Holy Ghost Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1

Three different players scored goals Wednesday afternoon s Holy Ghost Prep bested Malvern Prep 4-1 in an APAC matchup at Grundy Arena. William Harmar scored twice for the Firebirds (2-1 overall) who have now won their first two conference starts. The Friars, who were kicking off their conference schedule, now stand at 1-2-1 overall.

Chase Logue opened the scoring for Holy Ghost Prep 3:40 into the opening period. Jake Samron extended the Firebirds’ lead 27 seconds into the second frame.

Pax Hoishik cut the Holy Ghost Prep lead in half when he found the back of the net with 2:47 remaining in the middle period.

Harmar extended his team’s lead with a goal 2:12 into the final period and then provided the defending Class AAA Flyers Cup champions with an insurance goal 26 seconds later.

Matt Salita got the win in goal, making 17 saves in the process.

Malvern Prep 0 1 0—1

Holy Ghost Prep 1 1 2—4

First-period goal: Chase Logue (HGP) from Nate Romer and Chris Marshall, 3:40

Second-period goal: Jake Smaron (HGP) from Anthony Cere and Lucas Helms, :27; Paxton Hoishik (MP) from Jake Weingartner, 14:13

Third-period goals: William Harmar (HGP) from Helms and Trace Levan, 2:12; Harmar (HGP) unassisted, 2:38

Shots: Malvern Prep 18, Holy Ghost Prep 35; Saves: Ryan Caterino (MP) 31, Matt Salita (HGP) 17

SHSHL Recap 11-18-25

National Division              W    L   T  OTW OTL    SOW    SOL    Pts

Council Rock South (5-0)  3     0   0    –        –         –           –         12

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

Central Bucks South (3-1)      3      1    0      –         –          –            12           

Central Bucks East (2-1)            2      1   0   –    –            –            8         

Souderton (0-2)                  1      1   0     –    1          –           –           5

Pennridge   (1-1)                1      2   0  –      –           –            –          4

Neshaminy (1-3)                 1     1   0    1    –           –            –         3

Pennsbury (2-2)                 0      2   0   –    –            –            –           0

Central Bucks West (0-4)  0      4   0    –     –           –           –           0                                 

American Division          W    L    T    OTW     OTL   SHW   SOL   PTS

Hatboro-Horsham (4-0) 4    0     0     –            –         –          –         16

Plym. Whitemarsh (3-0)  3    0     0     –           –         –          –         12

Springfield (1-3)              1      3    0     –          –      –           –             4

Wissahickon (1-3)            1   3      0    1          –        –          –            3  

Abington (0-2)                  0    1    0      –         1       –          –             1

Scoring                         

 National Division                      GP    G     A    Pts

Jake Weiner CRS                          5       15      9     24

Jordan Sarne   CRS                       5      6     8       14 

Landon Bishop Pr                         3       9      2    11

Max Ryon Sou.                              3       8      3     11

Julia Kaminsky Sou.                      3       7      2     9

Shane Gleisner   Pb                      4       6      3     9

Jackson Kelly   Sou.                       2      3      6      9

Chris Silvotti NP                            4       5      4      9

Nolan Shingle  NP                         4       5     4      9

Ryan Burke       Pr                          3       1      7     8

Shawn Mooney  Nesh                  4       3     4      7

Cameron  Fairweather  Sou.        3       2      5    7   

American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

Nate Nemchinov HH      4        8      7      15

Vincent Graziani HH      4         6      9      15

Daniel Guller       PW      3        3      10    13

Cooper Kanze   PW        3        6       3       9

Blake Ambler      PW       3       3      6        9

Reid Rochestie   PW       4       2       7        9

SOUDERTON 12 C.B. WEST 0

Ryan Uchniat is having to do some juggling at Souderton this season. Two of the Big Red’s big guns, Drew Savarese and Matt Cross, have been lost for the season with injuries and Uchniat, who is back behind the Souderton bench after taking last season off, is working to fill the resultant holes in his lineup.

“They’re keep parts of our team,” he said. “They have been over the last couple years so it really hurts, not having them, but the team itself is trying to pick up. A lot of it comes down to doing everything by committee.

“We roll three defensemen for the most part. We’ve got so many players shifting in in different areas, and it helps. But, we certainly miss [Savarese and Cross}.”

The pieces of the puzzle all fit together for Souderton Thursday night in the course of a 12-0 win over Central Bucks West at Hatfield Ice, including Alex Archer in goal.

Archer had never played organized hockey at any level before trying out for the Big Red last season. But the junior plays football and lacrosse. Uchniat said his arrival was “A very pleasant surprise.

“I was away from the team, but I heard a lot of good things about him. He picked things up very quickly and he has a very strong will and a strong desire, a strong work ethic.”

Archer transferred his skills from the practice rink to games this season. He became interested in perhaps being a goaltender after watching NHL netminders on TV.

“I just picked it up,” said. “I started playing and I really enjoyed it and stuck with it.”

When Archer first stepped on the ice he was a blank canvas a with no ingrained bad habits, which he says are things a bit less difficult.

“I think so,” he said. “I still have some stuff I don’t really know but I keep practicing and pick things up a little bit.”

Archer’s favorite NHL goaltender to watch is Connor Hellebuyck.

“I think he’s a great role model,” Archer said.

• Souderton took control of Thursday’s game by scoring five times in the game’s first 5:38. Max Ryon was tops on the scoresheet with six goals and three assists. Julia Kaminsky scored five goals a contributed two assists.

The win was the first for the Big Red in three starts.

Isaac Mays stared in goal for the Bucks and made 34 saves before being lifted midway through the second period.

‘Isaac is the backbone of our team,” said West coach Frank Blust. “He was last year and {West} had a tough season as well.

“He’s our backbone and will continue to be,”

C.B. West 0 0—0

Souderton 8 4—12

First-period goals: Julia Kaminski (S) from Jackson Kelly and Max Ryon,:26; Kaminski (S) from Kelly and Evan Siegler, 2:04; Ryon (S) from Kaminski, 2:27; Kaminski (S from Kelly and Caden O’Neill; 330; Ryon (S) from Cameron Fairweather, 5:38 (pp); Kelly (S) from Kaminski and Ryon, 7:55; Ryon (S) unassisted, 8:15; Ryon (S) from Kaminski, 14:24

Second-period goals: Ryon (S) from O’Neill, 12:09; Kaminski (S) from  Kelly and Ryon, 12:19; Ryon (S) from Kelly, 13:00; Kaminski (S) from Kelly, 17:00

Shots: C.B. West 8, Souderton 49: Saves: Isaac Mays (CBW) 34, Joseph Carter (CBW) 3; Alex Archer (S) 8

SHSHL Update 11-9-25

National Division              W    L   T  OTW OTL    SOW    SOL    Pts

Central Bucks South (3-1)      3      0    0      –         –          –           6

Council Rock South (3-0)  2     0   0    –        –         –           –         4

North Penn (2-0)                2     0   0   –       –          –            –         4

Neshaminy (2-1)                 1     1   0    –     –           –            –         2

Pennridge   (1-1)                1      1   0  –      –           –            –          2

 Central Bucks East            1      1   0   –    –            –            –          2

Pennsbury (1-2)                 0      2   0   –    –            –            –           0

Souderton (0-2)                  0      2   0     –    –          –           –            0

Central Bucks West (0-3)  0      3   0    –     –           –           –           0                                 

American Division          W    L    T    OTW     OTL   SHW   SOL   PTS

Hatboro-Horsham (3-0) 3    0     0     –            –         –          –         6

Plym. Whitemarsh (2-0  2    0     0     –           –         –          –          4

Wissahickon (1-2)            1   2      0    1          –        –          –            3  

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

Springfield (0-2)              0      2    0     –          –      –           –             0

Scoring                         

 National Division                      GP    G     A    Pts

Jake Weiner CRS                          3       11      6     17

Landon Bishop Pr                         3       10      3    13

Ryan Burke       Pr                          2       1      6     7

Jordan Sarne   CRS                         3        2     5     7 

Cameron  Fairweather  Sou.        2       2      4     6   

Dominic Gibson CBS                      3       3      3     6   

American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

Vincent Graziani HH      3         4      5      9

Daniel Guller       PW      2        1      7      8

Joseph Mangin    HH      3        5      2      7

Nate Nemchinov HH      3        4      3      7

Cooper Kamze     PW     2         5     1      6

Reid Rochestie    PW     3         1      5     6

Central Bucks South 4 Pennridge 3

Two teams in transaction crossed paths at Hatfield Ice Thursday night. Pennridge is in the midst of defining the roles of characters in this season’s narrative while Central Bucks South took the ice with holes in its lineup.

In the end, it was the Titans who prevailed 4-3 over a Ram team that refused to go away, C.B. South improved to 3-1 on the season, 3-0 in SHSHL National; its only loss has been to La Salle.

Thursday’s win did not come easy. The Titans were without veterans Jamison Crouch and Damien Hauck who were serving suspensions in the wake of an altercation in Wednesday’s win over Neshaminy. Coach Josh Sklar shuffled his deck as a result.

{The player’ absence} definitely affected us,” he said. “We had a short bench. Everybody’s got to pick up the leash and everybody’s got to do their jobs.”

And so they did. Senior Joey Slobodrian led by example, assisting on the first goal of the night and scoring the second.

“It definitely affected our defense,” he said. “We were out a defenseman and out a forward. But, we got through it. We had two {defensive pairs) so we were kind of tired in the back end.”

Joshua Iyahen-Lucchesi have South a 1-0 lead with 1:55 left in the opening period after Ryan Montagna and Slobodrian sent him down the middle of the ice.

Slobodrian made it 2-0 9;18 into the second frame off a scramble in front during a power play that came about when the Rams’ Justin Dinsmore was flagged for roughing.

Down two goals, the Rams (1-1) did not buckle. Landon Bishop went end to end and solved Titan goaltender Nate Neapolitan to make it a 2-1 game with 6:42 left in the period but Owen Fry answered for the Titans 57 seconds later.

When Grant Boyne made it a 4-1 game 75 seconds into the final period the Tirana’s appeared to have things well in hand. But Bishop scored his second goal of the game 2:46 into the period and James Rush made 4-3 with 8:06 still left forcing the titans to battle hard to the finish.

“We kind of let up at the end of the game,” Slobodrian said. Hopefully we’ll do better next game.”

Sklar praised his troops for stepping up and filling holes when needed.

“Playing short, the guys and the girls on the team did good,” he said. “Everyone picked up the slack.”

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna left the rink feeling satisfied as well.

“I told them I’m really proud of them,” he said. “I have a lot of guys new to varsity hockey. When they got down 4-1 they could have rolled over {but} they just kept coming. They played a very smart, disciplined game.

“They’re going to get better and better.”

C.B. South 1 2 1—4

Pennridge 0 1 2—3

First-period goal: Joshua Iyahen-Lucchesi (CBS) from Ryan Montagna and Joey Slobodrian, 15:05

Second-period goals: Slobodrian (CBS) from Dominic Gibson and Ryan Frey, 9:18 (pp); Landon Bishop (P) from Justin Dinsmore and James Rush, 10:18; Owen Frey (CBS) from Gibson, 11:15

Third-period goals: Grant Boyne (CBS) unassisted, 1:15; Bishop (P) from Andrew Engle and Ryan Burke, 2:26; Rush (P) from Colby Booth, 8:54

Shots: C.B. South 36, Pennridge 26; Saves: Nate Neapolitan (CBS) 23, Andrew Slutsky (P) 32

Crosover Games Beginning

The idea of teams from the SHSHL and the ICSHL facing each other during the regular season is not new.  But last season was the first during which officially scheduled crossover games were utilized by the Flyers Cup Committee and included in the formula that determined rankings and seedings for Flyers Cup participants and would be participants.

That practice will continue this season with 19 crossover games on the schedule. The first two of them are set for Thursday night with Pennsbury facing Perkiomen Valley (7:20 at Grundy Arena) and Lower Merion hosting Neshaminy (8:00 at Skatium).
on Friday, Father Judge will face Council Rock South (6:30 at Flyers Skate Zone Northeast).

Twelve of the 14 SHSHL teams will participate.

“We kind of dabbled with the crossovers last year,” said  Pennsbury  coach Ryan Daley. Everyone had one. This year we’re doing two which I think is really smart .

“It’s just good to see some new competition. Competition you could very likely see in the Flyers Cup.”                                                                                                                         

Council Rock South 6 Pennsbury 2

BRISTOL—It didn’t take Jake Weiner long to make an impact Wednesday night. Two minutes, 48 seconds, to be exact.

Weiner, who led the SHSHL in scoring last season, was in top form,  giving his team the early lead and collecting three goals and two assists as Council Rock South bested Pennsbury 6 -2 in a SHSHL National matchup at Grundy Arena.

Jordan Sarne, Weiner’s linemate, didn’t do badly either, providing a goal and five assists as the Golden Hawks, the three-time defending division champions won their second straight to start the new season.

It was a tighter game than the final score indicates. South led just 2-1 after the second period before pulling away on the strength of four third-period goals in a span of 8:17.

“We persevered,” said South coach Joe Houk, “and we were good enough to win. Not a great game, not our best. But, we’ll bounce back.”

The Falcons (0-2) hung tough for two periods plus. Connor Gray lifted Pennsbury into a 1-1 tie with 5:22 left in the opening period with a shot from the top of the right circle that eluded South goaltender Troy Prozzillo.

The only goal of the middle period came from South’s Allen Pronin on a setup from Weiner and Sarne on a play that started on the deep right wing.

Starting the third frame the game was up for grabs but Sarne’s goal at 1:55 gave South some breathing room. Weiner, Nathaniel Grinberg, and Weiner again followed with additional goals to make it a 6-1 game with 6:48 left in regulation.

Shane Hicks added a consolation goal for Pennsbury with 4:46 left.

“They’re a good team over there,” Weiner said of the Falcons. “They have great coaches over there.

“We just worked. {Houk} always says ‘Work hard and we’ll find a way to win.’ That’s what we did tonight.”

Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley praised his team’s effort, which included 47 saves from goaltender Brendan Milliken.

“I’m really happy with the way we played,” he said. “It was very encouraging. They got that third goal on a broken play that we had a great chance to get out. Our guy gets tripped up a little, the play comes back the other way, they score.

“It was a little deflating. We kind of took our eye off the ball for a little it and they converted.”

Houk stresses that his two big guns do the little things well on a night-to-night basis, which sets an example for the rest of the lineup.

“It’s real important” Houk said, “because I preach to these guys about the little things you do in games that make a difference whether you win or lose. And, when they do all the right things all the time, they make mistakes, but the other guys feed off of that.”

Pennsbury 1 0 1–2

CR. South 1 1 4—6

First-period goals: Jake Weiner (CRS) from Jordan Sarne, 2:48; Connor Gray (P) unassisted, 11:38

Second-period goal: Allen Pronin (CRS) from Weiner and Sarne, 15:47

Third-period goals: Sarne (CRS) from Weiner, 1:55; Weiner (CRS) from Sarne, 7:54; Nathaniel Grinberg (CRS) from William Hollis and Chase Strattan, 8:22; Weiner (CRS) from Sarne, 10:12; Shane Hicks (P) unassisted, 12:14

Shots: Pennsbury 32, C.R. South 53; Saves: Brendan Milliken (P) 47, Troy Prozzillo (CRS) 30

If you’re interested in posting advertorial content on the Hockey Happenings site, contact us via the contact link or at rwoelfel2013@.com

Malvern Prep 5 North Penn 2

Logan Logan Love scored two goals and three other players added one goal each as the Friars bested the Class AA Flyers Cup and state champion Knights Wednesday evening at Ice Line.

It was the first win of the season for Malvern Prep (1-1-1).

Love’s first goal came with one minute remaining in the opening period and tied the game after Sam Norton had given North Penn the early lead.

Rocco Corrado gave the hosts the lead for good 4:38 into the second period and Love’s second goal extended that lead five-and-a-half minutes later.

Logan Singles brought North Penn closer 1:26 into the third period before Staton Luke Johnson and Lawrence Ayers scored goals 63 seconds apart to secure the win.

Malvern Prep will open APAC play November 19 at Holy Ghost Prep.

 North Penn 1 0 1—2

Malvern Prep 1 2 2—5

First-period goals: Sam Norton (NP) unassisted, 12:19; Logan Love (MP) unassisted, 16:00

Second-period goals: Rocco Corrado (MP) from Charles Ingersol and Cole Wray, 4:38; Love (MP) unassisted, 10:07

Third-period goals: Logan Shingles (NP) from Sam Norton and Chris Silvotti, 1:26; Staton Luke Johnson (MP)  from James Young, 11:12; Lawrence Ayers (MP) from Corrado and  Nick Troiano, 12:15

Shots: North Penn 28, Malvern Prep 28; Saves: Aidan Quigley (NP) 23, Isaac Maloney (MP) 26

North Penn Looks Back on 50 Years

The high-school hockey landscape has changed considerably over the past half century. When North Penn founded its ice hockey club for the 1975-76 season the sport was in the midst of a growth spurt, thanks in no small measure to the Philadelphia Flyers, who had just won their second consecutive Stanley Cup. In 1976 they reached the finals once more but were swept by the Montreal Canadians.

In that era, a lot of high-school players were less concerned about playing for a championship than they were happy to be playing on an enclosed rink with lies painted on the ice.

Pete Hendricks was North Penn’ first coach. For six seasons, he dealt with the challenges that are part and parcel to getting a program off the ground.

Dave Culp played for North Penn as a senior before graduating 1980. He went on to coach the Knights from 1986-94, a time when the team was at first unable to field a pure roster (consisting entirely of players from North Penn).

“When we first started, we had Lansdale Catholic and North Penn working together,” he said. “When {He started coaching}, North Penn was going downhill we couldn’t get anybody.

I was grabbing guys from North Penn Lansdale Catholic Souderton and one from a (private) Christian school.”

Culp recalls an early North Penn team being barred from the SHSHL playoffs over the purity issue.

“It took us about two years but we became pure,” he said. “We had all North Penn guys.”

Culp recalls North Penn teams playing games outdoors.

“There was a skating rink at Whites Road Park,” he said. “I remember having practices and games there when I was playing. We were playing a game there outside and snow was coming through your cage. It was the most incredible thing we’d ever done.”

Dan Vaitis has never coached North Penn, but he has been involved in the program for some 25 years and is today the club’s president, a role he has filled for a decade. His son Kevin is the longest-tenured head coach in the club’s history.

Dan Vaitis commented on the growth of amateur/scholastic hockey during his involvement with the sport.

“Ice hockey overall has become much more popular,” he said, “Not only club hockey but high school hockey and middle school hockey. I think that North Penn has set the standard over the years for being a first-class organization.

“It’s great to see all these kids participate in ice hockey. We’re extremely proud that many of our coaches are alumni of North Penn Ice Hockey in terms of love of the game, we have a lot of coaches that really love the game.”

The Knights have won three SHSHL titles in their history and claimed their first Class AA Flyers Cup and state championships last season.

Senior Chase Kelly Del Ricci carries the program’s legacy forward as this year’s captain.

“It feels pretty hood,” he said. “I’ve been here since I was a freshman and it feels pretty good to be part of something that’s lasted this long.”

Devon Prep 1 Holy Ghost Prep 0 OT

It wasn’t a typical non-league season opener. Devon Prep and Holy Ghost Prep battled hard for nearly 56 minutes Monday afternoon.

Matters weren’t decided until Danny Dowling delivered a goal with 5.6 seconds left in overtime to give the visiting Tide a 1-0 win over the Firebirds at Grundy Arena.

Both teams found out a lot about themselves over the course of the affair. The Tide tested themselves against the reigning Class AAA Flyers Cup champions while the Firebirds got an idea of how the pieces of this year’s puzzle will fit.

The winning goal was set up when Dowling, working down low on the offensive left side collected a feed from teammate Jan Bach and put it behind Firebird goaltender John Botthof. 

Devon Prep coach Matt Fabrizio commented on the significance of the win.

“Even being able to skate with Holy Ghost is exciting,” he said. “But that the fact we stuck to it, held them scoreless, and were able to step up in overtime, is a massive achievement for our team.”

“I can’t think of a victory that’s been more significant for us, to beat a team like Holy Ghost, the defending champs.”

The hosts had a 47-31 advantage in shots but Tide goaltender Aidan Wright turned away every challenge.

He had to be particularly sharp in the first frame when he turned aside 17 shots.

Each netminder made a big save in the third period to keep the game scoreless. Bottthof denied Dowling five minutes and change into the period with a quality glove save Wright turned away the Firebirds’ Anthony Valeriote with seven-and-a-half minutes left.

Neither team shied away from physical play and for the most part the officials left the players to their own devices. There were just three minor penalties accessed, all in the third period.

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie understands the challenges his players will face this season as the reigning Flyers Cup champions.

“You’re going to have a target on your back every game,” he said. “You’re going to get every team’s best game, their full effort, and their goalie was great today.”

Ritchie learned a lot about his team in the course of the afternoon, as newcomers worked to fit in, and some veterans assumed new roles.

“I think there were a lot of positives we can build on from this,” he said. “I’d rather this type of loss happen at the beginning of the season versus going into the playoffs.

“I think we have a  good corps,” he said. “I think we have to figure out how to manufacture and score some goals. I think that obviously is what hurt us today. You get a hot goaltender that’s going to keep the other team in the game, and guys get nervous.

“I think as we go along in the season we’ve just got to find who are going to be our go-to guys to finish plays.”

Ice Chips—The Firebirds will open APAC play next Wednesday when they host La Salle…. Devon Prep lost to La Salle in the first round of last year’s Flyers Cup.

Devon Prep 0 0 0 1—1

Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 0 0—0

Overtime goal: Danny Dowling (DP) from Jan Bach, 4:55

Shots; Devon Prep 31, Holy Ghost Prep 47; Saves: Aidan Wright (DP) 47, John Botthof (HGP) 30