C.B. South 6 North Penn 5 OT

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—Year in and year out, Central Bucks South’s hockey teams have been characterized by their tenacity. That quality was on display Wednesday night at Hatfield Ice Arena as the Titans rallied from a two-goal second-period deficit to score a 6-5 overtime win over North Penn in a SHSHL National Division encounter.

Joey Slobodrian scored the winning goal with 2:28 left in overtime to give the Titans (5-2, 5-1 in the division) a win that kept them in possession of the County Line Cup.

Slobodrian had himself quite a night; the junior scored two goals and assisted on two others. He described the winning goal which saw him get the better of North Penn (4-2, 3-2) netminder Andrew Norton on a feed from Sean Cutter.

“We do this play where pass it through the [defender’s] legs,” he said. He passed it to me back door. Basically, I was just looking at the puck. I chipped it and it went through the five hole.”

The Titans came from behind twice in the course of the evening. They trailed 3-1 four-and-a-half minutes into the second period before goals from Slobodrian and Jake Stepp tied the game with 63 seconds left in the middle period.

Dominic Gibson put South in front with 10:49 left in regulation but Cole Pick scored his second goal of the game for the Knights to tie the game with 9:33 remaining. Sam Norton put North Penn in front with 7:49 left but Ryan Frey answered for the Titans just 14 seconds later with the last goal of regulation.

“I just got the boys going on the bench,” Slobodrian said, “and got their confidence up with some big hits. We got the momentum back and we won the game.”

South coach Shaun McGinty credited his team for its recovery after falling behind early.
“They really came out and gave it to us,” said. “We had to find a way to settle in. We lost that first period [North Penn led 2-1 at that point] and then we’ve got to fight back. The second period, won so I said to the boys ‘Third period you’ve got to win it.’ Our shot totals started to climb up our physicality started to climb up as well and that’s our hockey.”

North Penn coach Kevon Vaitis credited the Titans for their comeback. “I’m not sure if they took us out of our game or if they just kind of hit another gear there,” he said. “But I think they did a nice job getting back into play.

“A two-goal lead I the worst in hockey because one goal swings that momentum. If we score a goal and go up 4-1 it’s much different the rest of the game.”

South had a 44-26 advantage in shots.

The two teams will have rematch on December 11 at Hatfield.

C.B. South 1 2 2 1—6

North Penn 2 1 2 0—5

First-period goals: Luke Haftel (NP) from James Boyle, 5:39; Cole Pluck (NP) from Nolan Shingle, 8:58; Sean Cutter (CBS) from Joey Slobodrian and Jake Stepp, 13:05

Second-period goals: Single (NP) from Sam Norton, 4:20; Slobodrian (CBS) from Keith Waldron, 14:40; Stepp (CBS) from Jeff Kvecher, 15:57

Third-period goals: Dominic Gibson (CBS) from Logan Hood and Alex Cannon, 6:15; Pluck (NP) from Norton and Boyle, 7:27; Norton (NP) unassisted, 9:11; Ryan Frey (CBS) from Slobodrian, 9:25

Overtime goal: Slobodrian (CBS) from Cutter 2:32

Shots: C.B. South 44, North Penn 26; Saves: Nate Neapolitan (CBS) 21, Andrew Norton (NP) 38

SHSHL Update 11-26-24

National Division W L T PTS OTW OTL

C.R. South (5-1) 4 0 0 15 2 0

Cent. Bucks South (4-2) 4 1 0 14 2 0

North Penn (4-1) 3 1 0 12 0 0

Pennridge (3-1) 2 1 0 9 0 1

Souderton (2-2) 2 1 0 8 0 0

C.R. North (2-3) 2 3 0 8 0 0

Pennsbury (1-4) 1 3 0 6 0 2

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

C.B. East (1-4) 1 3 0 4 0 0

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

American Division W L T PTS OTW OTL

Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-0) 2 0 0 8 0 0

Wissahickon (2-2) 2 1 0 8 0 0

Hatboro-Horsham (2-2) 2 1 0 7 1 0

Springfield (1-2) 1 2 0 5 0 1

Abington (0-3 ) 0 3 0 0 0 0

National Division Scoring G A Pts

Shane Dachwski Pr 11 9 20

Jackson Accardi CRN 12 8 20

Ivan Bondra CRN 10 4 14

James Rush Pr 7 7 14

Cole Pluck NP 3 10 13

Anthony Dowd CBW 7 5 12

Samuel Norton NP 5 7 12

Jake Weiner CRS 9 2 11

Nolan Shingle(NP) 8 3 11

James Boyle NP 6 5 11

American Division Scoring G A Pts

Dan Guller PW 1 8 9

Cooper Kanze PW 7 1 8

Ben Raebiger Wiss 6 2 8

Victor Wilkins HH 6 2 8

Blake Ambler PW 4 3 7

Vincent Graziani HH 4 3 7

Nathan Nemchinov HH 4 3 7

Father Judge 6 Haverford School 1

PHILADELPHIA—One team was embarking on a new journey. The other was continuing an existing one. So, it was when Father Judge and The Haverford School crossed paths Monday night at the Flyers Skate Zone Northeast.
It was the Crusaders who prevailed, scoring three goals in the third period to pull away to a 6-1 win as both teams opened their ICSHL/Prep-Catholic campaigns.

Owen Myers had a major impact on the evening’s events, scoring the game’s first goal and later assisting on three others to help Judge improve its record to 5-1-1 overall.

“I thought we played really good,” the senior said. “I thought we did all the little stuff right.”

Myers says it’s important for he and his teammates to maintain good playing habits regardless of the score or opponent.

“Last year, we had a little bit of a problem with that,” he said. “We would play some teams, and then we would go into games where we were facing good teams and it would translate. I think recently, with this team, we’ve been doing things pretty good and I think it’s going to translate well.”

Myers’s goal with 3:21 left in the opening period was the only goal of the first frame thanks the efforts of Ike Matoney in the Haverford School (0-2) net. Fifteen of the freshman’s 36 saves came in the first period.

Myers picked up the primary assist on Jaden Golden’s goal 5:07 into the second period but Harry Neilly answered for the Fords just 20 seconds later.

Judge got control of the game when Gold scored off a shorthanded breakaway 8:26 into the middle period while his teammate Joseph Mullen was serving a cross-checking penalty. Myers went in alone on Matoney, who denied him, but Gold scored off the ensuing rebound.

The Crusaders added three additional goals in the third period; one each from Mullen, Jake Pound, and Matt McFadyen.

Judge coach Steve Meade encouraged his team to stay patient.

“If you have a goalie that’s made a lot of big saves,” that means you have a lot of big chances,” he said. “[Matoney] had to make the saves. You can’t get frustrated. Just continue to do what you’re doing and they’ll fall. You’ve just got to get the goalie to move side to side and the puck will go in.”

Meade has been impressed with the way his team has started the season.

“We weren’t too sure how we were going to be looking this year,” he said. “We had a lot of young guys coming on the team. So, to start off the way did, I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the way they’ve done it.”

Haverford School, which is making its ICSHL debut this season, Monday’s game was a step in the maturation of a young hockey team. Ten of the 15 players who dressed for coach Thomas Lindberg were underclassmen.

“I think the biggest piece of this group is they’re young,” Lindberg said. “This is our first year at this level and they’ve got to learn, night in and night out, what it takes to compete and be relevant. And, that’s all part of the learning process.”

Haverford School 0 1 0—1

Father Judge 1 2 3—6

First-period goal: Owen Myers (FJ) from Jake Ruppert, 13:39

Second-period goals: Jaiden Golden (FJ) from Myers and Joseph Mullen, 5:07; Harry Neilly (HS) from Henry Cagiusio, 5:25; Golden (FJ) from Myers, 8:26 (sh)

Third-period goals: Mullen (FJ) from Golden and Myers, 4:11; Jake Proud (FJ) from Chris Ferrero and Gavin Culver, 11:07; Matt McFadyen (FJ) from Nolan Rauch, 11:37

Shots: Hav. School 20, Father Judge 42; Saves: Ike Matoney (HS) 36, Jonathan Dilliplane (FJ) 19

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Holy Ghost Prep 5 Council Rock South 1

Holy Ghost Prep overcame an early 1-0 deficit and rolled to a 5-1 non-league win over Council Rock South Monday night at Revolution Ice Gardens.

Brady Logue scored twice for the Firebirds (3-1 overall). Logan Barnes, Chris Marshall, and Anthony Valeriote also scored goals.

Daniel Filippov scored for the Golden Hawks, who lost for the first time in six starts.

Holy Ghost Prep 0 4 1—5

C.R. South 1 0 0—1

Crossover Countdown

Eleven of the 12 scheduled crossover games between SHSHL and ICSHL teams have been completed. Scores are listed below; the ICSHL leads the series six victiories to five.

Friday 11-8 Strath Haven 3 Wissahickon 1

Friday 11-8 Downingtown East 6 C.B. South 1

Wednesday 11-13 Pennridge 6 Boyertown 3

Thursday 11-14 Marple-Newtown 7 Hatboro-Horsham 4

Thursday 11-14 Neshaminy 2 Conestoga 0

Friday 11-15 North Penn 6 Downingtown West 2

Friday 11-15 Spring-Ford 8 Pennsbury 7

Friday 11-15 Avon Grove 7 C.B. East 0

Wednesday 11-20 Lower Merion 5 Souderton 4

Thursday 11-21 Plymouth Whitemarsh 4 Radnor 2

Thursday 11-21 C.R. South 2 Haverford 1 OT

Thursday 12-5 Abington at Harriton 8:00 at Skatium

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C. R. South 2 Haverford 1 OT

BRISTOL—Haverford and Council Rock South both embrace strong hockey traditions. The Fords are one of the oldest scholastic hockey programs in the area and have won five Flyers Cup titles. The Golden Hawks have been in existence for a little over two decades and have claimed three Flyers Cup titles.

It seemed only fitting that the two schools meet in the ongoing SHSHL-ICHSL series. And so they did Thursday night at Grundy Arena with the host Golden Hawks prevailing 2-1.

Pete Pereborow scored the winning goal amidst a scramble in front of the net with 1:42 remaining in overtime to keep South unbeaten at 5-0.

Haverford’s Joseph Cianciarulo (left) and Council Rock South’s Brendan Rooney take a faceoff Thursday night. Sean Weisner photo

“[The puck] deflected off somebody,” he said. “I don’t know if it deflected off our own player or the underneath netting seam. I just know that I saw that puck going forward. I had to bat it home to secure it, that’s all I had to do.”

The first two periods were scoreless and the two goaltenders, South’s Evan Ayala and Haverford’s Dylan Vieira passed every test.

The Hawks spent a fair amount of time shorthanded. They killed off four penalties in the first period. In the end they were accessed seven of the game’s 12 penalties.

Jordan Sarne scored the evening’s first goal 7:13 into the final period, beating Vieira with a forehander from the right faceoff circle.

Five minutes later South drew its sixth penalty of the game; Jackson Mosley was sent to the box for roughing. It took just 12 seconds for Connor Lill to score the tying goal for Haverford (3-1).

South wound up having to kill one more penalty before regulation play ended. The number of penalties was a source of concern for Jake Houk who filled in for his father Joe behind the Hawks’ bench.

“My dad told me before the game ‘When the cat’s gone, the mice come out to play,’” the younger Houk said. “I think some of the kids on our team that lose their heads a little bit kind of showed it tonight. But, I was proud of them for staying composed after a few of them.”

Haverford coach John Povey took an abundance of positives out of the evening.

“I’m extremely happy with my guys and how they played tonight,” he said. “We battled all the way to near the end there to get into overtime. It’s 50-50 at that point.

“We found a way to tie the game up. I told my guys to walk out of this building with their heads up high because they played a really good game tonight.”

Lill said the early-season test against a quality opponent taught him a lot about his own team.
“I learned we don’t give up,” he said.“

Ice Chips—Haverford claimed Flyers Cup titles in 1992 in Class A, and three consecutive Class AA Crowns from 2005-07, and a fourth Class AA Title in 2021. South’s Cup titles, all in Class AA, came in 2009, ’11, and ’12. They also won a state championship in 2012… The Golden Hawks unveiled a set of gold alternate jerseys Thursday night.

Haverford 0 0 1 0—1

C.R. South 0 0 1 1—2

Third-period goals: Jordan Sarne (CRS) from Jonah Weston and Jeremy Rahner, 7:13; Connor Lill (H) from Brendan McCormick and Shawn Yoder, 12:26 (pp)

Overtime goal: Pete Pereborow (CRS) unassisted, 3:18

Shots: Haverford 26, C.R. South 31; Saves: Dylan Vieira (H) 29 Evan Ayala (CRS) 25

Devon Prep 4 Hun School 3

The Raiders dropped a one-goal decision to the visiting Tide on Thursday in their season opener at Ice Land. Anders Van Raalte, Lucas Jean, and Justin Bibeau scored the Hun School goals.

“Overall I’m happy with our first game as a group,” said Hun School coach Eric Szeker. “We got better as the game went along and ran into a very hot goaltender.”

Malvern Prep 4 Holy Ghost Prep 2

BRISTOL—There wasn’t a lot of slash and sizzle to what Malvern Prep was doing on Tuesday afternoon. But hockey games are not decided on style points.

Two third-period power-play goals in a span of 71 seconds allowed the Friars to overcome a 1-0 deficit and they went on from there to defeat Holy Ghost Prep 4-2 in an APAC game at Grundy Arena.

Teague Murray scored two goals and assisted on a third as Malvern Prep (2-1 overall) opened conference play with a win.

The host Firebirds (2-1, 1-1 in the APAC) took a 1-0 lead on Logan Barnes’ goal 1:37 into the second period on a play that started off a scramble for a loose puck the neutral one. Murray set up House Young for the game-tying goal which came with 3:58 remaining in the period and erased the deficit.

“I think that’s kind of our identity this year,” Murray said. “We went down, we’ve been down early in every game we’ve played but we keep battling. That’s just kind of our identity.”

The Firebirds were undone by self-inflicted wounds. With 33 seconds left in the second frame Brady Logue was flagged for interference, giving Malvern Prep a split power play.

Murray gave his team the lead 52 seconds into the third period when he topped home Matt Barbacane’s shot from the left point.

Just 19 seconds later Malvern Prep was awarded another power play when Holy Ghost Prep’s Anthony Valeriote was whistled for interference. Pax Hoishik delivered a power play goal just 52 seconds after that to give the Friars a two-goal lead.

Brian Kinniry gave the Firebirds a last-gasp opportunity when he beat Matt Crawford in the Malvern Prep net with 53 seconds to go but it took just 15 additional seconds for Murray to respond.

Afterward, he spoke of the importance of shepherding his younger teammates through the rigors what for some was their first APAC game.

“It’s super important,” the senior said. “They’ve got to know there’s not going to be any flashy goals when you’re playing good teams like Ghost and La Salle. You’ve got to get gritty goals.

Murray notes that Malvern Prep’s power play has improved since the season kicked off.

“The first two games were a little rusty,” he said, “but now we’re starting to pick it up and we were really clicking this game.”

Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan cited his team’s blur-collar approach.

“We had a lot of grit that game,” he said. “The first period was completely back and forth, up and down the ice, got some shots on net, got some power plays late in the second and early in the third and we capitalized on them.

“Right now, we’re feeling good with where we’re at.”

• Crawford finished with 22 saves. Matt Salita made 17 saves for Holy Ghost. Salita is the third goaltender the Firebirds have started in three game. each has played one full game.

Malvern Prep 0 1 3—4

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 1—2

Second-period goals: Logan Barnes (HGP) from Colin Bara, 1:37; House Young (MP) from Teague Murray, 13:02

Third-period goals: Murray (MP) from Matt Barbacane and Cole Scarbinsky, :52 (pp); Pax Hoishik (MP) unassisted, 2:03 (pp); Brian Kinniry (HGP)) from Bara, 16:07; Murray (MP) unassisted, 16:32

Shots: Malvern Prep 21, Holy Ghost Prep 23; saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 22, Matt Salita (HGP) 17

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Haverford School 1

St. Joseph’s Prep overcame an early 1-0 deficit and went on to defeat The Haverford School 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon at the Class of 1923 Rink in a non-league game.

Henry Cagliuso gave the Fords the lead with 4:57 left in the first period bur Caden Kelly tied the game for the Hawks with one minute left in the second session. Jai Perry-Pereira put his team in front with 7:43 left in the game before Frank Ely and Tristan Winata added goals in the final minute.

The Hawks (1-1) outshot the Fords 47-12 but Ike Matoney kept Haverford in the game with his work in goal.

“We played pretty well,” said Hawks coach David Giacomin. “We dad great puck movement and pressure. Haverford packed it in defensively and their goalie was awesome.”

North Penn Knights Making Noise

Thanksgiving is still over a week away but North Penn is already attracting a lot of attention.

The Knights are unbeaten in four starts after a 6-2 win over Downingtown West last Friday night in a game that was part of the SHSHL-ICSHL crossover series. They’re 3-0 in SHSHL National Division play with a trip to Council Rock South awaiting on Wednesday night (7:20 at Grundy Arena).

The Knights are scoring a lot of goals; they’re averaging 8.5 goals per game while allowing just 1.5 goals per contest. The lineup features some of the division’s early season scoring leaders.

Sophomore Samuel Norton has scored five goals and added seven assists for 12 points. Senior Cole Pluck has accumulated 12 points by scoring three goals and adding nine assists. Junior Nolan Shingle has scored seven goals and added three assists for 10 points while junior James Boyle has accumulated 10 points of his own by scoring six goals and adding four assists.

“We’ve played well,” said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis. “With the team we have now we know we’re going to be able to put up a number of goals but we keep preaching strong defense and we’ve got great goaltending.”

Boyle, who epitomizes the offensive-oriented defenseman, says he and his teammates are taking good practice habits into games.

“I think it’s our preparation,” he said. “Good practices twice a week. Making sure we’re prepared before games helps us to get off to get off to good starts in games.”

Two years ago, North Penn won just five games and missed out on the postseason. Boyle was part of that 2023 team and says the memories of that disappointing campaign are a motivating force this season.

“Going through that, a season where we weren’t winning too much, made everyone want to be able to play and battle back,” he said. “We wanted the chance to and try to win it all this year.”

Last year, the Knights won 13 games and returned to both the SHSHL playoffs and the Class AA Flyers Cup tournament. Vaitis has bigger goals in mind this year and wants his players to understand what it takes to attain those goals.

“Thinking toward end of February and March, what does it take to be playing at [a high level]?” he said. “It’s strong defense, good goaltending, and getting scoring from all three lines. And that’s where we’re going; we’re getting scoring from multiple guys, it’s not just our top three.

“Last year was a great step for us, getting back into the Suburban League playoffs getting back into the Flyers Cup tournament but we want to do more than that this year, right? We obviously want to continue to play our best hockey at the end of the year; the goal has always been the Suburban League championship and the Flyers Cup that’s what the goal has been for the 15 years I’ve been here. we’re going to keep working and try to get better.”