Author: 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.

All-Star Game to Kick Off State Championship Weekend

A state championship tripleheader traditionally concludes the scholastic hockey season in Pennsylvania. This year’s state title games are set for the Alpha Ice Complex in Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 22.

This year’s festivities will kick off the night before with am All-Star game matching All-Star teams from each side of the state; Team Flyers Cup vs. Team Penguins Cup.

Thirty players have been named each team. The rosters are subject to revision; players whose teams have reached the state finals will not play in the All-Star Game.

The tentative roster for Team Flyers Cup (East)

1	Peter Pereborow	Council Rock South	D	12
2	Ryan Lippy	Holy Ghost Prep	D	12
3	Cam Ross	LaSalle	D	12
4	Ethan McKay	Marple Newtown	D	12
5	James Boyle	North Penn	D	10
6	Nash Grant	Penncrest	D	11
7	Chris Sarver	Pennsbury	D	12
8	Henri Gravel	Avon Grove	F	10
9	Noah Cutillo	Boyertown	F	11
10	Joey Slobodrian	Central Bucks South	F	11
11	Jeremy Rayer	Council Rock South	F	12
12	Jake Weiner	Council Rock South	F	11
13	Kieran Crossan	Devon Prep	F	12
14	Brody Matthews	Downingtown East	F	12
15	Nolan Stott	Garnet Valley	F	12
16	Kevin Walton	Garnet Valley	F	12
17	Blake Platz	Henderson	F	12
18	Blake Umberger	Hershey	F	12
19	Brady Logue	Holy Ghost Prep	F	11
20	Lucas Mott	Kennett	F	11
21	Grant Lagreca	LaSalle	F	12
22	Sam Norton	North Penn	F	10
23	Shane Dachowski	Pennridge	F	12
24	Dylan Cyr	Spring-Ford	F	11
25	Cole Gargon	St. Joes Prep	F	10
26	Dylan Vieira	Haverford High	G	11
27	Alexander Placeres	Hershey	G	10
28	Aiden Mott	Kennett	G	11
29	Jacob Rossi	LaSalle	G	12

30 James Winston Pennridge G 12

The tentative roster for Team Penguins Cup

1 Derek Schliebner Thomas Jefferson D 11

2 Noah Logan N. Allegheny D 11

3 Mathius Sprickman Cathedral Prep D 12

4 Cam Kiste Penn Trafford D 12

5 Tyler Held Chartiers Valley D 11

6 Roger Williams Pine Richland D 12

7 Eli Porter S. Fayette D 12\

8 Preston Miller Latrobe D 10

9 Brian Spencer Thomas Jefferson D 12

10 Max Modrovich Quaker Valley F 12

11 Tucker Cullen Fox Chapel F 10

12 Robert Chiappetta S. Fayette F 11

13 Darius Malecki Shaler F 12

14 Trevor Dallesandro S. Fayette F 12

15 Conner Ralston Avonworth F 12

16 Andrew Malecky Seneca Valley F 12

17 Liam Shinn Mt. Lebanon F 11

18 Eli Rankin Upper St. Clair F 12

19 Dominic Casile Fox Chapel F 12

20 Joey Crimboli Latrobe F 10

21 Josh Lanyard Pine Richland F 12

22 Brock Bienemann Penn Trafford F 10

23 Jake Graff Armstrong F 11

24 Xavier Bias Mt. Lebanon F 10

25 Lucas Blose Thomas Jefferson F 10

26 Aiden Moskovitz Montour F 12

27 Miles Carey Fox Chapel G 11

28 Christopher Nichols Seneca Valley G 11

29 Ben Balla Central Catholic G 12

30 Landon Butterbaugh Quaker Valley G 12

30 Cam Junker N. Allegheny G 12

Salesianum 7 Haverford School 1

LaBuono, Braeden Graham, and Sean Melican each scored two goals as Salesianum concluded its regular season with a 7-1 win over The Haverford School Friday afternoon at Ice Line.

The Sallies closed the regular season 15-3 against ICSHL competition closed the regular season with three consecutive conference win.

Liam Bell also scored for the Sallies. Melican added two assists.

After a scoreless first period, LaBuono started the scoring four minutes into the second period. Harry Neilly tied the game for the Fords (2-6 in the division) just 19 seconds later but Salesianum broke the game open when Bell, Melican Graham, and LaBuono scored goals in a four-and-a-half minute span.

Melican and Graham added goals in the third period.

Salesianum 0 5 2—7

Haverford School 0 1 0—1

Second-period goals: Nick LaBuono (S) unassisted, 4:00; Harry Neilly (HS) from Michael DiPalma and Henry Cagliuso, 4:19; Liam Bell (S) from Sean Melican 5:08; Melican (S) from Michael Flaherty and Jerry Distefano, 6:46; Braeden Graham (S) from LaBuono (S) and Grayson Betterly, 7:53; LaBuono (S) from Melican and Jerry Distefano, 9:48

Third-period goals: Melican (S) from Blake D’Italia and Sean Albert 5:29; Graham (S) from Park Stipa, 9:12

Shots: Salesianum 38, Haverford School 6 Saves: Gavin Needs (S) 6, Ike Matoney (HS) 31

SHSHL Sets Playoff Schedule

Monday February 24

National Division First Round at Hatfield

6:10 Pennridge vs Central Bucks East

8:00 Central Bucks South vs. Pennsbury

Wednesday, February 26

American Division Semifinal

6:10 Hatboro-Horsham vs. Springfield at Hatfield

National Division Semifinals

8:00 North Penn vs. C.B. South or Pennsbury at Hatfield

7:00 Council Rock South vs. Pennridge or C.B. East at Grundy

Thursday, February 27

American Division Final

6:00 Plymouth Whitemarsh vs TBD at Hatfield

National Division Final hosted by highest seeded finalist

7:00 if at Grundy 8:10 if at Hatfield

Note: Playoff results will. not impact Flyers Cup seedings or pairings

SHSHL Playoff Puzzle Solved

The last pieces of the puzzle have been filled in and the field is set for the SHSHL postseason.

Six National Division and three American Division teams will begin playoff action on Monday.

Three games Wednesday night solidified the final field.

Council Rock South 5 Neshaminy 2—Jordan Sarne and Jake Weiner each scored two goals as the Golden Hawks clinched the National Division regular-season title Wednesday night at Grundy Arena. Jeremy Rayher also scored for South (18-2, 17-1 in the division) who built a 5-0 lead before Ryan DeMatteo scored two third-period goals for the ‘Skins (6-12-1, 5-12-1).

The result means Pennsbury will be the sixth and final seed for the National Division playoffs.

See below for the complete list.

Central Bucks East 3 Pennridge 2—Dave Brown scored a shorthanded goal with 12:23 left in regulation to give the Patriots the win over the Rams at Hatfield Ice. The result locks the Rams (12-7, 11-7 in the division) into the fourth position for the National Division playoffs. The Patriots (10-8-1, 10-7-1) were already assured of the fifth seed. Gavin Widmer and Tyson Cowan also scored for East. James Embert and Kaden Gunning scored for Pennridge.

Springfield 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh 2—Kellen Warman broke a 2-2 tie when he scored with 2:42 left in the second period to put the Spartans in front for good Wednesday night at Grundy Arena. Gabriel Wells added an insurance goal in the third period as Springfield (8-8) closed its regular season with six consecutive wins to claim the third and final playoff spot from the American Division. The loss was the first for Plymouth Whitemarsh (15-1) which will enter the postseason as the division’s top seed. Hatboro-Horsham, which closes its regular season Thursday night, will be the second seed.

National Division Seedings

Council Rock South
North Penn
Central Bucks South
Pennridge
Central Bucks East
Pennsbury

American Division Seedings

Plymouth Whitemarsh
Hatboro-Horsham
Springfield

Holy Ghost Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1

fast start goes along way on any night but particularly at playoff time. Holy Ghost Prep found success with that formula Wednesday evening.

By the time the game was barely three minutes old the Firebirds had a 2-0 lead. They added a third goal before the first period ended and went on to a 4-1 win over Malvern Prep in an APAC semifinal game at Grundy Arena.

Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (17-4-1) which is unbeaten in its last seven games, will face La Salle in the Founders Cup title game next Wednesday at the same venue (5 p.m. start). Fourth-seeded Malvern Prep will find out Sunday night where and when it will start play in the Class AAA Flyers Cup.

The loudest note of the night was sounded on the first shot of the game. William Hamar found the back of the net with forehander from between the circles just 15 seconds into the first period. Brady Logue made it a 2-0 game not quite three minutes later.

The Friars and the Firebirds split two regular-season meetings; Malvern Prep prevailed at Grundy Arena 4-2 on November 20. With that result in mind, Logue spoke to the importance of a fast start.

“Losing on home ice always leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Logue said, “so we tried to get them back. (The Firebirds later won on Malvern Prep’s home ice.) Brian Kinniry added a goal with 1:50 left in the opening session. From that point on Malvern Prep was skating uphill.

“I think we came out flat in the beginning of the fame,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “Ghost popped two goals in early.

“I think the second and third periods our boys’ energy was there. I thought we battled hard in the corners. The effort was there.”

Indeed. The team battle on essentially even terms for most of the rest of the way.

Teague Murray was able to solve Holy Ghost Prep netminder Jack Unger with a shorthanded effort with 1:33 remaining.

Logue scored his second goal of the game.

Unger finished his evening with 22 saves.

“Obviously we came out strong,” he said. “A goal in the first 15 seconds of the game really, really helped. When that happens, it gets the confidence level up for the whole team.”

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie says Wednesday night marked a fresh start not just for his team but for everyone in the APAC.

“Everybody is going to kind of amp up their play a little bit,” he said. “Everything is going to be tougher, we’ve got to fight for everything.

“Obviously it was nice to get the first shot on goal going in, but we’ve got to clean some stuff up and get better.”

Malvern Prep 0 0 1—1

Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 1—4

First-period goals: William Harmar (HGP) from Brady Logue and Joe Spadaccino, :15; Brady Logue (HGP) from Ryan Lippy and Harvard, 3:10; Brian Kinniry (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Jack Unger, 15:10

Third-period goals: Teague Murray (MP) from Paxton Hoishik 15:27 (sh); Logue (HGP) from Spadaccino and Harmar, 16:20

Shots: Malvern Prep 23, Holy Ghost Prep 28; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 23, Jack Unger (HGP) 22

La Salle 7 St. Joseph’s Prep 0

La Salle is unmistakably in postseason mode. The Explorers scored pocketed two goals in the opening eight minutes Wednesday afternoon and went on to a 7-0 win over St. Joseph’s Prep in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference semifinal at Grundy Arena.

Second-seeded LaSalle (17-4) the two-time defending APAC and Class AAA Flyers Cup champion, will face Holy Ghost Prep, a 4-1 winner over Malvern Prep for the APAC title next Wednesday at Grundy Arena (5 p.m. start). Third-seeded St. Joseph’s Prep will learn Sunday evening where it is seeded for the upcoming Class AAA Flyers Cup.

La Salle’s performance in the semifinal was a study in precision.

Will Gregorio got things started for the Explorers just 4:30 into the first period after the Hawks coughed up the puck inside their own zone allowing Gregorio and open look from the left circle. Luca Staffani made it 2–0 at the 7:55 mark when he put in a rebound of Michael Zarzycki’s shot from the left wing. Grant LaGreca made it 3-0 on a tip-in with 1:10 left in the period.

“I think the boys were really ready to get out here,” Gregorio said. “This was I think the first time we’ve had a full roster; the full team playing. I think we were excited and we were ready to play.”

Nole Donohue extended La Salle’s lead with 5:25 left in the second period. Julian Tarsi added another goal 4:20 into the third period after Donohue’s shot from the left circle was blocked. Daniel Burke and Donohue added additional goals.

The Hawks (10-9) never really got started.
“They totally outplayed is from the start to the finish,” said St. Joseph’s coach David Giacomin. “We didn’t cover anybody in the beginning and got down two or three goals right away. “We’re not built for coming back from three or four-goal deficits. We’re not that type of team.”
The third period was marred by an assortment of eight penalties, four against each team including three misconducts, adding up to 40 minutes. An additional misconduct penalty was rescinded.

La Salle assistant coach P.J. Quinn stressed the importance of maintaining discipline.

“I thought we came out and got the puck deep and low in their end,” he said. “Pressuring their {defense}. “Our guts performed the first two periods really good; the third period we got a little undisciplined. Which is out of character for us.”

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 0—0

La Salle 3 1 3—7

First-period goals: Will Gregorio (L) from Grant LaGreca, 4:30; Luca Staffani (L) from Michael Zarzycki and Jake Warner, 7:55; LaGreca (L) from Daniel Burke and Staffani, 15:50

Second-period goal: Nole Donohue from Julian Tarsi and Alex Gibson, 11:25

Third-period goal: Tarsi (L) from Donohue, 4:20; Burke (L) from Declan Kelly, 8:43; Donohue (L) from Alastair St. Hilaire

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 21, La Salle 25; Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 18, Jake Rossi (L) 21

APAC Semifinal Preview

Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference Semifinals

Wednesday 2-19 at Grundy Arena

3:10 (2) La Salle vs. (3) St . Joseph’s Prep

5:20 (1) Holy Ghost Prep vs. (4) Malvern Prep

La Salle (14-6, 6-2 in APAC)

Coach: Wally Muehlbronner

Players to watch: Nole Donohue 10 goals, 14 assists, 24 points; Grant LaGreca 16-4-20; Michael Zarzycki 10-9-19; Jake Rossi 1.87 GAA, .929 save percentage

St. Joseph’s Prep (10-8, 5-3 )

Coach: David Giacomin

Player to Watch: Cole Gargon 13 goals, 5 assists, 18 points; Frank Ely 7-9-16; Noah Stuhl 4-10-14; Declan Geary 1.97 GAA, .925 save percentage

This year

11-6 La Salle 4 St. Joseph’s Prep 2

1-22 La Salle 3 St. Joseph’s Prep 2 OT

Holy Ghost Prep (16-4-1, 6-2)

Coach: John Ritchie

Players to watch: Brady Logue 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points; Joe Spadaccino 10-12-22; Anthony Valeriote 10-10—20; Jack Unger 1.69 GAA, .923 save percentage; Matt Salita 1.80 GAA, .903 save percentage

Malvern Prep (5-9, 3-5)

Coach: Bill Keenan

Players to watch: James Young 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points; Teague Murry 5-2-7; Andrew Starck 5-2-7; Matt Crawford 2.20 GAA, .912 save percentage

This year:

11-20 Malvern Prep 4 Holy Ghost Prep 2

12-12 Holy Ghost Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1

The two semifinal winners will meet for the Founders Cup championship on Wednesday, February 26 at 4 PM. The gme will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.

Arcadia’s Ryan Heickert’s Take on Recruiting

Most high-school hockey players envision playing at a higher level after graduation. But what does it take to get there?

Arcadia head coach Ryan Heickert has some thought on the subject.

In his first season behind the bench Heickert has the Knights in contention for a Middle Atlantic Conference playoff spot heading into their regular-season finale at Stevenson on Friday. A win would qualify them for postseason play for the second time in the program’s four-year history. The first was in 2023 when Arcadia was part of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Heickert himself played for an NCAA Division III national championship team at Neumann University and was an assistant coach at his alma mater before spending three years as the head coach at Bryn Athyn College.

Earning a spot on an NCAA roster is a major accomplishment for a hockey player. At the start of the 2024-25 season there 60 NCAA Division I men’s hockey teams, seven at Division II and 81 at Division III.

(By comparison, there are 352 NCAA men’s basketball programs in Division I and nine more in the process of transitioning to that level.)

By any measure, those players skating for an NCAA team, whatever the level, are part of an elite group.

“The level of plyaer that’s playing Division III hockey I very high,” Heickert says. “Just by sheer numbers. And the amount of kids playing D-III that get an opportunity to play some level of pro hockey is very good.”

Heickert shared his thoughts about the recruiting process and how he evaluates prospects, with Hockey Happenings.

“We watch them play,” he said. “We get to talk to them, we talk to coaches, talk to advisors and try to find the right character person first; that’s really important for us.

“And the education piece is very important. I don’t want to be chasing around students, begging them to go to class and worrying about GPAs.”

Heickert is quick to point out that the caliber of play in junior and Division III hockey has improved substantially from his playing days. He was asked what sets a player apart on the ice.

“Skating ability and a level of [competitiveness]really stands out for me if we’re talking about on- ice stuff,” he said.

All these kids are so skilled and can shoot a puck. All that stuff is all beyond what it was when I played D-III hockey.”

Regardless of how skilled a player may be however, stepping up to the NCAA level requires making a series of adjustment, notably in the area of ice time. A player who might have been playing on the number-one line and/or the power play at another level might be on the fourth line or killing penalties at the start of his collegiate career. The ability to make that sort of transition is critical to a player’s development.

“It’s huge,” Heickert said. “And I don’t think anyone is batting a thousand when it comes to recruiting. We do our best. I try to have a real open and honest conversation with anyone I’m talking to about recruiting. I had a conversation with a young man {recently} and I asked him, ‘What are your factors when you’re looking at schools?’”

“One of the things was how much he’s going to play. And I had to remind him I’m not recruiting someone I think I going to sit in the stands but I can’t guarantee ice time That has to be earned.”

The fact that most players play junior hockey before going on to college make the transition process unique.

“I think people forget what it’s like to step in,” Heickert said. “It’s a big jump and they forget that. And they forget that {a college team} is a team full of kids that played in the junior league they’re playing in currently but are now three years older than they are with three more years of experience at a higher level.

I think it can be a mental struggle. But I think it’s having conversations and letting them know ‘The expectation as a freshman is to play every game. That should be the goal. Just get in the lineup. Find a role. And then, build from there.”

SHSHL Sets Playoff Schedule

The SHSHL has announced its playoff schedule. Postseason play will begin on Monday, February 24 and continue through Thursday, February 27.

Playoff results will have no impact on selections and seedings for the Flyers Cup tournament, which will be announced on Sunday, February 23, eight days before the start of the tournament.

Playoff dates, sites, and times are as follows

National Division (Class AA)

Monday 2-24 First Round

Seed 4 vs Seed 5 6:10

Seed 3 vs Seed 6 8:00

Both games at Hatfield Ice

Wednesday 2-26

American Division (Class A) Semifinal

Seed 2 vs Seed 3 6:10 at Hatfield Ice

National Division Semifinals

At Hatfield Ice 8:00

At Grundy Arena 7:10

Thursday, 2-27

American Division Final

Plymouth Whitemarsh vs TBD 6:00 at Hatfield Ice

National Division Final

Hosted by Highest-Seeded Finalist

8:10 at Hatfield Ice or 7:00 at Grundy

Montagna Announces Retirement

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna announced Thursday night that he will step down at the end of the season.

Montagna is in his seventh season behind the Rams’ bench.

His teams won Class AA Flyers Cup and state championships in 2022 and again last season. They also claimed SHSHL National Division titles in 2019 and ’22.

Montagna, who also coaches at the club level, said he needed a break from high-school hockey.

“I’m burnt out,” he said. “I can’t do this if I can’t give what needs to be given to it. I’m taking a step back and dealing with club hockey next year.

“I want to continue coaching high school but I need a little bit of a breather. Whether it’s a year, two years, whatever it is, it’s time.”