William Tennent 11, Quakertown 2

WARMINSTER—William Tennent is skating in new surroundings this season. The Panthers have shifted from the Continental to the American Division of the Suburban High School Hockey League for 2021.

On Wednesday night, they looked very much at home in their new enviornment. Frank Rosenberry scored four goals and assisted on another as the Panthers sped past Quakertown 11-2 at the Bucks County Ice Sports Center.

Like Tennent (1-1), Quakertown (0-1-0-1) switched divisions this season.

Tennent coach Nick D’Aurizio was impressed with the way his troops responded after a season-opening 10-goal loss to Wissahickon one week ago.

“I think the jitters were there last week,” he said, “playing a new team last week. It’s a different season, a different situation.

“We didn’t come ready to play last week. When the puck dropped tonight, we looked like we were ready to go.”

The game stayed close well into the second period. Tennent’s Matthew Castan and Quakertown’s Jack Dilberto traded goals in the first frame before Rosenberry gave Tennent the lead when he scored off a scramble in front of the net with 45 seconds left in the period.

Rosenberry scored his second goal of the game 2:08 into the middle period. That was a prelude to his team breaking the game open with three additional goals in a span of two minutes, 30 seconds. Bryan Mesaro scored the first goal of the flurry before Rosenberry added his third and fourth goals of the evening.

Quakertown coach Keith Krem noted that turnovers caused his team difficulties. “Turnovers and pinches,” he said. “We’ve got to be more defensively sound and more conservative on the back end.

Krem said some of his team’s miscues were the result of poor decision making. “Especially when we got down a couple goals,” he said. “We tended to start forcing some things and just made some risker decisions. (Tennent) was pretty sound in just getting pucks in behind us.”

Castan joined Rosenberry as a multiple-goal scorer for Tennent. He contributed two, along with two assists.

D’Aurizio shuffled his lines after the loss to Wissahickon and his formula produced some impressive results.

“We mixed the lines up a lot since last week,” he said, “Monday we worked on two new line combinations and I think these combinations actually clicked. That’s what it’s all about, tweaking the lineup to find what’s going to fit.”

Notes: Tennent had a 43-24 edge in shots. Thomas Lomas got the win between the pipes. His best work came on back-to-back shots from close range not quite midway through the third period.

Quakertown 1 0 1—2

William Tennent 2 5 4—11

First-period goals: Matthew Castan (WT) from Nate Silberman and Gavin Loughlin, 8:09; Jack Dilberto (Q) from William Wilson, 10:27; Frank Rosenberry (WT) from Silberman, 15:15.

Second-period goals: Rosenberry (WT) from Castan, 2:08; Bryan Mesaro (WT) unassisted, 7:17; Rosenberry (WT) from Justin Carrelli, 9:05 (pp); Rosenberry from Casran and David Parkinson, 9:47; Casrfan (WT) from Jagger Azvolinski, 12:37.

Third-period goals: Carelli (WT) unassisted, 5:39; Azvolinski (WT) from Zach Devor and Walt Wolaniuk, 6:49; Devor (WT) unassisted, 11:33; Maxwell Jallboot (Q) from Anthony Pagliei, 14:29; Carelli (WT) from Rosenberry, 15:48.

Shots: Quakertown 24, William Tennent 43; Saves: Austin Sroudt (Q) 32, Thomas Lomas (WT) 22

SHSHL Update

Standings through 1-15-21

National/Continental Divisdions W L T OTL Pts

Central Bucks East 1 0 0 0 2

Council Rick South 1 0 0 0 2

Neshaminy 1 0 0 0 2

North Penn 1 0 0 0 2

Pennridge 0 0 0 0 0

Pennsbury 0 0 0 1 1

Central Bucks South 0 1 0 0 0

Central Bucks West 0 1 0 0 0

Souderton 0 1 0 0 0

American Division W L T OTL Pts

Wissahickon 1 0 0 0 2

Abington 1 0 0 2 2

Hatboro-Horsham 1 1 0 0 0

Quakertown 0 0 0 1 1

Truman 0 0 0 1 1

Plymouth Whitemarsh 0 1 0 0 0

William Tenennt 0 1 0 0 0

The Road Ahead

The path to the start of the hockey season has been difficult to navigate to stay the least. But all interested parties now parties now have a road map that shows a route all the way to the end of the season.

The Inter County Scholastic Hockey League (ICSHL) launched its 2021 campaign last Friday and the Suburban High School Hockey League is kicking off its season this week.

Meantime, the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference (APAC) remains on hold, on deference to the Covid-19 restrictions which are still in place in the City of Philadelphia and have mandated the closing of ice rinks, specifically the Class of 1923 rink at the University of Pennsylvania and the Flyers Skatezonein Northeast Philadelphia.Those restrictions are scheduled to be lifted this Friday, January 15.

APAC Commissioner Jim Britt said the conference is aiming at a February 1 start date. “The teams are making the final tweaks for APAC games and crossovers against selected ICSHL Class AAA teams,” he said.”

Britt praised the coaches and school administrators at the four APAC schools for their efforts to bring the 2021 season to fruition.

““Everyone was disappointed last March when the 2020 Flyers Cup was paused & eventually cancelled,” he said. “The APAC coaching staffs & administrators have been working hard to provide the best & safest 2021 experience possible, being creative & flexible as we navigate the challenges. We’re all looking forward to getting back on the ice.”

As for the 2021 Flyers Cup tournament, Flyers Cup Committee President Eric Tye indicated that the field for this year’s tournament will be announced on Sunday, March 28. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 5 and conclude on Thursday, April 15.

Those dates are subject to change if the season is interrupted because of Covid issues or some other cause.

The state championship games are scheduled for Saturday, April 24 in Pittsburgh.

Here’s the Lineup

Here’s the cast of characters for the Suburban High School Hockey League’s 48th season.

National/Continental Divisions

Council Rock South

Coach: Joe Houk (15^thseason)

Last Year: 14-6-0-1

Key players: Jr. Jimmy Sweeney (G); So. Carson Lopez (G); Sr. Brennen Wright (D); Sr. Kyle Schneider (D); Sr. Doug Lopez (F); Sr. Jeremy Purcell (F).

Outlook: The defending SHSHL Class AA champions will be dealing with numbers issues this season. Five players who played key roles on last year’s team and were eligible to return did not. But there is experience on hand, including Sweeney and Lopez in goal, Wright and Schneider on the blue line and Purcell up front.

“We’ll be competitive,” Houk said, “but we’ll need to work for every win. It’s a good group of hardworking boys and I look forward to getting started.”

Central Bucks East

Coach: Jeff Mitchell (first season)

Last year: 10-6-1-1

Key players: Sr. Chris McIntyre (G); Sr. Conner Keiser (D); Sr. Conner Hausner (F); Jr. Phil McIntyre (F).

Outlook: Mitchell takes over for Ken Latchum who in two tours of duty spent a total of 12 years behind the Patriots’ bench. His roster will feature a solid corps of seniors led by Chris McIntyre in goal and Keiser on the blue line.

“These young men are looking to make a statement this year” Mitchell said. “They have a lot to prove before they move onto their everyday lives”

Central Bucks West

Coach: Dave Baun (17^thseason)

Last year: 7-7-2

Key players: Sr. Keith Orlando (F); Jr. Evan Hee (D); Jr. Grant Funseth (D); Sr. Ben Morris (F); Jr. Reese Dalzell (D).

Outlook: Baun, the senior coach in the SHSHL in terms of longevity, will be directing one of the youngest teams he’s ever had.

“We are as young and as new as we’ve been in years,” he said. “But, we also have some of the best attitudes and hardest workers we’ve seen in a while and when you have that, a lot of good things are possible.”

Central Bucks South

Coach: Shaun McGinty (seventh season)

Last year: 21-4

Key players: Sr. Mason Moyer (G); Jr. Daniel Kevecher (F); Jr. Aidan Gaffney (F); Sr. Owen Mendham (D); So. Matt Crouch (D).

Outlook: The Titans suffered some graduation hits in the off season but dome key veterans return, including Moyer in goal. The seven-time SHSHL Class AA champions should be as dangerous as usual.

“Our goal each tear is to win,” McGinty said. “Our focus is on hard work, sacrifice, and discipline. There is no other way.”

Neshaminy

Coach: Matt DeMatteo

Last year: 12-4-0-1

Key players: Sr. Robbie Seewagen (F); Sr. Thomas Gallagher (F); Sr. Matt Buchinski (D); So. Brian Nelson (G); So. Nolan Geria (F); So. J.J. Hathaway (D).

Outlook: The ‘Skins blossomed into a potent offensive force and that trend should continue this season. Four of the top five scorers on last year’s team return, led by Seewagen, perhaps the league’s premier sniper, along with Gallagher and Geria. Buchinski is solid on the blue line and Nelson was impressive in goal last year.

“Our goal is to build on the success of the last few years,” DeMatteo said, “and take another step forward this season.”

North Penn

Coach: Kevin Vaitis (12^thseason)

Last year: 15-4-0-1

Key players: Sr. Ryan Cunningham (D); Sr. Chase Mueller (D); Jr. Nicholas Ebbinghaus (G); Jr. Tony Tuozzo (F); Sr. Jeromy Porubski (F); Sr. Zach Cline (F); So. Ryan Kaufhold (F).

Outlook: The Knights lost some key pieces from last year’s roster but they will not be bereft of talent. Cunningham and Mueller are two of the SHSHL’s top defensemen Ebbinghaus is an experienced goaltender.

Pennsbury

Coach: Ryan Daley (fourth season)

Last year: 10-6-1

Key players: Jr. Shane Siegmound (F); Sr. Erik Eisler (F); So. Brendan Macainsh (F); Jr. Reece Millman (D); Jr. Connor Coyne (D).

Outlook: The Falcons continue to improve on the offensive side of the puck with some young freshman talent coupled with some veteran leadership.

“We’ve made big moves in the right direction every season since I took over as head coach,” Daley said, “and we expect to do the same this year.”

Pennridge

Coach: Jeff Montagna (third season)

Last year: 9-6

Key players: Sr. Blake Stewart (F); Sr. Jeff Manto (F); Sr. Conner Frisch (D); Jr. Jack Lowery (F); Jr. Aiden Boyle (D); Jr. Ryan Schuler (D); Jr. Ryan Pico (G).

Outlook: The Rams may be the most experienced team in the SHSHL. All but one player returns from last year’s team. Stewart, Manto, and Lowery are solid up front and there is a wealth of experience on the blue line with Boyle and Schuler, and in goal with Pico.
“As always, how well we play defensively will dictate how successful we are as a team,” Montagna said.

Souderton

Coach: Ryan Uchniat (third season)

Last year: 3-7-1-1

Key players: Jr. Carter Povazan (D); So. Tim Alexander (F); So. Noah Connor (G); Sr. Amanda Kaminsky (G)

Outlook: The Big Red will be a young team; there are eight freshmen on the roster. Circumstances will require they play major roles.

“Our goal is to continuously improve,” Uchniat said, “and bring a high compete level. We’ll be relying on good defense and goaltending.”

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American Division

Plymouth Whitemarsh

Coach: Matt Aiello (seventh season)

Last year: 18-2

Key Players: Sr. John Cubbin (F-D); Sr. Zach Spera (F); Sr. T.J. Corcoran (D); Sr. Jack Mishkin (D); Jr. Luke Weikel (F); Jr. Aidan Keogh (F).

Outlook: The defending division champions likely won’t display the firepower they did a year ago, but with seven seniors returning the Colonials should still be formidable.

“We have high expectations for the coming season,” Aiello said.

Weikel and Keogh figure to be the top offensive threats.

Abington

Coach: Ken Brzozowski(fourth season)

Last year: 4-13

Key players: Sr. Colin Bruton (F), Sr. Holden Brooker (D); Jr. Tommy Rourke (D-F); Jr. Joe Stelacio (D-F); So. Griffin Carpenter (F).

Outlook: The Galloping Ghosts move back to the American Division this year and bring an abundance of experience with them. Bruton will offer a veteran presence up front and Carpenter saw a lot of ice time there last year as a freshman. Brooker will head up the defense corps while Rourke and Stelacio will utilize their experience in a variety of roles.

“The team will look to grow from its experience last year at the AA level,”Brzozowski said. “They’ve been working hard off the ice withindividual training and zoom team sessions through the pandemic and are looking forward to getting back on the ice.”

Hatboro-Horsham

Coach: Gianni Lafratta (third season)

Last year: 12-5-1

Key players: Sr. Aidan Esack (F-D), Sr. Seth Lerner (F-D), Sr. Alex Howieson (F) Sr. Vincent Tarsi (F-D), Hannah Gurt (D).

Outlook: The Hatters will have an abundance of experience in the lineup. Lafratta is hoping to add some scoring punch to go with a traditionally strong defense corps.

Quakertown

Coach: Keith Krem (second season)

Last year: 2-12-1

Key players: Sr. Eric Orezehoski (D); Jr. Anthony Pagliei (F); Fr. Kira Shaw (F).

Outlook: The Panthers return for their second SHSHL season skating in the American Division and featuring a mix of experienced veterans and eager newcomers. Pagliei will be the primary scoring threat but Krem is also excited by Shaw, who is making her high-school debut.

Truman

Coach: Bill Keyser (10^thseason)

Last year: 4-12
Key players: Sr. Frank Gallagher (F); Sr. Brent McGoldrick (D); Sr. Sean Doughery (D); Jr. Justin Reid (F).

Outlook: The Tigers are customarily lacking in numbers but they traditionally make up for it with sustained effort.

“We hope to have a good showing,” Keyser said. “Our goal is to play hard and have fun.”

William Tennent

Coach: Nick D’Aurizio (11^thseason)

Last year: 5-11

Key players: Sr. Zach Devor (D); Sr. Justin Carrelli (F); Sr. John Kreider (D); Jr. Matt Castan (F); Jr. Tom Lomas (G).

Outlook: The Panthers shift into the American Division this season and are primed to compete for a division title against schools of similar size.

“We’re excited to compete against some really good teams in the American Division,” D’Aurizio said, “and hopefully be in the position by the end of the season to play for a league championship. We have a strong core of seniors this year that have been 4 year lettermen and I’d love nothing more than to send them off with a title.”

Wissahickon

Coach: Ken Harrington (sixth season)

Last year: 10-10

Key players: Jr. Michael Bonanni (G); Sr. Bryan Garry (F); Jr. Nick Hussa (F); Sr. Nolan Ryan (D); Jr. Ty Schiff (D); Sr. Chris Shea (G).

Outlook: The Trojans scored a lot of goals last year in a division where goals are traditionally plentiful. With Garry and Hussa returning, this year’s team should score a lot of goals as well but Harrington believes the strength of his squad will be on the blue line where Ryan and Schiff return. Bonnani and Shea should both see time in goal.

APAC Eyeing Mid-January Start

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has formulated plans to begin its 2021 season the week of January 11.

According to APAC Commissioner Jim Britt, the schedule now under consideration would see the four conference schools, La Salle, Malvern Prep, St. Joseph’s Prep and Holy Ghost Prep play a 10-game regular season schedule that would see each team face each of the others three times while also playing one additional game against a Class AAA team from the Intercounty Scholastic Hockey League (Cardinal O’Hara, Father Judge, and Roman Catholic would be among the possibilities).

That 10^thgame is important because as of now, teams are required to play 10 league games to be eligible to compete in the Flyers Cup tournament this coming spring.

The four APAC schools have been off the ice in the wake of Governor Tom Wolf’s executive order that closed indoor recreational facilities around the state, including ice rinks, effective December 12. They will remain closed until January 4.

Prior to the shutdown, Malvern Prep played and won two non-league games but the other three league schools have yet to play a game this season.

Britt is hoping that APAC teams will be able to get back on the ice for practice on or shortly after January 4. He acknowledged that that may not happen.

“At this time, there is no guarantee that the pause will be lifted at that time,” he said, “potentially causing delays to the planned restart of practices and the regular season. Player safety, with a reasonable amount of practices before starting the regular season, is an important consideration.”

Britt said the goal is to conclude the APAC regular season by mid-March with the league playoffs, prior to the start of the Flyers Cup tournament on April 5. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on April 20.

Hun School to Join APAC

Britt also announced that The Hun School will become the fifth member of the APAC beginning with the 2021-22 season. The school’s membership application was unanimously approved by the four current conference members but due to Covid restrictions in place in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the school has suspended its winter sports programs for the current school year. Hun School has competed against APAC schools in non-league games in the past.

Malvern Prep at the Threshold of a New Hockey Season

Malvern Prep is approaching the 1920-21 hockey season with a blend of caution and optimism. The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference will not begin its new season until after the holidays but the Friars, like other scholastic hockey teams in the area, are holding preseason drills.

Unlike most other teams however, Malvern Prep is hoping to get on the ice for some non-league games between now and the end of the year; the Friars are scheduled to go against West Chester Rustin Thursday night at Ice Line.

The three other members of the APAC, Holy Ghost Prep, St. Joseph’s Prep, and two-time defending champion La Salle, are all on the ice but none of the other three have committed to playing a game as of yet.

Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan has adjusted his practice schedule to try to get his players as much ice time as possible. “We flip flop a little bit between a varsity-only practice, and a JV and varsity combined practice,” he said, “but for the most part, all the guys are (on the ice) twice a week.”

Keenan described how he structures a practice with safety in mind. “When I go into practices, the biggest thing I try to do is implement the drills in a sense to where the kids are constantly moving and not standing in line next to each other,” he said.

““If we do have those drills where guys must stand in a line, I try to form drills so it’s not only one or two lines but a drill that has multiple components where the kids might be in five or six different lines across the ice. So, you’re taking your guys and you’re kind of spreading them and then while they’re in line they can kind of adhere to social distancing. I would say most of the guys are rarely next to each other for more than a minute or two when the drills are kicked off. And by the time they get back in line they’re starting to flow through the drill again. It’s constant movement.”
Malvern Prep’s student body is back on campus and the players are screened a minimum of twice each day.

“They get health screenings before they go on campus in the morning,” Kenan said, “They do one at home and then when they (arrive on campus) they do another one; there are color coded wristbands and they’re not allowed to come to practice without a wristband.”

The players are not forbidden to utilize the locker room facilities at Ice Line prior to or following practices.

APAC Season to Begin in January

The start of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference’s third season will be delayed until January due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. League officials are hoping to implement a 10-league schedule following the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, depending on the academic schedules of the league’s four member schools, La Salle, Holy Ghost Prep, Malvern Prep, and St. Joseph’s Prep.

“Many of the details depend on the schools’ academic calendars, which are still in flux,” said APAC Commissioner Jim Britt. “Some schools have yet to finalize their academic calendars for the 2020 winter months through May 2021, including holiday breaks, spring breaks, exam periods, and dates we might potentially need to black out.

“The impact of schedule conflicts for students who normally participate in spring sports or other activities is also a factor to be considered.”

The APAC is hoping to conclude its season by late February to coincide with the traditional start date of the Flyers Cup tournament.

All four league schools have been on the ice for preseason drills.

Malvern Prep has scheduled non-league games against West Chester Rustin on November 12 and Cardinal O’Hara on Thanksgiving Eve. Two-time defending APAC champion La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep are hoping to schedule non-league games during November and December while Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside indicated his team would not play a game until January.

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SHSHL Realigning as New Season Approaches

The Suburban High School Hockey League will have a new look this season. The league will be comprised of 16 teams this season, divided into two divisions.

The Class AA Division will include defending champion Council Rock South, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South, Central Bucks West, Neshaminy, North Penn, Pennridge, Pennsbury, and Souderton.

The Class A Division will be comprised defending champion Plymouth Whitemarsh, Hatboro-Horsham, Wissahickon, Truman, Abington, Quakertown, and William Tennent. The latter three teams will play at the Class A level this coming season after competing in Class AA a year ago.

The SHSHL’s 48^thseason is expected to begin on Wednesday, November 25.

Peyton Jones Headed to AHL

Peyton Jones, who started in goal for Penn State and before that Holy Ghost Pep, has agreed to a two-year, one-way contract with the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles, beginning with the 2020-21 season. The team announced the signing Monday afternoon.

Colorado was granted membership as an expansion team in the AHL beginning with the 2018-19 season and is the affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.

“We are extremely happy for Peyton,” mentioned head coach Guy Gadowsky. “Through an incredible level of commitment to improving every day as an athlete and a student, Peyton has done so much for the success of our hockey program and has set standards that we hope are lived up to for many years to come. Congratulations to Peyton, we are excited to see his future successes.”

Jones jumped right into the starting role between the pipes as a freshman becoming the program’s first-ever everyday goalie following four years where goalies saw split time in Hockey Valley. The Langhorne, Pennsylvania native seized the opportunity and never looked back graduating from Penn State with 14 program records.

Jones, Penn State’s all-time wins leader, bookended his time as a Nittany Lion with victories in his first and last games at Pegula Ice Arena. He registered a 76-44-11 career record including a single-season record 23 during his freshman campaign where he was named the Big Ten Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as the Nittany Lions captured their first-ever tournament title. His 42 career Big Ten victories are also a conference standard.

The senior is the Penn State career leader for games played and games started by a goalie with 133 for his career as well as leading in minutes (7866:20), saves (3,685) and points/assists by a goalie with eight. Along with his single-season program record for wins, Jones also holds single-season standards in games started (36), saves (983), points/assists (4) and shutouts (2).

During his final season in Hockey Valley this past year, Jones registered career-highs with a .919 save percentage, ranking fourth in the Big Ten and 21st nationally, to go along with a 2.60 goals against average while posting a 18-9-3 record and leading the Nittany Lions to their first-ever Big Ten regular-season championship. Jones’ .919 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average are both the second-best single-season marks in program history.

“Penn State has prepared me well for my pro hockey career,” mentioned Jones. “The coaching staff has done a great job with getting me stronger and ready for the next level off the ice while on the ice I was fortunate enough to have some extremely talented teammates who challenged me to be my best every day.”

Gump Whiteside coached Jones at Holy Ghost where Jones had a presence about him even as a freshman and even earlier when Jones was playing at the middle-school level.

Whiteside said Jones’s success could be attributed to his mental discipline and work ethic as well as his physical abilities. “Making it in the AHL, at a high level, is tough for a goaltender. It’s a little easier for forwards and defensemen. That just goes to show you about his work ethic.”

Flyers Cup Tournament Officially Cancelled

The Flyers Cup Committee has issued the following statement:

All,

In accordance with Governor Wolf’s mandate that all Pennsylvania schools will remained closed to in-student learning for the remainder of the academic year, the Flyers Cup Committee has made the unfortunate decision to cancel the remainder of the 2020 Flyers Cup tournament as well as the Pennsylvania State Championships.

This was certainly not an easy decision, but given the current and ongoing status of COVID-19, along with several other factors, we collectively feel that this is the unfortunate necessary option for the safety and well being of our players, coaches, officials, and communities as we follow the direction of many other scholastic, national, and international events.

These are unprecedented times and we share the disappointment of the teams still vying for championships at each given classification .We understand that this is not the end goal that each team set for the 2019-2020 season, but it unfortunately is the necessary ending. As a result of this decision, all remaining teams will have their team names only, engraved on the respective trophy as a group. There unfortunately will also not be any recognition of individual or all-tournament teams.

Stay safe and be well,

The Flyers Cup Committee