Four different players scored goals as St. Joseph’s Prep opened defense of its Purple Puck tournament title with a 4-1 win over Gonzaga College High’s second team Wednesday afternoon in Washington, D.C.
Brayden Collins and Michael Castelli scored for the Hawks in the first of two 25-minute periods before Jackson Marlais answered for the hosts.
John Lynch and Tristan Winata added second-period goals.
Declan Geary and Jacob Aranda split time in goal.
The Hawks (6-2) will complete round-robin play on Thursday with games against Archbishop Spalding and Gonzaga’s number-one team.
St. Joseph’s Prep 2 2 —4
Gonzaga 1 0 —1
First-period goals: Brayden Collins (SJP) from Shane O’Neill, 2:27; Michael Castelli (SJP) from Collins, 20:13; Jackson Marlais (G) from Brendan Beane and Brendan Rosello, 23:42
Second-period goals: John Lynch (SJP) from Castelli, 2:07 (pp); Tristan Winata (SP) from Lynch, 6:34 (pp)
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 42, Gonzaga 19; Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 9 and Jacob Aranda 10, Claude Engle-Kis, (G) 38
Hockey Happenings has been on an unscheduled hiatus the past week. We’re glad to mark our return with a belated set of Flyers Cup rankings. Kudos to the members of the Flyers Cup Committee for their efforts.
Flyers Cup Rankings as of 12-18-23
Class AAA
La Salle
St. Joseph’s Prep
Malvern Prep
Salesianum
Father Judge
Class AA
Pennridge
Council Rock South
Downingtown West
Boyertown
Central Bucks South
Class A
West Chester East
Penncrest
Garnet Valley
Marple Newrown
Lower Dauphin
Girls
Avon Grove
Downingtown West
West Chester Henderson
Kingsway
Conestoga
Rankings determined by the Flyers Cup Committee based on game results and observations by committee members. The Flyers Cup is an invitational tournament; there are no automatic bids.
At the start of what was to be his senior year of high school, Ryan Levesque made a big decision. Instead of completing his secondary education at Hunterdon Central High, the Reddington, New Jersey resident chose to enroll at The Hun School instead and repeat his junior year.
That was prior to the 2022-23 school year.
“I heard about [Hun School] through friends that had played hockey there,” Levesque recalls. “They’re older now, they’re in college. Then I heard about it from a friend at [Princeton Day School] which is actually surprising because he didn’t go to Hun, but his mother and my mother talked about it and she hard great things. We found that it was a good match for me.
“It’s been a great experience.”
Levesque (#15) takes his leadership role seriously
Now a senior at Hun School, Levesque acknowledged he had some adjustments to make when he first arrived on campus.
“I would say the first week or so was pretty tough,” he said, “trying to gauge the different education level, how they treated their students, how their classes were commenced.
“It was definitely a tough change at first, but once I got really settled in everything really just became a routine and it started to just come to me naturally.
“I never had a problem with meeting new people, but I would say breaking the ice was definitely the biggest part. I kind of had to get over that little hump, I would say. Because I didn’t know anyone going into the school so it was a definitely a big adjustment in that aspect, but now I have a lot of friends there. I keep in touch with them not only in school but out of school and I would say that was the biggest adjustment.”
Lavesque says his passion for hockey accelerated the transition process.
“I feel like the ice is a different home for me,” he said. “I’ve always felt it feels so natural to me. All my problems go away as soon as I hit the ice. It really doesn’t matter where I touch down but I feel as if I really jelled with the guys on the team last year and this year.
“For me personally, it was definitely a big step from transferring from a public to a private setting but I definitely felt as soon as I touched the ice I’d fit in right away.”
As a senior on a young team, Lavesque takes his leadership responsibilities seriously. He stresses the importance of being a positive influence for his teammates on the ice and elsewhere.
I definitely hope to produce my best for this team, on and off the ice,” he said. “I look to be a guy the younger kids on the team playing varsity for the first time, cam look up to, not only as a teammate but as a person on and off the ice.
“I’m definitely excited to take a leadership role just to be a guy people can turn to on and off the ice; if they need anything.”
HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—Heading down the stretch at Hatfield Ice Monday evening, La Salle found itself hanging on.
The Explorers had the better of the play most of the day against Holy Ghost Prep and held a 2-1 lead with 3:27 remaining in regulation when Michael Zarzycki drew a five-minute major penalty plus a game misconduct for cross checking.
La Salle would have to play the remainder of regulation plus the start of an overtime period shorthanded. It was time for goaltender Jake Rossi to stand tall.
He and the defense corps in front of him did just that, limiting the Firebirds to two shots on goal the rest of the way while Patrick Brace added an empty-net goal with 80 seconds remaining. The 3-1 win that resulted kept the Explorers perfect in the APAC at 4-0 and improved them to 8-1 overall. Afterward, La Salle coach Wally Muhelbronner lauded his veteran netminder’s effort.
“He’s been solid for two years now,” Muehlbronner said. “It’s not surprising me with Jake. He has very, very good focus and he’d made big saves like that a lot for us.”
Declan Kelly gave La Salle a 1-0 lead 2:36 into the opening period with a shot along the ice from the right point that got past Firebird netminder Jack Bothoff.
Kelly later set up Dean Carvalho who scored a power-play goal 5:30 into the second period to give the Explorers a two-goal.
But the Firebirds (2-6, 0-2 in the APAC) kept working and were rewarded 10:48 into the middle period when Caine Bickel scored off a feed from fellow freshman Nathan Romer. The goal came off a La Salle turnover.
Following Zarzycki’s penalty, Kelly knew he and his teammates had to step things up a bit.
“A five-minute penalty like that, we just have to keep things simple and get the puck out of our zone,” he said. “Keep working all the way through to the end of the game. Those close games, it’s really important to play a full three periods.”
Kelly a junior is playing a more prominent role with the Explorers this season after skating on the third line a year ago.
“Last year we had all these seniors,” he said. “It’s more of a leadership role this year and just showing these underclassmen how to work hard and maybe [overcome] the talent that we lost last year.”
For Holy Ghost Prep, the afternoon was another step in the maturation of a young team, that has taken big strides since the start of the season.
“It’s kind of an ongoing thing,” said Firebird coach John Richie. “We have so many new guys, we graduated 10 seniors, so some of this just come down to chemistry and our coaching staff is together for the first time.
“So, they’re learning our style, we’re kind of still learning some of their tendencies. We’re better than we were a month ago.”
Ice chips— La Salle has beaten each of the other APAC schools once.
Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 0—1
La Salle 1 1 1—3
First-period goal: Declan Kelly (L) from Liam Donahue and Charlie Kennedy, 2:36
Second-period goal: Dean Carvalho (L) from Kelly and Grant LaGreca, 5:35 (pp); Caine Bickel (HGP) from Nathan Romer, 10:48
Third-period goal; Patrick Brace (L) unassisted, 15:40
Shots; Holy Ghost Prep 23, La Salle 32; Saves; Jack Bothoff (HGP) 29; Jake Rossi (L) 22
St. Augustine 5 La Salle 1—The loss on Thursday was the Explorers’ first of the season after seven wins. Dean Carvalho scored the La Salle goal. Jake Rossi stopped 46 shots in goal.
Christian Brothers Academy 4 Malvern Prep 3—Thomas Mantellino’s goal with 5:44 left in regulation was the difference as Christian Bothers Academy edged the Friars in a non-league game on Thursday.
Jeremy Jacobs scored twice for Malvern Prep, which also got a goal from Henry Tesoriero
The North Penn Hockey Club is once again conducting a toy drive in support of the North Penn Valley Boys and Girls Club, and its efforts to serve needy families in the North Penn area.
Those interested in participating are asked to Venmo North Penn Ice Hockey at @NPHockey with a donation.
North Penn Ice Hockey will match up to $500 of the donations. The club will utilize the donations to purchase toys for children ages 5-12 and gift cards to local grocery stores for those in need.
They will be delivered to the Boys and Girls Club on Monday, December 18.
North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis says the toy drive in part of North Penn Ice Hockey’s ongoing effort to serve its community.
“We look at it as we’re one community here,” he said, “and if there is an opportunity for us to help out those less fortunate right now, those going through some difficult times, we want to lend a hand.
“This past weekend, a bunch of us went over and we were raking leaves at an over-55 community, helping some of the elderly who can’t get out there or can’t afford to pay somebody to rake their leaves up.
“I think we’re teaching these kids to give back to the community. We’re fortunate with the situation we’re in; we’re able to play ice hockey, it’s not the cheapest sport. So, if we can give back a little and help those less fortunate or having a difficult time right now, we’re willing to do it.”
For a high-school hockey player, performing on the ice while also succeeding academically is a balancing act. Thomas Doucet appears to have struck that balance.
The La Salle senior is one of the Explorers’ top defensemen. He’s also carrying a 4.1 grade-point average on a weighted 4.0 scale with a schedule that includes four AP courses, while also playing club hockey for the Valley Forge Minutemen.
Doucet, a Wayne resident, is also active in the Frozen Lemonade Cup event which utilizes hockey as a vehicle to support childhood cancer research.
Somehow, he makes it all work.
“For me, it’s about doing what I can, when I can,” Doucet said. “Really, just finding time in my schedule.
Doucet’s schedule, in the classroom and on the ice, is daunting, to say the least. La Salle utilizes modified block scheduling so his AP classes meet on alternate days; biology and psychology on one day, English and statistics the next. The AP classes are an hour long save for biology (90 minutes) which includes a lab.
Once the school day ends, there is hockey. Doucet is typically on the ice with the Explorers two days a week; normally Monday and Wednesday, plus Tuesday and Thursday evenings with his club team.
Following hockey, there is a vigorous homework schedule.
“It’s about making time for the things that are important,” Doucet said, “and really prioritizing over the distractions is kind of what has helped me be able to manage all of it.
“Coming to La Salle kind of pushed me into learning time management. The homework schedule for me is pretty rigorous and I feel like that’s what kind of what pushed me to really be able to manage my time well.”
Doucet gets his homework done during free periods during the school day and at home before or after a session on the ice.
“I’ll get home and immediately do my homework,” he said.
Doucet weekends are devoted to club games with the Minutemen, which often involve travel. He takes work with him on the road but focuses on getting assignments competed ahead of a road trip, whether it’s a weekday excursion with the Explorers or a weekend tournament with his club team.
“That’s where you find time and you make time,” he said. “Usually, I’ll try the day before a road trip like that to get all my homework done the next day so that day when I get home I’m able to relax and not have to stress about homework right after playing a big game.”
Club games sometimes involve missing class time. Doucet estimates he’ll miss perhaps a half dozen days of school during the hockey season, normally on Fridays.
“That’s where communication really comes in,” he said. “Communication, building a good relationship with your teachers, really becomes key for me. And also, relying on your classmates to get any notes that you missed, really just communicating with everyone and building strong relationships really helps that become more manageable.”
Even in the midst of a hockey trip, Doucet attends to his academic chores.
“I do a little bit of studying before I go to bed,” he said. “If I have an assignment that’s due on Sunday night, I’ll being my laptop with me and get that finished up.
“But usually, I think I’m pretty good at getting my stuff done before I have hockey so I can focus on my athletic side.”
Doucet cites his ability to maintain his discipline and focus as a key to maintaining his demanding schedule.
I’d say ‘Definitely’ about the discipline,” he said. “Especially in today’s world, there’s a lot of distractions. So, being able to stay focused, stay locked in, keeping your mind on the task, has really been helpful for me.”
Ducette credits the culture at La Salle as being instrumental to his success.
“That’s probably the biggest part for me,” he said. “Again, building relationships with your teachers and your peers. They make the school experience overall easier, so when it comes to missing a class or having to retake a test, or something like that, it just makes it a million times easier for me to get back on track and stay on top of things.”
The close of the 2023-24 season will end a phase of Doucet’s hockey career. With college ahead, he has new priorities.
“I’m going to move on from hockey,” he said. “I’m going to play club hockey in college but I really want to focus on my academics.”
Docette is planning a major in pharmaceutical sciences. The schools he’s applied to include Purdue, the University of Georgia, and McGill University in Montreal.
“I really have this deep-rooted love for science,” he said. And I feel like using my love for science to help people really drew me in, really gave me a good sense of direction, a good sense of purpose.”
CLICK HERE for more about La Salle College High School
A.J. Prete’s overtime goal gave Holy Ghost Prep a 2-1 win over Bethel Park (PA) on Friday in Jamestown, N.Y. Joe Spadacino also scored for the Firebirds, who recorded their first win of the season. Holy Ghost Prep will face St. Edwards from Ohio and Regis Jesuit from Colorado on Saturday.
Hockey Happenings 