SHSHL Previews

National Division

Central Bucks East

Coach: Jeff Mitchell (sixth season)

Last year: 10-10-1, 10-7-1 in divisional play; Class AA Flyers Cup invitee

Key players: So. Cameron Young (G); Sr. Alex Wilson (F); Sr. Ethan Cenci (F); Sr. Braedon Hahn (F); Sr. Evan Asimakopoulos (F); Sr. Cole Kleindienst (F)

Outlook: The Patriots are a team in transition, in Mitchell’s words “Retooling rather than rebuilding.” Some key pieces from last year’s team are lost to graduation. There may be early growing pains but the plan is to blend youthful energy and team chemistry to create success.

Central Bucks South

Coach: Josh Sklar (first season)

Last year: 17-7, 15-3 in divisional play; Class AA Flyers Cup invitee

Key players: Jr. Nathan Napolitano (G); Sr. JD Crouch (D); So. Braxton Lord (D); Sr. Ryan Frey (F); Sr. Ryan Montagna (F); Sr. Joey Slobodrian (F); Jr. Dominic Gibson (F); Jr. Grant Boyne (F); Fr. Owen Frey (F); Fr. Nolan Senigo (F)

Outlook: Sklar takes over for the retiring Shaun McGinty; he directed the Titans on an interim basis during portions of last season.

This year’s roster will feature a solid group of veterans, led by Napolitano in goal and a promising group of underclassmen.

The pieces are in place for a promising season.

Central Bucks West

Coach: Frank Blust (first season)

Last year: 0-18, 0-18 in divisional play

Key players: Jr. Issac Mays (G); Sr. Austin Griffin (D); Jr. Colin Murray (F/D); Sr. Jackson Hirsch (F); Jr. Alex Korolev (F); So. Tyler Ricci (F)

Outlook: Blust takes over behind the bench for Dave Baun, who retired after 20 seasons. He’s looking to field a lineup that blends youth and experience.

“We’ve brought back a nice core that I think will work well with some of our new faces,” Bust said. “They’ve worked hard to improve in all three zones and build some team chemistry.”

Council Rock South

Coach: Joe Houk (20^th season)

Last year: 22-3, 17-1 in divisional play, National Division champions; Class AA Flyers Cup finalist

Key players: Sr. Trey Prozzillo (G); So. Evan Ayala (G); Jr. Wes Mallon (D); Sr. Jake Weiner; Sr. Jordan Sarne (F)

Outlook: The Golden Hawks lost eight seniors off last year’s championship squad but Houk, the longest-tenured coach in the SHSHL, feels good about this year’s squad, which will be trying for its fourth straight National Division title and is poised to make another championship run.

Weiner led the SHSHL in scoring last season with 41 regular-season goals and 19 assists for 60 points. Sarne collected 41 points via 18 goals and 23 assists.

Neshaminy

Coach: Bill Mooney (second season)

Last year: 6-12-1, 5-12-1 in divisional play

Key players: Sr. Gianna Raggio (G); Fr. Tommy Fox (G); Jr. Sean Mooney (D); Fr. Kainen Thompson (D); Sr. Anthony DiCrosta (F); Sr. Angelo Veneziale (F); Sr. Jake Topoleski (F); So. Nate Parker F; So. Tyler Hathaway (F); So. Eli Kirsh (F); Fr. Chris Koehler (F)

Outlook: The ‘Skins lost three key players to graduation after last season and will be in adjustment mode at first after just missing the postseason a year ago.

“Our goals as a team this season are to continue to work hard, compete in every game,” Mooney said, “make the SHSHL playoffs and get an invite to this year’s Flyers Cup tournament.”

North Penn

Coach: Kevin Vaitis (17^th season)

Last year: 21-3, 16-2 in divisional play; Class AA Flyers Cup and state champions

Key players: Jr. Aidan Quigley (G); So. Any Norton (G); St. James Boyle (D); Sr. Danielle Cabrales (D); Sr. Chase Kelly Del-Ricci (D); Sr. Gabe Dunn (D); Jr. Sam Norton (F); Sr. Nolan Shingle (F); Jr. Chris Silvotti (F); St. Luke Haftel (F)

Outlook: When you’ve won a Flyers Cup and a state title, what do you do for an encore? North Penn will do its best to answer that question with an impressive corps of returnees.

Norton is second among the division’s returning scorers with 30 regular-season goals a year ago and 27 assists for 57 points.

“We know everyone is going to bring their best against us,” Vaitis said, “and we have to be ready every night we step on the ice. We will be led by great goaltending, strong defense, and multiple lines that can contribute up front. We are focused on getting better each week.”

Pennsbury

Coach: Ryan Daley

Last year: 6-14, 6-12 in divisional play

Key players: Sr. Brendan Milliken (G); Sr. Franky DeLucia (D); Jr. Connor Gray (D); Sr. Shane Gleisner (F); Jr. Jake Sarver (F)

Outlook: A young Falcon team went through some growing pains last season. But the additional year of experience will pay dividends this time around.

“With more experience at the varsity level we look to make a jump in the standings,” Daley said, “and push for another postseason run.”

Pennridge

Coach: Jeff Montagna (eighth season)

Last year: 14-9, 11-7 in divisional play; Class AA Flyers Cup quarterfinalist

Key players: Jr. Andrew Slutsky (G); St. Justin Dinsmore (D); r. Ryan Burke (F); Jr. Landon Bishop (F); Jr. Dean Venner (F); Sr. Kaden Gunning (F);

Outlook: Montagna is behind the bench after announcing he was stepping away at the close of last season. He’ll be presiding over a new era of Pennridge hockey; there are just skaters on the roster, four of whom are new to varsity competition.

“I told them it will be a challenge,” Montagna said, “but that they will find out a lot about themselves as players and competitors. We will have to play a completely different style but they are up for it and we will have some fun with it. I’m really excited to see how it works.”

Souderton

Coach: Ryan Uchniat (eighth season)

Last year: 6-13, 6-12 in divisional play

Key players: Sr. Max Ryon (F); Jr. Cameron Fairweather (F); Jr. Matthew Cross (F)

Outlook: Uchniat will be back behind the Souderton bench after taking a year off. The Big Red will be short in numbers but there are some game-changing players in the lineup. Ryon scored 26 regular-season goals last year and added 32 assists for 58 points to finish third in the National Division in scoring.

American Division

Abington

Coach: Ken Brzozowski (ninth season)

Last year: 0-16, 0-16 in divisional play

Key players: Jr. Matt Evangelist (G); Sr. Moses Garcia (D); Jr. Ben Biko (D); R. Liam Gura (D); Sr. Jamison Donofty (F); So. Joey Widmeier (F)

Outlook: The Galloping Ghosts will be one of the youngest teams in the SHSHL; there are just three senior on the roster. The lineup also features Evangelist, a quality goaltender.

A preseason camp at the University of Delaware got the team off on the right foot.

“We’re looking to build on the early season momentum” Brzozowski said. “The coaches are committed to and look forward to being part of the team’s continued improvements and progression towards returning Abington back to a championship level”

Hatboro-Horsham

Coach: Shane Smith (fifth season)

Last year: 12-9, 9-7 in divisional play; American Division champion, Class A Flyers Cup quarterfinalist

Key players: Jr. Eric Miller (G); Jr. Reid Rochestie (D); So. Joseph Magnon (F); Sr. Nate Nemchinov (F); So. Vincent Graziani (F) Jr. William Moffa (F)

Outlook: The Hatters come into the season off an American Division title and the first Flyers Cup win in school history.

Graziani with 22 goals and 25 assists (47 points) and Nemchinov (27-18-45) were second and third in the division in scoring last season.

Plymouth Whitemarsh

Coach: Vince Forti (second season)

Last year: 17-3, 15-1 in divisional play; American Division regular season champion, Class A Flyers Cup quarterfinalist

Key players: So. Max Yoder (G); So. Lucas Bennett (G); Sr. Ryan Jagher (D); Sr. Danny Guller (F-D); Sr. John Zawislak (F); So. Cooper Kanze (F)

Outlook: The Colonials return the bulk of the lineup of last year’s regular-season champions.

“We are looking forward to getting the year started,” Forti said. “The team chemistry has been great. Our guys have been practicing hard, unsatisfied with the results of last season. We hope to get off to a strong start and continue to build on that throughout the season. “

Guller (19 goals, 33 assists, 52 points) is the division’s top returning scorer.

Springfield (Montco)

Coach: Don Quinn (third season)

Last year: 8-9, 8-8 in divisional play

Key players: Fr. Emmett Kline(G), So. John Barr(D), Jr. Luke Belles (D); Sr. Gavin McManus(F), Sr. Kellen Warman(F), Sr. Grayson Quinn(F)

Outlook: The Spartans reached the playoffs a year ago and Quinn is hoping to use that as accomplishment as a springboard to success this season.

“We will rely heavily on our seniors to lead on and off the ice,” he said, and we have some young skilled players that will contribute this season.”

Wissahickon

Coach: James Rumsey (third season)

Last year: 8-9, 8-8 in divisional play

Key players: Sr. Fletcher Lynch (G); St. Logan Dicus (D), Jr. Joey Gambino (F); Jr. Logan Honeycutt (F); Jr. Mark Risnychok (F)

Outlook: The Trojans lost five seniors to graduation but Rumsey is excited about what lies ahead.

“We are excited to see the new generation of players take the ice and step up to the challenge,” he said. “Our players seem to have a great connection at practice and really seem to enjoy being on the ice together.

“We have a short bench in numbers but a lot of grit to make up for it. I have no doubt this group will leave everything they have on the ice this year.”

Youth Jamboree Celebrates Blind Hockey

Passion and joy filled the Blue Rink at Hatfield Ice Saturday morning. The occasion was the debut of the Blind Hockey Youth Jamboree.

Organized by Philadelphia Blind Hockey, the weekend-long event brought together youngsters with a passion for hockey who are living their lives with visual impairments. Sixteen athletes, divided into two evenly matched teams of eight, took the ice Saturday morning for the first of three games (additional games were played Saturday night and Sunday morning). The majority of the participants are part of the Philadelphia Blind Hockey program; but there were also skaters representing blind hockey programs in St. Louis, Toronto, Denver, and Edmonton

The Jamboree was the end result of three years of effort to get Philadelphia Blind Hockey up and running; for three years now the participants have been practicing regularly with the assistance and encouragement of high-school hockey players from schools throughout area.

Kelsey McGuire is the founder and executive director pf Philadelphia Blind Hockey.

“I’m very excited how this is happening,” she said. “I didn’t think a blind hockey game would ever happen for our player but it’s truly something that is very special.”

McGuire cited how some of the program’s participants have developed their skating and other hockey skills since Philadelphia Blind Hockey was launched in 2022.

“Some of our players have been with us from the very beginning,” she said, “and for some of our players who are out here today it’s their first year.

“Just to see the difference that even a year cam make with our players and the development of them helps them gain confidence, which is very rewarding at the end of the day.

“It’s very exciting to see what their skill level is and how the game of blind hockey has grown.”

Seeing the players on the ice in a game-type situation was an inspiring experience for onlookers.

Alexis Matlack is a coach with Philadelphia Blind Hockey and worked with the players Saturday morning. She that the confidence blind hockey players build on the ice carries over to their lives off the ice.

“I’ve definitely seen with our kids the confidence off ice,” she said, “based on what they’ve done on the ice.

“We were recently at a Canadian hockey tournament and our kids really bonded off the ice. They were just more outgoing versus when they first got started. Just playing any sport really builds confidence. It’s amazing for them to have this visually impaired sport to go out and do.”

McGuire praises the Flyers Cup Committee and committee President Eric Tye for their support of the program.

“{Tye} is a great mentor to me and to our program,” she said, “to allow it to be as successful as it is. His leadership and what he knows about the hockey world has helped.

“It’s very exciting, and we continue to work with him and grow the game

Learn more about Philadelphia Blind Hockey

The weekend’s gams were streamed on the Flyers Cup You Tube Channel

Pluck Looks Back on North Penn’s State Championship Win

It’s been not quite a week now since Cole Pluck and his North Penn teammates left the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center in procession of the Class AA Pennsylvania Cup after a 4-1 won over Erie Cathedral Prep.

The state-title game marked the conclusion of a remarkable senior season for Pluck, who finished with 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points. He provided five goals and two assists in three Flyers Cup games to share the top of Class AA division pyramid in both goals and scoring but it could be argued his most significant contribution of the season came late in the state final.

Going into the third period, North Penn trailed, 1-0 having had a an apparent game-tying goal waved off late in the second period because the net was dislodged. Sam Norton drew his team even however with a power-play goal 2:49 into the final session. Norton’s goal the Knights a fresh surge of energy as momentum swung in their direction.

“We were all excited to get one on the board,” Pluck said, “especially after one was waved off. And yeah, it swung the momentum our way. And then we had more energy.”

As the clock wound down inside the four-minute mark the Knights got control of the game with two quick goals. Pluck assisted on James Boyle’s effort with 3:36 left in regulation. Daniel Cabrales extended his team’s lead just 19 seconds later.

{Cathedral Prep} didn’t know what to do at that point Pluck recalled.

Nolan Single added the final goal to put the finishing touches on a season that saw North Penn win 21 of 24 starts. At one point, they won 13 consecutive games.

After dropping their opener, the Knights won three straight, outscoring their opponents 30-6. Pluck said it was about then he and his teammates realized they had the potential to do something special.

“I would say after the first couple games when we were just blowing teams out,” he said.

“We knew we were going to be a good team coming into it. But we didn’t know we would make it this far for sure. we definitely didn’t know that we’d win states.”

Pluck, who is hoping to play college club or junior hockey next season, notes that North Penn’s roster blended youth and experience. Of the 25 players on the Knights’ Flyers Cup roster, 11 were underclassmen, including four freshmen.

“The younger kids aren’t afraid to show what the can do on the ice,” he said. “The older kids, they have confidence and don’t have a problem with them showing what they can do.’

Pluck said there was no resentment among the veterans about losing ice time to younger teammates.

“I don’t think anybody had a problem,” he said. “we just all wanted to win.”

In the end the depth on the roster was a big reason for the Knights’ success.

“It was a huge factor,” Pluck said. “We all contributed.”

North Penn 4 Erie Cathedral Prep 1

The game was up for grabs. North Penn stepped up and took it.

James Boyle and Daniel Carbrales scored third-period goals 19 apart Saturday afternoon to snap a 1-1 tie and propel the Knights to 4-1 win over Erie Cathedral Prep in the Pennsylvania Class AA hockey championship game at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center.

It was the first state hockey championship for North Penn (22-3) in the school’s history and the third state championship for the Suburban High School Hockey League in four years: Pennridge won Class AA titles in 2022 and ’24.

There was little to choose between the two teams for the first two periods. The Raiders’ Tucker Kinnear delivered the only goal in that span, 5:19 into the second frame.

With 4:52 left in the period the Knights briefly appeared to have scored the tying goal. Cathedral Prep goaltender Ian Brown denied Norton on a wraparound before Derek Lugera put in the rebound. The apparent goal was disallowed however when it ruled was the net had come off its moorings prior to the puck crossing the goal line.

During the post-second period ice cut, North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis reassured his players.

“I told them we’ve just got to keep moving the puck,” he said, “keep playing our game and our chances are going to come.”

At the start of the third period, Samuel Norton stepped up. With the Ramblers’ Charlie McBrier in the box serving an interference penalty, Norton, a sophomore made a dash down the right wing and beat Brown to tie the game 2:49 into the period.

As the clock wound down, momentum seemed to be shifting in North Penn’s direction. Boyle drove that point home with emphasis with 3:36 left in the game when he found the back of the net with a one-timer from the left point. It was a power-play goal; the Raiders were playing a man down after being caught with too many men on the ice.

Just 19 seconds later Cabrales scored a goal of his own to tighten the Knights’ hold on the game,

Nolan Shingle the evening with a goal into an empty net with 43 seconds remaining.

Vaitis said sened early on this could be a special season.

“At the beginning of the season when we met with them for the first time, we knew with the team we were going to have and the talent we were going to have what we were capable of doing,” he said. “We believed in them and it was a matter of them understanding of they were able to put the work in, just how special the season could be for them.”

North Penn 0 0 4—4

Cathedral Prep 0 1 0—1

Second-period goal: Tucker Kinnear from Ethan Cunningham and Chris Bruschi, 5:19

Third-period goals: Samuel Norton (NP) unassisted, 2:49 (pp); James Boyle (NP) from Norton and Cole Pluck, 13:24 (pp); Daniel Cabrales (NP), 13:43 unassisted; Nolan Single (NP) 16:17 (en) unassisted

Shots: North Penn 35, Erie Cathedral Prep 27; Saves: Andy Norton (NP) 26, Ian Brown (CP) 31

Pennsylvania State Championship Schedule

Saturday 3-22

At Robert Morris University Neville Island site

Class A

12:45 Garnet Valley 7 Avonworth 2 Final

Class AA

3:30 North Penn vs Cathedral Prep

Class AAA

6:15 Holy Ghost vs Seneca Valley

A video stream will be available at:

Www.tenband.tv

North Penn Takes Flyers Cup AA Final

The game was hanging in the balance. With 4 minutes, 26 seconds gone in the third period of Wednesday’s Class AA Flyers Cup final, second-seed North Penn was holding a 3-2 lead over top-seeded Council Rock South.

But the Knights’ Sam Norton was sitting in the penalty box, having been assessed a minor penalty for high sticking and the Golden Hawks, who were preparing to embark on a two-minute power play, seemed to have momentum flowing their way.

But appearances were deceiving.

Instead of taking a conservative stance, the Knights stayed in an up-tempo mode and were rewarded with a shorthanded goal from Cole Pluck exactly 60 seconds into their supposed penalty kill.

Pluck’s effort led to four additional goals in the third period as North Penn pulled away to an 8-2 to claim the first Flyers Cup in school history. North Penn (20-3) will face Erie Cathedral Prep on Saturday in the Class AA State championship game in suburban Pittsburgh.

Pluck finished with two goals and two assists.

“This feel great he said. “The best moment of my life, so far.”

Pluck described his second goal, which altered the entire texture of the game.

“{C.R. South} needed a goal and were pressing up,” he said. “The {defenseman} just stepped up and I went around him.”

Pluck says the Knights are comfortable playing up-tempo hockey in shorthanded situations.

“We like to try to play offense on the kill sometimes,” he said.

The final period of Wednesday’s matchup was a distinctly separate entity than the first two, which saw Jake Weiner score twice for the Golden Hawks (22-3) and Pluck and Norton match him for North Penn. Daniel Cabrales gave North Penn a 3-2 lead 5:56 into the second frame and the Knights took the lead into the break for the post-second-period ice cut.

“We talked to them between the periods,” said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis. “We said we knew we had to come out and take it. They weren’t going to give it to us. {He told his team} we’ve got to come out and finish this game. And that’s exactly what we did, we dominated that third period.”

Pluck’s shorthanded goal gave North Penn a 4-2 lead. Norton followed with his second goal of the night with 7:40 remaining as South slowly unraveled; Nolan Shingle, Declan Leahy and Luke Haftel added goals for North Penn in the closing minutes, all of them coming on power plays; there were nine penalties called in the third period five of them against South. North Penn’s Thomas Sprague and South’s Luke Ralston were each drew simultaneous minors and misconducts as part of the emotional overload down the stretch.

South coach Joe Houk gave full credit to the Knights.

“They were the better team tonight,” he said. “We ran out of gas. We have it everything we had.

‘We’ve said three out of the last four years ‘We’ll be back here next year. But we can’t get over that hump.”

• The All-Tournament Team, selected by the Flyers Cup Committee included:

G Andy Norton North Penn

D Jake Maurer Council Rock South

D James Boyle North Penn

F Sam Norton North Penn

F Cole Pluck North Penn

F Jake Weiner Council Rock South

Norton, a sophomore, was named the winner of the Bobby Clarke Award as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“It’s a great feeling to know I was the MVP,” he said, “but without the whole team, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in.”

Norton said winning the Flyers Cup title marked the completion of a season-long journey.

“We had a big goal from the start,” he said, “but completing it and getting ahold of this trophy, it’s unreal.”

Of the 25 players on North Penn’s Flyers Cup roster, only three were seniors and 11 were underclassmen.

North Penn 2 1 5—8

C.R. South 1 1 0—2

First-period goals; Jake Weiner (CRS) from Wesley Mallon, :54; Cole Pluck (NP) from James Boyle, 1:56; Samuel Norton (NP) from Norton, 6:50

Second-period goals; Weiner (CRS) from Jonah Weston and Jagger Smith, 3:34; Daniel Cabrales (NP) from Declan Leahy, 5:56

Third-period goals: Pluck (NP) from Boyle, 5:36 (sh); Norton (NP) from Pluck, 9:40 Nolan Shingle (NP) from Pluck, 13:14 (pp) Leahy (NP), unassisted, 14:05 (pp); Luke Haftel (NP) from Derek Lugura, 14:40 (pp)

Shots and saves unavailable

Holy Ghost Prep Wins AAA Flyers Cup

The evening came down to capitalizing on opportunities while avoiding mistakes. Holy Ghost Prep found the right balance Wednesday night and left Hatfield Ice Arena as the Class AAA Flyers Cup champion.

Chase Logue scored two goals and Jack Unger was superb in goal as the Firebirds bested La Salle 3-1 in front of a full house to win its first Flyers Cup title since 2017 and the fifth in the school’s history.

“It’s amazing,” Logue, a sophomore, said. “To be with those guys in the locker room is a blessing. “

Offensive opportunities were scarce early on as two teams familiar with each other were reluctant to yield space to the opposition.

The second-seeded Explorers (17-8) outshot the top-seeded Firebirds (21-4-1) 7-1 in the early going but Unger stood tall between the pipes. His big save not quite seven minutes into the first period set the tone for the night.

Logue put his team on from 1:27 into the second period when he beat La Salle netminder Jake Rossi from close range.

“I was lucky,” he said. “I just came out and shot it. I put pucks on net and it went it.”

Some 200 feet away, Unger was doing his part to keep Holy Ghost Prep in front, denying Julian Tarsi on a breakaway with 2:25 left in the middle frame to send the Firebirds into the ice cut clinging to the 1-0 lead.

The Explorers however weren’t going away and a Holy Ghost Prep turnover two-and-a-half minutes into the third period gave them an opening. Michael Esmond converted the chance when the Firebirds lost the puck in front of their own net.

But Logue responded with his second goal of the game just 15 seconds later. With 14:15 left in regulation the Firebirds were back in front but the game was still up for grabs.

It was left to Unger to reach out and seized it by the throat, which he did when the Firebird found themselves killing two penalties in the last 7:14 of regulation. The shots seemingly never stopped coming but Unger turned them all away, en route to winning the Bob Clarke Award as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He finished the evening with 29 saves.

Unger, a senior felt that Wednesday’s game was the best of his career.

“I would say for sure,” he said. “Between the atmosphere, the intensity of the game, and what was at stake.

“I was able to lock in and then being able to get the tam to rally around me and especially during that third period.’

The closest he came faltering the stretch came when a shot from La Salle’s La Salle’s Alistair St. Hilaire from the right wing actually got behind him but slid across the crease before going wide of the far post.

“I’m not going to lie, that one really scared me,” Unger said. “But sometimes you need a little bit of luck on your side.”

Joseph Kauffman scored an empty-net goal for Holy Ghost Prep just before the final buzzer.

For La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner, whose team was trying to win its 14^th Flyers Cup the result was a disappointment but he appreciated the level of play on both sides.

“That was definitely a great high-school hockey game for sure,” he said.

Muehlbronner felt his team did a lot of good things right during its three power-play chances, except score.

“I thought we did well on the power play,” he said. “We moved the puck well. We didn’t bury many pucks, we didn’t get many bounces that we needed.

“But, I think we played a great game, I really do. We carried a large portion of it, but weren’t able to put any in.”

The Firebirds will face Penguins Cup champion Seneca Valley for the Class AAA state title Saturday in suburban Pittsburgh.
The All-Tournament Team included :

G Jack Unger Holy Ghost Prep

D Ryan Lippy Holy Ghost Prep

D Cam Ross LaSalle

F Alistair St. Hilaire

F Chase Lougue HGP

F Brady Logue HGP

La Salle 0 0 1—1

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 2—3

Second-period goals: Chase Logue (HGP) from Joe Spadaccino, 1:27

Third-period goals: Michael Esmond (L) from Luke Baumann and Alex Gibson, 2:30; Chase Logue (HGP) from Brady Logue and John Gavaghan, 2:45; Joseph Kaufman (HGP) unassisted,16:59 (sh)

Shots: La Salle 30, Holy Ghost Prep 24; Saves: Jake Rossi (L) 21, Jack Unger (HGP) 29

Avon Grove 12 Downingtown West 11

Lily Schindler’s goal with 64 seconds left in regulation gave Avon Grove a 12-11 win over Downingtown West Tuesday night in the Girls Flyers Cup championship game at PNY Arena.

The win gave Avon Grove its first Flyers Cup girls title. Downingtown West was trying for its third straight Cup and fourth in five years.

Schindler’s goal capped a stretch that saw the top-seeded Red Devils score three times in a span of 46 seconds to take a 12-10 lead. Avon Grove trailed 7-4 entering the third period but scored eight goals in the final session.

Schindler finished with three goals and three assists. Her teammate Skylar Greene scored five goals and added an assist. Emily Sullivan scored two goals for the winners while Brianna Register and Blaire Stoltzfus scored one goal each.

Ava Thomas scored for second-seeded Downingtown West with 29 seconds remaining to bring the Whippets within a goal. Thomas finished the game with nine goals and the tournament with 29.

Maddison Vitali scored the Whippets other two goals and contributed three assists.

Downingtown West 3 4 4—11

Avon Grove 2 2 8—12

Garnet Valley 10 WC Henderson 2

The blitz came in the late stages of the first period. Four goals in a span of 4 minutes, 19 seconds. When the sequence ended, Garnet Valley had control of the Class A Flyers Cup final. The Jaguars never let go, en route to a 10-2 win over West Chester Henderson Monday night at Ice Line.

The numbers that top-seeded Great Valley (22-2) compiled were impressive to say the least.

Nolan Stott scored three goals and won the Bobby Clarke Award as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Kevin Walton finished with three goals and two assists; he finished the tournament as its leading scorer with six goals and three assists. Aiden Delfin contributed three goals and an assist as Garnet Valley (22-2) rolled to its 13th consecutive win and into Saturday’s state championship game against Avonworth at 12:45 Saturday afternoon at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Complex..

“It’s absolutely an unreal feeling,” Stott said. “We’ve worked so hard this year and to win two cups this year (Garnet Valley also won the Central League title) is an unreal feeling.

“I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. I love these boys and I’m so glad I got to do it with them.”

The scoring blitz began with 5:45 remaining in the first frame when Delfin beat Matt Cieslukowski in the Warrior net with a shot from the vicinity of the right faceoff circle. Walton scored a shorthanded goal with 1:16 left in the period the road became more arduous for second-seeded Henderson (16-7) when Dylan Orr and Delfin scored goals nine seconds apart in the period’s final 27 seconds.

The Warriors never recovered. Jake Platz got Henderson on the scoreboard 3:44 into the middle period but the goals kept coming from Garnet Valley, specifically from Stott who scored three consecutive goals in the second period in a span of just under 10 minutes to power the Jaguars to a 7-1 advantage.

“It was a shock to the system at the end of the first period,” said Henderson coach Tom Aughey. “Two goals in nine seconds in the final 27 seconds of the period changed the game completely.”

Aughey said the Jaguars’ greatest asset was their speed.

“They transition the puck so quickly,” he said. “And when they get to the open spot, they’ve got shooters that cam put the puck in the net.”

The third period saw period saw Walton and Delfin complete their hat tricks. At the other end of the ice. Great Valley’s Garrett Stoops had as relaxing an evening as is possible for a goaltender. He stopped 26 of the 28 shots he saw.

“I definitely think I was focused the whole time,” he said, “no matter what the score was. I always told myself ‘0-0. No matter what.’”

Moments after the final horn, Stoops was experiencing the emotion of the moment.

“It definitely feels pretty amazing,” he said. “It’s something really special, but I knew this team had it in them. We lost two games all year and we 10-0’ed the team we lost to (Haverford) in the Central League championship. I knew we’d come out here hard.”

Garnet Valley goaltender Garrett Stoops makes a save Monday night (Martin Scott photo)

Ice chips: This marked the second Flyers Cup for Garnet Valley. The first came in 1998, also in Class A …Aughey reflected on what Henderson accomplished this season despite coming up short Monday night.

“These kids in our locker room are truly special to our school and to our club,” he said. “It’s been six-plus years since we’ve had a winning season. To make it to the finals of not only the Flyers Cup but also our league playoffs, is something great. The seniors left a mark on our club that we will take forward.”

• The All-Tournament Team included:

Nathan Stott Garnet Valley MVP

Kaden Longo Garnet Valley

Dylan Orr Garnet Valley

Jake Morrow Garnet Valley

Garrett Stoops Garnet Valley

Blake Platz West Chester Henderson

West Chester Henderson 0 1 1—2

Garnet Valley 4 3 3—10

First-period goals: Aiden Delfin (GV) from Kevin Walton and Garrett Stoops, 11:15; Walton (GV) unassisted, 15:44 (sh); Dylan Orr (GV) from Kaden Longo and A.J. Tenhuisen, 16:33; Delfin (GV) from Jake Robinson 16:42

Second-period goal: Jake Platz (WCH) from Declan Dowd and Andrew Denny, 3:44; Nolan Stott (GV) from Longo, 6:08; Stott (GV) from Longo, 13:25; Stott (GV) from Tenhuisen, 16:05

Third-period goals: Walton (GV) unassisted, 3:41 (pp); Walton (GV) from Robinson and Delfin, 5:54; Nick Denadi (WCH) from Cole Navazio, 11:38 (pp); Delfin (GV) from Walton and Robinson, 13:33 (pp)

Shots: WC Henderson 28, Garnet Valley 46; Saves: Matt Cieslukowski (WCH) 36, Garrett Stoops (GV) 26

Flyers Cup Class A Finals Peview

It’s no surprise that Garnet Valley and West Chester Henderson reached Class A Flyers Cup final (7:00 Monday) at Ice Line. The Jaguars and the Warriors were the top two seeds. Here’s a look at how they got there.

1 Garnet Valley (21-2)

Coach: Stephane Charbonneau

Players to watch: Kevon Walton 36 goals, 23 assists, 59 points, inc. 3 goals and 1 assist in the tournament; Jake Robinson 21-25-46; 2-1-3 in the tournament; Nolan Stott 24-18-42, 1-3-4 in the tournament; Garrett Stoops .909 save percentage, 1.59 GAA

How they got here: Defeated Plymouth Whitemarsh 10-0 in the quarterfinals and West Chester East 2-1 in the semifinals.

2 West Chester Henderson (16-6)

Coach: Tom Aughey

Players to watch: Blake Platz 31 goals, 18 assists 49 points inc. 3 goals and 2 assists in the tournament; Hunter Haas 26-43-49; 4-3 in the tournament; Andrew Dent 4-2-6 in the tournament; Matt Cieslukowski 2.81 GAA, .884 save percentage

How they got here: Defeated Marple-Newtown 7-6 in the quarterfinals and Hershey 7-4 in the semifinals.

Ice chips: The two teams met once during the regular season with Garnet Valley taking a 5-2 bwin on January 31. Nolan Stott paced the Jaguars with two goals and an assist …Garnet Valley won the Class A Flyers Cup in 1998. Henderson claimed the title in 2007. The Jaguars are taking a 12-game winning streak into the finals. The Warriors have won three of their last four.