Central Bucks East 6, Neshaminy 3

They’re doing it quietly, but the Central Bucks East Patriots are off to a solid start in the Suburban High School Hockey League. Freshman Sean Gorman scored two goals as East stayed unbeaten with a 6-3 win over Neshaminy Monday night at Revolution Ice Gardens.

The Patriots have won four straight after a season-opening tie and are 2-0 in the SHSHL Class 2A league standings
East coach Ken Latchum was elated at his team’s effort but was particularly enthused about his third line; Richard Kaczmarczyk (goal), Dan Tori (two assists), and Brendan Lynch (goal) combined for four points.

“The third line made me ecstatic,” Latchum said. “They were our best line. They played awesome”
The first period started with a shootout, a flurry of four goals, two each way, in a span of just 3:35. Robert Seewagen got things started for Neshaminy (2-1-1, 2-1 in the league) when he sped up the center of the ice and beat East goaltender Matt Oganowski with a shot from four strides inside the blue line just 63 seconds after the opening faceoff. Owen Connor answered for the Patriots from the high slot at 2:32. Seewagen scored his second goal on a power-play effort at 3:25 but Jason Cluckey tied the game for East just 15 seconds later.

The Patriots added two goals late in the period, from Kaczmarcyzk at 14:12 and Gorman on a two-on-one situation at 15:33. They extended their lead in the second frame on goals from Lynch at 5:20 and Gorman at 12:41.

Connor noted that he and his teammates did the little things well. “We played our positions really well,” he said. “We got the puck in deep and applied a lot of pressure.”

The Patriots were swarming all around Neshaminy goaltender Steven Glik. Neshaminy assistant coach Mike McColgan, filling in for the absent Matt DeMatteo, said his team didn’t give their netminder a lot of help, particularly in the first period. “We didn’t knock guys down in front of the net,” he said. “We just kind of let them have a free hand. The goaltender had three shots he didn’t really see, three goals.

“We had a lack of energy on our forecheck. It really wasn’t buzzing at all for us tonight.”

Brett Nelson scored the goal of the game for Neshaminy at the 9:07 mark of the third period.

The Patriots had a 39-23 advantage in shots. Both goaltenders were sharp after the run-and-gun first period. Oganoswski finished with 20 saves, including a sensational stop on Neshaminy’s Joey DeMatteo in the third period while Glik, one of the premier netminders in the area, finished with 33 saves.

Latchum was pleased to get a quality effort from his entire lineup. “You need three lines to play,” he said. You want to win, you need three lines.”

By Rick Woelfel

Neshaminy 2 0 1—3

C.B. East 4 2 0—6

First-period goals: Robbie Seewagen (N) unassisted, 1:03; Owen Connor (CBE) unassisted, 2:32; Seewagen (N) from Joseph DeMatteo, 3:25 (pp); Jason Cluckey (CBE) unassisted, 3:40; Richard Kaczmarczyk (CBE) from Nick Locastro and Dan Tori, 14:12; Sean Gorman (CBE) from Connor Kelser and Rob Kern, 15:33.

Second-period goals: Brendan Lynch (CBE) from Tori and Chris Mangiacapre, 5:20; Gorman (CBE) from Kern and Cluckey, 12:41.

Third-period goal: Brett Nelson (N) from Josh Haines, 9:07.

Shots: Neshaminy 23, C.B. East 39; Saves, Steven Glik (N) 33, Matt Oganowski (CBE) 20.

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Holy Ghost Prep’s Trip to Upstate New York An Annual Tradition

Come Thursday, the Holy Ghost Prep Firebirds will head north, to Jamestown, New York to compete in this weekend’s National Scholastic Invitational tournament. The weekend-long event will feature some of the finest high-school and prep hockey teams in America.

Starting Friday, the Firebirds will play a minimum of three games and perhaps as many as five, but as Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside explains, there’s much more to the trip than what happens on the ice. The trip provides an opportunity for the players and coaches to strengthen their connections to one another.

The Firebirds have made the trip to upstate New York in each of Whiteside’s 10 seasons at the school and were making the trip before he arrived.

“Holy Ghost Prep is a special place,” Whiteside said, “and we’re a family. And I think this trip really brings it all together, both on the ice and off the ice and kind of brings everybody together as a group and kind of shakes off any cobwebs if you will. Especially from our new players to be a part of the process.

The trip allows players and coaches to spend quality time together away from the rink. “It really does,” Whiteside said, “from the bus ride to the team bonding experience to the lodging that we have with the players. We have a lot of down time between games so we kind of so some teambuilding stuff, and spend a lot of time getting to know one another.

“It really helps out, especially some the younger guys, some of the freshmen and sophomores and new players that are part of our program. We just kind of bond and come together as a team.”

Whiteside says there is an atmosphere of mutual respect among the teams competing in the event. “We love the other coaches that are up there,” he said, “and I know the parents enjoy it very much so it kind of brings everything together.”

Whiteside notes that the tournament is an opportunity for his veteran players to step into leadership roles and mentor their younger teammates. “We go up there every year expecting to win the tournament,” he said, “and we expect our leaders to play a big part in that. Being away from campus for a couple days kind of makes people grow and develop as student-athletes and it’s an experience for everybody.”

William Tennent Beats Archbishop Wood on SHSHL Rivalry Night

Rivalries are one of the elements that make high-school hockey unique. Thanksgiving Eve in the Suburban High School Hockey League is Rivalry Night, featuring matchups between opponents who are intimately familiar with each other.

That was certainly the case at the Bucks County Ice Sports Center Wednesday night when William Tennent and Archbishop Wood shared the ice for a Suburban High School Hockey League non-league encounter. The rivalry between the two schools is one of the oldest in the area on the ice; the two teams have been matching up for going on four decades.

But this year’s matchup was unique; because of numbers issues Archbishop Wood was unable to field a pure team (one comprised 100 percent of Wood students) this season and joined forces with Upper Moreland, which is in the same situation. But on this night, they skated separately once more, although the Vikings added several Golden Bears to depth to their lineup. (Upper Moreland, which faced Hatboro-Horsham later Wednesday evening, added several Wood players to its lineup).

For the record, Tennent prevailed 10-1 in front of a large audience to pick up its first victory of the season after three losses. But the contest wasn’t not as one-sided as the scoreline might indicate.

The Vikings kept the game close for better than two periods thanks to the work of freshman goaltender Connor Redanauer, who faced 62 shots over the 48 minutes and stopped 52 of them. His work was nothing short of remarkable, particularly in the first period when Wood was outshot 19-3 but trailed just 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Bobby Markus and Bryan Mesaros.

“(Redanauer) played phenomenally,” said Wood coach Tom Walsh. He stood on his head that first period. He had a great game for us. Sixty-two shots. There’s not much more he could have done.”

Mason McKeever and Markus scored for Tennent in the second frame before Brayden Gyza, just off the pitch after a season with the Wood soccer team, gave the Vikings what proved to be their only goal.

David Gray responded for the Panthers to make it 5-1 with 5:48 left in the period before Tennent scored five goals in the third period in a span of 7:19.

Markus finished the evening with a hat trick plus an assist. Thomas Hartenstein scored twice.

The evening was less about the final score however and more about maintaining and nurturing a tradition.

“Rivalries and things like that are what keep this league going,” said Tennent coach Nick D’Aurizio. “I think this is one of the oldest ones on the books I think.

“These are why people come out, why we sell tickets … That’s important to the well-being of our league. We want people to come out and see this hockey and support their peers.”

Notes—The two teams played for the Jim Bagdon Cup, named in honor of the former William Tennent club president who passed away in March of 2017 … The game featured just seven penalties, all minors … Hatboro-Horsham defeated Upper Moreland 10-0 in the second game of the doubleheader.

Archbishop Wood 0 1 0—1

William Tennent 2 3 5—10

Shots: Archbishop Wood 12, William Tennent 62

Other Thanksgiving Eve scores

Council Rock North vs. Council Rock South

Malvern Prep vs. Cardinal O’Hara

Neshaminy 2, Pennsbury 2

Holy Ghost Prep 8, Father Judge 3

Pennsbury 2, Neshaminy 2

Wissahickon 8, Upper Dublin 4

C.B. East 4, C.B. West 2

Upper Moreland 10, Hatboro-Horsham 0

Pennridge 7, Souderton 1

Truman 7, Abington 2

C.B. South 5, North Penn 2

Thanksgiving Update

With a matchup between Truman and Abington now on the schedule, here is a rundown of Thanksgiving Eve games involving Suburban High School Hockey League and Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference teams

Truman vs. Abington, 7:00 at Wintersport

Souderton vs Pennridge 6:45 at Hatfield

North Penn vs C.B. South 7:00 at Warwick

Tennent vs. Archbishop Wood 7:00 at BCI

Upper Dunlin vs Wissahickon 7:30 at OYR

Pennsbury vs. Neshaminy 7:30 at Grundy

Hatboro-Horsham vs. Upper Moreland 9:00 at BCI

Council Rock North vs. Council Rock South 9:00 at Warwick

Malvern Prep v. Cardinal O’Hara 7:00 at Skatium

Holy Ghost Prep vs. Father Judge 7:00 at Grundy

CBE vs CBW 8:45 at Hatfield

Malvern Prep Tops Holy Ghost Prep in APAC Action

By Rick Woelfel

WEST CHESTER—Malvern Prep displayed an abundance of firepower Monday night, Nick Martino scored three goals and assisted on a fourth as the Friars bested Holy Ghost Prep 5-4 Monday night in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Ice Line.

The Friars (2-0, 1-0 in the APAC) hadn’t played a game in nearly three weeks but displayed few, if any signs of rust.

“The guys have been working hard, Martino said. “Everyone’s been putting in the time, putting in the effort. We thought we were prepared for the game.”
Martino got the scoring started with 2:26 left in the opening period when he beat Firebird netminder Sean Joyce from close range off a feed from Kyle Washalavitch.

Holy Ghost Prep (1-2, 0-2) drew even on Jack Kelly’s power-play goal exactly 90 seconds into the second frame but Matt Harris put the Friars back in front at the 8:12 mark before Martino, with Washalavitch’s help, made it a 3-1 game at 12:07.

The Firebirds’ Byron Hartley cut the Malvern Prep lead in half when he scored from a deep angle near the right faceoff circle just 16 seconds into the third period.
The remainder of the period featured an abundance of up-and-down hockey and four goals.

When Ryan Sambuco scored a power-play goal for Malvern Prep at the 2:39 mark and Martino completed his hat trick at 4:16, the Friars appeared to have things well in hand.

But the Firebirds didn’t quit. Colin Costello beat Friar goaltender Dan Dougherty at 5:55 and it was a two-goal game once more with plenty of time on the clock.

The two teams spent most of the rest of the game going end to end, a development that did not entirely please Malvern Prep coach Dave Dorman. “I was very happy for about two-and-a-third periods,” he said, “but then after that, it got a little too lose. I think we got caught up in the emotion of the game, and the fans, but it was still nice to get the win.”

Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside praised his team for continuing to battle even after falling behind. “I thought we played well in the third period,” he said. “I was a good win for Malvern, but I thought we showed a lot of spunk.
“I told the boys ‘I thought that energy in the third period was great, but you need to play three periods to win a hockey game.’ But I like the compete factor in the third period.”

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 3—4
Malvern Prep 1 2 2—5
First-period goal: Nick Martino (MP) from Kyle Washalavitch and Andrew Harder, 13:34
Second-period goals: Jack Kelly (HGP) from Rip Spor and Andrew Serafin, 1:30 (pp); Matt Harris (MP) from Ryan Sambuco, 8:11; Martino (MP) from Washalavitch, 12:07.
Third-period goals: Byron Hartley (HGP) from Serafin, :16; Sambuco (MP) from Andrew Harder and Washalavitch, 2:39 (pp); Martino (M) from Charlie Andress, 4:16; Colin Costello (HGP) from E.J. Pohl and Kelly, 5:55; Serafin (HGP) from Danny Behr, 15:45.
Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 26, Malvern Prep 29; Saves: Sean Joyce (HGP) 24, Dan Dougherty (MP) 22.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Malvern Prep.

CLICK HERE to Learn more about Holy Ghost Prep

SHSHL Update

Suburban High School Hockey League Standings (with overall records)

Class 2A

National Division W L T Pts

Neshaminy (2-0-0) 2 0 0 4

Council Rock South (2-1-1) 1 1 1 3

Truman (0-0-2) 0 0 1 1

Pennsbury (0-1-1) 0 0 0 0

Abington (0-1-1) 0 0 0 0

William Tennent (0-3-0) 0 0 0 0

Continental Division W L T Pts

North Penn (2-0-1) 1 0 0 2

Central Bucks South (1-2) 1 0 0 2

Central Bucks East (2-0-1) 1 0 0 2

Pennridge (0-1-1) 0 1 0 0

Central Bucks West (1-1) 0 1 0 0

Souderton (0-2) 0 1 0 0

Class A
American Division W L T Pts

Hatboro-Horsham (2-1-0) 2 1 0 4

Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-2-0) 2 2 0 4

Wissahickon (1-0-1) 1` 0 1 4

Lower Moreland) (2-1-1) 1 1 1 3

Upper Dublin (0-2-0) 0 2 0 0

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SHSHL Scoring Leaders Through 11-16

Player GP G A Pts

Coleman Peppelman 4 12 3 15

Tyler Greenstein NP 3 7 4 11

Michael Janora CRN 2 11 1 12

Dean Keller PW 4 3 9 12

Tyler Greenstein NP 3 7 4 11

Colin Franzoni PW 4 6 4 10

Louis Gamburg UD 3 6 4 10

Brian Garry Wiss 2 4 5 9

Jake Weikel PW 4 6 3 9

Nathan Oh NP 3 3 5 8

Robert Seewagen Nesh 2 4 4 8

Aidan Keogh PW 4 6 2 8

Adam Bostock LM 4 3 5 8

Logan Hurwitz CRS 4 5 2 7

Bill Harrelson CRS 4 2 5 7

Holiday Tidings on Ice

In an era when Thanksgiving football rivalries are fading into the mists of time, Thanksgiving hockey rivalries remain vibrant.

The Suburban High School Hockey League has scheduled a full slate of games for Thanksgiving Eve, all of them featuring traditional rivalries.

A doubleheader at Hatfield Ice will commence at 6:45 when Souderton faces off against Pennridge. Central Bucks East and Central Bucks West will follow at 8:45 in another non-league encounter.

Revolution Ice Gardens will also host a doubleheader Wednesday night with North Penn taking on Central Bucks South in the 7 p.m. opener followed by Council Rock North and Council Rock South playing for the Rock Cup at 9:00.

The Bucks County Ice SportsCenter will feature a unique doubleheader, one that includes Archbishop Woodand Upper Moreland, which have combined into one team this season. On Wednesdaynight, with a nod to tradition, they are expected to skate against separateopponents, with the Vikings going against William Tennnent at 7:00 followed bythe Golden Bears facing Hatboro-Horsham at 9:00.Elsewhere,Upper Dublin and Wissahickon will play at 7:30 Wednesday at Old York Road whileNeshaminy and Pennsbury are set for a 7:30 get together at Grundy Arena,

Two Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference teams will also see action Wednesdaynight. Holy Ghost Prep and Father Judge will play their traditionalThanksgiving Eve game at Grundy at 7:00 while Malvern Prep will go againstCardinal O’Hara in a 7 p.m. game at the Skatium.

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Central Bucks South Beats Central Bucks West in SHSHL Matchup

The final score did not reflect what transpired at Revolution Ice Gardens Wednesday night.

Central Bucks South bested Central Bucks West 5-1 in a Suburban High School Hockey League Class AA matchup while outshooting their opponents 51-12. But the win didn’t come easily to the Titans (1-2, 1-0 SHSHL), who broke the game open with four goals in the third period but had their hands full until then.

That was due primarily to the work Jake Coddington in the Bucks’ net. The junior turned aside 46 of 51 shots.

“Jake Coddington was spectacular,” said West coach Dave Baun. “I wanted to keep it close at the end just for Jake Coddington because I thought that 5-1 didn’t do him justice.”

The Bucks (1-1, 0-1) kept the game close for two periods. The Titans dominated the first frame, outshooting West 19-1, but wound up with just one goal for their efforts. That goal came from Reis Braccio at the 11:23 mark.

The Bucks tied the game just 72 seconds into the second period. The Titans’ D.J. Loverdi was in the box for high sticking when Pavel Serhiayenka scored on a wrister from the left point.

South continued to dominate the game but couldn’t get the puck past Coddington. At period’s end, the shot margin was 34-8 in South’s favor but the score remained 1-1, a circumstance South coach Shaun McGinty found perplexing.

“All the credit to West,” he said, but my guys, I don’t feel as though they came ready, they weren’t prepared.”

Between the second and third period, McGinty encouraged his troops to pick up their intensity level. The result was four goals in a span of 13:49. Ryan Gingras started the flurry at the 1:11 mark. Daniel Kvecher followed up at 5:49, Matt Milanesi on a power play at 8:01 and finally Colin Abbonizio with exactly one minute left in the game.

Braccio, who was stymied by Coddington on at least four occasions after the first period, assisted on the last two goals.

“My approach to the third was ‘No one cares what happened in the past,’” McGinty said. “’No one owes you anything, you earn respect.’

They have to find the culture of their team, they have to develop their unity.

“To struggle in the first two periods the way they did, it can’t happen. The shot totals were there, but they weren’t productive, they weren’t playing hard.”

Notes—Oscar Levin was in goal for South … Wednesday’s game was the only scheduled regular-season meeting between the Bucks and the Titans

C.B. West 0 1 0—1

C.B. South 1 0 4—5

First-period goal: Reis Braccio (CBS) from Dominick Liberta, 11:23.

Second-period goal: Pavel Serhiayenka (CBW) from Christopher Trefz, 1:12 (pp).

Third-period goals: Ryan Gingras (CBS) from Harry McLaughlin and James Schuler, 1:11; Daniel Kvecher (CBS) from Alex Glushek, 5:49; Matt Milansei (CBS) from Braccio and Schuler, 8:01 (pp); Colin Abbonizio (CBS) from Liberta and Braccio, 15:00.

Shots: C.B. West 12, C.B. South 51; Saves: Jake Coddington (CBW) 46, Oscar Levin (CBS) 11.

Brandon Leer Savoring His Experiences at LaSalle

Brandon Leer’s time at LaSalle College High School has been a period of growth, both on and off the ice.

A senior from Schwenksville. Pa. Leer is in his second varsity season with the Explorers. He’s scored two goal and added an assist in his team’s first two Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference games while working primarily at right wing.

LaSalle coach Wally Muehlbronner says Leer has worked hard to earn his place on the roster. “He’s worked very hard to get a regular shift,” he said and when gets out there think he does a good job keeping it simple.”
Leer says he’s learned a lot about hokey during his time at LaSalle. “It’s definitely been something I’ve never experienced before,” he said. “The coaches here teach you in a way like most kids can never experience. It’s truly awesome, the skill level at any practice.

“We only have one practice a week and how these coaches are able to bring us together and develop our skills is incredible. It’s really a great experience.”

Leer makes the commute to LaSalle each day from his home in Schwenksville. He says the logistics aren’t as challenging as might be expected. “The driving really isn’t that bad. It’s like 30 minutes in the morning, taking the turnpike, and there are three kids that live within like five minutes of me so we carpool.”
Leer has enjoyed the experiences LaSalle has to offer. He chose the school in large measure because of its high academic and athletic standards “The academics, the extracurriculars like hockey it’s all top level,” he said. You’re going to be getting the best out of each thing you’re involved in so there’s really nothing that can match that around me.”

Leer says that meeting the academic demands of the school while also playing a sport necessitates developing time-management skills.

“You definitely can’t be lax,” he said You always have to be sure you’re getting your homework done in free periods and stuff like that; make sure you’re not procrastinating or falling behind, just staying on top of all your schoolwork. Just to make sure you’re doing well in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom.

Freshman year, it was a bit rough but then sophomore year it was a lot easier and it’s been a lot easier ever since.”

SHSHL Scoring Leaders

Here are the leading scorers in the Suburban High School Hockey League through Saturday, November 10

Player Games Played Goals Assists Points

Brian Garry Wissahickon 2 4 5 9

Dean Keller PW 3 2 7 9

Louis Gamburg UD 2 5 4 9

Colin Franzoni PW 3 4 4 8

Jake Weikel PW 3 5 3 8

Tyler Greenstein NP 2 5 2 7

Colin Peppelman LM 2 6 1 7

Sean Garry Wiss 2 5 2 7

Michael Janora CRN 1 6 1 7

Brayden Gyza UM/AW 2 4 3 7

Note: Janora and Gyza play for teams that are not playoff eligible