Category: Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference

APAC to Host Outdoor Classic

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference will stage an outdoor doubleheader Wednesday night at the Spring Mountain resort in Schwenksville.

The event will feature two APAC conference games. Holy Ghost and Malvern Prep will open the doubleheader at 5:00; St. Joseph’s Prep and La Salle will follow at 7:15.

Malvern Prep comes into the week 7-2 overall and 1-2 in APAC play. Jeremy Jacobs has collected two goals and five assists for the Friars in three conference games, while his teammate Caiden Caniale has contributed five goals and an assist in APAC play.

Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan is looking forward to seeing four APAC schools facing off under the lights.

“I think introducing the APAC Outdoor Classic is a way to bring a fun, entertaining atmosphere for all teams,” he said. “For these kids to get an opportunity to play outside is something they have looked forward to since playing hockey.

“This is the first time our program will be playing outdoors. The boys are eager to experience the excitement of this game. This will be a memory for many years to come.”

Holy Ghost Prep starts the week with an 11-3 overall record and in the first place in the APAC with a 3-0-0-1 conference mark; its conference loss was to St Joseph’s Prep in overtime.

Brady Baehser leads the APAC in scoring with five goals and five assists in conference games. Kieran Mulholland (six goals) and Landon Stout (three goals, three assists) are next with six points each).

LaSalle comes into the week with a 5-6-2 overall mark; the Explorers stand 3-1 in the APAC. Dean Carvalho is the Explorers’ top scorer in conference play, with three goals and three assists. James Carpenter has contributed four goals in conference games.

St. Joseph’s Prep comes into the week with an 11-2-2 overall mark after winning the National Capital Tournament over the holidays. The Hawks are 0-2-1-0 in conference play. Tristan Winata (two goals, one assist) and Jeffrey Hammond (one goal, two assists) are the top scorers in APAC play.

David Giacomin has taken his St. Joseph’s Prep team to Spring Mountain in the past. He’s looking to Wednesday’s return trip.

“St Joes’ is looking forward to returning to Spring Mountain for an outdoor game,” he said. “The boys are excited to participate with the other APAC teams and hopefully make this a yearly special event. “

Holy Ghost Prep 6 N. Allegheny 3

Brady Baehser, Kieran Mulholland, and Zach Pers all scored two goals as Holy Ghost Prep defeated North Allegheny 6-3 Thursday night outdoors and under the lights at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh.

Baehser’s second goal of the game with 3:25 left in the second period broke a 3-3 tie, Mulholland made it a 5-3 game with his second goal with 4:25 left in the third period. Pers finished the scoring with an empty net goal in the final seconds.

Holy Ghost Prep Heading West on a Trip That is About More Than Hockey

Holy Ghost Prep will travel to Pittsburgh this week on a trip that is one part hockey and one part community service. The Firebirds are scheduled to play Shady Side Academy on Wednesday before facing North Allegheny on Thursday night in an outdoor game.

In addition, the hockey team will partner with the DePaul School for Hearing in Speech in Pittsburgh as part of HGP’s immersion program.  This signature initiative is part of HGP’s academic curriculum allowing every student the opportunity to be a part of a multi-day service program in the United States and/or around the world.

The hockey team, including the managers, along with 12 additional Holy Ghost sophomores and juniors, will spend the day Friday with the students from the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech. The DePaul School helps students adapt to the use of cochlear implants and teaches them how to speak and hear using technology.

Senior Brady Baehser is the captain of the Holy Ghost Prep hockey team. He was also part of the squad that made the trip to Pittsburgh last January.

“We bring (their fellow students) along) so that can see what it’s like to mix sports and service together,” he said. “We do a lot of fun things with (the DePaul students). They love to see us.

“We’re going to the Hunt Armory rink with them, which is sponsored by the Penguin Foundation, and a Holy Ghost Prep alum, Jim Britt. We’re incredibly lucky for that.”

Baehser says the immersion program has helped him mature. “It made me realize how grateful me and my teammates are,” he said. “We have it so good. So, it always feels good to get back to reality and realize what other kids (are dealing with) so we can be more grateful and use our power to help other people.”

On the ice, the Firebirds, who are 10-2 overall and 3-0-1 in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference, have won their last four games and eight of their last nine. Their only loss in that span was to Glenbrook South (Illinois) in the finals of the National Scholastic Invitational on December 4. Baehser has scored 15 goals and added 13 assists for 28 points this season and leads the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference in scoring with five goals and five assists in four conference games.

“I really think it starts with senior leadership,” he said. “We haven’t had this many seniors (10) on the team in a while and we all want to win so bad. We stay together as a team; when we’re losing games, we don’t get down on each other. We really compete hard at practice and it really goes to show in the games.”

Holy Ghost Prep 6 St. Albans 3

Brady Baehser and Landon Stout each scored two goals as Holyy Ghost Prep defeated St. Albans 6-1 Monday evening at Ice Line. Kieran Mulholland and A.J. Prete also scored for the Firebirds, who won their fourth straight.

Prete, Baehser, and Stout scored goals in a six-and-a-half minute span in the first period to give their team a 3-1 lead.

Baehser’s second goal of the game, 5:30 into the second period, extended the Firebirds’ lead but St. Albans scored two goal on first a five-on-three and then a five-on-four power play to make it a one-goal game with seven minutes to go before Stout and Mulholalnd scored additional goals for the Firebirds.

Holy Ghost Prep (10-2 overall) will play two games in Pittsburgh later this week, facing Shady Side Academy on Thursday and North Allegheny in an outdoor game on Friday.

Holy Ghost Prep 3 1 2—6

St. Albans 1 0 2—3

For St. Joseph’s Prep A Week to Remember

Looking back on St. Joseph’s Prep’s victory at the 2022 National Capital Hockey Tournament, popularly known as Purple Puck Tournament.

The Hawks tied their opening game before winning their next four to claim the tournament title.

This video, which was produced by Mr. Jost Winata, commemorates that achievement.

Our thanks to Mr. Winata for allowing us to post it here,

Game Scores

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Gonzaga 4

St. Joseph’s Prep 3 Loyola Academy 2

St. Joseph’s Prep 3 Archbishop Spaulding 0

St. Joseph’s Prep 7 O’Connell 1

St. Joseph’s Prep 6 Archbishop Spaulding 1

St. Joseph’s Prep Wins Purple Puck Title

Jeffrey Hammond erupted for five goals and assisted on another as St. Joseph’s Prep defeated Gonzaga 6-1 Friday afternoon to win the 28th. Purple Puck Tournament in Washington, D.C.

Joey Samango contributed a goal and four assists as the Hawks (11-2-2 overall) won their fourth consecutive tournament game in two days after playing to a 4-4 tie with Gonzaga in their opener on Wednesday.

Hammond scored twice in the first period to give his team a 2-0 lead before T.J. Albero score what would prove to be Gonzaga’s only goal.

The Hawks broke the game open in the second period by scoring four times. Hammond started the barrage by scoring his third and fourth goals, one of them in a shorthanded situation. Samango made it a 5-1 game before Hammond completed the scoring.

Rocco Bruno got the win in goal, making 33 saves.

St. Joseph’s Prep Reaches Purple Puck Finals

Joey Samango scored two goals and added three assists as St. Joseph’s Prep defeated O’ Connell 7-1 Friday morning in the fourth round of the Purple Puck Tournament in Washington, D.C. The win put the Hawks into Friday afternoon’s 3 p.m. final against Archbishop Spaulding.

Tristan Winata added two goals of his own for the Hawks. Jeffrey Hammond, Caden Kelly, and Brayden Collins also scored goals.

Ajay White got the win in goal with 18 saves.

The latest Hockey Happenings podcast is now LIVE.

Eric Tye and I discuss the season’s first set of Flyers Cup rankings

Flyers Cup Rankings #1

The Flyers Cup Committee has released its firsts et of rankings for the 2022-23 season. The rankings are based on won-loss records, strength of schedule, and observations by members of the committee.

Non-league games scheduled by individual teams are not factored into the rankings, but are included here where applicable.

Records listed below are based on information available through December 29.

AAA

  1. Holy Ghost Prep (APAC) 9-2
  2. La Salle College High School (APAC) 5-6-2
  3. Malvern Prep (APAC) 6-2
  4. St. Joes Prep (APAC) 9-2-2
  5. Father Judge (ICSHL PCL) 6-4

AA

  1. Council Rock South (SHSHL National) 6-1
  2. Avon Grove (ICSHL Ches-Mont) 6-1
  3. Pennsbury (SHSHL National) 7-2
  4. Conestoga (ICSHL Central) 8-1-1
  5. Neshaminy (SHSHL National) 6-2

A

  1. West Chester Rustin (ICSHL Ches-Mont) 5-3
  2. West Chester East (ICSHL Ches-Mont) 5-3
  3. Marple (ICSHL Central) 7-4-0-1
  4. Garnet Valley (ICSHL Central) 5-4
  5. Lower Dauphin (CPIHL) 9-3

NJ/DE

  1. Salesianum (ICSHL PCL) 6-0
  2. Cherokee (SJHSHL) 9-0-1
  3. Washington TWP. (SJHSHL) 4-1-2
  4. Eastern (SJHSHL) 2-3-1
  5. Moorestown (SJHSHL) 1-5

Girls

  1. Downingtown West (ICSHL National) 5-5
  2. Avon Grove (ICSHL National)  6-4
  3. Unionville (ICSHL National) 3-6
  4. West Chester Rustin (ICSHL American) 7-2
  5. Kingsway (ICSHL American) 6-2-1

St. Joseph’s Prep at Purple Puck Tournament

St. Joseph’s Prep recorded two victories Thursday at the Purple Puck Tournament in Washington, D.C.

They opened Thursday morning with a 3-2 win over Loyola Academy from Chicago. Jeffrey Hammond scored two of his team’s goals, Gareth McDonald the other.

Thursday afternoon the Hawks shut out Archbishop Spaulding 3-0. Hammond, Joey Samango, and Dante Passio scored goals Rocco Bruno earned the shutout with 15 saves.

The Hawks will face O’ Connell at 8 a.m. on Friday. if they qualify for the championship game they will take the ice at 3 p.m. Friday.

Tristan Winata scored two goals and Jeffrey Hammond and Shane O’Neil scored one goal each as St. Joseph’s Prep and Gonzaga skated to a 4-4 tie on Wednesday in the opening round of the 28th Purple Puck Tournament in Washington, D.C.

Rocco Bruno made 34 saves in goal.

The Hawks (7-2-2) are scheduled to play twice on Thursday; they’ll face Loyola at 9 a.m. and Archbishop Spaulding at 4 p.m. before the tournament concludes on Friday.