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Hayden Campbell scored two goals as Malvern Prep downed Spaulding 6-2 Wednesday afternoon at Ice Line.
Pierre Larocque, Jimmy Jacobs, Teague Murray and Jeremy Jacobs also scored for the Friars, who improved to 11-3 overall.
Spaulding 1 0 1—2
Malvern Prep 3 1 2—6
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J.—The momentum of a hockey game can change in the blink of an eye. So it was at Iceland Tuesday afternoon. Elian Estulin and Seth Kaplan scored third-period goals to propel The Hun School past La Salle 2-1 in a tightly contested Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference matchup.
The win lifted the Raiders (7-6 overall) to 2-2-0-1 in APAC play.
The Explorers fell to 6-7 overall and 3-3-0-1 in conference.
La Salle’s Keenan Schneider scored the afternoon’s first goal on a forehander from the low slot with 4:25 left in the second period.
That was all the two teams could manage through the first two period against a pair of hot goaltenders, the Explorers’ Aries Carangi and the Raiders’ Stephen Chen, although the Raiders had a goal disallowed early in the period because, according to Hun School coach Ian McNally, the whistle blew before the puck crossed the goal line.
Early in the third fame however, the flow of the game shifted rather abruptly in Hun School’s direction. The sequence began at the 4:38 mark when La Salle’s Ryan Warner was flagged for slashing. Just 17 seconds later, Max Maddalo was sent off for cross checking, giving the Raiders an extended two-man advantage. Estulin tied the game at the 5:12 mark with a shot from the right side of the slot.
The Raiders had the momentum from that moment forward. Seth Kaplan scored the winning goal on a partial breakaway with 3:37 remaining in regulation.
“(The coaches) trust in our power-play unit,” Estulin said. “I was on the right side and got a five-hole goal We celebrated, then we got back out and got one.”
Seth Kaplan scores the winning goal
La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner cited the back-to-back penalties as the key point in the game.
“We talked going into the third about being smart and staying out of the box,” he said. “We took a couple penalties, it was unfortunate. I thought we played well.
“A couple of the guys that were in the box were guys that normally kill for us as well.”
Muehlbronner was quick to credit the Raiders for their effort.
“I thought Hun played well,” he said. “They’re a tough team to play against. They’re and they had some good opportunities.”
McNally noted there was sniping in the Raider locker room while the ice was being resurfaced before the third period but was glad his players maintained their composure.
“No one could get over the non-call goal he said. “I was worried we weren’t going to be able to regroup. And we did.”
The win keeps the Raiders mathematically alive in the quest for the APAC regular-season title. They can finish in first place alone if they win their three remaining conference games in regulation. Estulin however says he and his teammates are taking things one step at a time and not worrying about what the standings look like.
“We’re just going to play our game,” he said. “We’re not going to worry about who is 5-0 or who is 3-2. We’re just going to play our game.”
Tempers flared at the close of regulation when the teams scuffled behind the Hun School net. Maddalo, his teammate Chase Hannon, and Hun School’s Nick Dimatos and Mark Gall were accessed a total of 50 minutes in penalties.
La Salle 0 1 0—1
Hun School 0 0 2—2
Second-period goal: Keenan Schneider (L) from Tim Whittock and Chase Hannon, 12:25
Third-period goals: Elian Estulin (HS) from Riley Frost and Nick Dimatos, 5:18; Seth Kaplan (HS) from Dimatos and Frost, 13:23
Shots La Salle 39, Hun School 30; Saves: Aries Carangi (L) 28, Stephen Chen (HS) 38
For more information about La Salle College High School CLICK HERE
For more information about The Hun School CLICK HERE
BRISTOL—The La Salle Express is getting up a full head of steam. Max Maddalo scored two goals and assisted on another as the Explorers scored a 5-1 decision over Holy Ghost Prep Monday afternoon in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Grundy Arena.
The win boosts La Salle to 6-6 overall and 3-2-0-1 in the APAC. While the Explorers could theoretically tie Malvern Prep for first place in the conference standings by winning their two remaining APAC games (Tuesday against Hun School and February 9 against St. Joseph’s Prep) the Friars would win the tiebreaker for the regular-season title, having beaten the Explorers twice.
Holy Ghost Prep (9-8, 1-4-1-1) took an early lead on John Seravalli’s goal 4:02 into the first period but Maddalo and Chris Wnek responded for La Salle before the first period ended and La Salle was in control from then on.
While the Explorers have scored just 15 goals in six APAC games they have allowed just 13. Maddalo says he and his teammates make defense their top priority.
“(Head Coach Wally Muehlbronner) usually drills it into us at the beginning of the year to play team defense,” the senior said. “So, we just play good team defense and that shows on offense.”
Gavin O’ Connell and Keenan Schneider scored second-period goals for La Salle before Maddalo scored into an empty net with 1:54 left in regulation.
The Explorers dropped their first four games of the season but are 6-2 since December 1.
“The first few games it starts out slow,” Maddalo said. “The new kids are trying to learn (Muehlbronner’s system). But, after midseason we started to pick up the pace on it.”
Muehlbronner expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance.
“Especially in the second period we really played well,” he said. “We had good tempo. All four lines were going. I think our defense really played just simple, smart hockey, getting pucks out or getting pucks deep, the way we need to play.”
Muehlbronner says his players, particularly the newcomers, have become more comfortable with his system as the season has progressed.
“The second half, they’ve done a pretty good job of sticking to it,” he said. “We’ve had our lapses at times, but we need to remember what’s going to make us have success.”
Will Braun got the win in goal, making 24 saves.
“We’ve ben rotating (our goaltenders),” Muehlbronner said,” and they’ve both done a really nice job.”
For Holy Ghost Prep, it was another disappointing result after a promising start. The Firebirds have lost seven straight.
“We started off the game really hard the first seven minutes,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “We got that first goal. I thought we played horribly in the second period and then battled in the third, but you’ve got to play three solid periods and we weren’t able to do that tonight.”
La Salle 2 2 1—5
Holy Ghost Prep 1 0 0—1
First-period goals: John Seravalli (HGP) from Shaun Moore and Landon Stout, 4:02; Max Maddalo (L) from Chris Wnek, 11:14; Wnek (L) from Maddalo, 13:04 (pp)
Second-period goals: Gavin O’ Connell (L) from Chase Hannon and Charlie Kennedy, 4:11; Keenan Schneider (L) unassisted, 7:21
Third-period goal; Maddalo (L) from Schneider, 15:06 (en)
Shots: La Salle 27, Holy Ghost Prep 25; Saves: Will Braun (L) 24, Colin Mudrick (HGP) 22
For more about La Salle College High School CLICK HERE
For more about Holy Ghost Prep CLICK HERE
Video provided by Nur B. Adam
Class AAA
Class AA
Class A
NJ/Del
Girls
Rankings determined by the Flyers Cup Competition Committee based on game results and personal observations. The field for the 43rd Flyers Cup tournament will be announced on Sunday, February 27.
The Grundy Skate Shop is a full-service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services. We do a full range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. Owner Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Please visit our Facebook page or stop in and check us out!
Jeff Mauro has written a book on the history of the Pennsylvania state high school hockey championship. To find out more and order a copy CLICK HERE
Won Lost OTW OTL Pts GF GA
Malvern Prep (11-3) 4 1 2 0 16 29 19
St. Joseph’s Prep (7-6) 3 2 0 2 11 22 18
La Salle (6-7) 3 3 0 1 10 16 15
Hun School (7-7) 2 3 1 0 8 15 13
Holy Ghost Prep (9-8) 1 4 1 1 6 15 28
This Week
Monday: La Salle 5 Holy Ghost Prep 1
Tuesday: Hun School 2 La Salle 1
Wednesday: Spaulding at Malvern Prep 3:30
Friday: St. Joseph’s Prep 3 Hun School 1
Scoring GP G A Pts PPG
Matt Harris (MP) 7 7 8 15 2.14
Jim Jacobs (MP) 7 7 7 14 2.00
Joey Samago (SJP) 6 8 2 10 1.67
Jeremy Jacobs (MP) 7 5 6 11 1.57
Pierre Laracque (MP) 7 4 5 9 1.29
Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) 6 3 4 7 1.17
Dante Passio (SJP) 6 1 6 7 1.17
Sean Marshall (HGP) 7 4 3 7 1.00
Elian Estulin (HS) 4 2 2 4 1.00
Josh Ovelette (HS) 4 1 3 4 1.00
conference games only (minimum of 3) through February 1
Scoring through January 31
Conference games only (minimum of 3)
Four different players scored goals as St. Joseph’s Prep downed Malvern Prep 4-2 Thursday afternoon in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Ice Line.
Christian Short, Jeffrey Hammond, Joey Samango, and Michael Ahearn all scored goals as the Hawks (6-6 overall, 1-2-1-0 in conference) handed the Friars (10-3, 5-1-1-0) their first conference loss.
Ajay White came up big in goal for the Hawks, making 47 saves; his team was outshot 49-25.
Goals from Short and Hammond gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead at the 1:22 mark of the second period. Teague Murray scored for Malvern Prep to cut the margin in half at the 3:50 mark before goals from Samango and Ahearn extended the St. Joseph’s Prep lead.
Matt Harris scored for Malvern Prep in the final minute of the second period but the Friars could not come any closer.
St. Joseph’s Prep 1 3 0—4
Malvern Prep 0 2 0—2
First-period goals: Christian Short (SJP) unassisted, 14:28
Second-period goals: Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) from Nick Storti and Dante Passio, 1:22; Teague Murray (MP) from Hayden Campbell and Matt Barbacane, 3:50; Joey Samango (SJP) from Hammond and Passio, 8:22; Michael Ahearn (SJP) from Tristan Winata and Passio, 13:22; Matt Harris (MP) from Jeremy Jacobs and Quinn Dougherty, 16:02 (pp)
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 25, Malcom Prep 49; Saves: Ajay White (SJP) 47, Anthony Perti (MP) 21
Jeffrey Hammond scores in the second period to give St. Joseph’s Prep a 2-0 lead.
Teague Murray scores for Malvern Prep in the second period.
Videos provided by St. Joseph’s Prep.
Elsewhere
Hun School 10, Pingry School 3
The Raiders scored two shorthanded goals before the game was two minutes old and went on to the win on Thursday at Iceland.
Seth Kaplan paced the Raiders (6-6) with two goals and four assists. Elian Estulin and Josh Sosner also scored two goals each for Hun School, which registered its first win since December 10 in just its second start since December 15
Pingry School 0 0 2—2
Hun School 4 3 3—10
The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has set the dates for the Founders Cup playoffs.
The postseason will begin on Monday, February 14 with the fourth-place regular season finisher hosting the fifth-place team.
The winner will advance to the semifinals, which will be staged as a doubleheader at Ice Line on Wednesday, February 16. The championship game will be played on either Wednesday, February 23 or Thursday, December 24 and will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.
Because of when they are scheduled, the results of the Founders Cup playoffs will factor into the seedings for the Flyers Cup tournament which will be announced on Sunday, February 27.
The complete Founders Cup playoff schedule is as follows:
1st Round – Feb 14th: 4 x 5 play in, Site TBD (Highest Seed)
Semifinals – Feb 16th @ Iceline: 6:45pm & 8:45pm
Championship: Feb 23rd/24th (TBD), hosted by higher seed
The Founders Cup playoffs will mark the conclusion of the APAC’s fourth season. La Salle claimed the first two league titles in 2019 and ’20. Last year’s playoffs were not concluded because of Covid issues.
Hill School 4 Hun School 1
Jesse Corser-James scored two goals as the Blues bested the Raiders Wednesday in a Mid Atlantic Hockey League game.
Brandon Marino scored for the Raiders, who were outshot 41-17.
Jack Borek made 37 saves while taking the loss in goal.
Hill School 1 2 1—4
Hun School 0 0 1—1
Lawrenceville 6 La Salle 0
A.J. Maner delivered a hat trick as the Big Red shut out the shorthanded Explorers in a Mid Atlantic Hockey League game Wednesday afternoon at Hatfield Ice.
La Salle was without several veterans due to injury and a class retreat.
Lawrenceville 1 2 3—6
La Salle 0 0 0—0
WEST GOSHEN—In its relatively brief lifespan, the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has produced an abundance of memorable moments. The conclusion of Monday’s encounter between Malvern Prep and La Salle ranks with any of them.
Matt Harris scored with 1:08 remaining in overtime to give the Friars a 5-4 win over the Explorers at Ice Line.
La Salle forced the overtime by scoring two goals in the final 1:27 off regulation, one of them shorthanded, but in the end Malvern Prep (10-2, 5-0-1-0 in the APAC) emerged triumphant despite being outshot 60-40.
“I think we just got a little lazy in the (defensive zone),” Harris said of his team’s late-game difficulties. “We saw the time on the clock and thought we had the game secured and in the D-zone just got lackadaisical, not making plays.
“They came out after a timeout and put two in and we were just stunned.”
A neutral observer might well have concluded that the Friars’ struggles down the stretch were for reasons other than complacency.
Jimmy Jacobs scored two goals in a span of 1:29 to give his team a 4-2 lead with 10:23 left in regulation. He assisted on his team’s other three goals.
“One thing we’re having trouble with right now is closing out games,” he said. “We’ve got to clean that up. A special (salute) to our goalie (Anthony Perti) for keeping us in it because it could have been a lot worse.”
Dean Carvalho scored the only goal of the first period to give La Salle (5-5, 2-2-0-1) a 1-0 lead.
Harris answered for Malvern Prep early in the second frame before the Explorers’ Jackson Lindmar and the Friars’ Quinn Dougherty traded goals to set up the events of the third period and overtime.
Jacobs scored his first goal on a shot from the top of the left circle 5:08 into the final period, then extended his team’s at 6:37 while La Salle’s Keenan Schneider was in the box for slashing.
Schneider atoned for his error by bringing his team to within a goal with 1:27 left in regulation but with 44 seconds left he was flagged for interference and given a 10-minute misconduct to boot.
The Explorers kept battling however and as the clock ticked down inside 20 seconds Chris Wnek, positioned just to the right of the Malvern Prep net, flipped the puck in on goal, allowing Chase Hannon to tip it past Perti and send the game to overtime.
Paul Quinn was in charge of the Explorers on Monday. Wally Muehlbronner was serving a one-game suspension in the wake of the goings on during his team’s 2-1 win over St. Joseph’s Prep last Friday. Muehlbronner was in the building but not permitted behind the bench.
“I thought we had a really good first period,” Quinn said. I thought we got off the gas a little bit after the first.”
Quinn noted how his teams stepped up in the waning moments of regulation.
“They came out and played the way we should,” he said. “They were flying and buzzing. Had we played that way the whole game, I think it would have been a different story.”
Jacobs says Monday’s win is indicative of how the Friars have matured s a team over the course of the season.
“Everyone has found a role now,” he said. “We were shorthanded today, my brother (Jeremy) was missing. People had to step up. They had more shots, but we were able to capitalize. Our goalie played out of his mind.”
La Salle `1 1 2 0—4
Malvern Prep 0 2 2 1—5
First-period goal: Dean Carvalho (L) from Max Monzo and Gavin O’Connell, 9:00
Second-period goals: Matt Harris (MP) from Jimmy Jacobs, 2:10; Jackson Lindmar (L) from Patrick Brace, 5:55; Quinn Dougherty (MP) from Jacobs and Harris, 11:41
Third-period goals: Jacobs (MP) from Harris and Pierre Larocque, 5:08; Jacobs (MP) from Larocque and Dougherty, 6:37 (pp); Keenan Schneider (L) from Chris Wnek and Ryan Desmond, 15:33; Chase Hannon (L) from Wnek and Max Maddalo, 16:44 (sh)
Overtime goal: Harris (MP) from Dougherty and Jacobs, 3:52
Shots: La Salle 60, Malvern Prep 40; Saves: Will Braun (L) 35, Anthony Perti (MP) 56
For more about La Salle College High School CLICK HERE
For more about Malvern Prep CLICK HERE
Won Lost OTW OTL Pts
Malvern Prep (10-3) 5 1 1 0 17
St. Joseph’s Prep (4-5-1) 2 2 0 2 8
La Salle (5-6) 2 2 0 1 7
Holy Ghost Prep (9-7) 1 3 1 1 6
Hun School (6-6) 1 2 1 0 5
This Week
Monday: Malvern Prep 5 La Salle 4 OT
Wednesday: Hill School 4 Hun School 1
Lawrenceville 6 La Salle 0
Thursday: Pingry School at Hun School 4:00
St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Malvern Prep 2
Scoring GP G A Pts. PPG
Jeremy Jacobs (MP) 5 5 6 11 2.20
Matt Harris (MP) 5 4 6 10 2.00
Joey Samango (SJP) 5 7 2 9 1.80
Jim Jacobs (MP) 5 5 4 9 1.80
Pierre Larocque (MP) 5 3 3 6 1.20
Sean Marshall (HGP) 6 4 3 7 1.17
Brady Baehser (HGP) 6 3 3 6 1.00
Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) 5 2 3 5 1.00
Elian Estulin (HS) 4 2 2 4 1.00
Josh Ovelette (HS) 4 1 3 4 1.00
Conference ganes only
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