Category: Hockey History

APAC Previews

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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WORCESTER STATE 3, ARCADIA 2 (OT)

COLMAR, Pa. – The Arcadia University women’s ice hockey team fell to Worcester State, 3-2, in overtime on Sunday afternoon at Hatfield Ice Arena. The Lancers scored two third-period goals to send the game to the extra frame, before they scored the game-winner in overtime. 

First-year forward Ariel Williamson scored the first goal in program history for the Knights. The Rome, N.Y. native found the top corner of the goal in the second period to put the Knights on the board for the first time. 

WORCESTER STATE 3, ARCADIA 2 (OT)
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • After neither team found the back of the net in the first period, Williamson scored just over four minutes into the second period to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
  • Karahkwenhawe White converted on the power play in the second period to give the Knights a 2-0 lead. Williamson tallied her second point of the day with an assist on White’s goal.
  • Worcester State scored its first goal with less than four minutes to go in the third period. The Lancers tied it with a minute and a half left to send the game to overtime. 
  • The Lancers scored the game-winner 1:41 into overtime after a pass in front was tipped past Arcadia goaltender Sophia Szelag. 

The APAC is Expanding

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.

APAC Names All-Conference Squad

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has named its all-conference team for 2021.

The players were selected by the four conference coaches.

First Team

F Michael Casey, La Salle Sr.

F Matt Harris, Malvern Prep Jr.

F Brady Baehser, Holy Ghost Prep So.

D Chris Blango, Malvern Prep, Sr.

D Andrew Budzynski, La Salle  Sr.

G Anthony Perti, Malvern Prep Jr.

Second Team
F Dom Fantozzi, St. Joseph’s Prep Sr.

F Jack Constabile, Malvern Prep Sr.

F Evan Mudrick, Holy Ghost Prep Sr.

D E.J. Pohl, Holy Ghost Prep Sr.

D Nick Storti, St. Joseph’s Prep Jr.

G Liam Gross. La Salle Sr.

Honorable Mention

F Connor Burman, St. Joseph’s Prep

F David Kimmell,La Salle

F Ryan Sambuco, Malvern Prep

F Sean Marshall, Holy Ghost Prep

F Jeffrey Hammond, St. Joseph’ Prep

D Declan Pierce, St. Joseph’s Prep

D Chase Hannon La Salle

D Brian Butler, Holy Ghost Prep

D Quinn Dougherty, Malvern Prep

G Rocco Bruno, St. Joseph’s Prep

G Bobby Baehser, Holy Ghost Prep

The conference has decided that the Founders Cup final, the APAC championship game will not be played. APAC Commissioner Jim Britt issued a statement Monday night:

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference representatives have elected to not play the Founders’ Cup Final Championship game, originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 31st between LaSalle College HS and Malvern Prep. The original championship game had been postponed due to Covid protocols.  Both teams will be recognized as 2020-2021 finalists.  The decision was made in consultation with school administrators and athletic directors, with special consideration given to schedule conflicts and impacts on spring activities and other sports.

Reflections on a State Championship

   They reached the mountaintop and came home with a state championship. 

Malvern Prep’s 4-2 win over North Allegheny in Saturday’s Class AAA Pennsylvania Cup finale was the culmination of a season’s worth of dedication, not only on the ice but, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, off the ice as well.

Junior Quinn Dougherty scored his team’s first goal, a shorthanded effort that tied the game at 1-1 7:09 into the first period. Dougherty felt that goal was the turning point in the game.

“I thought that was probably a huge goal,” said. “We were down 1-0, we were on a penalty kill, things weren’t really going out way.

“Then we scored on the penalty kill and that just gave us a bunch of life because it was a hard-work goal and it just showed we weren’t going to quit right away.”

Senior Ryan Sambuco, one of the Friars’ captains, says the championship game’s up-tempo pace worked to the Friars’ advantage. “We played the game we wanted to,” he said. “We pretty much kept it simple, getting pucks in deep and shooting low for rebounds That’s how we scored all our goals.

“I think did very well managing the other team and playing to their weaknesses and our strengths.”

Senior Matt Donatucci said the Friars picked up their game after a slow start. ”There were times we were playing sloppy,” he said, “but I think at the end of the second we definitely talked it out. We realized that we kind of had to sacrifice and played our game. I think after that we were probably smooth sailing from there.”

For Donatucci, winning the state championship marked the conclusion of a long journey. I’ve been here for seven years,” he said, “since middle school. I’ve been playing hockey the whole time. Going out on top has been awesome I’m friends with almost every guy in the locker room. It’s just a great group of guys.”

Sambuco saluted his teammate, senior defenseman Chris Blango, for his contributions to the team’s success. Blango didn’t dress for the Flyers Cup final against La Salle or for the state championship game because of injury.

“He brought to where we were, in the playoffs and everything,” Sambuco said. “Being a captain of the team, also being our number one defenseman throughout the regular season and everything, being on the bench as well. 

“He did everything to contribute to the boys. He was out there talking. He was almost like another coach on the bench.”

PA State Championships

Pennsylvania Cup State Championship Games

Saturday, April 24

All Games at UPMC Sports Complex in Cranberry, PA

Class A

West Chester East 6, Indiana 3    Final

The Vikings scored four goals in the third period to claim the state title, the third in school history. The first two were in 2008 and 2013. They finished their season at 17-0.

This game can be streamed here

Class AA

Baldwin 4, Haverford 1 Final

Baldwin previously won a state title in 1988

This game is being streamed HERE

Class AAA

Malvern Prep 4, North Allegheny 2 Final

First-period goals: Nate Spak (NA) 3:17; Quinn Dougherty (M) 7:09 (sh); Jack Constabile (MP) 7:35; Constabile (MP) 9:38;

Second-period goals Jimmy Kirk (MP; Connor Chi (NA) 2:39

This game will be streamed HERE

Flyers Cup Update 4-20-21

Class AA Final

Haverford 4, Downingtown West 1

Jacob Orazi scored twice as third-seeded Haverford bested top-seeded Downingtown West 4-1 Tuesday night in the Class AA Flyers Cup final at Ice Line.

Jagur McClelland and Daniel Quartapella also scored for the Fords, who captured the fifth Cup in school history.

Tyler DeTreux scored for Dowingtown West to give the top-seeded Whippets a 1-0 lead 3:33 into the first period.

McClelland and Orazi scored second-period goals for the Fords. Orazi’s shorthanded effort with 1:12 left in the period proved to be the game winner.

Daniel Quartapella and Orazi scored empty-net goals late in the third period.

Haverford 0 2 2—4

Downingtown West 1 0 0—1

First-period goals: Tyler DeTreux (DW) from Thomas Fetterman and Zakari Spero, 3:33

Second-period goals: Jagur McClelland (H) unassisted, 5:43; Jacob Orazi (H) from Mike Mc Geoch and Aidenn Johnson, 15:48 (sh)

Third-period goals: Daniel Quartapella (H) unassisted, 16:01 (en); Orazi (H) unassisted, 16:44 (en)

Shots Haverford 49, Downingtown West 30;: Saves: Jai Jani (H) 29, Aidan McHutchinson, 49

Flyers Cup Class A Final

West Chester East 3, West Chester Henderson 2

Chase Bencel’s goal with 2:04 left in the second period proved to be the game winner Tuesday night as the top-seeded Vikings bested the Warriors in the Class A Flyers Cup at ice Line. Greg Diamond and Henry Thornton also scored for West Chester East, who captured the third Flyers Cup title in school history. Dylan Trench and Alex Holloway scored for the sixth-seeded Warriors.

West Chester East had a 60-26 shot advantage; Henderson goaltender Dylan Kirk made 57 saves.

WC Henderson 2 0 0—2

WC East 1 2 0—3

First-period goals: Dylan Trench (WCH) from Brian Bowan and Alex Holloway, 5:07; Greg Diamond (WCE) from Chase Becnel and Tristan D’Elia, 11:02 (pp); Holloway (WCH) from Dylan DeAngelo and Chris Laurence, 15:12

Second-period goals: Henry Thornton (WCE) from D’Elia, 6:12; Bencel (WCE) from Diamond, 14:56

Shots: WC Henderson 26, WC East 60; Saves: Dylan Krick (WCH) 57, Jake Godshall (WCE) 24

Flyers Cup Reflections

Thoughts on the Flyers Cup AAA final.

Malvern Prep’s Matt Harris earned the Class AAA Flyers Cup’s Bobby Clarke Award as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Harris, a junior who spends the bulk of his time on right wing, collected three goals and an assist in the first two rounds of the tournament and played a key role in the Friars 4-3 overtime. win over La Salle in Monday night’s final.

Harris noted there was little to choose between the two finalists. “La Salle is definitely a good team,” he said, “They always have been a good team. We knew it was going to be a tough game throughout the whole game.

‘We tried to keep our pressure up. They were doing their best to match with us and we were doing our best to match with them.”

In light of the issues the Friars and the other Flyers Cup qualifiers had to deal with this season, on and off the ice, claiming the title was especially satisfying.

“Super satisfying,” Harris said, moments after the final buzzer Words can’t even describe the way everybody’s feeling right now. Covid was very unfortunate this year but we were lucky that we were able the Flyers Cup games in an and the whole season in. We were just lucky that we didn’t get taken out of the Flyers Cup for Covid-related issues, that we were able to get the job done.”

Malvern Prep celebrates on the ice after winning the Class AAA Flyers Cup Monday night (By Gracie Cleveland)

Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan Recognized what his team was part of Monday night. “We knew it was going to be a tough game,” he said. “We knew La Salle and what they’re capable of, and props to La Salle, they played a heck of a game. It was back and forth. It was tight, just like as expected.”

The Malvern Prep program was idled by Covid immediately preceding the Flyers Cup. Keenan said the shutdown provided his team with an opportunity to regroup, albeit with a caveat.

“We knew we had a long stretch of games in a short period of time,” he said. “This is what we worked for all season. I’ve coached some of these kids since middle school up through high school and it’s great to see them prevail here and come out on top.”

Kudos to the officiating crew that worked the Class AAA final.  Referees Laura White and Brian McCullough read the temperature of the game perfectly and allowed the players the right amount of leeway. As high as the stakes were, the players respected each other and the game. Doug Hook and Tim Holtz worked the lines.

The All-Tournament team, as selected by the Flyers Cup Committee

All-Tournament Team

F: Jimmy Jacobs – Malvern Prep

F: Michael Casey – La Salle

F: Ryan Sambuco – Malvern Prep

D: Quinn Dougherty – Malvern Prep

D: Andrew Budzynski – La Salle

G: Anthony Perti – Malvern Prep

AAA Leading Scorer: Michael Casey – La Salle 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points