 to advance to next Wednesday’s Founders Cup championship game against top-seeded defending champion Holy Ghost Prep at Grundy Arena (game time 4 p.m.). They will learn Sunday where they are seeded for next month’s Class AAA Flyers Cup tournament.
Second-seeded Hun School closes the season at 13-13. The Raiders will not compete in the Flyers Cup due to s School policy that dictates when their season must end.
The most prominent numbers on the scoresheet Wednesday afternoon revolved around penalties. The officials called 25 minor penalties, 15 of them against the Raiders, who spent much of the afternoon skating uphill.
Hun School coach N.G. Welsh noted the impact of the numerous penalties.
“It was trying different line combination,” he said. “Trying different things. A guy is in the box, so this line can’t go. This guy is in the box so this guy can’t go.
“You’re putting out every single option you have at your disposal hoping something works. Today, it didn’t.”
Three of the four Prep goals came on power plays.
One Raider goal came when they were enjoying a two-man advantage the other while they were shorthanded.
St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula noted the impact of special teams, both pro and con.
“I don’t think our power play was quite as crisp as it has been,” he said. “It worked out enough times to make it successful.
“Our PK has been a staple all year. One kind of broke down from being five-on-three for so long. Otherwise, I thought they really stuck to what we do well.
Cole Gargon scored the Hawks’ first goal with 1:07 left in the first period. Vince Burnett made it 2-0 with 2:42 left in the second frame.
Zachary Vallee made it a 2-1 game when he scored for the Raiders on a shorthanded breakaway with 1:23 left in the period but Michael Castelli made it a two-goal game once more before the period ended.
Jason Kelly-LePage kept Hun School in the game with a power-play goal 7:10 into the final period but Michael Washlick shut the door at the 11:28 mark.
St. Joseph’s Prep 1 2 1—4
The Hun School 0 1 1—2
First-period goal: Cole Gargon (SJP) from Frank Ely and Adam Charrafi, 15:53 (pp)
Second-period goals: Vince Burnett (SJP) from Jake Ely and Charrafi, 14:18; Zachary Vallee (HS) unassisted, 15:37 (sh); Michael Castelli (SJP) from Ben Kurson, 16:08 (pp);
Third-period goals: Jason Kelly-LePage (HS) from Conor Mulligan, 7:10 (pp); Michael Washlick (SJP) from Charaffi and J. Ely, 11:28 (pp)
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 40, Hun School 12: Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 10, Blake Echternacht (HS) 10
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