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.

Playoff Ponderings-SHSHL

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.

SHSHL Playoff Schedule 2024

SHSHL Playoff Schedule (Revised)

Wednesday, February 21

National Division Quarterfinal

3. Central Bucks South vs. 6. Souderton

7:20 at Hatfield Ice

American Division Semifinal

2. Bensalem vs. 3. Abington

7:20 at Grundy Arena

Thursday, February 22

National Division Quarterfinal

4. Central Bucks East vs. 5 North Penn

7:10 at Hatfield Ice

Wednesday, February 28

National Division Semifinals

  1. Pennridge vs. North Penn or C.B. East

8:45 at Hatfield Ice

  • Council Rick South vs. C.B. South or Souderton

   7:20 at Grundy Arena

American Division Final

  1. Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Abington or Bensalem

   6:50 at Hatfield Ice

Thursday, February 29

National Division Final (tentative)

SHSHL Update for 2-19-24

Final Regular Season Standings

National Division         W   L   T  OW   OL  Pts

Pennridge  (17-1-2)        16  0   1    1   0   0   34

Council Rock South (18-1-0)    17    1    0   0   0   34

Cent. Bucks South (12-7-1)     12    5    1    0    2   27

Central Bucks East (11-5-2)    11    5    2    2   0   24

North Penn (10-7-1)         10    7    1    0   0   21

Souderton (7-11-0)              7    11    0    4     2  18

Pennsbury (4-13-1)              4    13     1    0    2   11

Council Rock North (2-13-0)  4   14      0   1     1   9

Cent. Bucks West  (3-14-1)     3    14    1    0   1    8

Neshaminy (1-14-3)          1    14    3    0    0   5

American Division           W    L   T  OW OL  Pts

Plymouth White. (13-3)  11     1   0     0    1   23

Bensalem (12-3)               9     3   0     1    1   19

Abington (6-9-1)            5     7   0    0     0    10

Springfield (3-12)             3     9   0   0     0    6

Wissahickon (2-13)         2   10   0     1      4

 National Division Scoring   G   A   Pts

Kevin Pico (Pr)                     28   47 75

Andrew Savona (Pr)           40  31   71

Maxwell Ryon (Soud)       43 20     63

Shane Dachowski (Pr)       27  33   60

Seth Grossman (Soud)     24  30   54

Kevin Koles (CRS)               24  26  50

Jake Weiner (CRS)             28   20  48

Blaize Pepe (CRS)              16 27    43

Nolan Shingle (NP)           9    30    39

Corey Kosick (CBE)          26  12     38

American Division Scoring  G   A   Pts

Alex Hood (Bens)                 52   18   70

Alex Bazylevich (Bens)        15   27   42

David Branigan (PW)           23   16  39

Dylan Novitski (PW)          19    12    31

Seamus Donofry (Ab)        7     23     30

Jason Segal (PW)                14   16    30

Lucas Gonalez (Bens)        10-  19     29

Tim Murphy (PW)              10     19   29

Daniel Guller (PW)              9    19     28

Owen Quinn (Sp)                18    10   28

Playoff Ponderings—APAC

Tuesday, February 20

APAC Play In

#5 Hun School at #4 Holy Ghost Prep

4:00 Grundy Arena

Hun School (4-10, 1-7 APAC)

A young Raider squad battled inexperience and injuries for much of the season. Justin Laplante scored four goals and added three assist in conference play. Julian Arsenault (.920 save percentage) and P.J. Angotti are both solid in goal.

Holy Ghost Prep (10-12, 3-5 APAC)

A young team matured as the season progressed.

Anthony Valeriote leads the team in scoring with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in all competitions. Matt Cholaj has scored three goals and added 10 assists for 13 points.Jake McCaw finished regular season with nine goals and added four assists for 13 points; 3-3-6 in APAC play. Jack Unger is the probable starter in goal (.958 save percentage, 0.84 GAA in conference play; .893/2.36 in all competitions).

Wednesday, February 21

#1  La Salle vs Hun School/Holy Ghost Prep

4:00 at Class of 1923 Rink

La Salle (18-3, 8-0 APAC)

The defending conference, Flyers Cup, and state champion Explorers are seeking their fourth outright APAC title in the conference’s six-year history (they’ve also shared another).  Dean Carvalho led the APAC in scoring with six goals and six assists for 12 points. He tallied 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points in all competitions. Patrick Brace has collected eight goals and 11 assists for 19 point in all competitions; 4-3-7 in the APAC. Goaltender Jake Rossi has a season-long save percentage of .936 and a GAA of 1.63; .954/1.13 in conference play.

#3 St. Joseph’s Prep vs #2 Malvern Prep

6:15 at Class of 1923 Rink

St. Joseph’s Prep (14-5, 4-4 APAC)

A corps of young players combined with veteran leadership to record some impressive results for the Hawks this season. Brayden Collins led the team in scoring with eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points; 3-3-6 in conference play. John Lynch scored four goals and added 11 assists overall. Jake Schultz was the Hawks’ top scoring in APAC competition with four goals and three assists for seven points; 7-5-12 overall. Jacob Aranda started every conference game in goal and finished league play with an .894 saver percentage and a 3.09 GAA; .893/2.85 overall.

Malvern Prep (9-7, 4-4 APAC)

The Friars had their ups and down early on, but rebounded to win six of their last nine games. Jeremy Jacobs led the team in scoring with 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points; 5-6-11 in conference play.  Caiden Canale deposited six goals and added seven assists for 13 points in all competitions; 1-4-5 in the APAC. Brady Doyle added five goals and seven assists overall; 1-4-5 in conference play. Goaltender Matt Crawford turned in a .935 save percentage in APAC play with a 2.27 GAA; .911-2.62 in all competitions.

APAC Update for 2-16-24

Final Regular Season Standings

                                               W     L    OTW  OTL Pts  GF     GA

La Salle (18-3)                      8     0       0        0    24    36      9 

Malvern Prep (9-7)             4      4      2       2      12     18    20 

St. Joseph’s Prep (14-5)      4      4      1      0     11    28   25

Holy Ghost Prep (10-12)       3    5      0       1     9     13    20

Hun School (4-10)                  1     7      0        1     3   16    37

Playoff Schedule

Tuesday 2-20

4:00 (5) Hun School vs. (4) Holy Ghost Prep at Grundy Arena

Wednesday, February 21

4:00 Hun School or Holy Ghost Prep vs. (1). La Salle

6:15 (3) Malvern Prep vs. (2) St. Joseph’s Prep

Both game at Class of 1923 Rink

Wednesday, February 28

Tentative date for Founders Cup final to be hosted by highest seeded finalist

Scoring (Conference Games)     GP    G     A     Pts. PPG  

Dan Carvalho (L)                           8       6   6     12      1.50    

Jeremy Jacobs (MP)                      8        5   6    11     1.38    

Patrick Brace (L)                          8       4       3    7       0.88    

William Carpenter (L)                  8         1     6    7     0.88    

Justin Laplante (HS)                   8         4     3     7      0.88   

Jake Schultz (SJP)                        7         4      3      7   0.88

Ryan Levesque (HS)                    6        1       4    5     0.83

Jake McCaw (HGP)                      8         3     3    6     0.75

Brayden Collins (SJP)                  8         3      3    6    0.75

Julian Tarsi (L)                              8        3      3     6   0.75 

Declan Kelly (L)                            8        1      5     6   0.75  

Will Gregorio (L)                          8       1      5     6    0.75

Tristan Winata (SJP)                   8        6      0     6   0.75 

Save Pct (Conference Games)   GP Shots GA  Save Pct.

Jack Unger (HGP)                         4      72    3     .958

Jake Rossi (L)                                 7     197    9     .954

Matt Crawford (MP)                   7      293  19  .935

Julian Arseneault (HS)                4      200  16   .920

Jaccob Aranda (SJP)                    8       235  25  .894

Goals Against (Conference Games)

Jack Unger (HGP)   0.84

Jake Rossi (L)          1.13

Matt Crawford (MP) 2.27

Jacob Aranda (SJP)   3.09

Julian Arsenault (HS) 3.10

(Goaltemders must have played 153 minutes in conference games)

Pennridge 7 C.B. South 1

Pennridge 7 C.B. South 1

The last pieces of the SHSHL playoff puzzle are now in place.

Pennridge turned in a solid, workmanlike, effort Wednesday night, en route to a 7-1 win over Central Bucks South at Hatfield Ice.

The Rams closed the SHSHL regular season at 16-1-1 in divisional play (17-1-2 overall) and will be seeded first when the National Division playoffs commence next week.

Andrew Savona once more occupied center stage, scoring four goals and assisting on another.

His linemate, Kevin Pico, assisted on three goals while Shane Dachowski, the third member of the trio, scored two goals and assisted on another.

Pico spoke to the significance of the win with the playoffs at hand.

“It was huge,” he said. “Our last game of the season. To put up that many goals and get that first seed locked in.

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna noted his team’s effort over the full 51 minutes.

“Tonight was probably our best game of the year,” he said. “One thing this team does really well is, when the goal is in front of them and they know what they’re playing for, they take it to a different level. They’ve done that for three years, they did that tonight. It was a great game all around.”

Dachowski gave the Rams the lead with 2:26 left in the opening period. In the second session, the floodgates opened when Savona, James Rush, and Savona again, scored three unanswered goals in a span of 11 minutes, 21 seconds. The first two were shorthanded, the third, Savona’s second coming just as a South penalty expired. For all intents and purposes it was game, set, and match Pennridge at that point.

The Titans (12-5-1 in the division, 12-7-1 overall), who will be seeded third for the playoffs never really got things started. Their only goal came off the stick of Ryan Montagna with 6:36 left in the third period.

“You’ve got to show up,” said South coach Shaun McGinty. “We lost three periods in a row. Defensively, we weren’t there. We gave up two shorthanded goals on four power plays. I said to the boys, ’There’s no mathematical equation that’s going to issue a W.

“You lose three periods in a row, you can’t win a game; you’ve got to take it one period at a time.”

The Rams, who were Class AA Flyers Cup finalists a year ago, and Flyers Cup and state champions the tear before, will now have a week-long break before beginning another postseason challenge.

“I think it will be a good week to have off,” Pico said, “resting up and then get going again.

“Some of our guys’ club seasons are over so now that we have [only] high school, it’s definitely a nice time that we can rest. Looking forward to playoffs, definitely.”

Ice chips: Pico leads the entire SHSHL in scoring with 28 goals and 47 assists for 75 points. Savona is next with 40 goals and 31 assists for 71 points, followed by Shane Dachowski (27-33-60).

“You can watch high-school hockey for a long time,” Montagna said. “You’re not going to find a better line than those three. It’s amazing, some of the things they do on the ice.”

C.B. South 0 0 1—1

Pennridge 1 4 2—7

First-period goal: Shane Dachowski (P) from Kevin Pico, 14:34

Second-period goals: Andrew Savona (P) from Pico, 1:47 (sh); James Rush, unassisted, 2:04; Savona (P) from Pico and Colin Dachowki, 13:08; Savona (P) from Nick Young, 16:05

Third-period goals: Savona (P) unassisted, 8:18; Ryan Montagna (CBS) from Colin Mendham and Sean Cutter, 10:24; Shane Dachowski (P) from Savona, 15:08

Shots: C.B. South 31, Pennridge 37; Saves: Nathan Neapolitan (CBS) 30, Jacob Winston (P) 30

Hockey Happenings is looking for individuals interested in supporting our coverage of the upcoming SHSHL playoffs. Contact us at the link above or at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com for details.

La Salle 5 St. Joseph’s Prep 3

La Salle overcame a 3-0 second-period deficit to stun St. Joseph’s Prep 5-3 Wednesday evening in an APAC game at the Class of 1923. The Explorers scored five goals in the third period to conclude conference play with a perfect 8-0 record (18-3 overall).

Dean Carvalho scored two goals for La Salle  and assisted on another. Alex Fusaro, Alistair St. Hilaire, and Patrick Brace also scored goals.

Tristan Winada gave the Hawks (14-5, 4-4) a 1-0 lead with 18 seconds left in the first period. Brayden Collins and Calum Hartnell added goals in the second period.

La Salle 0 0 5—5

St. Joseph’s Prep 1 2 0—3

First period goals: Tristan Winada (SJP) from Brayden Collins, 16:42

Second-period goals: Collins (SJP) from John Lynch and Cole Garson, 8:44; Calum Hartnell (SJP) from Caden Kelly, 16:48

Third-period goals: Dean Carvalho (L) from Alex Fusaro and Ben Faliclki, 5:55; Fusaro (L) from Thomas Ducet and Liam Donahue, 12:34; Alistair St. Hilaire (L) from Carvalho and Julian Trasi, 14:23; Carvalho (L) from Will Carpenter, 15:49; Patrick Brace (L) unassisted, 16:59 (en)

Shots: Saves:

Holy Ghost Prep 4 C.B. South 0

Holy Ghost Prep scored three times in the first period Monday night and went on to a 4-0 win over Central Bucks South in a non-league encounter at Flyers Skate Zone Northeast.

The matchup served as a tuneup for both the Titans and the Firebirds as they set their sights on postseason play next week in the APAC and the SHSHL National Division respectively.

Cane Bickel, Matt Cholaj, and Colin Bara all scored for Holy Ghost Prep in a span of 2:18 to put the Firebirds up 3-0 with 2:55 left in the first period.

Patrick Oser added a goal with 2:57 left in the middle period.

C.B. South 0 0

Holy Ghost Prep 3 1

First-period goals: Caine Bickel (HGP) from Anthony Valerote, 11:47; Matt Cholaj (HGP) from Nathan Romer, 12:17; Colin Bara (HGP) from Brian Kinniry, 14:05

Second-period goals: Patrick Oser (HGP) from Daniel McCullion and Valerote, 14:03

Shots: C.B. South 27, Holy Ghost Prep 35

APAC Playoff Update

 A matchup between Holy Ghost Prep and Hun School will kick off the 2024 Founders Cup playoffs.

The fourth-seeded Firebirds will host the fifth-seeded Raiders in a play in game on Tuesday, February 20 at 4 p.m. at Grundy Arena.

The winner will advance to face top-seeded La Salle the following day, February 21, at the Class of 1923 Rink at the University of Pennsylvania as part of a semifinal doubleheader.  The other semifinal game will match Malvern Prep against St. Joseph’s Prep. The semifinal doubleheader will begin at 4:00; which game will be first has not been announced.

The Founders Cup title game is tentatively set for February 28 and will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.