Category: Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference

Malvern Prep to Host Friar Faceoff

Malvern Prep will be hosting a four-team holiday tournament at Ice Line the weekend after Christmas. The inaugural Friar Faceoff will involve host Calvert Hall from Towson, Md. Devon Prep, and Holy Ghost, which is stepping on place of DeMatha, which was scheduled to participate but had to step away.

The round-robin format will see each team play once on Saturday night. December 27 and twice the following day with the championship game set for Monday afternoon, December 29.

“We’ve been trying to get a tournament off the ground for a couple years now,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “We were able to get four team this year, hopefully we’ll build on to to it, but it’s an opportunity for us to keep the boys on the ice.

“Devon, Holy Ghost, and Calvert Hall are quality schools, so it’s going to be good competition and we’re looking forward to seeing what it’s like.”

Saturday, December 27

Rink 1 – Back-to-Back Games

  • 4:00 PM – 5:45 PM: Malvern Prep vs. Devon Prep
  • 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM: Calvert Hall vs. Holy Ghost Prep

Sunday, December 28

  • 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM (Rink 1): Malvern Prep vs. Holy Ghost Prep
  • 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Rink 3): Devon Prep vs. Calvert Hall

Rink 1 – Back-to-Back Games

  • 4:00 PM – 5:45 PM: Malvern Prep vs. Calvert Hall
  • 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM: Devon Prep vs. Holy Ghost Prep

Monday, December 29

Holy Ghost Prep 2 St. Joseph’s Prep 1

Anthony Valeriote and Mason Thomas scored goals as the Firebirds bested the Hawks Wednesday evening at the Class of 1923 Rink at the University of Pennsylvania.

The win lifted Holy Ghost Prep to 7-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the APAC.

Valeriote opened the scoring for the Firebirds with 1:33 remaining in the opening period. Thomas extended his team’s lead 2:49 into the second frame.

Jake Ely scored for the Hawks (5-4, 1-2 in the APAC) with 2:49 left in regulation.

“I don’t think today was either team’s best game,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie. “I would expect the next game to be much higher energy with probably gigher stakes.

“We’ll take the win but I though overall our game was pretty flat today.”

The Hawks have lost four straight after a 5-0 start.

“Another tough one for us today,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula. “I’m sounding like a broken record but putting together a full 51 minutes continues to plague us.

“However, I hope the third period showed our guys we can compete with anyone.”

Holy Ghost Prep 1 1—2

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 01—1

First-period goal: Anthony Valeriote (HGP) from Chase Logue, 15:27

Second-period goal: Mason Thomas (HGP) from Chris Marshall, 2:49

Third-period goal: Jake Ely (HGP) from Michael Washlick and Bradan Fisher, 14:53

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 20, St. Joseph’s Prep 20

Saves: Matt Salita (HGP) 19, Bruno Mainardi and Declan Geary (SJP) 18

A New Chapter is Unfolding at The Hun School

 With the arrival of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference season, a new era of Hun School hockey has begun.

Nathaniel Welsh is now the man behind the Raiders’ bench, having taken over for Eric Szeker last week. His team hadn’t played a game since until it defeated St. Joseph’s Prep 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday at the University of Pennsylvania’s historic Class of 1923 Rink.

Welsh, who played midget hockey for former Hun School coach Ian McNally and was later an assistant coach there, says the transition has been a smooth one.

“Eric Szeker was a phenomenal coach,” he said, “and had, very, very close personal ties with a lot of them. He recruited a lot of those player and coached a lot of those players as the JV assistant and the varsity head coach (Szeker was beginning his third season as head coach when he resigned).

“It’s a tough thing to change a coach at any point and it’s a very tough thing to change a coach a week or two into a season but there hasn’t been a missed beat, there hasn’t been a missed practice, there hasn’t been a slowdown. I give all of the athletes credit for continuing to show up and continuing work just as hard for each other, and for the common goal of winning some games.

In terms of Xs and Os, Welsh is making only minor tweaks.

“Eric and I have a very similar philosophy on how the game of hockey is played and on how we approach coaching it,” he said. “We’ll make a minor tweak or two to our forecheck, but as to the philosophy of how we run practice and how we run the team, it’s pretty much the same and that was one of the great things about coaching with him.

“We had the same values and the same core ethos we were trying to impart to the players so that doesn’t change.”

Due to a combination of school policy and NJSIAA regulations, the Raiders take to the ice later than the four other APAC schools. But they are making up for lost time. They’ll be on the ice five days a week between now and the holiday break and will be participating in the 31st Purple Puck Tournament in Springfield, Virginia between Christmas and New Year’s.

“I think the first couple of games is always a tough thing because we’re playing schools that have practiced and played for a month or two ahead of us,” Welsh said, “so I think it’s a disadvantage for the first game or two, having three weeks of practice vs. two months and five games. But, once we get going, it’s an easier thing to do because it’s a routine that all the players get into. We play three times a week, we practice twice a week. We’re on the ice five times a week and it’s easier to keep the momentum once you get going. 

“So we’ve got to find our footing but then I think it’s easier to continue with it in that rapid-shot fashion we do for three months.” 

Holy Ghost Prep 4 La Salle 0

Holy Ghost Prep kept up its winning ways Wednesday afternoon. Four different players scored goals as the Firebirds bested La Salle 4-0 in an APAC encounter at Hatfield Ice.

Holy Ghost Prep (6-1 overall) has now won six straight decisions and stands a perfect 4-0 in the APAC.

Senior Jake Smaron scored one goal and assisted on another.

“It’s been a big change this year,” he said. “A lot of guys graduated but I think we’ve come together as a group really well. Especially in these early months, which you usually don’t see a lot.

“We’ve been pretty efficient with the way we scored. A lot of gritty goals I would say.”

The scoreless first period saw the Firebirds and La Salle (1-6, 0-4) battle on even terms. But the Explorers’ goal-scoring drought continued.

“We’re definitely making progress,” said La Salle coach Wally. Muehlbronner. “We’ve just got to find a way to score some goals.

“We had some really good opportunities in the first period. The goalie (Matt Salina) made some nice saves. We just had to find a way to get one past him.”

Chase Logue gave Holy Ghost Prep the lead 4:17 on a solo effort 4:17 into the second frame.

Smaron made it 2-0 with 3:51 left in the period when a loose puck eluded La Salle netminder Anthony Foster in the goal mouth and Smaron tucked it in the net.

“I’m a bit of a grinder they say?” Smaron said. “But sometimes, to get the puck in the net, it’s not going to be the most flashy. You’ve just got to get it in sometimes. That’s what we did today.”

Smaron, a defenseman, is in his second season as a full-time varsity player; he was a swing player as a sophomore. He commented on how his role has evolved over the course of his career.

“I kind of played as a little more of a goal scorer on JV,” he said. “But I’ve really accepted my role on varsity as kind of a leader and helping the younger guys.

“I’m not much of a flashy player but getting the puck in the net is kind of my thing.”

Lucas’s Gonzalez and Billy Harmar scored goals 88 seconds apart early in the third period to allow the Firebirds to build on their lead. Foster was lifted for Danny Trainor midway through the period.

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie is pleased to see his team getting production from a variety of sources. “We’re getting production from our top three lines,” he said. “Any time you can get scoring from any line, it’s always a positive.”

Ritchie notes the advantages of having a deep roster.

“It’s harder to match against when you have depth,” he said. “Last year we had a really elite player that I think most teams tried to zero in on and he was still able to produce. But, this year, we’ve got those top guys but {scoring] could come from anyone up front.”

Holy Ghost Prep. 0 2 2—4

La Salle 0 0 0—0

Second-period goals:  Chase Logue (HGP) unassisted, 4:17; Jake Smaron (HGP) from Sean Devine, 13:09

Third-period goals: Lucas Helms (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Anthony Valeriote, 1:44; Billy Harmae (HGP)) from Lucas Helms and Smaron, 3:12

Shotas: Holy Ghost Prep 25, La Salle 30Holy Ghost Prep kept up its winning ways Wednesday afternoon. Four different players scored goals as the Firebirds bested La Salle 4-0 in an APAC encounter at Hatfield Ice.

Holy Ghost Prep (6-1 overall) has now won six straight decisions and stands a perfect 4-0 in the APAC.

Senior Jake Smaron scored one goal and assisted on another.

“It’s been a big change this year,” he said. “A lot of guys graduated but I think we’ve come together as a group really well. Especially in these early months, which you usually don’t see a lot.

“We’ve been pretty efficient with the way we scored. A lot of gritty goals I would say.”

The scoreless first period saw the Firebirds and La Salle (1-6, 0-4) battle on even terms. But the Explorers’ goal-scoring drought continued.

“We’re definitely making progress,” said La Salle coach Wally. Muehlbronner. “We’ve just got to find a way to score some goals.

“We had some really good opportunities in the first period. The goalie (Matt Salina) made some nice saves. We just had to find a way to get one past him.”

Chase Logue gave Holy Ghost Prep the lead 4:17 on a solo effort 4:17 into the second frame.

Smaron made it 2-0 with 3:51 left in the period when a loose puck eluded La Salle netminder Anthony Foster in the goal mouth and Smaron tucked it in the net.

“I’m a bit of a grinder they say?” Smaron said. “But sometimes, to get the puck in the net, it’s not going to be the most flashy. You’ve just got to get it in sometimes. That’s what we did today.”

Smaron, a defenseman, is in his second season as a full-time varsity player; he was a swing player as a sophomore. He commented on how his role has evolved over the course of his career.

“I kind of played as a little more of a goal scorer on JV,” he said. “But I’ve really accepted my role on varsity as kind of a leader and helping the younger guys.

“I’m not much of a flashy player but getting the puck in the net is kind of my thing.”

Lucas’s Gonzalez and Billy Harmar scored goals 88 seconds apart early in the third period to allow the Firebirds to build on their lead. Foster was lifted for Danny Trainor midway through the period.

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie is pleased to see his team getting production from a variety of sources. “We’re getting production from our top three lines,” he said. “Any time you can get scoring from any line, it’s always a positive.”

Ritchie notes the advantages of having a deep roster.

“It’s harder to match against when you have depth,” he said. “Last year we had a really elite player that I think most teams tried to zero in on and he was still able to produce. But, this year, we’ve got those top guys but {scoring] could come from anyone up front.”

Holy Ghost Prep. 0 2 2—4

La Salle 0 0 0—0

Second-period goals:  Chase Logue (HGP) unassisted, 4:17; Jake Smaron (HGP) from Sean Devine, 13:09

Third-period goals: Lucas Helms (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Anthony Valeriote, 1:44; Billy Harmae (HGP)) from Lucas Helms and Smaron, 3:12

Shotas: Holy Ghost Prep 25, La Salle 30

Hun School 2 St. Joseph’s Prep 1 OT

Zachary Vallee’s goal 1:59 into overtime gave The Hun School a 2-1 win over St. Joseph’s Prep Wednesday afternoon at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Rink.

The game’s two regulation goals came late in the third period. Luca Jean gave Hun School (2-1, 1-0 in conference) a 1-0 lead with 3:32 left in regulation.Jake Ely tied the game for St. Joseph’s Prep (5-3, 1-1 in the APAC) with 1:41 remaining.

Blake Echternacht reorded 25 saves in the Hun School net.

Hun School 0 0 1 1—2

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 1 0—1

Third-period goals: Luca Jean (HS) from Jacob Kelly-LePage, 13:28 Jake Ely (SJP) from Thomas Ely,15:19;

Overtime goal: Zachary Vallee (HS) unassisted, 1:59;

 Shots: Hun School 15, St. Joseph’s Prep 26; Saves: Blake Echternacht (HS) 25. Declan Geary (SJP) 13
 

Keenan’s Impact at Malvern Prep Goes Beyond the Ice

The impact Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan has on his players goes beyond the rink. The respect the Friars have for their coach was on display last Wednesday night when Malvern Prep staged its fourth annual RTS Awareness Night; the proceeds of the game between the Friars and Holy Ghost Prep were earmarked for research into Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome is a genetic disorder that cause intellectual and developmental disabilities. Connor Keenan, Bill Keenan’s soon-to-be-6-year old son, is afflicted with RTS.

Pax Hoishik, a senior on the Malvern Prep roster, says the occasion means a lot to the players.

“I’ve participated in the event for three years,” he said. “And every single year it gets more close knit with the guys and even closer with Coach Keenan. Having that bond with Coach Keenan and his family as a whole and being able to celebrate the night for him and his kid is pretty unbelievable.”

Hoishik has been a full-time varsity player for three seasons now; he was a swing player as a freshman. He notes the evening is not just another hockey game.

“We’re playing for {Keenan},” Hoishik said. We’re playing for {Connor}. We’re playing for his family and we get to do that as a team. That’s why it’s so special.”

Hoishik and his teammates respect how Keenan is able to balance a full-time job with seeing to his family’s needs while still devoting the necessary time to coaching the Friars.

“It’s extremely impressive to me,” Hoishik said. “Some of the other captains and I were talking about it how incredible it is he is able to make time  for something like that with everything going on in his life. We just thought it’s pretty incredible that he is able to make that time for us.”

Bill and Sarah Keenan have been married for 13 years. Connor is the youngest of their three children.

Sarah Keenan lauds her husband for how he deals with his assortment of responsibilities including periodically traveling to Baltimore to see a specialist who works with RTS patients.

“He is a really strong guy to deal with everything that comes at him and the stuff we have to deal with with Conner,” she said. “I obviously take on a lot while he’s coaching but he’s taking on as much as he possible can whenever he’s home.

“I’m really proud of him.  He has taken everything on his back really well. He deals with all that comes through and doesn’t show it at home. So, whatever the hockey world id he leaves it with the hockey team but also includes us as his family with the whole thing.”

Nathaniel Welsh Takes Over at Hun School

The Hun School has a new head coach. Nathaniel Welsh has been named the Raiders’ interim head coach, replacing Eric Szeker,

Welsh has served as an assistant at The Hun School and also has an extensive history with the Princeton Tigers youth program.

The Raiders have played just one game this season, a 3-1 loss to Devon Prep on November 20. They are scheduled to host The Pingry School on Monday before opening their APAC schedule on Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Prep.

Malvern Prep Hosts Holy Ghost Prep for RTS Awareness Night

What happened Wednesday night at Ice Line was about much more than hockey. For the fourth consecutive year, Malvern Prep hosted RTS Awareness Night. For the second consecutive year, Holy Ghost Prep assumed the role of honored guests, and returned home on the winning side of a 2-0 scoreline.

But the two sides came together on the ice for a higher purpose.

RTS— Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes intellectual and developmental disabilities. Among those afflicted with the malady is Connor Keenan, the soon-to-be 6-year old son of Malvern Prep head coach Bill Keenan and his wife Sarah.

Proceeds from Wednesday’s game, which included various fundraisers, will help support families dealing with RTS including the Keenans, who have two other children, an 11-year old son JJ and a 9-year old daughter Olivia.

Sarah Keenan expressed her gratitude to the local hockey community for its support of her family.

“We feel welcomed by the community,” she said. “Knowing we have so many people supporting our family, and people like Connor with disabilities, it just feels really warm and welcoming.”

Sarah Keenan also offered thanks to the schools that have provided the opposition for Malvern Prep; St. Joseph’s Prep for two seasons and Holy Ghost Prep last season and again Wednesday night.

“St. Joe’s was wonderful,” she said. “Holy Ghost Prep has also been very supportive all night. They’re donating baskets, they’re doing team dinners upstairs, they’re really supporting the whole thing.”

Malvern Prep assistant coach Jared Ingersol notes that the evening has deep meaning for the Friar players.

“The kids get amped up for it all year,” he said. “it means a lot to Coach Keenan and we appreciate everything they do, all the fundraising, they help out as well.

“Our parents and alumni get involved, it’s always nice to see everybody participating”

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie is proud to have the Firebirds involved in RTS Awareness Night.”

“Obviously, this is a cause that’s super close to {Keenan} he said, “and as I told him the last two years, I think it’s an honor for us to be included in this.

“It’s something that we’re proud to be a part of. We’re proud as a community to kind of bind our schools together because at the end of the day, it’s more important than hockey and that’s something for these young athletes to understand and take with them for the rest of their lives.”

The Game: Lucas Gonzalez gave Holy Ghost Prep a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal 1:45 into the third period. Anthony Valeriote set up the goal with a feed from the right-wing corner that found Gonzalez in the low slot midway between the circles. Nathan Romer added an empty-net goal with 13.5 seconds remaining.

Matt Salita earned the shutout in goal, stopping 22 shots.

Holy Ghost Prep (5-1 overall) is unbeaten since a season-opening overtime loss to Devon Prep and is 3-0 in the APAC

Ryan Caterino made 30 saves for the Friars who are 2-3-1 overall and 1-2 in the APAC.

Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 2—2

Malvern Prep 0 0 0—0

Third-period goals: Lucas Gonzalez (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote, 1:45, (sh) Nathan Romer (HGP) unassisted, 16:47

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 32, Malvern Prep 22; Saves: Matt Salita (HGP) 22, Ryan Caterino (MP) 30What happened Wednesday night at Ice Line was about much more than hockey. For the fourth consecutive year, Malvern Prep hosted RTS Awareness Night, For the second consecutive year, Holy Ghost Prep assumed the role of honored guests and returned home on the winning side of a 2-0 scoreline.

But the two sides came together on the ice for a higher purpose.

RTS— Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome is a genetic disorder that cause intellectual and developmental disabilities. Among those afflicted with the malady is Connor Keenan, the soon-to-be 6-year old son of Malvern Prep head coach Bill Keenan and his wife Sarah.

Proceeds from Wednesday’s game, which included various fundraisers, will help support families dealing with RTS including the Keenans, who have two other children, an 11-year old son JJ and a 9-year old daughter Olivia.

Sarah Keenan expressed her gratitude to the local hockey community for its support of her family.

“We feel welcomed by the community,” she said. “Knowing we have so many people supporting our family, and people like Connor with disabilities, it just feels really warm and welcoming.”

Sarah Keenan also offered thanks to the schools that have provided the opposition for Malvern Prep; St. Joseph’s Prep for two seasons and Holy Ghost Prep last season and again Wednesday night.

“St. Joe’s was wonderful,” she said. “Holy Ghost Prep has also been very supportive all night. They’re donating baskets, they’re doing team dinners upstairs, they’re really supporting the whole thing.”

Malvern Prep assistant coach Jared Ingersol notes that the evening has deep meaning for the Friar players.

“The kids get amped up for it all year,” he said. “it means a lot to Coach Keenan and we appreciate everything they do, all the fundraising, they help out as well.

“Our parents and alumni get involved, it’s always nice to see everybody participating.”

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie is proud to have the Firebirds involved in RTS Awareness Night.”

“Obviously, this is a cause that’s super close to {Keenan} he said, “and as I told him the last two years, I think it’s an honor for us to be included in this.

“It’s something that we’re proud to be a part of. We’re proud as a community to kind of bind our schools together because at the end of the day, it’s more important than hockey and that’s something for these young athletes to understand and take with them for the rest of their lives.”

The Game: Lucas Gonzalez gave Holy Ghost Prep a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal 1:45 into the third period. Anthony Valeriote set up the goal with a feed from the right-wing corner that found Gonzalez in the low slot midway between the circles. Nathan Romer added an empty-net goal with 13.5 seconds remaining.

Matt Salita earned the shutout in goal, stopping 22 shots.

Holy Ghost Prep (5-1 overall) is unbeaten since a season-opening overtime loss to Devon Prep and is 3-0 in the APAC

Ryan Caterino made 30 saves for the Friars who are 2-3-1 overall and 1-2 in the APAC.

Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 2—2

Malvern Prep 0 0 0—0

Third-period goals: Lucas Gonzalez (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote, 1:45, (sh) Nathan Romer (HGP) unassisted, 16:47

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 32, Malvern Prep 22; Saves: Matt Salita (HGP) 22, Ryan Caterino (MP) 30