St. Joseph’s Prep used two third-period goals to post a 3-2 win over La Salle Wednesday evening in an APAC game at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Rink.
The win lifted the hosts to 14-5 on the season and 4-3 in conference.
Two of the Hawks’ three goals came while they were shorthanded.
Cole Gargon scored what proved to be the winning goal with 6:16 remaining in the third period. It came in the aftermath of a skirmish that sent five players to the penalty box and left St. Joseph’s Prep shorthanded.
Matthew Jones opened the scoring when he gave the Explorers (5-12, 2-6) a 1-0 lead 8:22 into the second period. Adam Charaffi tied the game for the Hawks with 6:38 remaining in the period while his teammate Michael Castelli was in the box serving a hooking penalty.
James Fratantuono put the Hawks in front for the first time 9:25 into the third period. Gargon extended his team’s lead when he beat La Salle goaltender Dylan Brown 1 minute 19 seconds later.
William Paulka scored for La Salle with 4:19 left in regulation to complete the scoring.
Declan Geary made 23 saves in goal in his winning effort.
“We relied heavily on Declan to make some big saves for us,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula. “”Hats off to La Salle, who battled hard all game.
“We have not been doing ourselves many favors lately with how we have shown up for games and its apparent. That’s on me. The road only gets harder from here with ther playoffs around the corner.”
St. Joseph’s Prep will conclude its conference schedule next Wednesday at Holy Ghost Prep in a game that was originally scheduled for this past Monday. La Salle, which has two non-conference games remaining on its schedule, will play in the APAC play-in game as either the fourth or fifth seed on a date to be determined.
La Salle 0 1 1
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 2
Second-period goal: Matthew Jones (L) from Roman Tkach and Matthew Martin, 8:22; Adam Charrafi (SJP) from Frank Ely and Jake Ely, 10:22 (sh)
Third-period goals: James Fratantuono (SJP) from Noah Stuhl, 9:25; Cole Gargon (SJP) from Bradan Fisher, 10:44 (sh); William Podulka (L) from Owen Reinhart and Jones, 12:41;
Shots: La Salle 25, St. Joeph’s Prep 37; Saves: Dylan Brown (L) 34, Declan Geary (SJP) 23
Lawrence Township, NJ—Discipline is an important attribute for a hockey team. That trait increases in importance as the stakes get higher
Holy Ghost Prep and the Hun School were playing for high stakes Thursday afternoon. And it was the Firebirds who maintained their focus long enough to post a 4-1 win at Ice Land.
The result assures Holy Ghost Prep (13-2, 7-0 in the APAC) of the top seed when it tries to defend the APAC title when the Founders Cup playoffs commence on February 18. And while the seeding for the Flyers Cup tournament won’t be announced for another five weeks and more, the Firebirds, who are the defending Class AAA champions, seemingly have the inside trac to the top seed in that event as well.
Thursday’s matchup was the second between the Firebirds and Raiders (11-6, 3-3 in the APAC) in six days and the battle scars from that first encounter were still smarting. So, the task of staying attuned to the task at hand had additional significance.
“We know (Hun School) is a real physical team,” said the Firebirds’ Chase Logue. “As long as we just stayed calm, stayed focused, and not do dumb things or take dumb penalties {they would be successful}.
“It doesn’t help when you’re down a guy on the penalty kill but we killed every penalty off.
“The guys worked hard and we deserved this one.”
The Firebirds scrambled their lineup; six regulars were missing due to injury, illness, and club duty. The newcomers stepped up. Josh Zdunkiewicz set up Jake Samron for the first goal of the game with 5:36 left in the opening period. Logue made it a 2-0 game with four seconds and change left in the period.
Zachary Vallee cut the deficit in half with 5:58 left in the second frame with a shorthanded goal when a breakdown left him alone in the neutral zone on the receiving end of a Devin Espana outlet pass. Vallee went in on a breakaway and beat Firebird netminder Matt Salita.
With the teams separated by a single goal entering the third period, the intensity level, already high, kicked up a notch. There were 13 penalties called in the final period.
One against the Raiders led to Logue’s second goal of the game. Nate Trawinski was serving a roughing minor when Logue launches a wrister from the right point that beat Blake Echternacht in the Hun School net with 12:14 left in regulation.
Just over a minute later, emotions boiled over when Espana and the Firebirds’ Brandon Watkins squared off. Each was assessed a fighting major plus a game misconduct.
Zdunkiewicz and Hun School’s Justin Bibeau received roughing minors in the same incident.
Logue completed a hat trick with 6:57 left in the game, getting the better of Chase Kishler, who took over for Echternacht on goal not quite midway through the third period.
“It was a great first period,” said Hun School coach N.G. Welsh, “and we didn’t play our game for the last two.
“They took advantage of it.”
Holy Ghost Prep senior Lucas Gonzalez finished the game with on two assists. He noted the importance of his team’s fast start.
“I think we just had to take it to them,” he said, “instead of letting them take it to us early. I think early in the game we hit everybody got it on net.
“I think if our whole group is going fast and playing hard, we’re tough to beat.”
The APAC semifinals are set for Wednesday, February 18 at Ice Line. The championship game us set for February 25 and will be hosted by the highest-seeded finalist.
Holy Ghost Prep 2 0 2—4
Hun School 0 1 0—1
First-period goals: Jake Smaron (HGP) from Josh Zdunkiewicz, 11:24; Chase Logue (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote and Lucas Gonzalez, 16:56
Second-period goal: Zachary Vallee (HS) from Devin Espana, 8:02 (sh)
Third-period goals: Logue (HGP) from Gonzalez, 4:46 (pp); Logue (HGP) from Smaron, 10:03
Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 32, Hun School 28; Saves: Matt Salita (HGP) 26, Blake Echternacht (HS) 22 and Chase Kishler (HS) 6
Anthony Valeriote and Mason Thomas scored goals as the Firebirds bested the Hawks Wednesday evening at the Class of 1923 Rink at the University of Pennsylvania.
The win lifted Holy Ghost Prep to 7-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the APAC.
Valeriote opened the scoring for the Firebirds with 1:33 remaining in the opening period. Thomas extended his team’s lead 2:49 into the second frame.
Jake Ely scored for the Hawks (5-4, 1-2 in the APAC) with 2:49 left in regulation.
“I don’t think today was either team’s best game,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie. “I would expect the next game to be much higher energy with probably gigher stakes.
“We’ll take the win but I though overall our game was pretty flat today.”
The Hawks have lost four straight after a 5-0 start.
“Another tough one for us today,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula. “I’m sounding like a broken record but putting together a full 51 minutes continues to plague us.
“However, I hope the third period showed our guys we can compete with anyone.”
Holy Ghost Prep 1 1—2
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 01—1
First-period goal: Anthony Valeriote (HGP) from Chase Logue, 15:27
Second-period goal: Mason Thomas (HGP) from Chris Marshall, 2:49
Third-period goal: Jake Ely (HGP) from Michael Washlick and Bradan Fisher, 14:53
Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 20, St. Joseph’s Prep 20
Saves: Matt Salita (HGP) 19, Bruno Mainardi and Declan Geary (SJP) 18
Pax Hoishik score one of his team’s goals and assisted on the other as Malvern Prep bested La Salle 2-0 Wednesday night in an APAC matchup at Ice Line.
The win lifted the Friars to 2-2-1 overall and 1-1 in the APAC. The Explorers fell to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in conference.
Hoishik opened the scoring 6:06 into the first period with assists from Jake Weingartner and William McCullough. The senior also provided the primary assist on Broderick Campbell’s power-play goal 10:34 into the middle period. The goal came while La Salle’s Roman Tkach was serving a roughing penalty.
Ryan Caterino got the shutout in goal, making 30 saves.
“Playing on Thanksgiving Eve is always a high emotion game with a lot of energy both from the crowd and the team,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “We stressed to the team that we needed a fast start, that we had to come out strong and settle into the game but more importantly controlling our emotions. We were able to get a goal in the first period which helped us set the tempo for the rest of the game.
“To LaSalle’s credit they came out strong after the ice cut and played a strong third period. It was nice to get our first APAC win of the season under our belt and get a win against LaSalle who for most of the guys on the team has not happened during their time at Malvern.”
La Salle 0 0 0—0
Malvern Prep 1 1 0—2
First-period goal: Paxton Hoishik (MP) from Jake Weingartner and William McCullough, 6:06
Second-period goal: Broderick Campell (MP) from Hoishik and Logan Love, 10:34 (pp)
Shots: La Salle 30, Malvern Prep 37; Saves: Anthony Foster (L) 35, Ryan Caterino (MP) 30
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
For two seasons now, Jake Rossi has been a fixture in the La Salle net. Last season, he was named the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference’s first-team All-Conference goaltender and helped the Explorers win their second consecutive Class AAA Flyers Cup. As a sophomore, he was part of a team that won a state championship.
But sometime in the next two weeks, Rossi’s high-school career will come to an end. That moment could come in Thursday’s Flyers Cup semifinal against Father Judge, perhaps in next week’ final, or the state-championship game on March 22.
The passage of time however, makes the conclusion of Rossi’s journey inevitable.
“It’s definitely been a fun journey,” he said. “I had a lot of ups. Obviously, some downs, that’s what comes with the sport and just kind of looking back on it, I don’t think I’d have it any other way.”
The numbers Rossi has complied this season have been impressive; a 1.98 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
“Jake is the quiet, steady backbone of our team,” said La Salle head coach Wally Muehlbronner. He has been the startong goalie in 99 percent of our games the past to years and always gives us a chance to win.”
But Rossi is the first to admit he’s just one element in in this season’s success. With the Explorers perhaps lacking some of the offensive firepower they’ve had in recent seasons, getting contributions from all hands has been essential.
Jake Rossi
“I think this year it’s been definitely different from years in the past,” Rossi said. “I think, especially last year, our depth with the seniors was incredibly strong. Especially early {this season, you saw some of the dropoff.
“But I think some of the younger guys, the freshmen, the sophomores, and even some of the seniors who are on the varsity for their first year, they really stepped up and helped to fill that role. And I feel like some of the guys definitely embraced their roles even if they’re not playing top-line minutes.
“Especially me, I noticed an impact where it’s just wearing guys down on the forecheck. I’m really appreciative of that.”
Rossi says the contributions of the younger players on the roster helps keep the veterans focused.
“We know our spots are not guaranteed,” he said. “You might be playing on the first line or the first D-pair but that could change game to game, especially if you’re not playing well.
“That pressure from the younger guys, for the older guys, it gives us motivation and kind of pushes us to be our best which I think this year we really have compared to years past.”
Rossi says he and his teammates are a closely knit group, linked by their shared experiences.
“I think for us hockey guys, especially for us seniors it’s kind of knowing all we’ve been through. We’ve battled together, most of us, all together, for four years.
“So, we know each other’s aspirations and we know we need to give it our all for each other. Especially this year, with us being seniors. At the end of the day our goal is to win a state championship. That’s what we push ourselves to hopefully achieve.”
Rossi started skating at age 4 and was playing hockey at age 6. By the time he turned 8, he was a goaltender. For the past six years, he works with goaltending coach Chris Economou.
“My first year or two I wasn’t {a goaltender} Rossi recalls, “but I think eventually our team needed a goalie and I don’t know why but I said ‘I’ll do it.’ and started learning how to play. I’ve loved it ever since.
“I think for me it was kind of knowing that I was the last guy. If everyone else got beat, I was the only one left from keeping the puck out of the net. I didn’t think about it when I was young, but looking at it now I embraced the challenge of that and it think it made me work harder.”
Rossi is considering the next steps in his hockey career. He’s exploring playing junior hockey next season and want to play in college.
Wherever his future takes him however, he will take his memories of La Salle with him.
“Just being in the room with the boys,” he said. “Like some of our practices, even the ones where we {skated hard}, there was kind of a sense of ‘It’s going to make us better and prepare us for the more important stuff coming down the road.’
And I think classes, nor even just about the hockey team. The camaraderie, showing appreciation when the sports teams did well Our swimming team won a state championship my freshman year and the all the guys in class congratulated them.”
“Jake is a model student-athlete at La Salle,” Muelronner said, “well respected by his peers, teachers, and administrators.”
Rossi reflected on how his experience at La Salle has impacted him, as a student approaching adulthood, and as an athlete.
“I think it’s helped me tremendously,” he said. “The social aspect has been everything I could have asked for. I’ve made so many lifelong friends, not just through hockey but through classes and other stuff like that. And I think it’s just kind of instilled a good work ethic in me, in the classroom and life in general. I think that’s something that I’ll always keep from La Salle.”
Joe Kaufmann’s goal with 12:32 left in the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and Holy Ghost Prep went on to a 6-4 win over La Salle in the APAC Founders Cup championship game at Grundy Arena.
It was the first triumph for top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (18-4-1) in an APAC final in three tries.
The win marked the Firebirds’ third over second-seeded La Salle (15-7) this season but it did not come easily. Brady Logue, Colin Bara, and Brian Kinniry scored goals in a span of 7 minutes, 21 seconds in the first period to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage.
“That was our game plan going in,” Kinniry said. “Get on them early.”
But, just before the midway point of the second period, the Explorers woke up. Michael Esmond made a run up the middle of the ice and finished the play himself 2:19 into the period. Nole Donohue made it a 3-2 game at the 8:53 mark and Cam Ross tied the game 2:09 into the third period when he put in a rebound.
Kauffman said he and his teammates knew they had a fight on their hands as La Salle made its surge.
“We weren’t sure what was really going to happen,” he said. “We just knew when we got back on the ice in the third that we had to give it our all. Either put something in the net, or stop them from scoring.”
And Kaufmann did just that with a shot from the right wing. Logue extended his team’s lead with 9:43 left in the regulation and Kinniry scored his second goal of the game with 1:36 left.
Kinniry said he and his teammates stayed focused on their mission.
“It really gave us motivation to get through the third period,” he said. “Our second period was pretty bad so we came back out and got the go-ahead goals.”
La Salle coach Wally Muehlbonner said his team struggled from the start.
“I don’t think we played a good game at all,” he said. “We played the way we needed to in the second period, that was our best period obviously. But it’s tough to come back from down three.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie credited his players for a season’s worth of effort.
“This isn’t about the adults,” he said. “This is about the kids. They’re so deserving.
“It’s a long year, it’s tough to stay on top in a league like this. I can’t say enough positive things about the group that’s in there.
“Everybody bought in, everybody did their jobs and even when it got close and don’t think there was any doubt we would figure a way to beat them.”
The Firebirds and Explorers will open Class AAA Flyers Cup play on Tuesday. Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep will face eighth-seeded Owen J. Roberts (6:15) while second-seeded La Salle will go against number-seven Devon Prep. Both games will be played at Hatfield Ice.
La Salle 0 2 2
Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 3
First-period goals; Brady Logue (HGP) from Jack Gavaghan and Ryan Lippy, 5:10; Colin Bara (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Brian Kinniry, 9:15; Kinniry (HGP) from Chase Logue, 12:31 (sh)
Second-period goals: Michael Esmond (L) from John Greenawalt, 7:19; Nole Donohue (L) from Jake Warner, 8:53;
Third-period goal: Cam Ross (L) from Alistair St. Hilaire, 2:09; Joe Kaufmann (HGP) from. Anthony Valeriote, 4:28; Brady Logue (HGP) from Chase Logue, 7:17; Kinniry HGP unassisted, 15:24; Ross (L) from St. Hilaire and Declan Kelly, 16:36 (pp)
Players to watch: Brady Logue 17 goals, 16 assists, 33 points; Joe Spadaccino 10-14-24; Anthony Valeriote 10-10-20; Brian Kinniry 15-4-19; Jack Unger 1.63 GAA, .926 save percentage; John Botthof 2.52 GAA, .891 save percentage
La Salle (15-6)
Coach: Wally Muehlbronner
Players to watch: Nole Donohue 12-15-27; Grant LaGreca 17-5-22; Julian Tarsi 10-10-20; Michael Zarzycki 10-10-20; Jake Rossi 1.78 GAA, .932 save percentage
This year: Holy Ghost Prep won both regular-season meetings, 3-1 on November 11 and 6-4 on December 11.
La Salle is the two-time defending APAC champion and comes into this game with a seven-game winning streak and having won nine of its last 10 starts. Holy Ghost Prep has won five straight and is unbeaten in its last seven starts and 14 of its last 15.
Ice chips: The teams have played in two previous Founders Cup finals. La Salle won both, 4-1 in 2020 and 7-3 in 2023. The Explorers have played in all five previous Founders Cup finals and are 4-1 in those games.
Holy Ghost Prep is 0-2 in Founders Cup finals. There was no title game in 2021 due to the pandemic; La Salle and Malvern Prep were declared co-champions.
Holy Ghost Prep is seeded first for the upcoming Class AAA Flyers Cup. La Salle is seeded second.
Organizers of the Pennsylvania state championship games announced Tuesday evening that the all-star game/showcase that was scheduled for Friday, March 21 in Pittsburgh has been postponed.
A state championship tripleheader traditionally concludes the scholastic hockey season in Pennsylvania. This year’s state title games are set for the Alpha Ice Complex in Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 22.
This year’s festivities will kick off the night before with am All-Star game matching All-Star teams from each side of the state; Team Flyers Cup vs. Team Penguins Cup.
Thirty players have been named each team. The rosters are subject to revision; players whose teams have reached the state finals will not play in the All-Star Game.
fast start goes along way on any night but particularly at playoff time. Holy Ghost Prep found success with that formula Wednesday evening.
By the time the game was barely three minutes old the Firebirds had a 2-0 lead. They added a third goal before the first period ended and went on to a 4-1 win over Malvern Prep in an APAC semifinal game at Grundy Arena.
Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (17-4-1) which is unbeaten in its last seven games, will face La Salle in the Founders Cup title game next Wednesday at the same venue (5 p.m. start). Fourth-seeded Malvern Prep will find out Sunday night where and when it will start play in the Class AAA Flyers Cup.
The loudest note of the night was sounded on the first shot of the game. William Hamar found the back of the net with forehander from between the circles just 15 seconds into the first period. Brady Logue made it a 2-0 game not quite three minutes later.
The Friars and the Firebirds split two regular-season meetings; Malvern Prep prevailed at Grundy Arena 4-2 on November 20. With that result in mind, Logue spoke to the importance of a fast start.
“Losing on home ice always leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Logue said, “so we tried to get them back. (The Firebirds later won on Malvern Prep’s home ice.) Brian Kinniry added a goal with 1:50 left in the opening session. From that point on Malvern Prep was skating uphill.
“I think we came out flat in the beginning of the fame,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “Ghost popped two goals in early.
“I think the second and third periods our boys’ energy was there. I thought we battled hard in the corners. The effort was there.”
Indeed. The team battle on essentially even terms for most of the rest of the way.
Teague Murray was able to solve Holy Ghost Prep netminder Jack Unger with a shorthanded effort with 1:33 remaining.
Logue scored his second goal of the game.
Unger finished his evening with 22 saves.
“Obviously we came out strong,” he said. “A goal in the first 15 seconds of the game really, really helped. When that happens, it gets the confidence level up for the whole team.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie says Wednesday night marked a fresh start not just for his team but for everyone in the APAC.
“Everybody is going to kind of amp up their play a little bit,” he said. “Everything is going to be tougher, we’ve got to fight for everything.
“Obviously it was nice to get the first shot on goal going in, but we’ve got to clean some stuff up and get better.”
Malvern Prep 0 0 1—1
Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 1—4
First-period goals: William Harmar (HGP) from Brady Logue and Joe Spadaccino, :15; Brady Logue (HGP) from Ryan Lippy and Harvard, 3:10; Brian Kinniry (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Jack Unger, 15:10
Third-period goals: Teague Murray (MP) from Paxton Hoishik 15:27 (sh); Logue (HGP) from Spadaccino and Harmar, 16:20
Shots: Malvern Prep 23, Holy Ghost Prep 28; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 23, Jack Unger (HGP) 22
Hockey Happenings 