Category: Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference

Holy Ghost Prep 4 Hun School 1

The journey wasn’t easy at times. But, in the end, Holy Ghost Prep got the result it wanted Wednesday afternoon, a 4-1 decision over The Hun School in an APAC encounter at Ice Land.   
With the win, the Firebirds, who have won eight of their last nine starts improved to 12-4 overall and 5-2 in the APAC. They’ll conclude conference play with a rematch against the Raiders next Friday.

The visitors jumped in front early on. Joe Spadaccino scored a power-play goal 3:30 into the opening period.

But the remainder of the first frame was challenging for both sides, a study in old-time hockey. There were 12 penalties called in the opening session.

“It didn’t seem like there was much flow to the game early on,” said Hun School coach Eric Szeker.

The visitors had the better of the play over the first two periods but were stymied repeatedly by Patrick Donoghue in the Hun School net. The senior finished with 51 saves. The Raiders are just 2-8-2 on the season (0-3 in the APAC) but Donoghue and Elliot Wong have been sold in goal all season.

“I think the one really nice thing is we have two really good goalies,” Szeker said. “I never worry about who is going between the pipes for us. They work hard, they’re best friends in the locker room, and they push each other every day.”

Anthony Valeriote extended Holy Ghost Prep’s lead 35 second into the third period but the Raiders responded a minute-and-a-half later when the Firebirds coughed up the puck directly in front of their own net, making it a one-goal game once more.

Brian Kinniry extended his team’s lead when he scored with 11:39 left in the third frame and then delivered an insurance goal with 2:01 remaining.

Spadaccino didn’t play in the last two periods but was proud of the way his teammates were able to get past the challenging first frame.

“It shows that no matter what gets in our path, we just keep on fighting,” he said. “We try to get to the end goal of winning.”

Firebird goaltender Matt Salita stopped 14 of the 15 shots he saw, earning praise from his coach John Ritchie.

“I thought Salita did a great job in net for a sophomore,” Ritchie said. “Those are tough games for goalies, only facing 15 shots dispersed throughout the game with power plays for them and stretches where he wasn’t seeing pucks.”

The Firebirds are listed first in the Class AAA Flyers Cup rankings that were released on Monday, but Ritchie says his team will need contributions from the entire lineup to reach its potential.

“We have a couple guys on our roster that carry the weight of this team on their backs game in and game out,” he said. “I know what to expect from them, so it’s just about getting all 20 guys, or all 18 skaters, to pull the rope in the same direction.”

Holy Ghost Prep 1 0 3—4

Hun School 0 0 1—1

First-period goals: Joe Spadaccino (HGP) from Brady Logue, 3:30 (pp)

Third-period goals: Anthony Valeriote (HGP) from Chase Logue and Brady Logue, :35; Luke Rassler (HS) unassisted, 2:03; Brian Kinniry (HGP) from Logan Barnes and Colin Bara, 5:21; Kinniry (HGP) from Barnes and Santino Tiberio, 14:59

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 55, Hun School 15; Saves: Matt Salita (HGP) 14, Patrick Donoghue (HS) 51

Flyers Cup Rankings #2

Class AAA

  1. Holy Ghost Prep
  2. La Salle
  3. St. Joseph’s Prep
  4. Malvern Prep
  5. Salesianum


Class AA

  1. Council Rock South
  2. Haverford High
  3. North Penn
  4.  Downingtown West
  5. Pennridge

Class A
1. West Chester Henderson

2. Garnet Valley

3. Kennett

4. Penncrest

5. Hershey

Girls

  1. Avon Grove
  2. Downingtown West
  3. Conestoga
  4. Kingsway
  5. West Chester Henderson

This is the second of four sets of rankings that will be released prior to the Flyers Cup Selection Show on Sunday, February 23.

Holy Ghost Prep 5, Salesianum 1

The APAC and the Intercounty League crossed paths Thursday afternoon. In a prelude to a possible Flyers Cup Tournament matchup, Holy Ghost Prep, from the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference, scored a 5-1 decision over Salesianum which was sailing under the Inter County Scholastic Hockey League banner. Ur was the Firebirds’ seventh straight win.

The result of the non-league encounter, which was played at Grundy Arena in Bristol, will be factored into the calculations the Flyers Cup Committee will use to determine the makeup and seedings for its Class AAA field.

It was the second win for the Firebirds (11-3 in less than 24 hours; they defeated St. Joseph’s Prep Wednesday night. On Thursday, they picked up where they left off although two of their big guns Brady and Chase Logue, were away on club duty.

Senior Logan Barnes started things off with a shot from the left point that got the better of Sallies goaltender Ryne Dominick and have the hosts the lead with 4:18 remaining in the opening period. Joe Spadaccino it a 2-0 game just 74 seconds later.

The second period was largely a battle of special teams; there were seven penalties called in the period, but the Firebirds got the better of it despite being two men short for 37 seconds at one point.

 Brian Kinniry extended the Firebirds’ lead with 6:47 left in the second frame while the teams were skating four on four. The senior spoke of how the Firebirds bounced back after their win Wednesday night.

“I think we all came together as a team he said. “It was a tough game last night with a different atmosphere but we all pushed through.”

The Sallies (12-2) got on the scoreboard with 10:49 left in the third period when Justin Celentino got the puck past Firebird goaltender Matt Salita from in front of the net. It was 3-1 at that point but William Harmar answered for Holy Ghost Prep less than two minutes later and Joseph Kauffman added an insurance goal with 6:47 left in regulation.

“We were going toe to toe with them in the first period,” said Salesianum coach Brian LeBlanc, “but then in the second period we kind of slowed down a little bit.

“You’d think that a power play and a five-on-three would give you some advantage but we couldn’t even get a shot on goal. It was not whet we had hoped for but I think we learned a lot today.”

The Firebirds have won five straight games since returning from the National Scholastic Invitational tournament in Jamestown, New York. Assistant coach George Mundy says the tournament was a turning point.

“Since we’ve gotten back from New York the team has played really, really well,” he said. “We’re getting contributions from a lot of different players, which is good. We’re getting good goaltending our defense has been solid. So, we’re playing really good hockey right now.”

Salesianum 0 0 1—1

Holy Ghost Prep 2 1 2—5

First-period goals: Logan Barnes (HGP) from Brady Flynn, 12:42; Joe Spadaccino (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote, 13:56

Second-period goal: Brian Kinniry (HGP) from Jack Gavaghan and Nate Romer, 10:13

Third-period goals: Justin Celentino (S) from Braeden Graham and Liam Bell, 6:11; William Harmar (HGP) from Kinniry, 8:00; Joseph Kaufmann (HGP) from John Graff, 10:29

Shots: Salesianum 27, Holy Ghost Prep 38; Saves:  Ryne Dominick (S) 33, Matt Salita (HGP) 26

Explorers, Firebirds Win at Spring Mountain

La Salle 3 Malvern Prep 0

Three different players scored goals as La Salle bested Malvern Prep 3-0 Wednesday night in the opening game of the Atlantic Prep Athletic conference doubleheader at Spring Mountain Adventures.

The game was scoreless for almost two periods. Cameron Ross put the Explorers (8-5, 4-2 in the APAC) in front with 11 seconds left in the second period. Nole Donohue extended La Salle’s lead with 6:28 remaining in regulation and Grant LaGreca completed the scoring with 1:20 remaining.

Jake Rossi earned the shutout in goal with 13 saves. Matt Crawford stopped 23 shots for the Friars, who slipped to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in conference.

Malvern Prep 0 0 0—0

La Salle 0 1 2—3

Second-period goals: Cameron Ross (L) from John Greenwalt 16:49

Third-period goals: Nole Donohue (L) from Alistair St. Hillaire, 10:32; Grant LaGreca (L) unassisted, 15:40

Shots: Malvern Prep 13, La Salle 26 Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 23, Jake Rossi (L) 13

Holy Ghost Prep 5 St. Joseph’s Prep 1

Brady Logue scored three goals and assisted on another as Holy Ghost Prep downed St. Joseph’ Prep 5-1 Wednesday night in the second half of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference doubleheader at Spring Mountain Adventures.

The Firebirds improved to 10-3 on the season and 4-2 in the APAC while the Hawks dropped to 8-5 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

Logue scored his first goal with one second remaining in the first period to give Holy Ghost Prep the lead. Patryk Oszer made it a 2-0 game 3:37 into the second period before Logue extended his team’s lead with a power-play goal with 43 seconds remaining.

Logue completed his hat trick 32 seconds into the third period and Joe Spadaccino made it a 5-0 game with 12:33 left in regulation.

Cole Gargon scored for St. Joseph’s Prep with 10:13 remaining.

Jack Unger earned the shutout in goal for Holy Ghost Prep by stopping 23 shots.

“It’s always difficult to judge the quality of a game when there are external factors like rink size and weather affecting the outcome,” said Holy Ghosy Prep coach John Ritchie, “but our guys had fun and it was good to get a win for eding decision down the road.

“The conditions were most difficult for the goalies. I was happy with how Unger handled the condtions.”

Holy Ghost Prep 1 2 2—5

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 1—1

First-period goal: Brady Logue (HGP) unassisted, 16:59

Second-period goals: Patryk Oszer (HGP) from Nathan Romer, 3:37; Logue (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote and Joe Spadaccino, 16:17

Third-period goals: Logue (HGP) from Joseph Kauffman, :32 (pp); Spadaccino (HGP) from Logue and Lucas Gonzalez, 4:27; Cole Gargon (SJP) from Frankie Ely, 6:47

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 24, St. Joseph’s Prep 23; Saves: Jack Unger (HGP) 23, Bruno Mainardi (SJP) 19

St. Ignatius 4 St. Joseph’s Prep 3

Purple Puck Tournament Final

Sam Elwell scored two goals and assisted on a third as St. Ignatius downed St. Joseph’s Prep 4-3 Sunday evening in the Prep Division championship game of the Purple Puck Tournament in Springfield, Virginia.

Noel Ignacio and Kyle Rucinski also scored for St. Ignatius, which won all five of its tournament games over the course of the weekend.

Rucinski’s goal with 3:11 left in the second half was the game winner.

Cole Gargon scored twice for St. Joseph’s Prep, which went 2-3 over the weekend and was trying for its third straight division championship. Michael Washlick also scored for the Hawks, who now stand at 8-4 overall.

Elwell and Gargon traded goals in the first 25-minute half before Ignacio Have St. Ignatius a 2-1 lead with 6:11 remaining in the half.

Elwell extended his team’s lead 9:20 into the second half. Gargon’s power-play goal with 7:59 left in regulation drew the Hawks closer but Rucinski answered four-and-a-half minutes later.

St. Joseph’s Prep had a 34-24 edge in shots on goal. Dominic Filizetti got the win in goal with 31 saves

• Elwell and Ignacio led the tournament in scoring. Each finished with seven goals and three assists … St. Joseph’s Prep goaltender Declan Geary finished the tournament with a .902 save percentage and a 2.44 GAA.

St. Joseph’s Prep 1 2—3

St. Ignatius 2 2—4

First-half goals: Sam Elwell (SI) from Preston Forsythe and Cade Bradley, 5:11; Cole Gargon (SP) from Ben Kursen and Frankie Ely, 11:09; Noel Ignacio (SI) from Patrick Rose and Charlie Banaszak, 18:49

Second-half goals: Elwell (SI) unassisted, 15:40; Gargon (SJP) from Caden Kelly, 17:01 (pp); Kyle Rucinski (SI) from Elwell and Gavin Marziani, 21:49; Michael Washlick (SJP) from Jai Perry-Pereira, 22:01

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 34, St. Ignatius 24 Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 20, Dominic Filizetti 31

St. Joseph’s Prep at Purple Puck Tournament

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 Gonzaga 1

St. Joseph’s Prep has advanced to the Prep Division championship game at the Purple Pucj tournament. Jai Perry-Pereira’s goal 6:28 into the second half gave the Hawks the semifinal win over Gonzaga Sunday morning in Springfield, Va.

St. Joseph’s Prep will face St. Ignatius from Cleveland in the championship game later this afternoon.

Gonzaga Prep 1 0—1

St. Joseph’s Prep 1 1—2

First-half goals: Bradan Fisher (SJP) from Noah Stuhl, 4:20; Matt Shay (G) from William Veneri, 21:53

Second-half goals: Jai Perry-Pareira (SJP) from Adam Charafi, 6:28

Shots: Gonzaga 27, St. Joseph’s Prep 23; Saves: Claude Engle-Kes 21, Declan Geary (SJP) 22

St. Ignatius 3 St. Joseph’s Prep 2

St. Ignatius built a 2-0 first-half lead and went on to a 3-2 win over St. Joseph’s Prep Saturday afternoon at the Purple Puck Tournament in Springfield, Va.

Nolan Ignacio scored twice for St. Ignatius, including the game winner 4:45 into the second half. Frankie Ely and Bradan Fisher scored goals for the Hawks.

St. Ignatius 2 1—3

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 2—2

First-half goals: Kyle Rucinski (SI) from Aiden White and Patrick Rose, 10:54 (pp); Nolan Ignacio (SI) from Adam Ruyf and Gavin Marziani, 12:33 (pp)

Second-half goals: Frankie Ely (SJP) from Noah Stuhl, :16 (pp) Ignacio (SI) from Sam Elwell and Cade Bradley, 4:45; Bradan Fisher (SJP) from Ben Kursen, 16:11

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 27, St. Ignatius 20; Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 17, Dominic Filizetti (SI) 25

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Archbishop Spalding 0

Four different players scored goals as St. Joseph’s Prep bested Archbishop Spalding Saturday morning at the Purple Puck Tournament in Springfield, Va.

Frankie Ely and Michael Washlick scored goals in the opening 25-miute half while Cole Gargon and Caden Kelly found the back of the net after intermission. Declan Geary stopped 19 shots in the shutout win.

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 2–4

Archbishop Spalding 0 0—0

First-half goals: Frankie Ely (SJP) from Michael Castelli, 1:57; Michael Washlick (SJP) from Jai Perry-Pereira and Aiden Quinn, 19:12

Second-half goals: Cole Gargon (SJP) from Ely and Caden Kelly, 10:34 (pp); Kelly (SJP) from Adam Charaffi, 15;48

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 28, Archbishop Spalding 19; Saves: Declan  Geary (SJP) 19, Liam Brennan (AS) 24

Loyola 6 St. Joseph’s Prep 3

Ronan Marilley’s goal with 6:03 remaining in the second half was the game winner as Loyola from Montreal bested St. Joseph’s Prep 6-3 Friday afternoon in the opening round of the Purple Puck tournament in Springfield, Va.

The loss was the first for the Hawks in seven games, since a season-opening loss to La Salle.

Gino Giordani scored two empty-net goals in the final half minute to extend Loyola’s lead. Cole Sullivan, Cole Gargon, and Caden Kelly scored for the Hawks.

Alessio Servello gave Loyola the lead 6:18 into the first of two 25-miniute halves. Sullivan tied the game for the Hawks less than a minute later. Evan Harding put Loyola in front once more with 10:33 left in the half before Gorgon tied the game with 8:33 remaining.

Ryan Ghoche gave Loyola a 3-2 advantage with a power-play goal 5;28 into the second half. Kelly tied the game for the last time with 15:17 remaining but the Hawks could not score again.

The Hawks will be back in action Saturday, facing Archbishop Spalding from Annapolis, MD. and St. Ignatius from Cleveland. The tournament concludes on Sunday.                                                                                                              

Loyola 2-4—6

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 1—3

First-half goals: Alessio Servello (L) from Ryan Ghoche and Jacob Bachour, 6:18; Cole Sullivan (SJP) from Noah Stuhl, 7:07; Evan Harding (L) from Gino Giardani and Mario Mignacca, 14:27; Cole Gargon (SJP) from Adam Charaffi and John Wagner, 16:03

Second-half goals: Ghoche (L) from Alex Gervaso, 5:28 (pp); Caden Kelly (HGP) from Aiden Quinn and Stuhl, 9:43; Ronan Marilley (L) from Servello, 18:57; Giordani (L) unassisted, 24:25 (en); Giordani (L) from Luca Duchesne, 24:34 (en)

Shots: Loyola 32, St. Joseph’s Prep 31; Saves: Vincent Parillo (L) 28, Declan Geary (SJP) 26