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.
HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—For two periods, La Salle and Wyoming Seminary battled each other on even terms. The result was a 1-1 standoff.
In the third frame, Knights broke through, scoring four goals to record a 5-1 win Friday evening at Hatfield Ice.
Alexis Billequey scored two goals and assisted on another as the Knights improved to 4-1 on the season.
The Explorers dropped to 0-2 but Coach Wally Muehlbronner saw his team take some big strides.
“For us, the game was a big step forward,” he said. “Our approach, the way the guys played, we played hard for three periods.”
The Explorers actually took the early lead when Chase Hannon bested Wyoming Seminary goaltender Caleb Chabot with 7:45 left in the opening period.
The second period was almost two thirds gone before BIllequey responded for the Knights and when the teams left the ice at period’s end it was anyone’s game for the taking.
Starting the third period on fresh ice, the Knights stepped up. Mathis Pellerin beat LaSalle netminder Jake Rossi just 1:24 into the period. Colin Donovan made it a 3-1 game at the 4::05 mark and Billequey scored his second goal just 42 seconds later.
Anthony Petrick completed the scoring with 3:04 left in the game.
Rossi, a sophomore, gave a solid effort in the Explorer net.
“He’s only a sophomore but he’s a competitor,” Muehlbronner said. “He’s a good goalie, I was happy with the way he played today.”
Despite the loss, Muehlbronner sees things heading in the right direction.
“We did a couple things that, if we look back at it, and correct them, it could have been a 1-1 game to the end,” he said. “We hurt ourselves a little it in the third.”
Second-period goal: Alexis Billequey (WS) from Oliver van der Groen and Jason Shapiro, 10:18
Third-period goals: Mathis Pellerin (WS) from Yoan Gagnon and Billequey, 1:24; Colin Donovan (WS) unassisted, 4:05; Billequey (WS) from Daniel Svozil, 4:47; Anthony Petrick (WS) from Gagnon, 12:56
HATFIELD TOWNSHIP— Souderton found out a lot about itself Thursday night. Coming off an emotional last-second loss 24 hours earlier, the Big Red responded with a solid effort in a 6-1 SHSHL National win over Central Bucks West at Hatfield Ice Arena.
It was Souderton’s first win in four tries while the Bucks dropped to 1-2. The result will not factor into the divisional standings as the two teams are scheduled to play again on January 25th.
But that mattered little to Souderton coach Ryan Uchniat, whose team came into the game thirsting for a win.
“I think they showed a lot of resiliency, he said. “They showed a lot of resiliency last night coming back in the third period.
“This team has a real positive attitude, they’ve a little bit of a giddy up. It’s fun to see, it’s fun to be a part of as well.”
Souderton’s top line had a big night. Nick Smith delivered a three-goal hat trick. Seth Grossman scored two goals and assisted on three others while Maxwell Ryon provided a goal and an assist.
Smith noted the win was especially satisfying after 4-3 loss to Council Rock North on Wednesday that saw the Big Red surrender the winning goal with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation.
“It felt good,” he said. “After a tough loss like that with two seconds left, it felt good to finally win.”
Smith made his presence felt early on, scoring twice to put his team up 2-0 just 7:45 into the opening period.
The Bucks got closer when Adam Ricci won a goal-mouth scramble to put the puck behind Big Red netminder Noah Connor during a power play at the 8:21 mark of the second period.
But Souderton put its resiliency on display when Ryon answered back at 10:26 before Smith completed his hat trick with exactly four minutes left in the period.
Grossman scored his two goals in the third frame.
The Big Red enjoyed a 42-21 advantage in shots. West goalkeeper Liam Rogers did some quality work between the pipes to keep his team in the game for most of the way.
Smith spoke to the speed and skill of the Big Red’s number-one line.”I think that’s our strong point,” he said. “The first line has a lot of skill.”
Smith believes that Thursday’s performance is a sign of things to come. Souderton has scored nine goals in its last two games after scoring just three in its first two games combined.
“I think we can win some games finally,” Smith said. “We’re starting to finally score and not scoring one goal a game. I think we can finally capitalize on some opportunities.”
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C.B. West 0 1 0—1
Souderton 2 2 2—6
First-period goals: Nick Smith (S) from Seth Grossman and Caden O’Neill, 2:50; Smith from Maxwell Ryon, 7:45
Second-period goals: Adam Ricci (CBW) from Luke Tremmel, 8:21 (pp); Ryon (S) from Grossman, 10:26; Smith (S) from Grossman and Matt Malanga, 13:00
Third-period goals: Grossman (S) unassisted, 3:31; Grossman (S) unassisted, 8:00
Shots: C.B. West 21, Souderton 42; Saves: Liam Rogers (CBW) 36, Noah Connor (S) 20
BRISTOL—The conclusion was dramatic, to say the least. Karson Grainey’s power-play goal with 2.4 seconds remaining in the third period was the decisive blow as Council Rock North edged Souderton 4-3 Wednesday night at Grundy Arena in a Suburban High School Hockey League National Division matchup.
The winning goal capped a late flurry that the Big Red (0-3, 0-1 in divisional play) score three times in the third period, including twice in a span of 14 seconds to tie the game with 50 seconds left in regulation, only to yield Grainey’s game winner, which came while Souderton’s Seth Grossman was sitting in the penalty box after drawing an elbowing penalty with 23 seconds remaining before overtime.
The win was the first for the Indians in four starts (1-1 in the division).
“I think it gives us a big energy boost,” Grainey said. “Especially going into our rivalry game next week (against Council Rock South next Wednesday). I think we’re moe confident.
“It wasn’t the most pretty win, but we’re more confident now, and we’ve just got to keep it rolling from here.”
Goals from Lucas Simmons and Michael Booth gave North a 2-0 lead before Jackson Accardi extended his team’s lead to 3-0 with 1:02 left in the second frame.
Grossman ended Ina Goldberg’s bid for a shutout 2:43 into the final period but North still looked to be in control as the clock wound down. When Maxwell Ryon scored to make it a one-goal game some eyebrows were raised but North still had time on its side with just 1:04 remaining in regulation. Grossman’s second goal of the night altered the landscape significantly but just 27 seconds later he was flagged for a no-doubt-about-it elbowing penalty to give North a power play.
Grainey’s goal came on a rebound off Simos’s original shot. The junior found the top right quadrant of the net after Souderton netminder Noah Connor made an initial save.
“I think what’s really fortunate is that is was a good learning opportunity for the kids about playing three periods 17 minutes all the way through” said North coach Greg McDonald. “They’re lucky to come out on top. So, hopefully it helps us down the road.
Meanwhile, Souderton coach Ryan Uchniat had a forum to address his team about the importance of killing penalties.
“I think that’s two weeks in a row where our penalty kill has come up short,” he said. “With (23) seconds left, we needed to really execute.”
Uchniat also spoke to the importance of staying out of the box altogether. “We’ve really got to be more disciplined as a team in general,” he said. “It starts with me, making sure we stay focused. That means focused on the simple things, playing solid hockey and playing within the whistles.”
BRISTOL—A hockey fan couldn’t have wished for more. Tristan Winata’s goal 60 seconds into three-on-three overtime gave St. Joseph’s Prep a dramatic 3-2 win over Holy Ghost Prep Wednesday afternoon in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Grundy Arena.
Winata’s game-winner, his second goal of the afternoon, came when he collected a feed from goaltender Rocco Bruno and put a backhander past Firebird netminder Colin Mudrick just moments after the Firebirds had a chance of their own.
The result squared the Hawks’ record at 1-1 in the APAC and 4-1 overall and came five days after a loss to Malvern Prep in their conference opener.
“It’s amazing to be part of that experience,” Bruno said. “The game was real tight, real close, the adrenaline was pumping, and it’s a great overall feeling to come out with a win.”
Bruno had as much to do with his team’s success as anyone in the building. The Firebirds (1-1 overall and in the the APAC) outshot the Hawks 46-25; Bruno finished his day’s work with 44 saves. He spoke to the importance of staying focused.
“Not letting yourself being distracted,” he said. “I’ve got to make sure I’m paying attention to my D-men and talking to them. I have to keep control of a lot of things at once, but I can’t get distracted by anybody other than who’s on the ice.”
St. Joseph’s Prep assistant coach Van Stefanou said Bruno’s play gave his teammates an energy boost but stressed the senior netminder had plenty of help.
“I think it gives our team a lot of momentum going forward,” he said. “Rocco played out of his mind, but our whole defensive corps, and even the forwards coming back and helping defensively out really turned it around especially from the last game. Our focus this game was to protect the house and our guys did just that.”
The Hawks took a 1-0 lead when Shane O’Neill scored from the high slot just inside the Holy Ghost Prep blue line 11:32 into the first period. Winata made it a 2-0 game during a power play at the 12:12 mark of the second frame.
But the Firebirds didn’t buckle. Kieran Mulholland and Brady Baehser scored goals five minutes apart and with 10:48 left in regulation it was a 2-2 game.
And as time marched on the level of play at both ends of the ice picked up, something even Gump Whiteside, the losing coach, could appreciate.
“That’s a great game,” he said. “Win, lose, or tie, two good teams playing.”
Whiteside was pleased with the way his troops recovered from the two-goal deficit.”
“I really liked the way our guts responded in the third period,” he said. “We did everything we wanted to do. I told the guys after the game, when you get to overtime, anything can happen. We had that opportunity early and it didn’t go our way.”
St. Joseph’s Prep 1 1 0 0 1—3
Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 2 0—2
Frost-period goal: Shane O’Neill (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond and Tristan Winata, 11:32
Second-period goal: Winata (SJP) from Jake Schulz and Patrick Sweeney, 12:12 (pp)
For more information about St. Joseph’s Prep CLICK HERE
For more information about Holy Ghost Prep CLICK HERE
Elsewhere: Hun School 4 Father Judge 0—Four different players scored goals as the Raiders won their season opener from the host Crusaders on Wednesday. Ryan Levesque, Justin Laplante, Charles-Etienne Jette, and Ethan Estulin were the goal scorers.
Stephen Chen (21 saves) and Julian Arsenault (10) combined on the shutout.
Hun School 1 2 1—4
Father Judge 0 0 0—0
First-period goal: Ryan Levesque from Tyler James, Mark Gall, 16:38
Second-period goals: Justin Laplante, 9:33 (SH)
Third-period goal: Elian Estulin from Laplante, Marino
HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP—Caidan Canale scored two goals and assisted on another as Malvern Prep opened defense of its Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference title with a 4-1 win over St. Joseph’s Prep Friday night at the Skatium. Brayden Baum and Jeremy Jacobs also scored for the Friars (3-0 overall). Four of the game’s give goals came in the first period. Ben Kerson have the Hawks (3-1, 0-1 in the APAC) a 1-0 lead 5:02 into the first period but Jeremy Jacobs, Brayden Baum, and Canale scored goals in a span of 9:38 to give the Friars (3-0 overall) a 3-1 lead after the opening period.
Canale added his second goal of the night with 10:15 left in the game.
Brandon Novabilski got the win in goal, making 31 saves.
Malvern Prep 3 0 1—4
St. Joseph’s Prep 1 0 0—1
First-period goals: Ben Kerson (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond, 5:02; Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Caidan Canale, 7:04 (pp); Brayden Baum (MP) from Jacobs and Steven Gestie, 8:01; Canale from Gabe Bedwell, 16:42
Third-period goals: Canale from Jacobs, 6:45
Shots: Malvern Prep 39, St. Joseph’s Prep 32 Saves: Brandon Novabiliski (MP) 31, Rocco Bruno (SJP) 35
For more information at about Malvern Prep CLICK HERE
For more information about St. Joseph’s Prep CLICK HERE
Expectations are running high at Malvern Prep. That’s generally been the case of late. The Friars are two-time defending Class AAA Flyers Cup champions and claimed the APAC title last season after sharing it with La Salle in 2021, and going on to win the state championship that year.
The Friars won their first two starts heading into Friday’s Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference opener against St. Joseph’s Prep
But Jimmy Jacobs knows past performance is no assurance of future success.
“I think our mindset is to look at one or the other and give it our best,” he said. “We’ve really just got to take this season one game at a time.
“It’s a long season and we just focus on one game at a time. I think that’s where we can really be successful as a group and a team.”
A senior forward, and a second-team All-APAC choice last season, Jacobs understands the importance of senior leadership.
“I think last year and the year before, we had two really strong senior groups and leaders overall,” he said. “If we want to do anything similar to that this year, we need some people to step up and become leaders and take a big role.
“I think of a senior as someone others rely on. “(Your teammates) know that you’ve been through it, with it being your fourth year. I think being a senior, you have a big impact on the team, because you’re a leader and all the underclassmen look up to you.”
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Malvern Prep’s Jimmy Jacobs (Photo furnished by Jimmy Jacobs)
Jacobs stresses the responsibility veterans have to help the underclassmen feel comfortable and part of the group.
“To me it doesn’t matter what grade you’re in,” he said. “If you’re on a team, we’re a family. So, no one is treated differently if you’re a freshman or if you’re a senior. I think in order to be successful, everyone has to get along and treat each other as they would treat any other teammate.”
Jacobs believes that good team chemistry must be developed and nurtured by the players themselves.
“There’s only so much a coach can do,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re the ones playing for each other, we’re the ones in the locker room we’re the ones that have to get along. The coaches can only do so much.”
HATFIELD—A lot went on at Hatfield Ice Thursday night. Much of it in the realm of the unexpected.
Pennridge rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 5-1 to post a 6-5 overtime win over Central Bucks South in a Suburban High School Hockey League National Division non-league matchup.
Kevin Pico delivered the game winner for the Rams 34 seconds into overtime after the last period was shortened to nine minutes from the usual 17 after a combination of 10 goals and an abundance of penalties consumed the bulk of the allocated ice slot.
Six different players scored for the Rams (1-1). Andrew Savona, Dane Fichte, James Rush, Shane Dachowski, and Josh Kelly found the back of the net before Kevin Pico pocketed the game winner. South netminder Dom Varacallo stopped Savona’s initial shot before Pico put in the rebound.
“We needed something to wake us up,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna, who team squared its record at 1-1. “We needed to find that edge that we’ve been lacking in practice. Early in this season, we haven’t had it. And, I think getting down tonight against a rival with as much emotion as there was going in here, woke us up.”
The Titans (1-1) jumped to a 3-0 lead before the first period was seven minutes old. Aydin Thierolf scored twice with a goal from D.J. Lindenmuth in between.
Colin Mendham and Michael Nemec added goals to give South a 5-1 lead 5:46 into the second frame.
Dane Fitchett drew the Rams a bit closer with 5:55 left in the period. Pico had a chance to bring his team closer when the Rams were awarded a penalty shot with 15.8 seconds left in the second period but was denied by Varacallo.
Both teams saw there efforts hampered by repeated trips to the penalty box. The officials whistled a total of 19 infractions, 12 of them to the Titans.
The number of stoppages and altercations resulted in the final period being shortened to nine minutes at the direction of rink management. Faced with a three-goal deficit, the Rams wasted no time.
Rush made it a 5-3 game 1:20 into the final session. Dachowski followed at 5:54 and Kelly tied the game at 6:58.
The five-minute, three-on-three overtime was allowed to go forward and it took Pico and Savona just moments to end matters.
“Our guys let off the gas,” said South coach Shaun McGinty, “and they’re a good team. A good team is going to find a way to win. We allowed them a little bit of momentum and momentum is a big part of the game in a team sport.”
Ice chips—The decision to shorten the the third period was part of a joint effort between the SHSHL and area rinks to complete scheduled games within their allocated 90-minute ice slots. The C.B. South-Pennridge contest was followed by a game between North Penn and Central Bucks West which was succeeded by an adult league game.
C.B. South 3 2 0 0—5
Pennridge 1 1 3 1—6
First-period goals: Aydin Thierolf (CBS) from Sean Cutter, 3:06; D.J. Lindenmuth (CBS) from Matt Crouch, 4:14; Thierolf (CBS) unassisted 6:57 (pp); Andrew Savona (P) unassisted, 16:34
Second-period goals: Colin Mendam (CBS) unassisted, :38; Michael Nemec (CBS) from Justin Keilman, 5:46; Dane Fitchett (P) from Trey Mikulich, 11:05
Third-period goals: James Rush (P) from Mitchell Mothersbaugh, 1:20; Shane Dachowski (P) from Savona, 5:54; Josh Kelly (P) from Andrew Lizak and Tyler Manto
Overtime goal: Kevin Peco (P) from Savona, :34
Shots: Pennridge 35, C.B. South 28; Saves: Dom Varacallo (CBS) 29, Jacob Winton (P) 23
HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—Crisp and efficient. That phrase would best describe Holy Ghost Prep’s performance against La Salle Wednesday afternoon.
Landon Stout scored two goals and assisted on another and Kieran Mulholland found the back of the net twice as the Firebirds dominated in the course of a 6-2 win over La Salle at Hatfield Ice in the season and APAC opener for both schools.
The Firebirds had their foot on the gas from the opening faceoff. Stout and Mulholland scored goals 59 seconds apart to give their team a 2-0 advantage with 5:48 left in the first period. Stout’s goal came on a power play.
“It helped us out a lot,” Stout said of his team’s start. “That’s what we try to do, try to come out and get a quick start.”
Evan Golato got La Salle on the scoreboard 4:19 into the second frame but there weren’t many bright spots for the Explorers after that.
Stout scored his second goal of the game with 2:49 left in the period before assisting on a goal from Zach Pers 38 seconds into the third. Anthony Valeriote and Mulholland added additional goals before Charlie Kennedy scored for La Salle with 2.9 seconds remaining.
Colin Mudrick got the win in goal, making 25 saves
Stout spoke to the Firebirds’ depth and their senior leadership; there are 10 seniors on the roster.
”We had all four line rolling,” he said. “I think, when the older guys set an example, it kind of gets the younger guys going. I think we did a good job of that.”
Stout notes the importance of senior showing the way for their teammates. “It’s a huge responsibility,” he said, “and I think our seniors did a good job of it.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside celebrated his team’s performance.
“We were really happy with the game today,” he said. They’ve been working hard in practice.
“We knew we had some good kids, we just didn’t know what type of team we were going to have and I though we responded really well, all four lines. We had good leadership out on the ice and I thought we did some really good things. But it’s only Game One. It’s a long season.”
For La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner, Wednesday’s opener was an exercise in frustration
“We got outworked for a full game,” he said. “Guys didn’t step up. We got outworked the full game.
Muehlbronner pledged that his team would discover a work ethic. “We’re going to find it,” he said.
HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—Crisp and efficient. That phrase would best describe Holy Ghost Prep’s performance against La Salle Wednesday afternoon.
Landon Stout scored two goals and assisted on another and Kieran Mulholland found the back of the net twice as the Firebirds dominated in the course of a 6-2 win over La Salle at Hatfield Ice in the season and APAC opener for both schools.
The Firebirds had their foot on the gas from the opening faceoff. Stout and Mulholland scored goals 59 seconds apart to give their team a 2-0 advantage with 5:48 left in the first period. Stout’s goal came on a power play.
“It helped us out a lot,” Stout said of his team’s start. “That’s what we try to do, try to come out and get a quick start.”
Evan Golato got La Salle on the scoreboard 4:19 into the second frame but there weren’t many bright spots for the Explorers after that.
Stout scored his second goal of the game with 2:49 left in the period before assisting on a goal from Zach Pers 38 seconds into the third. Anthony Valeriote and Mulholland added additional goals before Charlie Kennedy scored for La Salle with 2.9 seconds remaining.
Colin Mudrick got the win in goal, making 25 saves
Stout spoke to the Firebirds’ depth and their senior leadership; there are 10 seniors on the roster.
”We had all four line rolling,” he said. “I think, when the older guys set an example, it kind of gets the younger guys going. I think we did a good job of that.”
Stout notes the importance of senior showing the way for their teammates. “It’s a huge responsibility,” he said, “and I think our seniors did a good job of it.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside celebrated his team’s performance.
“We were really happy with the game today,” he said. They’ve been working hard in practice.
“We knew we had some good kids, we just didn’t know what type of team we were going to have and I though we responded really well, all four lines. We had good leadership out on the ice and I thought we did some really good things. But it’s only Game One. It’s a long season.”
For La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner, Wednesday’s opener was an exercise in frustration
“We got outworked for a full game,” he said. “Guys didn’t step up. We got outworked the full game.
Muehlbronner pledged that his team would discover a work ethic. “We’re going to find it,” he said.
Landon Stout speaks with Rick Woelfel about Wednesday’s game
Holy Ghost Prep 2 1 3—6
La Salle 0 1 1—2
First-period goals: Landon Stout (HGP) from Brady Baehser and John Seravalli, 10:19 (pp); Kieran Mulholland (HGP) from Shaun Moore and Mike Holt, 11:18
Second-period goals: Evan Golato (L) from Ryan Warner, 4:19; Stout (HGP) From Baehser, 14:11
Third-period goals: Zach Pers (HGP) from Stout and Patrick Slook, :38; Anthony Valeriote (HGP) from Slook, 4:01; Mulholland (HGP) from Baehser and Pers, 12:38 (pp); Charlie Kennedy (L) from Dean Carvalho.
Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 36, La Salle 27; Saves Colin Mudrick (HGP) 25, Aries Carangi (L) 30
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