APAC Will Have a Presence at Blind Hockey Showcase

Two APAC schools will be among the participants Thursday night in the second annual Philadelphia Blind Hockey Showcase which is scheduled for Hatfield Arena.

Holy Ghost Prep and Malvern Prep will join Father Judge, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South, North Penn, Haverford, Penncrest, along with and the boys’ and girls’ teams from Pennridge and the men’s club team from Neumann University.

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie points out that participating in the showcase is in keeping with the school’s educational and spiritual philosophy.

“”We were very grateful to be included in the event last year. It is an event that aligns with HGPs Spiritan foundation. Participating in the Philadelphia Blind Hockey charity is a reminder that the spirit of the game knows no barriers. Together, the hockey community can inspire, uplift, and create opportunities for all athletes to experience our game.”

Doors will open at 5:30 Thursday evening; the first games will begin at 6:10. Admission is $5.

La Salle 3 Wyoming Seminary 2 OT

HATFIELD—A young hockey team found out some things about itself Wednesday afternoon. La Salle got a live-fire test from Wyoming Seminary before the Explorers emerged with a 3-2 overtime win at Hatfield Ice.

It was the second consecutive win for the defending APAC and Class AAA Flyers Cup champions to open the new season.

Julian Tarsi delivered the game-winning goal off a centering pass from Declan Kelly with 1:13 remaining in the extra period.

Tarsi liked his team’s mindset against a quality opponent.

“It’s good for us early in the year to play a good team like that,” the senior said. “It’s good to see the boys working hard like that and digging deep. Especially later in the game, find a way to win.”

After a scoreless first frame, Kelly gave the Explorers a 1-0 lead when he found the back of the net 8:01 into the middle period.

James Fitzpatrick answered right back for the Knights (1-3) at the 9:47 mark.

The third period also featured two goals in quick succession. Grant Lagreca gave the hosts the lead, albeit briefly at the 3:03 mark. Colin Donovan responded for the Knights at 5:05 during a power play after the Explorers were flagged for having too many men on the ice.

Jake Rossi got the win in goal, stopping 24 of 26 shots.

“We got some good work in our defensive zone,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner. “I thought we played pretty well in the D-zone. We’ve been working a lot on that in the practices that we’ve had.”

La Salle lost 11 seniors off last year’s championship team. Those stepping into this year’s lineup are going through a necessary, if sometimes challenging transition.

“For a lot of the newer guys, it’s a different pace than they’re used to,” Muehlbronner said. “That was a good team that we just played, so I’m very pleased. I think that we got better as the game went along and I think the guys learned what they needed to do. We simplified some things and played a good game.”

Tarsi says his younger teammates are moving in the right direction.

“They’ve just got to get adjusted to the system,” he said, “and I think they’ve done a good job of that so far. They’re working hard. I’m excited to see what he future holds for them.”

Tarsi spoke to the responsibility the veterans on the roster have to show their younger teammates the way.

“It’s very important,” he said. “We’re supposed to be the leaders of the team.

“Honesty, coming off a huge loss last year, a devastating loss [in the state championship game] we’ve got to lead these guys back and find a way to get the job done.”

Wyoming Seminary 0 1 1 0—2

La Salle 0 1 1 1—3

Second-period goals: Declan Kelly (L) from Jacob Warner, 8:01; James Fitzpatrick (WS) from Sebastian Bilde, 9:47

Third-period goals: Grant Lagreca (L) from Michael Zarzycki, 3:03; Colin Donovan (WS) from Heil DeSeve and Jagar MacDonald, 5:27 (pp)

Overtime goal: Julian Tarsi (L) from Kelly and Cameron Ross, 3:47

Shots: Wyoming Seminary 26, La Salle 36; Saves: Jonah Boles (WS) 33, Jake Rossi (L) 24

Blindness Awareness Event to Kick Off Scholastic Hockey Season

Nine high-school boys’ hockey team and one girls’ team will be on hand for the Philadelphia Blind Hockey Showcase, which is set for Thursday, October 24 at Hatfield Ice.

The Philadelphia Blind Hockey organization is staging the event for the second year in a row to commemorate Blindness Awareness Month.

The teams will skate using vision-restricted goggles which are intended to simulate various types of vision loss/vision issues.

The participating teams will include Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South North Penn, and Pennridge from the SHSH, Father Judge, Haverford, and Penncrest from the ICSHL, and Holy Ghost Prep and Malvern Prep from the APAC.

The Pennridge girls’ team will also be on hand along with the Philadelphia Flyers Warriors and the Neumann University men’s club team.

Doors will open at 5:30. The first games will begin at 6:10.

Admission will be $5.

Hockey Happenings is seeking writers to assist with our coverage of scholastic hockey in the Philadelphia area this season. Seeking reliable individuals knowledgeable hockey who are available on weeknights. Writing experience preferred.

For details, contact us at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com

Steve Mackell Takes the Reins at APAC

A new era is dawning in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference this season. Steve Mackell, a longtime coach and administrator, is beginning his first season as the APAC’s commissioner.
He replaces Jim Britt, who served as the commissioner in the conference’s first six years of existence.

Mackell played high-school hockey at Cardinal O’Hara and junior hockey with the Quakers before playing for a year at West Chester State.

He began his coaching career alongside Jim McCrossin at Malvern Prep and later served as the Friars’ head coach. He also spent time behind the bench with the Quakers and Junior Flyers before joining Atlantic District player development staff.

“I’ve admired what the APAC mission was about”, Mackell said, “I know the schools, I know a lot of the coaches and the administrators from those schools and was really excited to be offered this opportunity.”

Mackell noted the unique stature that hockey is afforded at the five APAC member schools, Holy Ghost Prep, La Salle, Malvern Prep, St. oseph’s Prep, and Hun School.

“I think the common thread is hockey is recognized as a varsity sport in each of the schools,” he said. It’s run by the administration through the athletic director as well as the coaches.

“To be a varsity sport and have the backing of the school I think is paramount to being successful.”

Mackell points out the APAC’s success on the ice is coupled with a commitment to academic excellence.

“What the APAC has done in the [six] years they’ve been in existence is create a very competitive environment,” he said. “All those schools are academically challenging and I think they draw a lot of the same type student-athletes into the sport. They’ve been able to create a very high level of competitiveness through their individual scheduling at the schools as well as through the APAC scheduling.”

Since the APAC made it’ debut for the 2018-19 season, conference schools have won six consecutive Class AAA Flyers Cups. All told, they’ve won 24, including the last 13 in succession.

Jim Britt Steps down a APAC Commissioner

After guiding the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference through the first six years of its existence, Jim Britt is stepping away from his commissioner’s post. The conference issued a statement Monday afternoon.

Jim Britt has notified the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference (APAC) schools that he is stepping back from his role as Commissioner. Jim will assist during the transition and will remain affiliated with the conference in the future as an advisor. APAC schools are grateful for the leadership that Jim has provided the conference since its inception in 2018. Jim’s understanding of the conference schools, his belief in scholastic hockey and all the great things that the game of hockey teaches, made him the right man to help build APAC.

At the APAC May meeting, conference schools appointed Steve Mackell as their new Commissioner. Steve is a longtime coach in the Atlantic District at the youth level and as a former head coach at Malvern Prep. For many years, Steve has also been heavily involved with the Atlantic District Player Development Program Staff. He is a proven leader who knows the conference schools, the value they place on providing a well-rounded education, and their commitment to the sport of ice hockey. APAC school administrators and coaches are excited to work with Steve in the years ahead.

Neumann University Partners With Ed Snider Foundation for On-Campus Rink

Neumann University and the Ed Snider Foundation are joining forces for the construction of a hockey rink on the Neumann campus. The Ed Snider has pledged $15 million toward the construction of the building; the university will match that sum.

Once construction begins, the projected to take 12-15 months, perhaps a bit longer depending on weather issues.

Neumann University President Dr. Chris Everett Domes credits the Snider Foundation for making the project possible. The university and the foundation formed a partnership in January of 2020

“Thanks to their partnership and a $15 million commitment,” Domes said, “we’re able to launch this fundraising campaign to help us see this building through.

“This project will not only enliven student life hear on our campus, it also provides an avenue for academic programs as we continue to expand here at Neumann. Certainly, our sports business and sports management students, our physical therapy and athletic training students, will have first-hand access to a great facility.

But also, most importantly, this project helps us reach out to the broader community to [impart] our mission and our values at Neumann University through the interaction with the Snider kids. Young people that this organization looks to life up and support every single day.”

Scott Tharp is the President and CEO of Ed Snider Youth Hockey. To date, 23 Ed Snider Hockey participants have enrolled at Neumann. Two of that 23 have graduated and five more will enroll this fall. All have received financial assistance from the Foundation.

“When this opportunity to build a rink came up, it was a no brainer for us,” Tharp said.

The rink will be named in Ed Snider’s honor.

Jeremy Jacobs Taking the Next Step in His Hockey Career

Jeremy Jacobs taken another step in his development as a hockey player. Jacobs who will soon graduate from Malvern Prep, recently played five games for the Odessa (Texas) Jackalopes in the North American Hockey League.

Jacobs spoke to how it all came about.

“They came to one of my games,” he said. “They watched me for two months or so and ended up talking to me.

“I went down and was able to get in a game with them. And from then on, I was like ‘This is where I want to be.’ I ended up signing with them.”

Jacobs’ five-game stint with the Jackalopes included his first NAHL goal on April 4 against Corpus Christi. He was used at center and also spent a brief amount of time killing penalties.

But a lot of this postgraduate course in his hockey education was spent in practice, as a member of Odesa’s extended roster.

“I was there for two weeks and able to practice for those two weeks” he said, “and embrace the full two weeks rather than being in and out for a week.”

Jacobs’ time in Odessa gave him new insights into the game.

“You just pick up on the little details, he said, “and just how they go about things differently, how they see the game differently, and how it’s just at a faster level. It just helps you elevate your game and play better. It’s a faster speed.

“The guys were accepting and really, really helped me out. Being sent there helped me grow and be a better hockey player.”

It took some time but Jacobs adapted to the NAHL’s pace.

“Once you go there the first few minutes of practice are definitely a little shocking,” he said, “but after that you just pick right up where you left off.

“It’s not too bad, at least I thought. I thought the speed was pretty good, and I like playing at that speed.

“It’s definitely a great group around to help you elevate your game.”

Virtually everyone in the Tier II NAHL has aspirations of playing at a higher level of junior hockey and/or in college, and Jacobs, who has signed a tender to play in Odessa next season, is no exception.

But he will take his memories of his time at Malvern Prep with him. Jacobs finished his final high-school season with 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points, including a goal and four assists in three Class AAA Flyers Cup games. He played on Flyers Cup championship teams his first two high-school seasons and on a state-championship team as a freshman. This year’s edition of the Friars, with Jacobs as their captain, reached the Flyers Cup finals before falling to La Salle.

“Winning that state championship is something I’ll remember forever,” Jacobs said, “and going back to back in the Flyers Cup.

“That (2022 team) was a special team and having a bigger role on that team as opposed to being a freshman, that was huge, being a bigger part. I thought I had a pretty solid part in my freshman year but I’ll definitely take away those first two years because we came out on top.”

As a captain, Jacobs embraced the role of mentor to his teammates.

“I enjoyed that,” he said, “being able to teach the younger guys what I was taught when I was younger.”

Some of Jacobs’ fondest memories of Malvern Prep were made off the ice.

“I’m going to take away the friendships and relationships I made with everyone,” he said. “Winning is great and all but the relationships are what I’m going to take away the most, just because it was a great experience all my four years.”

Jeremy Jacobs

La Salle Alum Lipkin Signs With Arizona

Former La Salle College High School forward Sam Lipkin has signed an entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes.

Lipkin played for La Salle’s state championship team in 2019 before going on to play for the Chicago Steel in the USHL, where he was part of a Clark Cup championship team in 20212.

For the past two years, Lipkin has played college hockey for Quinipiac; he was part of an NCAA championship team last season.

He was the Coyotes’ seventh-round draft pick in 2021.

Lipkin will finish the 2024 season with the American Hockey League’s Tucson Roadrunners on an amateur tryout; his three-year entry-level contract will kick in next season.

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Pine-Richland 5 La Salle 4 OT

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP—La Salle found itself at the bottom of a very deep hole Saturday evening. It was more of a crater.

With just over two-and-a half minutes gone in the second period of the Pennsylvania Cup Class AAA final, the Explorers found themselves trailing Pine-Richland 3-0. They eventually climbed out of the chasm and took a third-period lead, only to see that lead and eventually the game, slip away.

Alexander Versyla scored a goal 7:07 into overtime to give the Rams a 5-4 win at the Skatium. It marked the fourth state title for the Rams (19-5) but their first at the Class AAA level; the first three, in 2006, ’07, and ’19 came in Class AA.

La Salle (23-4) which was seeking its eighth state title was attempting to become the first Class AAA team to successfully defend a state title since the Explorers did it themselves in 2009.

But on Saturday, the Explorers started slowly. Josh Lanyard and Colton Andrighetti scored first-period goals and Lanyard added a second goal 2:34 into the second frame.

La Salle emerged from the abyss one step at a time. Julian Tarsi got his team on the scoreboard 45 seconds after Lanyard’s second goal, and Alistair St. Hilaire added a power-play goal not quite three minutes after that.

When Patrick Brace tied the game with another power-play goal with 4:37 left in the period it was clear momentum was flowing in La Salle’s direction.

LaSalle defenseman Thomas Doucet, who was playing in his final high-school game on Saturday, assisted on both Tarsi’s and Brace’s goals.

“Right when we got that third goal, we were pretty confident going into the rest of the game,” he said

Indeed, the Explorers took their only lead of the game on James Carpenter’s shorthanded goal 1:53 into the third period and as time wound down the Rams were dealing with the clock as much as their opponent.

But, in Doucet’s words, La Salle “Just didn’t get our bounces in the end.”

Lanyard tied the game with 1:37 left in regulation, setting the stage for an overtime session that saw both teams generate quality chances.

La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner was quick to credit the Rams.

“I thought Pine-Richland played a hell of a game,” he said, “The opportunities that they had, they capitalized on.”

Muehlbronner credited his team for overcoming the early 3-0 deficit.

“I think we showed a tremendous amount of character,” he said. “We came back and ended up taking a 4-3 lead. They scored an opportunistic goal to tie it up and took advantage of their opportunities.

“Going to overtime, anything can happen.”

Pine-Richland 2 1 1 1—5

La Salle 0 3 1 0—4

First-period goals: Josh Lanyard (PR) from Ben Baileys and Cullen Campbell 5:57; Colton Andrighetti (PR) from Zachary Howard, 12:06

Second-period goals: Lanyard (PR) from Campbell and Adam Proctor, 2:34; Julian Tarsi (L) from Thomas Doucet and Alastair St. Hilaire, 3:19; St. Hilaire (L) unassisted, 6:12 (pp); Patrick Brace (L) from Doucet and Cam Ross, 12:23

Third-period goals: James Carpenter (L) from Logan Dicus, 1:53 (sh); Lanyard (PR) from Campbell, 15:23

Overtime goal: Alexander Versyla (PR) from Noah Taggart, 7:07

Shots: Pine Richland 34, La Salle 26; Saves: Brett Sudac (PR) 22, Jake Rossi (L) 29

La Salle 6 Malvern Prep 3

An early statement made a big impact. La Salle scored four goals by the time the game was barely seven minutes old and went on to a 6-3 win over Malvern Prep Wednesday night in the Class AAA Flyers Cup final at Hatfield Ice.

The win gave the top-seeded Explorers (23-3) their second consecutive Flyers Cup title and their 13th in school history, the most for any school in any classification. La Salle will face Pine-Richland, the Penguins Cup AAA champion, Saturday at the Skatium (5:00 start) in the state title game.

The four goals at the start certainly helped La Salle’s cause. None of the four were in themselves knockout blows. But the second-seeded Friars (11-9) who were seeking their 11th Cup, were back on their heels for most of rest of the evening.

“We came out really strong,” said La Salle head coach Wally Muehlbronner, “A lot of energy and just a good, simple approach is what we were looking for. We had some good opportunities and we were lucky to put them in.”

Cam Ross scored two goals for the Explorers. The junior defenseman was named the Bobby Clarke Award winner as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “It’s awesome to go back to back.”

Ryan Wiley got things started for La Salle when he beat Matt Crawford in the Malvern Prep net 3:42 into the opening period. Ben Falicki made it a 2-0 game just 11 second later. Ross scored his first goal at the 6:41 mark and Grant Lagreca made it a 4-0 game 23 sends after that.

We just couldn’t get an offensive pressure,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “La Salle was in our end a lot and going down four goals in the first six minutes of the game it was hard to come at them.”

Jeremy Jacobs got Malvern Prep on the scoreboard with a power-play goal with 52 seconds left in the period in his team’s first real surge of the evening.

Ross scored his second goal of the game 2:06 into the second frame, it was a shorthanded effort. Pax Hoishik answered for the Friars with a power-play goal at the 5:34 mark.

At one point, Keenan felt his troops were on the verge of getting back in the game.

“After our timeout the guys responded well,” he said. “I thought we took it to them. I think in the second period we outworked them. I think we outshot them (13-10) There was a period of time there when I thought we were buzzing.”

But after Hoshik’s goal, the Friars could get no closer. Charlie Kennedy extended La Salle’s lead once more with 6:07 left ln the game before Jonathan Holt finished the scoring with 47 seconds remaining.

Ross said he had no worries about he and his teammates losing their focus despite leading from start to finish.

“From what (Muehlbronner) teaches us, we know we have to keep going,” he said. “We go until that buzzer hits zero.

Ice chips—Joining Ross on the All-Tournament team were Lagreca, Jacobs, La Salle’s James Carpenter, Malvern Prep’s Brady Doyle, and La Salle goaltender Jake Rossi.

This was Muehlbronner’s 11^th Flyers Cup title as a coach, an all-time record.

Malvern Prep 1 1 1—3

La Salle 4 1 1—6

First-period goals: Ryan Wiley (L) from Charlie Kennedy, 3:42; Ben Falicki (L) from James Carpenter, 3:53; Cameron Ross (L) from Wiley and Kennedy, 6:41; Grant Lagreca (L) unassisted, 7:04; Jeremy Jacobs (M) from Brady Doyle and Jonathan Holt, 16:08

Second-period goals: Ross (L) 2:06 (sh); Pax Hoishik (MP) from Holt and Henry Tesoriero, 5:34 (pp)

Third-period goals: Kennedy (L) 10:53; Holt (MP) unassisted, 16:13

Shots: Malvern Prep 34, La Salle 47; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 36 and Riley Doyle (MP) 5; Jake Rossi (L) 31