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The Raiders opened their season Thursday afternoon with a loss to the Tide at Ice Land.
Grayden Majka gave Devon Prep a 1-0 lead in the second period. The hosts tied the game early in the third but Jan Bach untied the game a half minute later. Braydon Russo secured the win with an empty-net goal
St. Joseph’s Prep took things one step at a time Wednesday afternoon, and went home a winner. The Hawks built a 3-0 lead and held on for a 3-2 win over La Salle in their APAC opener at Hatfield Ice.
The Hawks have started the season with four consecutive wins. The Explorers dropped to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the APAC.
For first-year Prep head coach Charlie Van Kula, it was an ideal way to begin the conference schedule.
“Obviously, every time we play La Salle is a big one, he said. ”So, to get a win was big.
“I still think we have to put a full 51 minutes together and there are certainly things we could do better, but a win is a win so we’ll take it and keep working on what we need to work on.”
Offensive opportunities were rare by APAC standards, particularly early on and the referees maintained a tight hold on the proceedings; they whistled five penalties in a scoreless first period.
Michael Washlick gave the Prep the lead 6:06 into the second frame on a solo end-to end rush down the left wing which concluded when he beat La Salle goaltender Patrick Murphy.
It stayed 1-0 until 3:35 into the third period when the Explorers turned the puck over in their own zone and Cole Gargon turned the miscue into a goal. Just over three minutes later, Gargon
delivered the primary assist on Frank Ely’s shot from the high slot that put the Hawks up 3-0 with 12:09 left in regulation.
Gargon noted that the Hawks’ fast start this season gas given them a confidence boost.
“It really boosts everybody’s morale,” he said. “Just work together, follow the system, and play hard.”
Despite the score however the Explorers seemed to have more energy in the final period and their effort paid off when Roman Tkach beat Declan Geary in the Hawk net just 22 seconds after Ely’s goal and the hosts battled hard to the finish.
“I think we were sitting back,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner. “And I think we did the same thing {in {a 4-1 loss to Holy Ghost Prep}. We definitely want to get them playing more aggressively.”
In the end, River Carangi’s goal with 30 seconds left had the Hawks hanging on. In fact, an icing call with six seconds left gave La Salle a final faceoff in the Hawks’ defensive zone but Geary and his mates held firm.
For Muehlbronner, it was another step in the maturation of a young team.
“We’ve just got to keep going,” he said, “and keep trying to get better. Our youth definitely has shown at times during these games.
“We’re not creating a whole lot of quality offensive opportunities so we just need to keep it simple and get some pucks to the net.”
Ice chips—Van Kula commneted on the system he is using thsi season and how his players are adusting.
“There are definitely some adjustments,” he said.”I’d say there is a little more structure than normal nd there gave ben some growing pains but from the top down with the seniors leading the way, they’ve bought in. We have some really, really smart hockey players in the room.”
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 2—3
La Salle 0 0 2—2
Second-period goal: Michael Washlick (SJP) unassisted, 6:06
Third-period goal: Cole Gargon (HGP) unassisted 1:35; Frank Ely (SJP) from Gargon and James Fratantuono, 4:51; Roman Tkach (L) from Braedon Yothers and Connor Boland, 5:13; River Carangi (L) from Patrick Lunsford and Darrian Brown, 16:30
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 33, La Salle 34; Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 32, Patrick Murphy (L) 30
Three different players scored goals Wednesday afternoon s Holy Ghost Prep bested Malvern Prep 4-1 in an APAC matchup at Grundy Arena. William Harmar scored twice for the Firebirds (2-1 overall) who have now won their first two conference starts. The Friars, who were kicking off their conference schedule, now stand at 1-2-1 overall.
Chase Logue opened the scoring for Holy Ghost Prep 3:40 into the opening period. Jake Samron extended the Firebirds’ lead 27 seconds into the second frame.
Pax Hoishik cut the Holy Ghost Prep lead in half when he found the back of the net with 2:47 remaining in the middle period.
Harmar extended his team’s lead with a goal 2:12 into the final period and then provided the defending Class AAA Flyers Cup champions with an insurance goal 26 seconds later.
Matt Salita got the win in goal, making 17 saves in the process.
Malvern Prep 0 1 0—1
Holy Ghost Prep 1 1 2—4
First-period goal: Chase Logue (HGP) from Nate Romer and Chris Marshall, 3:40
Second-period goal: Jake Smaron (HGP) from Anthony Cere and Lucas Helms, :27; Paxton Hoishik (MP) from Jake Weingartner, 14:13
Third-period goals: William Harmar (HGP) from Helms and Trace Levan, 2:12; Harmar (HGP) unassisted, 2:38
Shots: Malvern Prep 18, Holy Ghost Prep 35; Saves: Ryan Caterino (MP) 31, Matt Salita (HGP) 17
BRISTOL—There wasn’t a lot of finesse on display at Grundy Arena Wednesday afternoon. Just a lot of blue-collar, grind-it-out hockey.
Holy Ghost Prep thrived in that environment. Lucas Gonzalez delivered two goals and an assist as the Firebirds bested La Salle 4-1 as the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference launched its eighth season.
For a team whose players are still working to find their roles, it was a step forward.
“There was obviously a big conversation between last week’s game (a season-opening loss to Devon Prep) and tonight,” said Holy Ghost Prep John Ritchie. “Last week, I thought we did a much better job possessing and creating but sometimes we just have to manufacture goals by working hard to get to the net.”
And that formula paid off for Holy Ghost Prep Wednesday afternoon. Gonzalez opened the scoring, beating Anthony Foster in the La Salle net 4:19 into the opening period off a feed from freshman Mason Thomas. Chase Logue made it a 2-0 game via a Chris Marshall setup into the second frame but the Explorers (1-2 overall) answered with a goal from River Carangi with 51 seconds left in the period when her put the puck past Firebird netminder Matt Salita to make it a 2-1 game.
Following the post-second period ice cut however, it was Thomas the freshman who stepped up. His goal 2:28 into the third frame restored his side’s two-goal advantage.
Gonzalez added his second goal of the game with 4:03 remaining.
Ritchie celebrated Thomas’s effort; he was one of four underclassmen in the Firebirds’ lineup.
“He’s a really smart player away from the puck,” Ritchie said. “He can put the puck in the net. He kind of brings a lot of little intangibles to the game so we have full confidence in him.
“I don’t put a lot of freshmen in our lineup. But he has a good complete game and tonight we were obviously thrilled that he got his first goal.”
Marshall, a senior and the Firebirds’ captain, spoke to the importance of the veterans on the roster making younger teammates feel comfortable.
“It’s everything” he said. “The seniors and the juniors, the upperclassmen, need to be there for the underclassmen. If you have a bad shift or a bad play, shake it off, go get the next one.”
For a young Explorer squad that had just two seniors in the lineup, the APAC opener was trial by fire.
“I think it was definitely an eye-opener for a lot of the guys,” he said. “We had our moments where I thought we were making progress at getting better, but then we made some young mistakes, turning pucks over in our own zone and not having men in our coverages. And that directly led to opportunities and goals for them.”
Muehlbronner said his players got a crash course in what APAC hockey is about.”
“A lot of these guys were playing in their first APAC game,” he said. “We’re going to get better.”
•Muehlbronner is the last remaining head coach remaining from 2018-19, the APAC’s first season.
La Salle 0 1 0—1
Holy Ghost Prep 1 1 2—4
First-period goal: Lucas Gonzalez (HGP) from Mason Thomas, 4:19
Second-period goal: Chase Logue (HGP) from Chris Marshall, 2:21; River Carangi (L) from Darrian Brown and Patrick Lunsford, 16:09
Third-period goals: Thomas (HGP) from Gonzalez, 2:28; Gonzalez (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote and Lucas Helms, 12:57
Shots: La Salle 18, Holy Ghost Prep 24; Saves: Anthony Foster (L) 20, Matt Salita (HGP) 17
Logan Logan Love scored two goals and three other players added one goal each as the Friars bested the Class AA Flyers Cup and state champion Knights Wednesday evening at Ice Line.
It was the first win of the season for Malvern Prep (1-1-1).
Love’s first goal came with one minute remaining in the opening period and tied the game after Sam Norton had given North Penn the early lead.
Rocco Corrado gave the hosts the lead for good 4:38 into the second period and Love’s second goal extended that lead five-and-a-half minutes later.
Logan Singles brought North Penn closer 1:26 into the third period before Staton Luke Johnson and Lawrence Ayers scored goals 63 seconds apart to secure the win.
Malvern Prep will open APAC play November 19 at Holy Ghost Prep.
North Penn 1 0 1—2
Malvern Prep 1 2 2—5
First-period goals: Sam Norton (NP) unassisted, 12:19; Logan Love (MP) unassisted, 16:00
Second-period goals: Rocco Corrado (MP) from Charles Ingersol and Cole Wray, 4:38; Love (MP) unassisted, 10:07
Third-period goals: Logan Shingles (NP) from Sam Norton and Chris Silvotti, 1:26; Staton Luke Johnson (MP) from James Young, 11:12; Lawrence Ayers (MP) from Corrado and Nick Troiano, 12:15
Shots: North Penn 28, Malvern Prep 28; Saves: Aidan Quigley (NP) 23, Isaac Maloney (MP) 26
It wasn’t a typical non-league season opener. Devon Prep and Holy Ghost Prep battled hard for nearly 56 minutes Monday afternoon.
Matters weren’t decided until Danny Dowling delivered a goal with 5.6 seconds left in overtime to give the visiting Tide a 1-0 win over the Firebirds at Grundy Arena.
Both teams found out a lot about themselves over the course of the affair. The Tide tested themselves against the reigning Class AAA Flyers Cup champions while the Firebirds got an idea of how the pieces of this year’s puzzle will fit.
The winning goal was set up when Dowling, working down low on the offensive left side collected a feed from teammate Jan Bach and put it behind Firebird goaltender John Botthof.
Devon Prep coach Matt Fabrizio commented on the significance of the win.
“Even being able to skate with Holy Ghost is exciting,” he said. “But that the fact we stuck to it, held them scoreless, and were able to step up in overtime, is a massive achievement for our team.”
“I can’t think of a victory that’s been more significant for us, to beat a team like Holy Ghost, the defending champs.”
The hosts had a 47-31 advantage in shots but Tide goaltender Aidan Wright turned away every challenge.
He had to be particularly sharp in the first frame when he turned aside 17 shots.
Each netminder made a big save in the third period to keep the game scoreless. Bottthof denied Dowling five minutes and change into the period with a quality glove save Wright turned away the Firebirds’ Anthony Valeriote with seven-and-a-half minutes left.
Neither team shied away from physical play and for the most part the officials left the players to their own devices. There were just three minor penalties accessed, all in the third period.
Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie understands the challenges his players will face this season as the reigning Flyers Cup champions.
“You’re going to have a target on your back every game,” he said. “You’re going to get every team’s best game, their full effort, and their goalie was great today.”
Ritchie learned a lot about his team in the course of the afternoon, as newcomers worked to fit in, and some veterans assumed new roles.
“I think there were a lot of positives we can build on from this,” he said. “I’d rather this type of loss happen at the beginning of the season versus going into the playoffs.
“I think we have a good corps,” he said. “I think we have to figure out how to manufacture and score some goals. I think that obviously is what hurt us today. You get a hot goaltender that’s going to keep the other team in the game, and guys get nervous.
“I think as we go along in the season we’ve just got to find who are going to be our go-to guys to finish plays.”
Ice Chips—The Firebirds will open APAC play next Wednesday when they host La Salle…. Devon Prep lost to La Salle in the first round of last year’s Flyers Cup.
Devon Prep 0 0 0 1—1
Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 0 0—0
Overtime goal: Danny Dowling (DP) from Jan Bach, 4:55
Shots; Devon Prep 31, Holy Ghost Prep 47; Saves: Aidan Wright (DP) 47, John Botthof (HGP) 30
Adam Charaffi’s third-period goal fave the Hawks the non-league win over Calvert Hall Wednesday afternoon at the Class of 1923 rink.
Buno Mainardi stopped 15 shots ss the Hawks won their second straight.
Calvert Hall 0 0 1—1
St. Joseph’s Prep 1 0 1—2
First-period goal: Joe Darrow (SJP) from Will Savarese and Aiden Quinn, 9:34
Third-period goals: Poltrack (CH) unassisted, 1:11; Adam Charrafi (SJP) from Cole Gargon, 5:45
Shots: Calvert Hall 16, St. Joseph’s Prep 30; Saves: Jones (CH) 28, Bruno Mainardi (SP) 15
The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference is in the midst of beginning its eighth season.
Here’s a look at how the teams are shaping up.
Holy Ghost Prep
Head coach: John Ritchie (third season)
Last year: 21-5-1, 6-2 in APAC; APAC and Class AAA Flyers Cup Champion
Key players: Sr. Jack Botthof (G); Jr. Matt Salita (G); Sr. Brandon Watkins (D); Jr. Nate Romer (D); Jr. Brady Flynn (D); Sr. Anthony Valeriote (F); Sr. Lucas Gonzalez (F); Sr. Chris Marshall (F); Sr. Jack Gavaghan (F); Sr. Patryk Oszer (F); Jr. Chase Logue (F)
Outlook: Coming off a Flyers Cup title, the Firebirds are looking for more of the same this season. While 10 members of last year’s team are lost to graduation, a solid nucleus remains to face a demanding schedule. Botthoff and Salita form the APAC’s most experienced goaltending tandem.
“We play a very difficult non-league schedule this year,” Ritchie said, “that should help shape our roster for the end of the season. We graduated a core group from the Flyers Cup team, but believe with returners and program depth we should be in the mix again.”
Hun School
Head coach: Eric Szeker (third season)
Last year: 5-17-2, 0-8 in APAC)
Key players: Sr. Andrew Darst (D); So. Devin Espana (D); ); Sr. Luca Jean (F), Jr. Justin Bibeau (F); Sr. Nate Trawinski (F); Sr. Jacob Kelly-Lepage (F); Sr. Anders Van Raalte (F); So. Conor Mulligan (F),
Outlook: The Raiders endured a difficult season in 2025 due in part to youth and injuries but nine seniors will provide significant experience, depth, and off-ice leadership. Szeker is looking for balanced scoring, but is counting on Jean and Mulligan to set the pace.
La Salle
Head coach: Wally Muehlbronner (28th season)
Last year: 17-8, 6-2 in APAC
Key players: Sr. Matt Kohlhepp (G); Jr. Patrick Murphy (G); Jr. Antony Foster (G); Sr. Tristan Mitchell (D); Jr. Matthew Jones(D); Jr. Danny Burke (D); Sr. Luke Baumann (F); So. Liam Greenwalt (F); So. Darrian Brown (F)
Outlook: The Explorers are starting fresh this season with one of their least-experienced teams of recent years, and the returnees will be assuming new roles. But if the past is any indication, they’ll mature with the passage of time and be playing their best hockey late in the season.
Malvern Prep
Head coach: Bill Keenan (seventh season)
Last year: 5-10-1, 3-5 in APAC
Key players: Sr. Ryan Caterino (G); Sr. Cole Scarbinsky (D); Sr. Logan Love (D); Sr. Reece Hanna (D); So. Finn McCullough (D); Sr. Andrew Starck (F); Sr. Henry Tesoriero (F); Sr. Pax Hoishik (F); Jr. House Young (F); So. Jake Weingartner (F); So. Luke Johnson (F); Fr. Ryan Jacobs (F)
Outlook: After having trouble scoring goals last season, the Friars are optimistic about the season ahead.
“We’re excited to compete with a strong core of returning players,” Keenan said, “complemented by key new additions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the puck. The team brings a balanced mix of experience, energy, and depth that we believe will position us well throughout the year.”
St. Joseph’s Prep
Head coach: Charlie Van Kula (first season)
Last year: 10-10, 5-3 in APAC
Key players: Jr. Declan Geary (G); Sr. Ben Kersun (D); Sr. Adam Charrafi (D); Jr. Cole Gargon (F); Jr. Frankie Ely (F)
Outlook: Van Kula takes over behind the Hawks’ bench for David Giacomin. He’ll put a veteran team on the ice one that includes in Ely and Gargon, two of the APAC’s top returning scorers.
Pax Hoishik Jake Weingartner each scored twice as the Friars opened their season with an overtime loss at Wyoming Seminary on Wednesday.
Malvern Prep found itself down 3-0 in the game’s first eight minutes before rallying to force overtime.
“Our team showed resilience,” said Friars’ head coach Bill Keenan. “We have a handful of new players who played well in their first game with Malvern. ”
HATFIELD—The theme for La Salle’s season opener against Wyoming Seminary Wednesday afternoon might have been ‘Starting Over Again.’ Which is what the Explorers were doing to a large extent.
Just five of the 21 players Wally Muehlbronner had in uniform were part of the Explorers’ Flyers Cup roster last season. Ten of the 21 were underclassmen who, in a number of cases were getting their first taste of varsity hockey.
The end was result was a 3-1 loss to a Blue Knight squad that had already won its first four starts, albeit against Class AA and AAA Midget competition.
Muehlbronner found out a lot about his team in the course of the afternoon.
“We learned a lot,” he said. “For a lot of the younger guys, it was a big eye opener for them and that’s exactly why we wanted to play them.”
The Blue Knights took just 37 seconds to jump in front. Dilan Lucas, a native of Chateauguay, Quebec, put the puck behind Matt Kohlhepp to give his team the lead. Louis-David Jolin made it a 2-0 game with 40 seconds remaining in the opening frame but the Explorers hung in with their bigger, older, and more worldly foes from that point forward (the Blue Knights had players from eight different nations in their lineup)
Kohlhepp, Patrick Murphy, and Anthony Foster each took a turn in the Explorer net.
Deep in the third period the Explorers were able to solve Wyoming Seminary goaltender Tristan Boyer. Quin Leonards, playing in his first varsity game, scored off a setup from Andrew Frantz with 5:33 left in regulation to make it a one-goal affair.
It took Hendrik McNulty’s empty netter with 1:02 left to settle the issue.
“I think we definitely had a good amount of jitters for the first five minutes of that game,” Muehlbronner said, “but we settled in an we got better as the game went along.
“I think if we had been able to get a little more pressure on them, we could have created some more opportunities.”
The afternoon exemplified the advantages of starting the season against a quality opponent.
“They’re a good team,” Muehlbronner said, “We learned a lot from the game so we got exactly what we wanted.”
Wyoming Seminary 2 0 1—3
La Salle 0 0 1—1
First-period goals: Dilan Lucas (WS) from Hendrik McNulty, :37; Louis-David Jolin (WS) from Ondrej Vina, 16:20
Third-period goals: Quin Leonards (L) from Andrew Frantz, 11:27 pp; McNulty (WS) unassisted, 15:58 en;
Shots: Wyoming Seminary 34, La Salle 15 Saves: Tristan Boyer (WS) 15, Matt Kohlhepp (L) 8, Patrick Murphy (L) 14, Anthony Foster (L) 9
Hockey Happenings is looking for writers to be part of our coverage of Philadelphia area high-school hockey this season. I am particularly in need of writers to cover games in Delaware and Chester Counties.
Candidates should have some sort of writing background, be knowledgeable about ice hockey and have availability on weeknights.
For more information, contact us through this web site or at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com. Please include: High School Hockey in the subject line.
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