North Penn 5, C.B. East 4

WARWICK—It was a game that gave both coaches reason to smile. Jake Nelson’s goal with 6:21 left in the game gave North Penn a 5-4 win over Central Bucks East Wednesday night in a first-rate Suburban High School Hockey League matchup at Revolution Ice Gardens.

Nelson scored the game winner in the midst of a goal-mouth scramble, pushing the puck inside the right post past East netminder Matt Oganowski. The Patriots contended that the net became dislodged before the puck crossed the goal line, but referee Kevin Emore was in an ideal position and signaled immediately that it was a good goal.

With the win, the Knights (7-2-3, 6- 1-2 in league play) extended their unbeaten streak to four. The 14 points they’ve accumulated are the most of any Class AA team in the SHSHL.

Tyler Greenstein scored a goal for the Knights and assisted on three others, including the game winner. “Coach (Kevin Vaitis) just told us we had to be physical right off the bat,” he said, “and we were, and that helped us get right into the flow of the game and helped us with the speed and getting the pucks in deep.”

That aggressive approach helped North Penn take a quick 2-0 lead, Greenstein started things off 4:04 into the first frame after scooting down the right wing and beating Oganowski from just inside the right circle. Josh Kaufhold extended the lead with Greenstein getting the primary assist just 21 seconds later.

Sean Gorman got East (7-3-1, 4-3) on the scoreboard at the 11:42 before the Knights Luke van Why answered with a power-play goal at 13:34.

In the second period, it was the Patriots’ turn to step up. Connor Kelser and Gorman scored goals 80 seconds apart to make it a 3-3 game just 2:02 into the period. Kaufhold put North Penn back in front at 10:22 but Phil McIntyre re-tied the game for East at 12:18 mark.
Both goaltenders stepped up in the second period as well. North Penn’s Nick Ebbinghaus denied Nick LoCastro on a breakaway at the midway point of the session while Oganowski turned aside Nathan Oh with just over five minutes remaining.

Nelson’s effort was the only goal in the third period.

“I’m definitely pleased with getting two points coming out of tonight’s game,” Vaitis said. “I thought we did a number of things well.

“(East) is a good hockey team and I think they’ve proved it with some of the games they’ve played this year and some of the teams they’ve beaten.”
Despite the loss, East coach Ken Latchum believes his team is headed in the right direction. “I take (the loss) over a couple of the lousy wins we have,” he said. “We played a great game.

“I like the way they battled. From the top line all the way down.”

North Penn 3 1 1—5

C.B. East 1 3 0—4

First-period goals: Tyler Greenstein (NP from Jake Nelson, 4:04; Josh Kaufhold (NP) from Greenstein and Luke van Why, 4:25; Sean Gorman (CBE) from Rob Kern, 11:42; van Why (NP from Greenstein, 13:34 (pp).

Second-period goals: Connor Kelser (CBE) from Dan Tori and Max Ermigiotti, :42; Gorman (CBE) from Kern and Matt Cipriano, 2:02; Kaufhold (NP) unassisted, 10:42; Phil McIntyre (CBE) from Tyler Godown and Kelser, 12:18.

Third-period goals: Jake Nelson (NP) from Kaufold and Greenstein, 9:39.
Shots: North Penn 31, C. B. East 21; Saves: Nick Ebbinghaus (NP) 17, Matt Oganowski (CBE) 26

Malvern Prep 4, St. Joseph’s Prep 1

Nick Martino scored two goals and added two assists as Malvern Prep downed St. Joseph’s Prep 4-1 in an Atlantic Prep Collegiate Conference game Tuesday at Ice Line.

The Friars improved to 8-3 overall and 4-2 in the APAC. The Hawks dropped to 5-10 and 2-4

Malvern Prep 2, St. Joseph’s Prep 1

PHILADELPHIA—It was hockey’s equivalent of a late-round knockout. Down by a goal and a man, Malvern Prep scored two shorthanded goals 74 seconds apart in the waning moments of the third period to score a stunning 2-1 win over St. Joseph’s Prep Friday night in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Rink.

Nick Martino scored the game-winning goal with 53 seconds remaining in regulation off a turnover the Hawks’ zone, beating Dan McGill with a forehander.

The comeback was, to say the least, improbable. Trailing 1-0 with 2:22 left in regulation, the Friars (8-3, 3-2 in the APAC) drew a penalty for having too many men on the ice. Up to that point the Hawks (5-9, 2-3) had had far the better of the third period and, skating on fresh ice, took a 1-0 lead on Brody Plouride’s goal with 13:01 remaking in regulation.

The Friars were skating uphill but they were unbowed. Martino tied the game with 2:07 remaining in regulation on a perfectly placed shot from the deep right wing that grazed the far post as it entered the net. But even that development gave no inkling as to what would happen from there.

Still on the power play, the Hawks coughed up the puck and one of the APAC’s premier snipers was there to take advantage.

“‘Never a doubt’ was our mindset,” Martino said. “After the time out was called (prior to the power play) Coach (Dave Dorman) was telling us ‘Take your chances but don’t overcommit.’ Two chances showed up and thankfully, we capitalized.”

Martino was in perfect position to capitalize on the turnover. “I saw the guy come up the ice,” he said. “I got a good angle on him. The puck needed up on my stick and I was just thinking, ‘Shoot.'”

Dorman said the result was a testament to his team’s resolve.”The this I’m most proud about is, through the highs and the lows, we managed them well and we stayed even keel,” he said.

“That was the most important thing, because at any point in time, that game could have gone either way.”

St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin regarded the defeat philosophically. “Games like that happen,” he said. “I thought we played as great hockey game for the entire game, and unfortunately, kids are kids. We wanted them to stay back on the power play and your instinct is to go forward and unfortunately, you give a very talented kid some ice and he buried that first one and the turnover costs on the second (goal).”

Notes—The Hawks had a 33-27 edge in shots. Dan Dougherty got the win in goal for the Friars The two teams will have a rematch Tuesday afternoon at Ice Line.

By Rick Woelfel
Malvern Prep 0 0 2—2
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 1—1
Third-period goals: Brody Plouride (SJP) from Ryan Newby, 2:59; Nick Martino (MP) from Jack Constabile, 13:53 (sh); Martino (MP) unassisted, 13:53 (sh).
Shots: Malvern Prep 27, St. Joseph’s Prep 33; Saves: Dan Dougherty (MP) 32, Dan McGill (SJP 25

Lower Moreland 14, Upper Dublin 2

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—They may be few in numbers, but the Lower Moreland Lions Lower Moreland are making an impact in the Suburban High School Hockey League’s American Division. The Lions have just 12 players on their roster and had just seven skaters in uniform Monday night but their offense was as potent as ever in a 14-2, two- period win over Upper Dublin at Hatfield Ice.

Coleman Peppelman and Vincenzo DeMaio scored four goals each to lead the way for Lower Moreland, which moved into first place in the division with a 4-1-3 divisional mark (6-1-3 overall). The Lions, despite their lack of numbers, are unbeaten in their last eight games and are averaging nine goals a game.

The result was determined within moments of the opening puck drop. Much of the opening period was played in the Flying Cardinals’ defensive zone.

Lower Moreland scored 12 goals in the opening frame. Upper Dublin (3-7, 0-7 in league play) was outgunned but Flying Cardinal netminder Liam Nixon did some good work between the pipes, making 25 saves in the opening period. He added five more in the second frame.

The Flying Cardinals got on the scoreboard when Ari Nordlinger found the back of the net 71 seconds into the second session and the teams traded goals until the contest was halted at the period’s conclusion via the 10-goal mercy rule.

The Lions backed off the throttle in the second frame but Peppleman noted that having a sizable lead allowed he and his teammates to work on some of the game’s finer points. “We try to build up our defense,” he said, “from giving up a lot of goals and offensively I think we’re pretty solid.”

Peppelman, one of just two seniors in the lineup on Wednesday, stressed the importance of staying focused in a one-sided game to avoid developing bad habits.

“That’s when you try to get the kids who don’t get the puck as much, get it to them,” he said, “and have them build up from there, just set them up and get them ready for the next game.”

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Coleman Peppelman scored four goals for Lower Moreland in Thursday’s won over Upper Dublin (Photo by Keith Clemens)

Lower Moreland coach Gus Salfitti was focused on puck possession. “We have about four or five guys that can protect the puck,” he said. “They keep possession. Their passes are nice and crisp and they’re to a target …They use a big chunk of the ice.”

In addition to Peppelmans’s and DeMaio’s four-goal efforts, Adam Bostock scored twice while collecting an incredible seven assists for a nine-point night. Peppelman added three assists to finish with seven points while DeMaio’s two assists gave him six points on the evening.

By Rick Woelfel

Lower Moreland 12 2—14
Upper Dublin 0 2—2
First-period goals: Vincenzo DeMaio (LM) from Adam Bostock, 1:37; Coleman Peppelman (LM) unassisted, 2:01; Bostock (LM) from DeMaio, 5:04; Devin Green (LM) from Peppelman, 5:44; Peppelman (LM) from DeMaio, 7:07; DeMaio (LM) from Bostock, 7:23; Peppelman (LM) from Bostock, 9:33 (pp); DeMaio (LM) from Bostock, 11:35; Green (LM) from Bostock, 13:03; Arthur Rubinstein (LM) from Peppelman, 13:33; Peppelman (LM) unassisted, 14:02; DeMaio (LM) from Bostock and Peppelman, 15:51 (pp).
Second-period goals: Ari Nordlinger (UD) from Chris Barbera and Andrew Kearney, 1;11; Bostock (LM) unassisted, 2:35; Noah Gazzara (LM) from Bostock and Green, 7:35; Oren Serafin (UD) unassisted, 10:08.
Shots: Lower Moreland 44, Upper Dublin 17; Saves: Jacob Lungrin (LM) 15, Liam Nixon (UD) 30.
Records: Lower Moreland (6-1-3, 4-1-3 SHSHL American Division); Upper Dublin (3-7, 1-7)

Plymouth Whitemarsh 7, Wissahickon 4

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—On some nights, a single occurrence can turn a hockey game on its axis and send it in an entirely new direction. So it was at Hatfield Ice Wednesday night.

Leading by a goal in the waning moments of the second period but facing a two-man disadvantage, Plymouth Whitemarsh not only successfully killed both penalties but scored a shorthanded goal to boot and went on to a 7-4 win over previously unbeaten Wissahickon in a Suburban High School Hockey League American Division encounter.

Colin Franzoni and Dean Keller scored two goals each and Ben Yuter made 33 saves in goal but the win was made possible in large part by what happened late in the middle period and early in the third.

Keller had just scored a goal to put the Colonials up 4-3 when, with 2:08 left in the middle period, Franzoni was sent to the box for high sticking. With 51 seconds left in the period Desmond Brock was corralled for a hooking infraction, leaving Plymouth Whitemarsh two men short for 46 seconds.

As the clock wound down inside the final half minute of the period the Colonials iced the puck. Two Trojans headed back to retrieve it but the Colonials’ Jake Weikel got to the puck first behind the Wissahickon net and spotted Franzoni waiting in front. The junior proceeded to put the puck past Trojan netminder Michael Henderson with nine seconds left in the period.

“I just busted all the way (down the ice) Franzoni said. “(Weikel) got the open pass, I shot it and it went in.”

Franzoni’s second goal of the game didn’t mean the Colonials (7-3, 4-3 SHSHL American) could rest easy. Dan Glazer scored for Wissahickon (6-1-2, 4-1-2) 56 seconds into the third period to bring the Trojans within a goal at 5-4. But Gavin Mulligan and Keller scored goals at 6:14 and 12:26, respectively, to give the Colonials some insurance.

The winners were outshot 37-24 but Yuter, a junior, was on top of his game. He said the key was maintaining his concentration. “Just staying intense the whole time and just watching every shot in,” he said,”and just seeing where everyone is, and just playing every shift like it’s my last.”

After losing a 13-8 shootout to Lower Moreland last Thursday, Yuter said it was important for he and his mates to step up Wednesday night.

“It was very important,” he said, “because we’ve always had a big rivalry against Wissahickon. They’re undefeated (prior to Wednesday) and we just need to show them what’s up and who is boss in this league.”

That issue won’t be settled until season’s end but Wissahickon coach Ken Harrington acknowledged Plymouth Whitemarsh was the superior team on this occasion.

“They were outworking us over and over,” he said. “We weren’t adjusting; they were collapsing on us and we weren’t adjusting.”

Harrington acknowledged his team still has some work to do. “We looked real sluggish,” he said. “A couple guys were under the weather, they were game time decisions, but no excuses. They’re were outworking us and the one-on-one battles, they won a lot of them.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh 2 3 2—7
Wissahickon 2 1 1—4
First-period goals: Colin Franzoni (PW) from Ben Lucas, 9:10; Bryan Gary from Sean Gary, 9:31; Peter Troy (PW) from Dean Keller, 15:06; Sean Gary from Bryan Gary and Nick Hussa, 15:36 (pp).
Second-period goals: Aidan Keith (PW) from Troy, 5:43; Bryan Gary from Sean Gary, 11:55; Keller (PW) unassisted, 12:29; Franzoni (PW) from Jake Weikel, 15:49 (sh).
Third-period goals: Dan Glazer from Ty Schaffer, :56; Gavin Mulligan from Desmond Brock, 6:14; Keller (PW) from Franzoni, 12:26.
Shots: Plymouth Whitemarsh 24, Wissahickon 37; Saves: Ben Yuter (PW) 33, Michael Henderson 17

By Rick Woelfel

SHSHL By the Numbers

Suburban High School Hockey League statistics as of 1-6-19

Scoring GP Goals Assists Points

Sean Gary Wiss 8 22 15 37

Bryan Gary Wiss 8 22 12 34

Dean Keller PW 9 13 18 31

Vincent DeMaio LM 9 16 14 30

Coleman Peppelman LM 9 18 11 29

Tyler Greenstein NP 10 15 12 27

Nathan Oh NP 10 10 14 24

Perry Carpenter Ab 8 15 8 23

Steven Avellino Tr 8 17 5 22

Reis Bracio CBS 9 11 10 21

Eric Slater Pr 7 17 4 21

Matt Cade Wiss 8 10 11 21

Ari Nordlinger UD 8 12 9 21

Colin Franzoni PW 9 13 8 21

Jake Weikel PW 9 15 6 21

Josh Kaufhold NP 10 6 14 20

John Gray Soud 9 12 8 20

Devin Green LM 9 8 12 20

Goals against Ave.(Min. 192 minutes played) GP Min. GAA

Chris McIntyre CBE 8 240 2.60

Luke Stranik Pr 7 329 2.62

Andrew Zanoni NP 8 240 2.80

Nick Ebbinghus NP 8 240 2.80

Joe Gambino HH 8 336 3.14

Ben Yuter PW 8 312 3.22

Oscar Levin CBS 8 312 3.23

Jimmy Sweeney CRS 6 208 3.46

Michael Henderson Wiss 8 384 3.50

Steven Glik, Nesh 8 336 3.86

Save Percentage (Min 192 minutes played) GP Min Sv Pct.

Chris McIntyre CBE 8 240 .912

Steveb Glik Nesh 8 336 .902

Luke Stranik Pr 7 329 .901

Joe Gambino HH 8 336 .900

Oscar Levin CBS 8 312 .881

Jonathan Pritchard Soud 10 432 .880

Jeremy Wedul Tr 9 384 .866

Jacob Snellenburg Ab 8 240 .863

Michael Henderson Wiss 8 384 .859

Ben Yuter PW 8 312 .858

SHSHL Standings Through Games of 1-4-19

Here is how the standings shape up in the Suburban High School Hockey League going into the week.

Class 2A

National Division W L T Pts

C.R. South (5-2-2) 2 1 2 5

Abington (3-3-2) 2 1 1 4

Neshaminy (3-4-1) 2 3 0 4

Pennsbury (3-4-2) 2 3 0 4

Truman (2-5-2) 1 3 1 3

William Tennent (3-6) 1 4 0 2

Continental Division W L T Pts

C.B. South (6-2-1) 5 0 1 11

North Penn (6-2-2) 5 1 1 11

Pennridge (5-1-1) 4 1 0 8

C.B. East (5-2-1) 2 2 0 4

C.B. West (3-5) 1 3 0 2

Souderton (1-9) 0 6 0 0

Class A

American Division W L T Pts

Wissahickon (6-0-2) 4 0 2 10

Hatboro-Horsham (5-3-1) 3 3 1 7

Lower Moreland (5-1-3) 3 1 1 7

Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-3) 3 3 0 6

Upper Dublin (3-6) 0 6 0 0

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C.B. South 2, North Penn 2

By Rick Woelfel

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP‑The much-anticipated matchup delivered on most expectations. But it did not produce a winner.

Central Bucks South and North Penn put on an impressive display of hockey at Hatfield Ice Thursday night before their Suburban High School Hockey League matchup ended in a 2-2 deadlock.

It was the second meeting of the season between the Titans and the Knights but this one counted in the SHSHL Class 2A division standings.

The Titans improved to 6-2-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the SHSHL. The Knights now stand at 6-2-2 and 5-1-1.

North Penn’s Jake Nelson scored what turned out to be the last goal of the evening 4:25 into the third period off a superb individual effort by his teammate, defenseman Ryan Cunningham, who carried the puck out of his own zone up the left wing before cutting to his right as he crossed the South blue line and moving in on Titan goaltender Oscar Levin. Levin made the save but Nelson put in the rebound.

“I knew (Cunningham) was going to shoot it,” Nelson said, “so I just went to the net, filled my lane, and looked for the rebound.”

Levin was superb in the Titans’ net, making 25 saves. His best work came just past the midway point of the second period when he denied first Nick Rowland and Josh Kaufhold in a 30-second span. “I usually use those to make sure our team gets the confidence to make sure we get back into our business,” Levin said, “where we can get good, quality shots on net and make sure that we can get as many shots as possible.”

North Penn was able to slow their foes down to some extent, outshooting the Titans 27-21.

“We want to try to get at least 10 shots every period,” said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis. “We want to look to hold the other team to seven or less. (South) loves shooting the puck from all different angles and getting shots on net. We did a good job tonight of keeping their shots to the outside, keeping them to a minimum.”

South coach Shaun McGinty said his team was fortunate to come away with a point. “I think we were lucky to get out of there with a tie,” he said. “(North Penn) definitely deserved to win, they won all three periods. We definitely didn’t have the offense we’ve had.”

Ryan Gingras gave the Titans a 1-0 lead 8:45 into the first period with a long shot that caromed off the glove of North Penn goaltender Nick Ebbinghaus and into the net.

Nathan Oh drew the Knights even just seven seconds into the second frame but it took just another 1:23 for South to take a 2-1 lead thanks to Matt Milanesi’s power-play goal. Gingras set up the goal with a burst through the neutral zone

Notes—The Titans won the teams’ first meeting 5-2 on November 21. South is unbeaten in its last seven games

C.B. South 1 1 0—2

North Penn 0 1 1—2

First-period goal: Ryan Gingras (CBS) from Reis Braccio and Brian Keilman, 8:45.

Second-period goals: Nathan Oh (NP) from Jared Albano, :07; Matt Milanesi (CBS) from Gingras, 1:30 (pp).

Third-period goal: Jake Nelson (NP) from Ryan Cunningham and Tyler Greenstein, 4:25.
Shots: C.B. South 21, North Penn 27; saves: Oscar Levin (CBS) 25, Nick Ebbinghaus (NP) 19.

Gloucester Catholic 2, Holy Ghost Prep 1

BENSALEM—The pattern is becoming all too familiar for Holy Ghost Prep. Matthew Frett scored 35 seconds into overtime to give Gloucester Catholic a 2-1 win over the Firebirds Thursday afternoon at Grundy Arena.

It marked the third time in three games Holy Ghost Prep has gone down to defeat following regulation. The Firebirds (4-8) fell to LaSalle in overtime on December 21 and St. Joseph’s Prep in a shootout on December 14.

The winning goal came on a two-one one situation. Frett carried the puck down the right wing, took his time, and beat Firebird netminder Sean Joyce.
“It’s just really frustrating,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “We’ve just got to start winning some hockey games. We’ve got to care a little bit more, we’ve got to work harder, and just get better.”

For most of the afternoon the teams skated on even terms. The game got off to a fast pace. Six minutes of the opening period passed without a whistle. Joyce came up big when he denied Gloucester Catholic’s Carter Jones with six-and-a-half minutes left in the period.

Frett got his team on the scoreboard with just 61 seconds left in the opening session. Tyler Carter took the initial shot from the left wing. Joyce made the save but Frett put in the rebound.

Holy Ghost Prep was forced to come up by big on the penalty kill in the second period when defenseman Jack Kelly drew a five-minute major penalty plus a game misconduct, at the 6:48 mark for head contact. The Firebirds stood tall at the start of the subsequent power play before things even up when the Rams’ Connor Millikan drew a boarding call at 8:06.

The third period saw the Firebirds fail to take advantage of one power-play chance but they got a second when Frett was sent off for hooking with 4:31 left in the game. This time the hosts were able to capitalize. Stefen Melekos took the initial shot from the right wing, Ram goaltender Christopher Liscio made a quality save but Byron Hartley put in the rebound with a forehander.

The sudden-death overtime period was over seemingly in the blink of an eye.
“There were parts of the game where I thought our effort was really good,” Whiteside said. “Puck possession time, I thought we did some really good things. But again, we lost 2-1 and that’s the bottom line.”

Notes—Gloucester Catholic was a semi finalist a year ago in the New Jersey High School Athletic Association’s private school tournament. It is one of four schools that is playing a round robin with Atlantic Prep athletic Conference teams. The others are The Hun School, Princeton Day, and St. Augustine.

Gloucester Catholic 1 0 0 1—2
Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 1 0—1
First-period goal: Matthew Frett (GC) from Tyler Carter, 14:59
Third-period goal: Byron Hartley (HGP) from Stefen Melekos and Thomas McNulty, 12:16 (pp)
Overtime goal: Frett (GC) from Jake Grace, :35
Shots: Gloucester Catholic 27, Holy Ghost Prep 25; Saves: Christopher Liscio (GC) 24, Tristan Devine (HGP) 25

Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference Standings as of 9:30 a.m. 1-3-19

Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference W L OTW OTL Pts

LaSalle (12-3) 5 0 1 0 17

Malvern Prep (6-3) 2 2 0 0 6

St. Joseph’s Prep (5-6) 1 2 1 0 5

Holy Ghost Prep (4-7) 0 4 0 2 2

Teams receive three points for a regulation win, two points for a win in an overtime or shootout, one point for a loss in overtime or shootout

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Gloucester Catholic at Holy Ghost Prep

St. Joseph’s Prep at St. Augustine