It is at last time for the 45th edition of the Flyers Cup tournament.
On this edition of the Hockey Happenings podcast, Rick Woelfel and Flyers Cup Committee President Eric Tye review and discus the tournament brackets.
Category: Hockey History
C.B. East 3 North Penn 2
The storm struck suddenly, seemingly without warning. Corey Kosick and Jaden Young scored goals 32 seconds apart in the opening moments of the third period as Central Bucks East overcame a one-goal deficit to post a 3-2 win over North Penn Thursday night in a SHSHL National Division quarterfinal at Hatfield Ice.
Young scored two goals for the fourth-seeded Patriots (12-5-2) who will face top-seeded Pennridge in next Wednesday’s semifinal round. Fifth-seeded North Penn (10-8-1) will wait and see where it is seeded for the upcoming Flyers Cup tournament.
But both teams will pay a toll for their efforts Thursday night. An altercation following the final buzzer involved several players from both teams. As this story was being written, the two referees were reviewing video of the incident and adjudicating penalties. If fighting penalties and/or misconducts are accessed, the players involved will be suspended.
The incident did not diminish the performance of East goaltender Cole Breen. The Patriots were outshot 41-19 but Breen, for the most part, kept the Knights at bay with 39 saves.
Breen said the key was maintaining his concentration.
“Mainly just focusing on every shot at a time,” he said “Worrying about myself and doing my job. The team got it done also.”
The two teams held each other scoreless for nearly all of two periods before Nolan Shingle beat Boyle from close range to give the Knights 1-0 advantage with 1:32 left in the second frame.
At that point, North Penn seemingly had the upper hand.
“For the first two period I thought we absolutely controlled the play,” said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis, “and did everything we wanted.
“Their goalie was playing great, we were getting chances, we just couldn’t put it behind him.”
But early in the third stanza, things changed, seemingly in the blink of an eye.
First, Kosick went in on North Penn goaltender Aidan Quigley and found the back of the net just 49 seconds into the period. Thirty-two seconds later it was Young’s turn; the junior gave his team a lead it would not relinquish.
“Over intermission [before the third period] we devised some of our plan,” Young said. “We knew we had to [apply] pressure to turn some of the momentum and gain an advantage, and that’s what we did.”
“They had two quick goals there,” Vaitis said, “on two quick shifts unfortunately.”
Young’s second goal was a shorthanded effort that came at the 6:24 mark and made it a 3-1 game.
North Penn got an opportunity when the Patriots’ Patrick O’Brien drew a cross-checking penalty with 4:26 to go. Down two goals at that point, Vaitis considered lifting Quigley.
“I thought about it,” Vaitis said. “We were getting a lot of good chances on the power play. We were hoping we were going to be able to capitalize on one there.”
With the North Penn net empty, Samuel Norton scored the Knights’ second goal with 64 seconds left in regulation.
The final buzzer served as a match that set off the subsequent fireworks.
“Not a smart play by us, by any means” Vaitis said. “Unfortunately, for us, if we get selected, our next game would be in the Flyers Cup and we’re probably going to be missing some guys for that.
“But there’s no need for that. We’ve got to be smarter and skate away from it.”
Central Bucks East Jeff Mitchell knows he will be without at least one player for the National Division semifinal; Carter Keiser was sent to the locker room 7:36 into the third period when he received his fourth penalty.
Mitchell would like to see the SHSHL utilize the four-person officiating system for playoff games.
“I don’t fault anybody [if] a kid looks at another kid the wrong way, or somebody feels like they’re wronged,” he said. “I get it. I was 18 once too.
“An eye for an eye, I’m all for it obviously, but I think we need a little bit more supervision … when it comes to situations like this.”
This story will be updated as more information become available
North Penn 0 1 2—2
C.B. East 0 0 3—3
Second-period goals: Nolan Shingle (NP) from John Stinson and James Boyle, 15:28
Third-period goals: Corey Kosick (CBE) from Dave Brown, :49; Jaden Young (CBE) unassisted, 1:21; Young (CBE) 6:24 (sh); Samuel Norton (NP) from Cole Pluck and Joe Savotti, 15:56
Shots: North Penn 41, C.B. East 19 Saves: Aidan Quigley (NP) 16, Cole Breen (CBE) 39
Updated Playoff Schedule 2-22-24
Thursday, February 22
SHSHL National Division Quarterfinal
4. Central Bucks East vs. 5. North Penn
7:10 at Hatfield Ice
Wednesday, February 28
APAC Championship Game
St. Joseph’s Prep at La Salle
4:00 Hatfield Ice
SHSHL American Division Final
Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Bensalem
6:50 at Hatfield Ice
SHSHL National Division Semifinal
C.B. South vs. Council Rock South
7:20 at Grundy Arena
SHSHL National Division Semifinal
C.B. East or North Penn vs. Pennridge
8:45 at Hatfield Ice
Thursday, February 29
SHSHL National Division Final
Site, Time TBD
SHSHL Playoff Schedule 2024
SHSHL Playoff Schedule (Revised)
Wednesday, February 21
National Division Quarterfinal
3. Central Bucks South vs. 6. Souderton
7:20 at Hatfield Ice
American Division Semifinal
2. Bensalem vs. 3. Abington
7:20 at Grundy Arena
Thursday, February 22
National Division Quarterfinal
4. Central Bucks East vs. 5 North Penn
7:10 at Hatfield Ice
Wednesday, February 28
National Division Semifinals
- Pennridge vs. North Penn or C.B. East
8:45 at Hatfield Ice
- Council Rick South vs. C.B. South or Souderton
7:20 at Grundy Arena
American Division Final
- Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Abington or Bensalem
6:50 at Hatfield Ice
Thursday, February 29
National Division Final (tentative)
Playoff Ponderings—APAC
Tuesday, February 20
APAC Play In
#5 Hun School at #4 Holy Ghost Prep
4:00 Grundy Arena
Hun School (4-10, 1-7 APAC)
A young Raider squad battled inexperience and injuries for much of the season. Justin Laplante scored four goals and added three assist in conference play. Julian Arsenault (.920 save percentage) and P.J. Angotti are both solid in goal.
Holy Ghost Prep (10-12, 3-5 APAC)
A young team matured as the season progressed.
Anthony Valeriote leads the team in scoring with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in all competitions. Matt Cholaj has scored three goals and added 10 assists for 13 points.Jake McCaw finished regular season with nine goals and added four assists for 13 points; 3-3-6 in APAC play. Jack Unger is the probable starter in goal (.958 save percentage, 0.84 GAA in conference play; .893/2.36 in all competitions).
Wednesday, February 21
#1 La Salle vs Hun School/Holy Ghost Prep
4:00 at Class of 1923 Rink
La Salle (18-3, 8-0 APAC)
The defending conference, Flyers Cup, and state champion Explorers are seeking their fourth outright APAC title in the conference’s six-year history (they’ve also shared another). Dean Carvalho led the APAC in scoring with six goals and six assists for 12 points. He tallied 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points in all competitions. Patrick Brace has collected eight goals and 11 assists for 19 point in all competitions; 4-3-7 in the APAC. Goaltender Jake Rossi has a season-long save percentage of .936 and a GAA of 1.63; .954/1.13 in conference play.
#3 St. Joseph’s Prep vs #2 Malvern Prep
6:15 at Class of 1923 Rink
St. Joseph’s Prep (14-5, 4-4 APAC)
A corps of young players combined with veteran leadership to record some impressive results for the Hawks this season. Brayden Collins led the team in scoring with eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points; 3-3-6 in conference play. John Lynch scored four goals and added 11 assists overall. Jake Schultz was the Hawks’ top scoring in APAC competition with four goals and three assists for seven points; 7-5-12 overall. Jacob Aranda started every conference game in goal and finished league play with an .894 saver percentage and a 3.09 GAA; .893/2.85 overall.
Malvern Prep (9-7, 4-4 APAC)
The Friars had their ups and down early on, but rebounded to win six of their last nine games. Jeremy Jacobs led the team in scoring with 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points; 5-6-11 in conference play. Caiden Canale deposited six goals and added seven assists for 13 points in all competitions; 1-4-5 in the APAC. Brady Doyle added five goals and seven assists overall; 1-4-5 in conference play. Goaltender Matt Crawford turned in a .935 save percentage in APAC play with a 2.27 GAA; .911-2.62 in all competitions.
APAC Update for 2-16-24
Final Regular Season Standings
W L OTW OTL Pts GF GA
La Salle (18-3) 8 0 0 0 24 36 9
Malvern Prep (9-7) 4 4 2 2 12 18 20
St. Joseph’s Prep (14-5) 4 4 1 0 11 28 25
Holy Ghost Prep (10-12) 3 5 0 1 9 13 20
Hun School (4-10) 1 7 0 1 3 16 37
Playoff Schedule
Tuesday 2-20
4:00 (5) Hun School vs. (4) Holy Ghost Prep at Grundy Arena
Wednesday, February 21
4:00 Hun School or Holy Ghost Prep vs. (1). La Salle
6:15 (3) Malvern Prep vs. (2) St. Joseph’s Prep
Both game at Class of 1923 Rink
Wednesday, February 28
Tentative date for Founders Cup final to be hosted by highest seeded finalist
Scoring (Conference Games) GP G A Pts. PPG
Dan Carvalho (L) 8 6 6 12 1.50
Jeremy Jacobs (MP) 8 5 6 11 1.38
Patrick Brace (L) 8 4 3 7 0.88
William Carpenter (L) 8 1 6 7 0.88
Justin Laplante (HS) 8 4 3 7 0.88
Jake Schultz (SJP) 7 4 3 7 0.88
Ryan Levesque (HS) 6 1 4 5 0.83
Jake McCaw (HGP) 8 3 3 6 0.75
Brayden Collins (SJP) 8 3 3 6 0.75
Julian Tarsi (L) 8 3 3 6 0.75
Declan Kelly (L) 8 1 5 6 0.75
Will Gregorio (L) 8 1 5 6 0.75
Tristan Winata (SJP) 8 6 0 6 0.75
Save Pct (Conference Games) GP Shots GA Save Pct.
Jack Unger (HGP) 4 72 3 .958
Jake Rossi (L) 7 197 9 .954
Matt Crawford (MP) 7 293 19 .935
Julian Arseneault (HS) 4 200 16 .920
Jaccob Aranda (SJP) 8 235 25 .894
Goals Against (Conference Games)
Jack Unger (HGP) 0.84
Jake Rossi (L) 1.13
Matt Crawford (MP) 2.27
Jacob Aranda (SJP) 3.09
Julian Arsenault (HS) 3.10
(Goaltemders must have played 153 minutes in conference games)
C.B. South 6 C.B. East 2
Like the pieces of a puzzle fitting together, The SHSHL’s National Division playoff mosaic is taking shape, with a huge assist from Central Bucks South,
Six different players scored goals as the Titans downed Central Bucks East 6-2 Thursday night at Hatfield Ice, a result that solidifies the division’s playoff bracket.
With the win, South (12-4-1 in the division, 12-5-1 overall) is assured of finishing third in the division standings while the Patriots (10-5-2 overall and in the division) will finish fourth. Both will see action in the opening round of the playoffs in two weeks.
On Thursday night, the Titans. heightened their focus, and turned in a workmanlike, no-frills, effort. D.J. Lindenmuth, their captain, scored a goal and assisted on three others.
The senior noted the importance of the veterans on the roster setting the right tone for their teammates.
“The younger guys look up to the veterans,” he said. “Of we’re not leading by example, or going out and stat padding, or going out and playing for ourselves, no one is going to win a game like that because it’s a team sport.
Tyan Frey, with help from Lindenmuth, and Grant Boyne, gave South a 2-0 first-period lead.
Corey Kosick scored for East 4:42 into the second period to make it a one-goal game for a time but Lindenmuth answered with 2:38 left in the period.
Jaden Young’s tally 4:42 into the third frame made things interesting but the Titans left in the Patriots in their wake when Sean Cutter, Jeff Kvectcher, and Joey Slobodrian scored goals in a two-and-a-half minute span.
South coach Shaun McGinty expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance.
“The boys needed that,” he said. “I thought it was three good periods.
“We definitely got to work, getting the puck deep, playing the physicality.”
McGinty stressed the importance if his team playing quality five-on-five hockey.
“I said to [his players] ‘You have an identity, you have to play that way,” he said. “You can’t sway into other teams’ ways and you can’t sway into individual high-powered offense.
“You stay five on five and play our way, pucks deep, playing physical. I thought our defense was much better than it had been the last two games.
“All in all, it was definitely a good team win, something that they needed.”
Lindenmuth says that with the postseason approaching, he and his teammates are focusing on what is to come.
“We’re definitely dialed in,” he said, “focusing on the path ahead, realizing it’s important to win these games, but not just game.
“Every period, every shift, every point, every goal, everything matters.”
Ice chips: The final order of finish in the National Division; Pennridge and Council Rock South are assured of the top two spots, the final order will be determined next week.
The next four spots will belong to Central Bucks South, Central Bucks East, North Penn, and Souderton in that order.
C.B. South 2 1 3—6
C.B. East 0 11—2
First-period goals: Ryan Frey (CBS) from DJ. Lindenmuth, 5:49; Grant Boyne (CBS) from Peter Herring, 11:34
Second-period goals: Corey Kosick (CBE) from Ethan Cenci and David Brown, 4:42; Lindenmuth (CBS) unassisted, 14:22
Third-period goals: Jaden Young (CBE) from Drew Trask and Gavin Widmer, 4:42; Sean Cutter (CBS) from Lindenmuth, 5:49; Jeff Kvectcher (CBS) from Logan Hood and Keith Waldron, 6:48; Joey Slobodrian (CBS) from Lindenmuth, 8:21
Shots: C.B. South 45, C.B. East 21; Saves: Nate Napolitano (CBS) 19, Cole Breen (CBE) 39
C.R. South 8 Pennridge 7 OT
Grundy Arena was a theatre of the unexpected Wednesday night. With first place in the SHSHL’s National Division at stake as well as the top seed in the upcoming playoffs, both Pennridge and Council Rock South came out with guns blazing.
The 15th goal of the evenings settled matters. Nikita Volobuiev scored 26 seconds into overtime to give the Golden Hawks an 8-7 win.
The result leaves the teams deadlocked at the top of the division standings. The Golden Hawks improved to 17-1 overall and 16-1 in the division. The loss was the first this season for the Rams, who now stand at 15-1-1 in the division and 16-1-1 overall. Because loss was in overtime, Pennridge receives a point in the standings. Both teams have 31 points. If both win their regular-season finales next week, the Rams, who defeated the Hawks 7-3 on December 13, would be granted the top seed for the divisional playoffs.
Volobuiev’s winning goal was his fourth goal of the evening in a game that featured numerous instances where defense seemed to be an afterthought.
The teams combined for seven goals in the first period, five of which were scored before the contest was nine minutes old.
The Golden Gawks led 4-3 after the first frame on the strength of two goals from Volobuiev and goals from Gavin Nisenzon, and Illia Mukhin.
Andrew Savona scored twice for the Rams in the opening session; Shane Dachowski also scored for Pennridge.
It was more of the same in the middle period, which concluded with the teams deadlocked at 6-6. By that point Trey Prozzillo was in the South goal in relief of starter Trevor Rakszawski and Pennridge goaltender Jacob Winton was feeling the effects of the incoming fire.
The Golden Hawks’ Chase Tovsky, who assisted on Nisenzon’s first-period goal noted the first two periods were not conducted in the manner he, his teammates, and, more to the point, South coach Joe Houk, would have preferred.
“I think games like that happen,” he said. “But, it says a lot about the team you have when you’re not playing your best, you’re not getting calls or bounces, and you’re able to keep playing your game and keep putting the puck in the net.”
Volobuiev and Pico traded third-period goals; the game was tied seven with 11:55 remaining.
With just under seven minutes left, South’s penalty killers came up big. With 6:43 left, Volobuiev was called for tripping. Thirty-two seconds later Jake Mauer was whistled for same infraction, giving the Rams a two-man advantage for 88 seconds. Matched against the highest scoring offense in the division apart from its own, South held firm.
“We had to step up for [Houk],” said South’s Kevin Koles, “our team, our goalies. Everybody did their jobs and killed it off and we got back to work.”
Even amidst the plethora of goals, Koles said he and his teammates maintained their focus.
“We knew we had to come out hard,” he said. “we knew what this team was about and we stepped up.”
Volobuiev’s winning goal saw him get past Colin Dachowski with a great individual move in the middle of the ice before beating Winton.
Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna was philosophical about the loss.
“That’s what happens when you have high-end offensive talent playing against each other,” he said. “I thought it would be a little lower scoring. But there were some great offensive players.”
Pennridge 3 3 1 0—7
C.R. South 4 2 1 1—8
First-period goals: Andrew Savona (Pr) from Shane Dachowski and Kevin Pico, 3:23; Gavin Nisenzon (CRS) from Jake Weiner and Chase Tovsky, 4:21 (pp); Shane Dachowski (Pr) from Pico, 5:08 (pp); Nikita Volobuiev (CRS) from Illia Mukhin, 6:34, Mikhin (CRS) from Ilya Kudzinau and Volobuiev, 8:58; Savona (Pr) from James Rush, 14:14; Volobuiev (CRS) from Peter Pereborow and Jordan Sarne, 15:04
Second-period goals: John Mikulich (Pr) from Pico and Savona, :44; Savona (Pr) from Colin Dachowski and Shane Dachowski, 2:01 (pp); Tovsky (CRS) from Blaize Pepe, 5:30; Nisenzon (CRS) from Kevon Koles, 16:41 (pp); Pico (Pr from Shane Dachowski and Savona, 16:50
Third-period goals: Volobuiev (CRS) unassisted, 2:39; Pico (Pr) from Colin Dachowski, 5:05
Overtime goal: Volobuiev (CRS) unassisted, :26
Shots: Pennridge 39, C.R. South 43; Saves: Jacob Winton (Pr) 35, Trevor Rakszawski 15 and Trey Prozzillo (CRS) 21
Flyers Cup Rankings
Below are the newest Flyers Cup rankings as of 2-5-24. This is the last set of rankings before the tournament field is announced on Sunday, February 25
Class AAA
- La Salle
- Malvern Prep
- St. Joseph’s Prep
- Holy Ghost Prep
- Father Judge
Class AA
- Pennridge
- Council Rock South
- Boyertown
- Downingtown West
- Haverford
Class A
1. Garnet Valley
2. West Chester East
3. Hershey
4. Marple Newrown
5. Lower Dauphin
Girls
- Avon Grove
- Downingtown West
- West Chester Henderson
- Kingsway
North Penn 5 C.B. East 5
Call it a playoff preview, a preview punctuated by controversy. In the end, North Penn and Central Bucks East skated to a 5-5 overtime draw Friday night in a SHSHL National Division skirmish at the Bucks County Ice Sports Center.
The emotions of the two sides following the final buzzer were a study in contrast.
The Patriots (10-4-2) overcame a 4-1 second-period deficit but also had two goals disallowed. The Knights (8-7-1) benefitted from the awarding of a goal but failed to hold their three-goal advantage before rallying down the stretch to force the deadlock.
East’s Corey Kosick and North Penn’s James Boyle each had two-goal performances. But their efforts were overshadowed by the controversy, which emerged in opening seconds of the second period with North Penn holding a 3-1 lead.
A scramble on front of the East net saw Patriot goaltender seemingly deny the Knights’ Samuel Norton and play moved to the other end of the ice where Kosick put the puck behind North Penn netminder Ian McAteer, apparently making it a one-goal game.
At that point, the two officials huddled and ruled that Norton’s shot had actually crossed the goal line. North Penn was awarded a goal, thus Kosick’s effort did not count and instead of trailing 3-2 the Patriots found themselves down 4-1.
North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis shared the explanation he received from the officials.
“The puck went in,” he said. [The official on the goal line] didn’t see it, the top ref did but let the play continue. Sure enough, they ended up scoring on it but you’ve to back to [the previous play.]”
East got off the canvas however. Jaden Young and Charlie Keiser scored goals before the second period ended and Kosick tied the game with a power-play goal. 1:23 into the third frame. It was East’s third power-play tally of the game.
Gavin Widmer put East in front at 5-4 off a setup from Young at the 5:51 mark.
The Patriots appeared to add a sixth goal off the stick of Kyle McIntyre with 3:09 left in regulation but the goal was disallowed when it was ruled the net was dislodged.
Meanwhile, Cole Breen in goal held the Knights at bay for virtually all of the last two periods but Norton scored his second goal of the game on a deflection with 1:37 left in regulation and that’s the way the evening finished.
The outcome left East coach Jeff Mitchell exasperated.
“I’m very upset at the officiating tonight,” he said. “I don’t really have any kind of excuse for them … It was pretty brutal.”
On the plus side, Mitchell noted his team’s performance over the last month; the Patriots are 5-0-2 in their last seven starts.
“Everybody’s kind of working as a team,” he said. “We’ve got some lines kind of figured out. It takes time to kind of jell together as a team and we’re getting a lot of production out of our top guys, but we’ve got some underclassmen that are shining too and they’re coming up into the ranks.
Vaitis expressed concern about his team’s in ability to hold a three-goal lead.
“I thought we had a couple penalties we probably wish we didn’t take,” he said. They had [three] power-play goals that I think gave them more life.
“They’re a good team. If you give them opportunities on the man advantage, they’re going to take advantage of it.”
Ice chips: The point East received in the standings for the tie assures the Patriots will finish no worse than fourth. If they win their two remaining regular-season games they could possibly finish third.
North Penn will finish fifth or sixth. If the Knights finish fifth, they will likely face the Patriots in the first round of the playoffs.
North Penn 3 1 1 0—5
C.B. East 1 2 2 0—5
First-period goals: Cole Pluck (NP) from Chase Kelly Del Ricci and Samuel Norton, 5:18; James Boyle (NP) from Nolan Shingle, 10:16 (pp); Corey Kosick (CBE) from Ethan Cenci, 12:52; Boyle (NP) from Shingle, 14:13 (pp)
Second-period goals: Norton (NP) from Chris Seward, :25; Jaden Young (CBE) from Gavin Widmer, 5:27 (pp); Charlie Keiser (CBE) from Kosick, 12:59 (pp);
Third-period goals: Kosick (CBE) from David Brown, 1:23 (pp); Widmer (CBE) from Young, 5:51; Norton (NP) from Del Ricci and Pluck, 14:23
Shots: North Penn 38, C.B. East 41; Saves: Ian McAteer (NP) 36, Cole Breen (CBE) 33
Hockey Happenings 