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The Firebirds recorded a 3-1 win over DeMatha Friday night in the open round of the National scholastic Invitational in Jamestown, N.Y. Brian Butler, Kieran Mulholland, and Dominic Lombardo all scored goals for the Firebirds, who improved to 5-1 overall.
Jason Soule made 25 saves in goal. The Firebirds will face Medina (10:15) Cathedral Prep (4:45) on Saturday.
Hamilton Township, N.J.—High-school hockey doesn’t any better than this, from a goaltending point of view. Stephen Chen (Hun School) and Ajay White (St. Joseph’s Prep) were letter perfect in their Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference matchup Thursday afternoon at Ice Land. For 51 minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime the two were impregnable. Chen, a junior, stopped 34 shots while White, a sophomore, turned aside 32.
The Raiders’ Riley Frost was able to put a puck over White’s left shoulder in the bottom of the third round of a shootout to give his team a 1-0 in its first APAC game in school history.
For his part, Chen tried to focus on the task at hand. “It was an awesome experience for sure,” he said, “but I think the focus was just to win the game, focus on the next shot, and enjoy the moment.”
White was the losing goaltender on the scoresheet, simply because there had to be a winner. But their were no flaws to be found in his performance. “That was fun to watch,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for (Chen). He stole the game for them. He made a lot of big saves. It’s a fun atmosphere to play in.”
Despite the scoreline, it was not an easy afternoon for either netminder. Both were challenged often but came up big repeatedly.
As the game wore on, Chen focused on maintaining his concentration. “There are moments when thoughts pop into your mind,” he said, “but as a goaltender, the most important thing is to have a free mind and just stay in the zone and concentrate on the next shot.”
White embraced the challenge of matching his opponent’s performance at the other end of the ice. “I like competition,” he said. “It’s always fun. I think it definitely helps.”
St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin noted his team had quality chances but Chen took them away. “We were preaching to the kids just to keep putting pressure on him,” he said, “and keep getting shots to the net. We had some wide open shots where his leg came out of nowhere or a glove came out of nowhere.
‘I think it was probably about eight of them that we counted that the puck should have been in the net, but he found a way to get to that spot and stole it from us. He played a phenomenal hockey game and so did our guy.”
For Hun School coach Ian McNally, Thursday’s encounter was a new experience. “I’ve never been part of a 0-0 game at this level,” he said. “That was stressful. And frustrating, because you go through a period without scoring, and then you try to talk about what you can do to score and then you go through another period with scoring.
“You try a different strategy, different lines and nothing’s working. It was exciting and stressful all at the same time.”
Ice Chips—With the win, Hun School improves to 4-2 overall. The Hawks now stand at 2-3-1 (0-2 in the APAC). The game featured six minor penalties, three against each team.
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 0 0 (0)
Hun School 0 0 0 0 (1)—1
Shootout goal: Riley Frost (HS)
Shots: SJP 34, Hun School 32; Saves: A.J. White (SJP) 32, Stephen Chen (HS) 34
La Salle 2, Wyoming Seminary 1
Max Maddalo and Evan Golato scored goals as the Explorers won on the road Wednesday in a Mid-Atlantic Prep League game. It was La Salle’s first win of the sesason.
Aries Carangi made 27 saves in goal.
Malvern Prep 11, Kiski School 0
The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference beginning its fourth season with The Hun School joining Holy Ghost Prep, La Salle, and St. Joseph’s Prep. Each team will play eight conference games this season.
Holy Ghost Prep
Coach: Gump Whiteside (13th season)
Last year: 7-7, 3-3-0-3 in APAC
Key players: Sr. Brian Butler (D); Sr. Colin Moore (D); Sr. Luke Panepresso (D); Sr. Sean Marshall (F); Jr. Brady Baesher (F); Jr. Landon Stout (F); Jr. Shaun Moore (F); Jr. Kieran Mulholland (F)
There is veteran experience on the blue line with veterans Butler, Moore, and Panepresso. Baesher, a first-team all-conference selection a year ago, is being counted on up front along with Stout, Marshall, Moore, and Mulholland, who will provide experience and quickness.
Whiteside is also expecting to get contributions from a talented group of underclassmen.
The Hun School
Coach: Ian McNally (11th season)
Last year: 0-3
Key players: Sr. Jack Borek (G); PG Nick Dimatos (D); Sr. Christian Clover (D); Sr. Riley Frost (F)
Outlook: The Raiders are the newest members of the APAC. They won’t begin on-ice practices until November 8 and won’t play a game until Thanksgiving Weekend.
Damatos, a post grad, is an offensive-minded defenseman. Clover is more of the stay-at-home mold. Frost is being counted on up front after not playing much hockey the last two years because of Covid and injuries while Borek is experienced in goal.
“It will be interesting to see what we actually have here,” McNally said. “We were only able to play a few games over the course of one week last year so were never able to see what are new players were actually capable of. Anyone who was a part of our team two seasons ago will return much older and presumably bigger, faster and stronger. I think there is the potential to have a pretty strong season this year, but we will learn a lot about our identity over these first weeks.
La Salle
Coach: Wally Muehlbronner (24th season)
Last year: 10-5, 6-3 APAC; conference co-champions
Key players: Jr. Aries Carangi (G), So. Willum Braun (G), Sr. Gavin O’Connell (D), Jr. Chase Hannon (D), Sr. Daniel Whittock (F), Sr. Keenan Schneider (F), Sr. Max Maddalo (F), Sr. Chris Wnek (F)
Outlook: La Salle returns 13 players from a team that shared the APAC and reached the Class AAA Flyers Cup final.The lineup features experience and balance. Carangi saw quality time in goal a year ago and O’ Connell and Hannon are solid on the blue line. Whittock, Schneider, Maddalo, and Wnek all have demonstrated ability to put the puck in the net.
The Explorers will be trying to keep a streak alive; they shared the first two APAC titles before sharing the crown last year.
“We’re excited to hit the ice,” Muehlbronner said.
Malvern Prep
Coach: Bill Keenan (third season)
Last year: 15-1, 5-1-3 in APAC; conference co-champions, Class AAA Flyers Cup and Pennsylvania State Champions
Key players: Sr. Anthony Perti (G); Jr. Brandon Novabilski (G); Sr. Quinn Dougherty (D); Sr. Travis Buckley (D); Jr. Steven Getsie (D); So. Brady Doyle (D); So. Jack Sharer (D); Sr. Matt Harris (F); Sr. Pierre Larocque (F); Jr. Jimmy Jacobs (F); So. Jeremy Jacobs (F);
Outlook: Much of last season’s Flyers Cup and state championship team returns and lineup is deep and talented, led by Perti and Harris, who were first-team all-conference selections last season. They’ll be joined by the likes of Dougherty and Buckley on defense along with Larocque up front.
The Friars will be trying to become the first Class AAA team in 13 years to successfully defend both the Flyers Cup and state titles.
“We are excited to get back to playing hockey,” Keenan said. “We have a good group of leaders returning as well as some younger guys filling in some gaps in the lineup. We are ready to get out there and compete and to have fun.”
St. Joseph’s Prep
Coach: David Giacomin (ninth season)
Last year: 4-10, 1-8 in APAC
Key players: Jr. Rocco Bruno (G); So. Ajay White (G); Sr. Nick Sorti (D); Sr. Declan Pierce, Sr. Michael Ahearn (D); Sr. Christian Short (D); Jr. Dante Passio (D); Jr. Jeffrey Hammond (F); Jr. Joey Samango (F); Sr. Quinn Egan (F); Sr. Charlie Maratea (F); Sr. Liam Mooney (F)
Outlook: The Hawks’ biggest strength will be in goal, where veteran Bruno and White will share responsibilities, and on defense. There is a veteran presence on the blue line in Pierce, Ahearn, and Short, and up front with Hammond and Mooney.
The Hawks often found themselves shorthanded last year in terms of numbers, which led them running out of gas late in games. Giacomin anticipates having more depth on hand this season and is looking for the added manpower to allow his team to play at a quicker pace in all three zones.
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The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference will be a five-team alliance for 2021-22. The Hun School from Princeton, N.J. will join Malvern Prep, Holy Ghost Prep, St. Joseph’s Prep, and two-time defending champion La Salle for the upcoming season.
Ian McNally is the Raiders’ hockey coach. “We’re excited to join the league,” he said. “We have competed with each of the APAC school programs for several years now and it will only improve the level of competition in our games when implications on standings, stats, playoff seeds and everything else that comes with league play are introduced. I think we share a common understanding of scholastic athletics with the APAC member schools and so we have strong existing relationships with the other coaches and athletics offices.”
Tracey Arndt is the Co-Director of Athletics at The Hun School. “The Hun School of Princeton is grateful for the opportunity for our Ice Hockey team to join the APAC this season,” she said. “This is a top-notch ice hockey league with likeminded schools that will allow us to compete at a high level throughout the year. We look forward to the competition with such respected programs.”
The Hun School is no stranger to the other conference members, having regularly competed against them in non-league games.
“The APAC was founded with the belief that exceptional schools and scholastic hockey could thrive side by side in a competitive league that values sportsmanship, academic distinction and a quality Spirit,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “The Hun School is a welcomed addition to strengthening our rivalries, traditions and desire for excellence.”
La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner is enthusiastic about the Raiders coming on board. “La Salle is very excited to have Hun School join the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference,” he said. “Hun has had a long history of great competition versus the founding APAC schools. Their commitment to competing at a high level further strengthens the conference.”
St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin is looking forward to competing against the Raiders. “St Joseph’s Prep is extremely excited to welcome The Hun School into the APAC,” he said. They are a great school and we can’t wait to compete for years to come.”
Bill Keenan is the head coach at Malvern Prep, the reigning Class AAA Flyers Cup and state champions. “We are excited to have The Hun School join the APAC this upcoming season. It is great to have another quality, competitive team join our league. We are looking forward to competing against them this season.”
APAC institutions have been successful at the highest levels of scholastic hockey, competing at national tournaments and capturing every Class AAA Flyers Cup and Class AAA Pennsylvania State Championship since 2017.
Last year’s postseason was not completed. La Salle and Malvern Prep were scheduled to meet in the Founders Cup final but that game was eventually cancelled because of Covid issues. Malvern Prep went on to win the Flyers Cup and the state championship.
Pennsbury 6, Pennridge 5 OT
Erik Eisler scored his third goal of the game 5:16 into overtime as Pennsbury bested Pennridge 6-5 Wednesday night in a SHSHL National/Continental semifinal game at Grundy Arena.
The top-seeded Falcons will face third seed Council Rock South in Thursday’s final (7:20 at the same venue.
Pennsbury’s Shane Siegmund and the Rams’ Andrew David traded first-period goals Reese Picker gave Pennsbury a 2-1 lead with 1:59 left in the opening session.
Aidan Boyle, Jack Lowery, and Richie Shanks all scored goals to give Pennridge a 4-2 lead with 6:26 left in the middle period but Eisler made it a one-goal game when he found the back of the net with 4:36 left.
Andrew Savona’s goal with 2:39 left in the period gave the Rams a two-goal lead once more.
Eisler’s second goal of the game with 7:10 left in regulation made it a one-goal game one more. Brendan MacAinsh tied the game with 2:11 left in regulation to set the stage for Eisler’s game winner.
Pennridge will now be idle until the Class AA Flyers Cup tournament on Tuesday. The 10th-seeded Rams will face seventh seed Central Bucks East at Hatfield Ice.
Pennridge 1 4 0 0—5
Pennsbury 2 1 2 1—6
National/Continental Semifinals
Pennsbury 6, Pennridge 5 OT
Council Rock South 3, Central Bucks South 1 OT
American Division Semifinals
Abington 7, Plymouth Whitemarsh 3′
Matt Kramer scored four goals and Tin Rourke added two more as the Galloping Ghosts bested the Colonials Wednesday night in a SHSHL American Division semifinal at the Bucks County Ice Sports Center. Joe Stelacio also scored for Abington, which will face Wissahickon in the division final Thursday night at Hatfield Ice at 6:10.
John Cubbin scored twice for the third-seeded Colonials. Luke Weikel also scored.
Plymouth Whitemarsh and Wissahickon will both move on to the Class A Flyers Cup next week. Abington, which was not selected for the Class AA Flyers Cup, will conclude its season this evening.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 0 2—3
Abington 3 1 3—7
Wissahickon vs. Hatboro-Horsham cancelled
Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference Founders Cup Final
La salle vs. Malvern Prep postponed
Wednesday’s Founders Cup final between La Salle and Malvern Prep will now start at 8:15 at Ice Line
Two words that could be used to describe Amanda Coopersmith are passionate and dedicated. Passionate about her teaching career and dedicated to enhancing the lives of her students at Holy Ghost Prep.
Coopersmith teaches chemistry but her students also absorb an abundance of life lessons over the course of the school year. She arrived at Holy Ghost Prep in the fall of 2014.
“I had taken a year off for a family illness,” Coopersmith recalled, “and when I was ready to go back to work there was a job at Holy Ghost and I thought ‘Well, I taught girls for seven years (at Villa Joseph Marie), let’s try boys.’”
Coopersmith notes the biggest adjustments for incoming students, regardless of where they come from, revolve around time management. “Adjustment to high school, whether you’ve been to Catholic school, private school, or public school is all the same” she said. “It’s an adjustment. “A lot of these kids came from schools where they were in the top 10 percent. They did whatever they had to do, which was not a whole lot, to be honest. They got through, got their As.
“They showed up at our school, and like any high school, it’s a challenge. So, their biggest adjustment is adjusting to the workload and the dedication it takes to get into a rhythm of managing time.”
Coopersmith, who is a fixture at school sporting events, says that student-athletes do a better job managing their time when their sport is in season. “I find that students are actually better at time management when they’re in season, whatever sport season they play, then when they’re out of season,” she said.
“Once they go out of season, a lot of them struggle because they realize they have more time than they used to and they waste it. And they have to get used to being better at their time management out of season. So, freshman year can be hard on them that way because they don’t learn to be consistent all year.”
Coopersmith says one of the school’s selling points is its intimate environment which allows the faculty and staff to get to know students on an individual basis.
“I have about 16 kids in a class,” she said. “I know every kid’s name, I know what sports they play, I know what they’re interests are. So, for instance, in my class, when they struggle, I can talk to them based on their sport; I do analogies based on their sport.
“If I were in a larger school with 30 or 35 kids to a class, I would never be able to do that. I also have an advantage, because we’re a smaller school, that I can get to know them a little more on a one-to-one level so if they struggle, they feel comfortable coming for help. So, if we have a student with an injury or a student who is out sick, they aren’t panicking that they’re going to be left behind. They know that we’re going to be there to help them when they get back, and they make the arrangements ahead of time. We teach them to self-advocate which is invaluable in life.”
Coopersmith says the size of the school allows for an intimacy that leads to a caring, mutually supportive environment.
“It really is a community,” she said. “I went to one of those monstrous high schools. I had teachers that I swear did not know my name, even though I had them more than one year and yet, I know students (at Holy Ghost Prep) who have never been in my class; they’ll still come in for help And, if I can’t help them, I can point them in the right direction.”
Coopersmith says the student-athletes at the school assume the responsibility of looking out for each other. “Our teams take care of each other.” she said. “So, the hockey boys will make sure the other hockey students stay on track. Same with basketball, soccer, the swim team. It’s wonderful.”
Coopersmith says the student body at Holy Ghost Prep embrace the idea of looking out for and supporting one another.
“It’s really nice that we have great leadership from the top down,” she said. “The seniors model the behavior that they expect the freshmen to have. The juniors fall in line; the sophomores understand how important it is.
“We have freshman come in who are unsure of what to do. They’re 14 years old and its harder for them to act older and more mature and more responsibly.
“When they see that behavior constantly modeled and constantly drilled in, they realize this is the right thing to do, not because someone is yelling at them but because it’s the right way to act.”
For more about Holy Ghost Prep Click Here
La Salle 4, St. Joseph’s Prep 0
BRISTOL— Some of the actors assumed new roles in the production. But in the end the performance was more or less unaffected.
Despite fielding a lineup that had some pieces missing La Salle stayed focused on the task at hand and recorded a 4-0 win over St. Joseph’s Prep Monday night at Grundy Arena in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference semifinal. The win was La Salle’s sixth straight.
The two-time defending champion Explorers (8-4) will face regular-season champion Malvern Prep for the Founders Cup title Wednesday night at 8:00 at Ice Line.
La Salle’s big guns were as powerful as usual. Michael Casey scored a goal and assisted on two others. David Kimmel had a goal and an assist, while Keenan Schneider and Dan Whittock also scored goals.
But with only 15 skaters in uniform and several regulars missing, La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner had to play mix and match several players got more ice time than usual as a result. One of them was senior forward Michael Roman.
“Definitely it’s a big chance to step up and help the team out,” he said. “I was definitely out there more, so it was more of a way to bring my leadership as a senior.”
Roman notes its important he set an example for his teammates even though, or perhaps because he doesn’t see a lot of ice time in many circumstances.
“It’s extremely important,” he said. “My main job, if I’m not on the ice, I’m giving everyone high-fives and telling everyone ‘Good work’, telling them what to do. Just trying to keep a positive energy on the bench.
Schneider gave the Explorers a 1-0 lead just 72 seconds after the opening faceoff on a shot from the inside of the right circle that seemed to catch St. Joseph’s Prep netminder Rocco Bruno by surprise
Kimmel made it a 2-0 when he put in a rebound of Whittock’s original shot.
Whittock himself extended La Salle’s lead at the 16:41 of the second period and Casey added a fourth goal 8:21 into the third.
Muehlbronner noted that Monday’s game was a new experience for some of his players who weren’t used to the postseason environment.
“It was the first time for a lot of these guys playing in that playoff atmosphere,” he said, “and I think it showed at times. We just looked a little bit hesitant at times but I think the older guys got it going, and in the end, were certainly happy with the result.
St. Joseph’s Prep (3-9) had just 13 skaters dressed. Hawks’ coach David Giacomin said the pace of the game eventually caught up to his players.
“They played so hard the first period,” he said, “and about halfway through (the second period), maybe three quarters of the way through, that’s when they lost their legs. If they played like they did … the consistent game, we’re going to be in every game and have a chance to win. But it’s really difficult playing game in and game out with the same 10-12 kids.”
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 0—0
La Salle 2 1 1—4
First-period goals: Keenan Schneider (L) from Max Maddalo, 1:12; David Kimmel (L) from Dan Whittock and Michael Casey, 11:10
Second-period goals: Dan Whittock (L) from Casey, 16:41
Third-period goals: Casey (L) from Kimmel, 8:21
Shots: La Salle 35, St. Joseph’s Prep 31; Saves: Rocco Bruno (SJP) 31. Liam Gross (L) 31
The 2021 Flyers Cup Selection Show can be accessed here at 7:30 Eastern Time tonight.
Click Here to access the Flyers Cup YouTube Channel
Following the completion of the program we will post information related to the tournament, including seedings and first-round matchups.
The Grundy Skate Shop is a full-service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services. We do a full range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. Owner Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Please visit our Facebook page or stop in and check us out!
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