La Salle 7 Peters Township 3

La Salle got contributions from all hands Saturday afternoon. The result was a state championship. Seven different players scored goals in the course of a 7-3 win over Peter Township in the Class AAA Pennsylvania Cup championship game at the Robert Morris University Sports Center outside of Pittsburgh.

The win gave the Explorers (16-9-2) their seventh state title, their first since 2019.

“It was a great team effort,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner.

The Explorers broke the game open with four unanswered goals in the second period.

Charlie Kennedy gave La Salle a 1-0 lead with 41 seconds left in the first period when he put in a rebound of his own shot from the right point.

Will Tomko tied the game for the Indians early in the second period off an offensive left-circle faceoff.

But La Salle dominated the remainder of the period. Julian Tarsi, Evan Golato, Chase Hannon, and Ryan Desmond scored goals to give the Explorers a 5-1 lead at period’s end.

Peters Township (18-4-1) which came into the game as the defending state champion, drew closer with a pair of goals that made it a 5-3 game with 11:02 still left in regulation but Michael Zarzycki extended La Salle’s lead at the 7:39 mark.

Max Monzo finished the scoring with an empty net goal with 1:16 remaining.

““The boys truly bought in and gave one of their best performances of the season,” Muehlbronner said. “Our senior leadership this season was outstanding.”

Ice chips—La Salle’s previous state titles came in 1998, 2008-09, 2012, 2016, and 2019.

State Championship Schedule

The Pennsylvania Cup championship games are scheduled for Saturday. All three games will be played at the

Robert Morris University Island Sports Center inNeville Township, PA

Here’s the schedule

Class A

West Chester East 8 Kiski 1

Third consecutive state title for West Chester East and fifth overall.

Class AA 2:00 PM

Pennsbury vs. South Fayette

Class 3A 5:00 PM
La Salle vs. Peters Township

La Salle 2 Holy Ghost Prep 1 OT

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—Two hockey teams lifted their games and their sport into the clouds Tuesday night, and brought a full house at Hatfield Ice along for the ride. It was La Salle that emerged victorious, 2-1 in overtime over Holy Ghost Prep in the Class AAA Flyers Cup championship game.

Chase Hannon scored the winning goal 6:19 into overtime to give the top-seeded Explorers (15-9-2) their first Flyers Cup title since 2019 and their 12^thoverall. They will face defending champion Peters Township for the Class AAA state title on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

The second-seeded Firebirds finished their season at 18-8. Tuesday’s game brought down the curtain on the career of Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside, who announced his retirement earlier this season

Hannon, a senior, scored both of his team’s goals.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “I lost a Flyers Cup my sophomore year (to Malvern Prep) in overtime, so, to win in overtime was great redemption.”

There was little to choose between the Explorers and the Firebirds through 51 minutes of regulation hockey and six minutes of overtime. La Salle’s Aries Carangi and Holy Ghost Prep’s Colin Mudrick were in top form in their respective nets. Mudrick denied La Salle’s James Carpenter on a backhander from close range early in the second period; it may have been the best save of the net by either goaltender.

John Seravalli gave the Firebirds a 1-0 lead 3:23 into the second period on a shot that came directly off an offensive right-circle faceoff. Hannon answered at the 11:49 mark after recovering a loose puck in the offensive zone.

But both goaltenders were sharp and knew their opposite number was as well. The two netminders embraced on the ice following the game.

Carangi, a senior was gratified he was able to play a part in his team’s win. He wound up winning the Bobby Clarke Award as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“My sophomore year, I was a part of that team when we lost in overtime,” he said. “I was out with an injury and it felt like I couldn’t help my team at all.

“So, it felt really good to be out there, and do my job out for the guys and help them get this win today.”

Hannon’s winning goal came on a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that rocketed past Mudrick under the crossbar. He sald he and his teammates were confident going into overtime.

“The mindset was ‘Score a goal,’” he said. “And win. If anyone on our team did it, we were happy about it. It didn’t matter who if we got the job done.”

And it was the Explorers who celebrated at evening’s end, while Whiteside reflected on his team’s effort.

“It’s one of the best games I’ve ever been involved with as a coach,” he said. “Both teams played really well. I thought either team could have won it. I thought our boys responded well and I’m just really proud of the effort our kids gave.

“I just wish they had a better result, but it was a tremendous high-school hockey game.”

Ice chips: Besides Carangi, the All-Tournament team included Hannon and Thomas Doucet from La Salle and Seravalli, Brady Baehser, and Ciaran Chambers from Holy Ghost Prep.

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 0 0—1

La Salle 0 1 0 1—2

Second-period goals: John Seravalli (HGP) from Shaun Moore, 3:23; Chase Hannon (L) unassisted, 11:49

Overtime goal: Hannon (L) from Evan Golato and Ryan Desmond 6:19

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 35, La Salle 35; Saves; Colin Mudrick (HGP) 33, Aries Carangi (L) 34

Pennsbury 5 Pennridge 3

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP— After a long and arduous journey, Pennsbury has reached the mountaintop. Justin Marlin’s goal with 8:19 left in the third period was the game winner as the Falcons downed Pennridge 5-3 Tuesday night in the Class AA Flyers Cup championship game at Hatfield Ice.

It’s the third Flyers Cup title in school history and the first for the Falcons at the Class AA level.

Pennsbury (18-6), the fifth seed in the tournament, will face South Fayette, the Penguins Cup champion, for the state championship on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Second-seeded Pennridge, the defending champion, finished the season at 16-6.

Brendan MacAinsh scored three goals and received the Bobby Clarke Most Valuable Player Award.

“That was exciting,” MacAinsh said of the win. “I’ve been waiting a long time for something like that.”

After a relatively quiet opening sequence, Shane Dachowski put the Rams in front 4:39 into the opening frame, off a feed from Tyler Manto.

Pennsbury goaltender Aaron McDaniel was busy in the opening session; Pennridge generated 12 shots in the first period while holding the Falcons to nine. One of those eight came on a shorthanded breakaway in the waning second of the period but Jacob Winston denied MacAinsh with just under nine seconds remaining.

The game’s intensity level picked up with 5:08 left in the second period when Marlin delivered a hard hit to Dachowski along the right wall in the Pennridge offensive zone. Dachowski stayed down on the ice for a time before being helped to the bench. He would return for the third period No penalty was called on the play and the tempo of the game picked up from there.

Less than two minutes later, Marlin assisted MacAinsh’s game-tying goal which came off a Pennridge turnover. With 75 seconds left in the period MacAinsh put his team in front with a slapshot from the right post that caught iron as it entered the net.

The third period featured the offensive fireworks that might have been expected from two teams that scored 37 goals between them in three previous meetings.

MacAinsh said the break after the second period to resurface the ice gave he and his teammates a chance to refocus.

“That break really helped us,” he said. “We’re usually gassed in the (second period). That break makes us come out on fire even more, every time.”

Evan Eisler extended Pennbury’s lead 2:35 into the period but Tyler Manto (during a power play) and Dachowski (during a shorthanded breakaway) scored goals 84 seconds apart to tie the game with 11:14 left in regulation.

Marlin’s goal, which came when he corralled a loose puck the Pennridge zone, proved decisive. The senior defenseman called Tuesday’s result a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an opportunity to move past disappointments.

“Especially being a senior here,” he said. “We’ve been close (but) this year we weren’t letting it go.

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna credited the Falcons for their effort.

“They did what champions do,” he said. “We threw everything we had at them. And you know what? Props to Pennsbury and props to (McDaniel).

“I told MacAinsh after the game he’s as good a player that’s come through this league. He’s as good a leader that’s come through this league. If we’re going to lose to somebody, I’d rather lose to him.

Ice chips: The All-Tournament team included MacAinsh, Dachowski, Marlin, McDaniel, Colin Dachowski (Pennridge) and Andrew Falkenstein (Pennsbury)

Pennsbury 0 2 3—5

Pennridge 1 0 2—3

First-period goals Shane Dachowski (Pr) from Tyler Manto, 4:39

Second-period goals: Brendan MacAinsh (Pb) from Justin Marlin, 13:38; MacAinsh (Pb) from Marlin, 15:45

Third-period goals: Evan Eisler (Pb) from Andrew Falkenstein, 2:35; Manto (Pr) from James Rush, 4:22 (pp); Shane Dachowski (Pr) from Kevin Pico, 5:46 (sh); Justin Marlin (Pb) unassisted, 8:41; MacAinsh (Pb) unassisted, 16:59

Shots: Pennsbury 29, Pennridge 37; Saves: Aaron McDaniel (Pb) 34, Jacob Winston (Pr) 24

Class AAA Flyers Cup Finals Preview

There will be no secrets when La Salle and Holy Ghost Prep collide for the Class AAA Flyers Cup championship Tuesday night (8:30 at Hatfield Ice). Perhaps no two area hockey teams are more familiar with each other than the top-seeded Explorers (14-9-2) and the second-seeded Firebirds (18-7).

Tuesday’s meeting will be their fourth of this season alone; Holy Ghost Prep won the first, La Salle has taken the last two including the APAC championship game on March 1^st.

The Explorers have won 12 Flyers Cup titles in their history, most recently in 2019 one of those titles came as a Class AA team. The most recent of the Firebirds’ three championships came in 2017. One of those three came in the Class AA classification

La Salle (14-9-2)

Coach: Wally Muehlbronner

Players to watch: Sr. Aries Carangi (G); Sr. Ryan Warner (D) Sr. Evan Golato (F); Jr; Sr. Ryan Desmond (F)

Holy Ghost Prep (18-7)

Coach: Gump Whiteside

Players to watch: Sr. Colin Mudrick (G); Jr. Michael Holt (D); Sr. Brady Baehser (F); Sr. Kieran Mulholland (F); St. Landon Stout (F)

Previous Meetings

11-9Holy Ghost Prep 6 La Salle 2

2-13 La Salle 6 Holy Ghost Prep 5

3-1 La Salle 7 Holy Ghost Prep 3

Class AA Flyers Cup Finals Preview

Tuesday’s Class AA Flyers Cup championship game between second-seeded Pennridge and defending champion and fifth-seeded Pennsbury (6:00 at Hatfield Ice) figures to be quite a shootout. Rams and the Falcons have scored a combined 37 goals in their three meetings against each other this season. Pennsbury has won two of the three, including in the SHSHL National Division semifinals on March 1.

Pennridge’s Flyers Cup win last March is the only one in school history. Pennsbury won titles as a Class A team in 1993 and 2000. The Falcons were members of the Lower Bucks League at the time. They joined the SHSHL for the 2007-08 season.

Pennridge (16-5)

Coach: Jeff Montagna

Players to watch: So. Jacob Winton (G); Jr. Colin Dachowski (D); So. Shane Dachowski (F); Jr. Kevin Pico (F); Jr. Andrew Savona (F)

Pennsbury (17-6)

Coach: Ryan Daley

Players to watch: Jr. Aaron McDaniel (G); Sr. Justin Marlin (D); Sr. Brendan MacAinish (F); Sr. Andrew Falkenstein (F); Jr. Logan Doyle (F)

11-3 Pennsbury 6 Pennridge 3

1-12 Pennridge 11 Pennsbury 4

3-1 Pennsbury 8 Pennridge 5

Trainer Joey Lopez Personifies His Profession

Joey Lopez doesn’t think of himself as a hero. Others might think differently.

Lopez is one of the corps of athletic trainers keep watch over student-athletes during APAC and ICSHL games as well as the Flyers Cup tournament.

During games, Lope and his colleagues are constantly on the alert.

“We’re watching the game just like the fans are,” he said.” A lot of people do this because not only because they love athletic, but some of them love the sport itself.”

Lopez is particularly alert when a player is down on the ice.

“If they’re down long enough, that alerts us,” he said. “We usually give them a little bit of time to be down because it might be something minor, but if it’s something for a little bit longer time than we allow, depending on how long the athletic trainer waits, which isn’t long, that’s when our primary concerns about (the player) being injured come in and then we head out to the ice.”

Lopez, who has worked as an athletic trainer since 2017, was on duty at Ice Line on the evening of December 22 when a Father Judge player was cut by a skate blade in the second period of a game against Cardinal O’Hara.

Lopez used a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He told Hockey Happenings that his personal and professional instincts kicked in.

“I’d never had to use a tourniquet on somebody,” he said, “but it literally just one of those things where everything else in the world does not matter.

“It just turns into tunnel vision and knowing what I know what would I do for my kid if I had one, and treating them as your own, because essentially you can look at them as your kids because they’re under your care.”

Lopez notes that when he’s dealing with a potentially serious situation, it’s important to keep his own emotions in check.

“I have to make sure everybody else is calm,” he said. “If the kid isn’t calm, you can always make the situation worse.”

Lopez praised the coaching staffs of the two teams for their assistance on stabilizing the situation.

“The coaches called 911,” he said. “They helped out they were great. everybody was a team. It just made everything easier.”

The day after the Father Judge-Cardinal O’Hara game, the following tweet was posted on the Father Judge Twitter page.

Last night’s player of the game was @ICSHL_hockey Athletic Trainer Joey Lopez. Joey stepped into a very serious injury situation, took control, handled the situation like a pro, directed others, & stopped a bad situation from becoming worse. Thanks Joey! #professional #hero.

Holy Ghost Prep 3 St. Joseph’s Prep 2 OT

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP— Veterans step up when they’re needed most. John Seravalli did just that for Holy Ghost Prep Tuesday night. His goal 1:41 into sudden death overtime gave his team a 3-2 win over St. Joseph’s Prep in a Class AAA Flyers Cup semifinal at Hatfield Ice.

The second-seeded Firebirds will face La Salle for the title Tuesday at 8:30 at this same venue.

Holy Ghost Prep trailed 1-0 and 2-1 before rallying to pick up their 17th win of the season against seven losses. Third-seeded St. Joseph’s Prep closed the season at 14-7-2.

Seravalli’s goal came when he found space between the two circles and beat Hawks’ goaltender Rocco Bruno.

“It was a little nerve-wracking at first,” Seravalli said of going into the extra period. “They’ve got some good players. But we competed, our goalie (Colin Mudrick) played a great game in overtime I was lucky I got the shot that went in”

Both goaltenders were stellar for a period and half. The first goal of the night didn’t come until the 8:54 mark of the second period. It came off the stick of the Hawks’ Joe Samango off a dump into the St. Joseph’s Prep left-wing corner.

The score stayed 1-0 until Landon Stout tied the game for the Firebirds 4:34 into the third period off a scramble in front of the Hawks’ net. The aftermath of the goal was a scrum near the net and the result of it all a roughing penalty to the Firebirds’ Cieran Chambers, who also drew a 10-minute misconduct.

It took St. Joseph’s Prep just 37 seconds to score a power-play goal. Mudrick denied Caiden Kelly on a backhander, but the Firebirds couldn’t clear the puck out of the crease and Shane O’Neill put the puck in the back of the net to give the Hawks the lead for the second time.

Just 62 seconds later, the game was tied once more thanks to Shaun Moore, who converted a feed from Ryan Lippy.

That set the stage for overtime and Seravalli’s game winner. The senior noted the Firebirds responded to the pressure of the moment.

“We got the little jitters out that first period,” he said. “But we caught on, and we (played through it).”

Holy Ghost Prep celebrates its victory. (Robert Bernes)

Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside praised his team’s tenacity.

“I thought we played a great game,” he said. “We told them (after the second period) to just keep doing what you’re doing, try to find another level, and they stayed with it. They just battled.”

It was an emotional loss for St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin, who will be saying goodbye to the 12 seniors on his Flyers Cup roster.

“Both teams played their butts off,” he said.”It comes down to a break here or there and unfortunately, they got it.”

The Firebirds finished with a 41-28 shot advantage.

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 1 0—2

Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 2 1—3

Second-period goal: Joe Samango (SJP) from Jake Schultz, 8:54

Third-period goals: Landon Stout (HGP) from Zach Pers, 4:34; Shane O’Neill (SJP) from Caiden Kelly, 5:11 (pp) Shaun Moore (HGP) from Ryan Lippy, 6:13

Overtime goal: John Seravalli (HGP) from Ciaran Chambers, 1:41

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 28, Holy Ghost Prep 41; Saves: Rocco Bruno (SJP)) 38, Colin Mudrick, HGP 26

Pennridge 7 O.J. Roberts 0

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—It was a Flyers Cup Class AA semifinal. But Pennridge turned the occasion into just another night at the rink.

Shane Dachowski scored three goals and four other players added one goal each as the Rams routed Own J. Roberts 7-0 Monday night at Hatfield Ice. Second-seeded Pennridge (16-5) will face Pennsbury Tuesday evening at the same venue as it attempts to defend its Class AA Cup title. Judging from Monday’s effort, the Rams should feel comfortable in that setting; they dominated from start to finish against the sixth-seeded Wildcats, who closed their season at 17-6-0-1.

Dane Fitchett and Dachowski scored first-period goals 81 seconds apart, bearing Wildcat netminder Shane Towler.

Kevin Pico made it a 3-0 game 4:59 into the middle period. But the outcome was really settled later in the session when the Rams’ completely shut down the Owen J. Roberts power play and Andrew Savona and Dachowski delivered shorthanded goals

“We knew this team’s power play was lethal coming in,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “But the way they run it is a 1-3-1, they basically have four guys below the dots. So, that’s go time for us. You get sticks on pucks and you’re going the other way.

“It’s the only way I know as a coach. If you have the bodies, and you have the skill to do it, just be relentless. Be relentless at all times.”

Pico talked about what it takes to play the up-tempo style his coach prefers.

“You get on teams early and they’re going to hesitate,” he said. “Push up, take opportunities, and look to capitalize on those.”

James Rush extended the Pennridge lead 91 seconds into the final period before Dachowski completed his hat trick at the 9:31 mark.

Pico says the experience the Rams took away from last year’s Flyers Cup run has been an asset this time around.

“I think the experience helps,” he said. “Everyone isn’t as nervous anymore because they’ve been there before.”

Meantime, at the other end of the ice, Jacob Winton was pitching a shutout in the Pennridge net. He finished the evening with 28 saves. The sophomore said he got a good look at everything thanks to the efforts of the defense in front of him.

“When shots are coming in from the outside, it’s a lot easier to see them then on a big scramble play up front with all the guys in one spot,” he said. “Keeping them outside really helps a lot.”

Winton says he’s more at ease on the ice than he was when the season began.

“I think as the season went on I got a little bit more comfortable,” he said. ‘When you’ve got a team like that in front of you, it makes it that much easier.”

O.J. Roberts 0 0 0—0

Pennridge 2 3 2—7

First-period goals: Dane Fitchett (P) from Andrew Lizak and Tyler Manto, 5:00; Shane Dachowski (P) unassisted, 6:21

Second-period goals: Kevin Pico (P) from Andrew Savona, 4:59; Savona (P) unassisted, 7:11 (sh); Shane Dachowski (P) from Colin Dachowski, 11:56 (sh)

Third-period goals: James Rush (P) from Lizak, 1:31; Shane Dachowski (P) from Pico, 9:31

Shots: O.J. Roberts O.J. Roberts 28, Pennridge 30; Saves: Shane Towler (OJR) 23, Jacob Winton (P) 28

Pennsbury 7 C.R. South 5

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP— It was a comeback that will be long remembered in the history of the Flyers Cup. Trailing 4-1 midway through the second period, Pennsbury rallied for a 7-5 win over Council Rick South Monday night in a Class AA semifinal Monday night at Hatfield Ice. The fifth-seeded Falcons (17-6) will play for the title on Tuesday at this same rink at a time to be announced. The top-seeded Golden Hawks closed the season at 19-2-0-1.

Andrew Falkenstein led the way for the Falcons with three goals an an assist.

“Honestly, we played like underdogs,” the senior said. “Our younger guys wee playing for out seniors. They put their hearts on their jerseys. They played for us. It was a great battle back.”

At the halfway point of the second frame the Golden Hawks seemed to be in control of things. Jaleel Weiner and James Diiulio scored first-period goals, the latter just as the buzzer sounded, to put South up 2-0 after 17 minutes.

Falkenstein got Pennsbury on the s scoreboard 3:03 into the second period on a shot from the right point It was a power-play goal, which, from South’s point of view proved to be an ominous sign of what was to come. When Kevin Koles and Jeremy Rayher scored goals in a span of 2:32 there little indication of what was to come.

But momentum began to shift when Stevie Grosscup and Brendan Macainsh scored goals 1 minute, 50 seconds apart to make it a 4-3 game.

When South’s Jake Mauer was given a five-minute major penalty for kicking, plus a game misconduct, it opened the door wider for the Falcons. It took MacAinsh 58 seconds to take advantage and tie the game.

South also lost Blaize Pepe, one of the top offensive threats in the waning seconds of the period when he drew a 10-minute misconduct

Falkenstein put Pennsbury in front for good 4:45 into the third period an Justin marlin extended his team’s lead at 10:19.

Illia Mukhin let the Falcons know South was still around when he Beaty Aaron McDaniel with 3:39 left in regulation, but Falkenstein beat Carson Lopez foot the third and last time with 2;01 remaining

MacAinsh, Pennsbury’s captain, said he and his teammates want to keep playing hockey. They’ll get their chance to do so in the Flyers Cup AA final.

“We weren’t ready for this to end,” he said. “We worked so hard all season, why should we let it end now?”

MacAinsh said he was confident the team could overcome the three-goal deficit.

“If anybody was going to come back against a team like that, it was us,” he said. “And them taking stupid penalties. They really took themselves out of the game.”

South coach Joe Houk’s accesment of the evening was to the point.

“We controlled the first period,” he said. “The next thing you know, we had a penalty barrage of stupid decision making and we go down on a five minute major. We didn’t play like a team tonight.”

Pennsbury 0 4 3—7

C.R. South 2 2 1—5

First-period goals: Jake Weiner (CRS) from Jeremy Rayher , 8:03; James Diiulio (CRS) from Blaize Peppe and Kevin Kole, 17:00 (pp)

Second-period goals: Andrew Falkenstein,(P) from Chris Carver and Logan Doyle, 3:03 (pp); Koles (CRS) from Illia Mukhin, 4:09; Rayher (CRS) from Weiner and Jake Maurer, 6:41; Stevie Grosscup (P) from Brendan MacAinsh, 11:36; MacAinsh (P) from Falkenstein and Marlin, 14:26; MacAinsh (P) from Marlin 16:03 (pp)

Third-period goals: Falkenstein (P) from Sarver, 4:54; Justin Marlin (P) unassisted, 10:19; Mukhin (CRS) from Koles and Carson Lopez, 13:21; Falkenstein (P) from Doyle, 14:59

Shots: Pennsbury 41, Council Rock South37; Saves: Aaron McDaniel (P) 32, Carson Lopez (CRS) 34