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.

Coming Soon: Precision Podcasts Dedicated to Telling YOUR Story

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

Flyers Cup Class AAA/AA Finals Preview

Wednesday, March 20

Class AAA Final

La Salle vs. 2. Malvern Prep

6:00 at Hatfield Ice

La Salle (22-3)—The defending champion Explorers are trying for their 13^th Flyers Cup title, an achievement that would expand on their all-time record of 12 , the most of any school in any classification.

Head coach Wally Muehlbronner has been on the winning side in a final on 10 occasions.

This year’s team bested Perkiomen Valley 5-1 and Holy Ghost Prep 5-2 to reach the finals.

Seven different players have scored goals in the two Flyers Cup games. Grant Lagreca has two goals and two assists. Dean Carvalho has scored three goals while James Carpenter has provided two goal and an assist.

Malvern Prep (11-8)

The Friars have claimed 10 Flyers Cup titles, second only to La Salle on the all-time list. Victories over Devon Prep 8-0 and St. Joseph’s Prep 3-1 put them in the finals.
Ten different Malvern Prep players have scored goals in the tournament. Jeremy Jacobs leads the way with a goal and three assists. Aidan Kelly has added a goal and two assists.

This marks the third meeting of the season between the two teams. La Salle won the two regular-season meetings.

11-22 La Salle 4 Malvern Prep 1

1-17 La Salle 3 Malvern Prep 0

Class AA Final

Pennridge vs. 2 Council Rock South

8:45 at Hatfield Ice

Pennridge 21-2-2

The top-seeded Rams claimed the Class AA Flyers Cup and state titles in 2022 and reached the Cup finals last season.

This year’s team reached the finals with wins over Bensalem 10-2, Downingtown East 5-1 and Downingtown West 10-1

The Rams feature one of the most explosive lines that has ever skated for any area high-school team. Shane Dachowski has six goals and five assists for 11 points in three Cup games. Kevin Pico has five goals and five assists for 10 points, while Andrew Savona has provided four goals and four assists for eight points.

Council Rock South 24-1

The second-seeded Golden Hawks are seeking their fourth Flyers Cup. The previous three came in 2009, ’11, and ’12.

This year’s squad reached the finals with wins over Spring-Ford 12-0, Cherokee 7-1, and Boyertown 3-1. Kevin Koles is the team’s top tournament scorer with three goal and nine assists for 12 points. Blaise Pepe has accumulated three goal and five assists for eight points, while Jake Weiner has provided five goals and two assists for seven points.

This marks the fourth time the Ram and Golden Hawks have faced one another this season.

12-13 Pennridge 7 Council Rock South 3

2-7 Council Rock South 8 Pennridge 7

2-29 Council Rock South 7 Pennridge 2*

*For the SHSHL National Division championship

La Salle 5 Holy Ghost Prep 2

It wasn’t a stylish effort. But La Salle got the job done, nonetheless.

Five different players scored goals as the Explorers recorded a 5-2 decision over Holy Ghost Prep Thursday night in a Class AAA Flyers Cup semifinal at Hatfield Ice.

Top-seeded La Salle (22-3) will attempt to successfully defend its title next Wednesday when it faces second-seeded Malvern Prep at this same venue (6:00 start).

Fourth-seeded Holy Ghost Prep closed its season at 12-14.

It was not a smooth trip for the Explorers, who spent a good amount of time killing penalties, they were whistled for 10.

Ryan Wiley put La Salle in front with a goal at the 12:18 mark of the opening period. He spoke to the importance of avoiding penalties.

“We’ve got to keep our minds mentally and stay out of the box,” he said. “We’ve got to stay away from the stupid stuff and just work our tails off to get to this point.”

James Carpenter extended La Salle’s lead with a shorthanded goal 1:36 into the second frame. A.J. Prete answered for the Firebirds three minutes after that, but Patrick Brace and Will Gregorio scored goals before the period ended to seemingly put the Explorer in command.

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie blamed himself for his team’s sluggish start.

“Ultimately it falls on me,” he said. “I’m the head coach and I felt they were not prepared and the other team was. That’s on my shoulders.

At this point in the season, we’ve played then four times (La Salle has won all four meetings). I know what I’ve got in that locker room and we know what they’ve got in their locker room.

“It’s on me. I’m the one that’s got to stand up and shoulder the blame.

With seven minutes left in regulation, the Firebirds made their last stand when Caine Bickel tucked a shot inside the right post behind La Salle netminder Jake Rossi.

Holy Ghost Prep had one more opportunity with two-and-a-half minutes left and its own net empty when Jake McCaw caught iron with shot from the left wing.

Carpenter added an empty-netter for the Explorers with 55 seconds left.

“We did a lot of little things right,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner, “We did a great job killing a lot of penalties.”

Muehlbronner praised the work his team did while shorthanded.

“Our penalty kills have been strong,” he said. “We did a good job with that. And I think we did a good job getting back to our game plan when we weren’t in the box. Keeping it simple, and we had some good opportunities that we scored on.

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 1—2

La Salle 1 3 1—5

First-period goal: Ryan Wiley (L) unassisted, 12:18

Second-period goals: James Carpenter (L) from Grant LaGreca, 1:36 (sh); A.J. Prete (HGP) from Art Myers and Caine Bickel, 4:39; Patrick Brace (L) from Thomas Doucet and Cameron Ross, 8:54; Will Gregorio (L) unassisted, 14:08

Third-period goals: Bickel (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote, 9:56; Carpenter (L) unassisted, 15:05

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 19, La Salle 37; Saves: Jack Unger (HGP) 32, Jake Rossi (L) 17

Flyers Cup Schedule Thursday 3-14

Thursday, March 14

Class AAA Semifinals

La Salle 5 Holy Ghost Prep 2

Malvern Prep 3 St. Joseph’s Prep 1—Teague Murray and James Young scored first-period goals and the second-seeded Friars went on to beat the third-seeded Hawks Thursday night in a Class AAA Flyers Cup semifinal at Ice Line.

Henry Tesoriero also scored for Malvern Prep (11-8) which will meet La Salle in the final.

Tristan Winata scored for St. Joseph’ Prep (16-7)

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 1—1

Malvern Prep 2 0 1—3

First-period goals: Teague Murray (MP) from Jeremy Jacobs and Jonathan Holt, 12:11 (pp); James Young (MP) from Logan Love, 13:47

Third-period goals: Henry Tesoriero (MP) unassisted, 15:25 (en); Tristan Winata (SJP) unassisted. 16:09

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 36, Malvern Prep 35; Saves: Jacob Aranda (SJP) 32; Matt Crawford (MP) 35

Class AA Semifinals

Penneidge 10, Downingtown West 1—

The top-seeded Rams scored six goals in the first period and rolled to the win over the fourth-seeded Whippets in a Class AA semifinal Thursday night at Hatfield Ice.

Shane Dachowswki scored four goals for Pennridge (21-2-2) and added an assist. Nolan Shaw provided two goals. Kevin Pico, Josh Kelly, Tyler Manto, and Andrew Savona all scored goals.

Joseph Butter scored for Downingtown West (18-5)

Downingtown West 0 1 0

Pennridge 6 2 2

Council Rock South 3 Boyertown 1

Championship games will be played Tuesday, and Wednesday, March 19, and 20.

Flyers Cup Update 3-8-24

41 teams began play in the Flyers Cup tournament four days ago. 33 have been eliminated. Here’s what’s ahead.

Tuesday, March 12

Class AA Semifinals

Marple Newtown vs. Unionville 6:15 at Ice Line

Garnet Valley vs. Hershey 8:30 at Ice Line

Wednesday, March 13

Girls Semifinals

Avon Grove vs. Conestoga 6:45 at PNY

Downingtown West vs. West Chester Henderson 5:00 atPNY

Thursday, March 14

Class AAA Semifinals

Holy Ghost Prep vs. La Salle 6:00 at Hatfield Gray

St. Joseph’s Prep vs. Malvern Prep 7:45 Ice Line 1

Class AA Semifinals

Downingtown West vs. Pennridge 8:45 at Hatfield Gray

Boyertown vs. Council Rock Smith 8:30 at Hatfield Blue

Championship games will be played Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, March 18, 19, and 20.

Holy Ghost Prep 5 Father Judge 1

In the brightest of spotlights, a troupe of young hockey players blossomed into maturity and did so with dramatic suddenness.

Holy Ghost Prep erupted for four goals in the first period Tuesday night and went on to post a 5-1 win over Father Judge in a Class AAA Flyers Cup quarterfinal in front of a full house at Grundy Arena.

The fourth-seeded Firebirds (12-13) will face top seed and defending champion La Salle in a semifinal that is scheduled for March 14. Fifth-seeded Judge, which won the Catholic League title, closes with a 15-4-2.

A.J. Prete scored twice for the Firebirds. Fittingly enough, his goals were the first and last of the evening. Prete reflected on how things came together Tuesday night after a regular season that was filled with ups and downs, including a loss to the Crusaders.

“We came into this game with a chip on our shoulder,” he said. “We got on them early, that was out plan and we got the job done. Couldn’t be happier.”

Prete’s first goal came just 65 seconds after the opening faceoff; he beat Judge goaltender Aidan Childs from just inside the right circle.

The Firebirds really got control of the game in the closing minutes of the first frame when Jake McCaw’s power-play goal was followed by Joseph Kaufmann’s even-strength goal two-and a-half minutes later and Joe Spadaccino’s shorthanded effort just 33 seconds after that.

With 2:49 left in the opening session, Holy Ghost Prep had a four-goal advantage.

Prete said he and his teammates were determined to get off to a fast start.

“We knew what they were going to come with,” he said. “We knew they were going to try to bully us around a little bit with physicality. We just kind of reversed it on them.”

The second period saw the Crusaders do their best to assert themselves physically. But they managed just one goal, Owen Myers’ power-play effort at the 7:55 mark.

Neither team shied away from them physical side of the game. Referees Terrence Johnson and Laura White called 12 minor penalties and found a balance that allowed for physical play while still maintaining order.

“All the credit in the world to Father Judge,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie. “They’re a very, very tough team with a lot of seniors. They play a very heavy game but I was how our guys, giving up a little bit of size and a little bit of strength, I was happy how they executed. It seemed to come together tonight”

Prete added an insurance goal for the Firebirds with 2:20 left in the game.

Ice chips—The other Class AAA Flyers Cup semifinal will match second seed Malvern Prep and third seed St. Joseph’s Prep.

WE STAND CORRECTED—In our original post, we stated that no APAC team in the conference’s six-year history had ever lost. Flyers Cup game to a non-conference foe. In fact, Father Judge defeated Malvern Prep in the quarterfinals in 2020.

Father Judge won a Class AA Flyers Cup and a state championship in 1993 and a Class AAA Flyers Cup in 2000 as a member of the Lower Bucks County League.

We regret the error.

Father Judge 0 1 0—1

Holy Ghost Prep 4 0 1—5

First-period goals: A.J. Prete (HGP) from Caine Bickel and Anthony Valeriote, 1:05; Jake McCaw (HGP) from Matthew Cholaj and Brian Kinniry, 11:00 (pp); Joseph Kaufmann (HGP) unassisted, 13:33; Joe Spadaccino (HGP) from Mike Holt, 14:11 (sh)

Second-period goal: Owen Myers (FJ) unassisted, 7:55 (pp)

Third-period goal: Prete (HGP) from Bickel, 13:50

Shots: Father Judge 24, Holy Ghost Prep 30; Saves: Aidan Childs (FJ) 25, Jack Unger (HGP) 23