Holy Ghost Prep 4 Hun School 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holy Ghost Prep 1 0 3—4

Hun School 0 0 1—1

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

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

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

Flyers Cup Rankings #2

Class AAA

Holy Ghost Prep
La Salle
St. Joseph’s Prep
Malvern Prep
Salesianum

Class AA

Council Rock South
Haverford High
North Penn
Downingtown West
Pennridge

Class A
1. West Chester Henderson

2. Garnet Valley

3. Kennett

4. Penncrest

5. Hershey

Girls

Avon Grove
Downingtown West
Conestoga
Kingsway
West Chester Henderson

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

Holy Ghost Prep 5, Salesianum 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salesianum 0 0 1—1

Holy Ghost Prep 2 1 2—5

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

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

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

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

St. Ignatius 4 St. Joseph’s Prep 3

Purple Puck Tournament Final

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

St. Joseph’s Prep 1 2—3

St. Ignatius 2 2—4

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

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

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

Holy Ghost Prep 6 La Salle 4

Brady Logue’s goal with 9:32 left in the third period was the game winner as Holy Ghost Prep topped La Salle 6-4 Wednesday afternoon at Hatfield Ice. Logue scored three goals and added an assist as the Firebirds improved to 2-2 in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference and 7-3 overall. It was their second win over the Explorers this season

Grant LaGreca and Michael Zarzycki each scored twice for the Explorers, who stand at 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the APAC. LaGreca also added an assist.

Santino Tibero have Holy Ghost Prep a 1-0 lead 4:58 into the first period. LaGreca answered with a power-play goal less than a minute later.

Logue scored two goals of his own before the period ended, the second one coming during a power play with one second remaining in the period after the Explores were penalized for having too many players on the ice.

LaGreca and Zarzycki scored goals in a span of 1:57 to tie the game at 3-3 5:44 into the second period. Chase Logue’s shorthanded goal with 7:54 left in the middle period put the Firebirds back in front but Zarzycki responded with a shorthanded goal of his own 5:35 into the third frame, setting the stage for Logue’s game winner.

Brian Kinniry added an empty net goal with 19 seconds remaining.

”I like some of the adjustments that we made,” said Holy Ghost prep coach John Ritchie, “and they seemed to pay off today.

”That being said, I know the La Salle team we will see come playoff time will be different.

”All in all, I think it was a good win but we have plenty to work on as we try to figue out who we are as a team.”

Holy Ghost Prep 3 1 2—6

La Salle 1 2 1—4

First-period goals: Santino Tibero (HGP) from Joe Spadaccino and Brady Logue, 4:58; Grant LaGreca (L) from Jacob Warner and Cameron Ross, 5:55 (pp); Brady Logue (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote, 11:46; Brady Logue (HGP) unassisted, 16:59 (pp)

Second-period goals: LaGreca (L) unassisted, 3:48 (pp) Michael Zarzycki from LaGreca and Tristan Mitchell, 5:44; Chase Logue (HGP) unassisted, 9:06 (sh)

Third-period goals: Zarzycki unassisted, 5:35 (sh); Brady Logue (HGP) 7:28 (pp); Brian Kinniry (HGP) unassisted, 16:41 (en)

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 34, La Salle 27; Saves: Jack Butthof (HGP) 23, Jake Rossi (HGP) 28

HGP-Malvern Prep Matchup About Much More Than Hockey

Thursday’s Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference matchup between Malvern Prep and Holy Ghost Prep will be about much more than what happens on the ice.

For the third year in succession, the hockey community is coming together for RTS Awareness Night and highlight the fight against Rubnenstein Taybi Syndrome, a genetic disorder. Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan and his wife Sarah joined the fight when they learned their son Connor, who will turn 5 in January, was afflicted with RTS.

Connor is the youngest of the Keenans’ three children. His brother JJ is 10, his sister Olivia is 8.

Proceeds from Thursday’s game (6:45 puck drop at Ice Line) will go to support the families of children dealing with the disorder.

“This is our third annual RTS Awareness Night,” Keenan said. “It’s a great night to come together as a community and raise awareness not only for RTS but those affected with rare diseases.

“Sometimes life is bigger then sports or a hockey game. We are grateful for the community that surrounds us and the support they provide to Connor and our family.”

“We look forward to continuing this event for many years to come. The past two years we played against St. Joseph’s Prep and this year Coach Ritchie without hesitation willingly said Holy Ghost would participate. It is a great sign of strength in why we play in this league because again it’s more than just a game.”

La Salle 3 Malvern Prep 2

Jacob Warner’s goal with 8:28 left in regulation proved decisive as La Salle topped Malvern Prep 3-2 Wednesday night in an APAC game at Ice Line.

Grant LaGreca and Nole Donohue also scored goals for the Explorers who improved to 2-1 in conference play and 3-1 overall.

LaGreca’s goal gave La Salle a 1-0 lead with eight seconds remaining in the opening period. Henry Tesoriero tied the game for the Friars (2-2, 1-1 in conference) with 3:40 remaining in the middle period.

Donohue’s goal came with 13:20 left in regulation time off a feed from Declan Kelly and gave the Explorers the lead for good. Warner’s goal extended his team’s lead but Teague Murray scored a power play goal with 6:04 remaining while Alistair St. Hilaire was in the box serving a roughing minor.

From that point on, La Salle goaltender Jake Rossi was resolute in goal despite being under pressure; he made 19 saves in the third period.

La Salle 1 0 2—3

Malvern Prep 0 1 1—2

First-period goal: Grant LaGreca (L) unassisted, 16:52

Second-period goal: Henry Tesoriero (MP) from Gabe Bedwell and Logan Love, 13:20

Third-period goals: Nole Donohue (L) from Declan Kelly, 3:49; Jacob Warner (L) from Michael Zarzycki, 8:32; Teague Murray (MP) from Cole Scrabinsky, 10:56 (pp)

Shots: La Salle 31, Malvern Prep 40; Saves: Jake Rossi (L) 38, Matt Crawford (MP) 28

Devon Prep 4 Hun School 3

The Raiders dropped a one-goal decision to the visiting Tide on Thursday in their season opener at Ice Land. Anders Van Raalte, Lucas Jean, and Justin Bibeau scored the Hun School goals.

“Overall I’m happy with our first game as a group,” said Hun School coach Eric Szeker. “We got better as the game went along and ran into a very hot goaltender.”

Malvern Prep 4 Holy Ghost Prep 2

BRISTOL—There wasn’t a lot of slash and sizzle to what Malvern Prep was doing on Tuesday afternoon. But hockey games are not decided on style points.

Two third-period power-play goals in a span of 71 seconds allowed the Friars to overcome a 1-0 deficit and they went on from there to defeat Holy Ghost Prep 4-2 in an APAC game at Grundy Arena.

Teague Murray scored two goals and assisted on a third as Malvern Prep (2-1 overall) opened conference play with a win.

The host Firebirds (2-1, 1-1 in the APAC) took a 1-0 lead on Logan Barnes’ goal 1:37 into the second period on a play that started off a scramble for a loose puck the neutral one. Murray set up House Young for the game-tying goal which came with 3:58 remaining in the period and erased the deficit.

“I think that’s kind of our identity this year,” Murray said. “We went down, we’ve been down early in every game we’ve played but we keep battling. That’s just kind of our identity.”

The Firebirds were undone by self-inflicted wounds. With 33 seconds left in the second frame Brady Logue was flagged for interference, giving Malvern Prep a split power play.

Murray gave his team the lead 52 seconds into the third period when he topped home Matt Barbacane’s shot from the left point.

Just 19 seconds later Malvern Prep was awarded another power play when Holy Ghost Prep’s Anthony Valeriote was whistled for interference. Pax Hoishik delivered a power play goal just 52 seconds after that to give the Friars a two-goal lead.

Brian Kinniry gave the Firebirds a last-gasp opportunity when he beat Matt Crawford in the Malvern Prep net with 53 seconds to go but it took just 15 additional seconds for Murray to respond.

Afterward, he spoke of the importance of shepherding his younger teammates through the rigors what for some was their first APAC game.

“It’s super important,” the senior said. “They’ve got to know there’s not going to be any flashy goals when you’re playing good teams like Ghost and La Salle. You’ve got to get gritty goals.

Murray notes that Malvern Prep’s power play has improved since the season kicked off.

“The first two games were a little rusty,” he said, “but now we’re starting to pick it up and we were really clicking this game.”

Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan cited his team’s blur-collar approach.

“We had a lot of grit that game,” he said. “The first period was completely back and forth, up and down the ice, got some shots on net, got some power plays late in the second and early in the third and we capitalized on them.

“Right now, we’re feeling good with where we’re at.”

• Crawford finished with 22 saves. Matt Salita made 17 saves for Holy Ghost. Salita is the third goaltender the Firebirds have started in three game. each has played one full game.

Malvern Prep 0 1 3—4

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 1—2

Second-period goals: Logan Barnes (HGP) from Colin Bara, 1:37; House Young (MP) from Teague Murray, 13:02

Third-period goals: Murray (MP) from Matt Barbacane and Cole Scarbinsky, :52 (pp); Pax Hoishik (MP) unassisted, 2:03 (pp); Brian Kinniry (HGP)) from Bara, 16:07; Murray (MP) unassisted, 16:32

Shots: Malvern Prep 21, Holy Ghost Prep 23; saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 22, Matt Salita (HGP) 17

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Haverford School 1

St. Joseph’s Prep overcame an early 1-0 deficit and went on to defeat The Haverford School 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon at the Class of 1923 Rink in a non-league game.

Henry Cagliuso gave the Fords the lead with 4:57 left in the first period bur Caden Kelly tied the game for the Hawks with one minute left in the second session. Jai Perry-Pereira put his team in front with 7:43 left in the game before Frank Ely and Tristan Winata added goals in the final minute.

The Hawks (1-1) outshot the Fords 47-12 but Ike Matoney kept Haverford in the game with his work in goal.

“We played pretty well,” said Hawks coach David Giacomin. “We dad great puck movement and pressure. Haverford packed it in defensively and their goalie was awesome.”