Category: Hockey News

SHSHL Update 2-16-26

National Division                W    L   T  OTW OTL Pts

@North Penn (19-1)               15    0   0   –       –          –            –       60

#Council Rock South (15-3)  12     3   0    –        –         –           –     48

#Central Bucks South (12-4)      11      3    0      –         –          –       44

#Pennsbury (11-5-1)               9     5   1   –    –            –            –       38

Central Bucks East (6-9-1)   6    8     1      1    –            –            –  25 

Souderton (6-11)                   6    9   0   1    1          –           –        24

Pennridge   (5-10-1)               5    10  0      –      2           –          –  22

Neshaminy (2-14)                  2  13   0    1    –           –            –       7

Central Bucks West (0-16)  0   15   0    –     –           –           –        0                                 

American Division          W    L    T  OTW     OTL    PTS  

#Plym. Whitemarsh (13-2)   13    2     0     –           –         52

#Hatboro-Horsham (14-3)  12    3     0     –              1       49

Springfield (6-10)               6    9     0           1                     23

Wissahickon (5-9-1)          5   8      1          2       –            20

Abington (1-14-1)                0    14  1   –                2          4

@ clinched regular-season title

Scoring   All League Scheduled Games                        

 National Division                      GP    G     A      Pts

Shane Gleisner   Pb                   17    42   21     63

Jake Weiner CRS                        15    38  18      56

Samuel Norton NP                     17   24  29      53

Chris Silvotti NP                          20   23  26      49

Max Ryon Sou.                            11   29   16     45

Nolan Shingle                              19    23   20    43

Ismael Cabrales   NP                   18   14   27     41

Ryan Frey     C.B. South              16    17  21    38

Shane Hicks Pb                            16     16   21   37

Jordan Sarne   CRS                      15    17   17    34

Landan  Bishop Pr                      13     20   13    33

 American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

 Vincent Graziani HH      17      32   26   58

 Daniel Guller       PW      14     17    31   48

Nate Nemchinov HH      15     23    20    43

Grayson Quinn Spr.       16      24    14   38

Cooper Kanze   PW         11     17    18    35

Luca Staffieri HH            14      15    16    31

Mack Risnychok Wiss    14       19   11    30

Bill Moffa   HH                14      11   16      27

Blake Ambler PW            12     10    17    27

Logan Dicus  Wiss           14     12    13    25

Plymouth Whitemarsh 7 Hatboro-Horsham 4

Plymouth Whitemarsh scored three goals in two-minute span of the third period and went on to a 7-4 win Wednesday night in a SHSHL American Division matchup at Hatfield Ice.

The win moved the Colonials (13-2 overall and in divisional play {52 points}) back into first place in the division standings heading into the final week of the regular season. The regular-season champion will receive a bye into the division championship game. The Hatters dropped to 12-3 for 49 points in divisional play and 14-3 overall.

The game was tied 4-4 when Daniel Guller put the Colonials in front with 5:26 left in regulation. It was Guller’s third goal of the game. He followed with his fourth with 3:58 remaining and Dan Moloney extended the Plymouth Whitemarsh lead 32 seconds after that.

Guller’s first two goals came in the second period and helped Plymouth Whitemarsh to a 4-1 lead before the Hatters got goals from Nathan Nemchinov and Vincent Graziani to make it a one-goal game before the second period ended.

Nemchinov tied the game 14 seconds into the third period but the Hatters, who had just eight skaters available, would not score again.

“It’s always good to get a win,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Vince Forti, “but it was not our best game. There are still some things we need to work on, but I have confidence in our group.

Hatboro-Horsham coach Shane Smith praised his team’s effort despote being shorthanded.

“The team knew the importance of the {game} and fought extremely hard,” he said. “I am really proud of them.”

In addition to Guller’s four goals, Cooper Kanzee provided the Colonials with four assists. Nemchinov and Graziani each scored twice for the Hatters.

Hatboro-Horsham will conclude its regular season next Wednesday against Abington. Plymouth Whitemarsh finishes against Wissahickon next Thursday.

P-W 2 2 3—7

H-H 1 2 1—4

First-period goals: Carson Woodbridge (PW) from Luke Smith, 2:58; Morgan Hulitt (PW) from Cooper Kanzee, 6:14; Vincent Graziani (HH) from Evan Snow and Luca Staffieri, 7:32

Second-period goal: Daniel Guller (PW) from Kanzee, :23; Guller from Kanzee, 6:54; Nathan Nemchinov (HH). From Snow, 7:40; Graziani (HH) from Aiden North and Snow, 13:55

Third period goals: Guller (PW) from Liam Kelly, 11:34; Guller (PW) unassisted, 13:02; Don Moloney (PW) from Kanzee, 13:34

APAC Playoffs at Hand

The APAC Founders Cup playoffs begin Wednesday afternoon with a play-in game featuring fourth-seeded La Salle hosted fifth-seeded Malvern Prep. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Hatfield Ice.

Here’s a look at how the Friars and the Explorers got to this point.

Malvern Prep

Coach: Bill Keenan

Record: 4-10-2, 2-6 in the APAC

Key players: Sr. Jake Weingartner 7 goals, 11 assists 18 points; Sr.   Pax Hoishik 6-9-15; Sr. Ryan Caterino 2.66 GAA, .912 save %

La Salle

Coach: Wally Muehlbronner

Record: 6-12, 3-5 in APAC

Key players: Fr. Thomas Leonards 11 goals, 2 assists, 13 points: Patrick Lunsford 4-8-12; So. Andrew Frantz, 4-7-11; Jr. Anthony Foster 2.94 GAA, .913 save pct.; So. Danny Trainor 1.59, .920

This season:

11-26 Malvern Prep 2 La Salle 0

1-14 La Salle 3 Malvern Prep 2   

Wednesday’s winner will face top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep next Wednesday in one half of a semifinal doubleheader at Ice Line. The other half of that doubleheader will match second-seeded Hub School and third seed Joseph’s Prep.

H-H 5 PW 4

 Hatboro-Horsham needed to pick up the pace. Two periods into Thursday’s matchup with Plymouth Whitemarsh, the Hatters found themselves trailing 2-0 in a game featuring the two top teams in the SHSHL’s American Division.

The Hatters responded to the challenge by scoring five times in the third period to slip past the Colonials 5-4, a result with significant American Division ramifications.

Luca Staffieri scored the winning goal with 58 seconds remaining in regulation. The result heightened an already tight division race; both teams stand 12-2 in the division standings with a rematch to come next Wednesday.   The Hatters lead the season series two victories to one.

“We came in knowing it was a must-win game said Hatboro-Horsham coach Shane Smith. “Every game from here on out is a must-win game if you want to secure the bye {that sends the regular-season champion to the division championship game}.

The Hatters made a statement at the start of the third period. Staffieri, Reid Rochestie, and Vincent Graziani  all scored goals in a span of 2 minutes, 49 seconds to give Hatboro-Horsham a 3-2 lead with 13:18 left in regulation.

The balance of the period saw the teams trading goals: Dan Guller and Jarrett Olenginski for Plymouth Whitemarsh, Nate Nemchinov for the Hatters.

Olenginski tied the game at 4-4 with 1:59 remaining before Staffari dashed the Colonials’ hopes 61 seconds later.

Staffari contributed two assists along with his two goals, but the contributions of Hatter goaltender Patrick Murphy were a significant factor as well. Murphy, who transferred to Hatboro-Horsham from La Salle at midseason, stopped 46 of the 50 shots he saw. His best work came midway through the second period when he made three big saves in a game that was scoreless at the time. He stopped 16 of 18 shots in the third frame.

“I knew I had to come up big,” he said. “We had a lot of shots going into the third period so I knew I had to keep them in the game. Then, they found a way to come back.”

Murphy’s transfer to Hatboro-Horsham marked a return to familiar surroundings. He was a student in the Hatboro-Horsham School District through the eighth grade before pending two-and-a-half years at La Salle.

“In the classroom, it hasn’t been too hard to switch,” he said. “On the ice, I know a lot of kids on the team so it was an easy switch for me.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Vince Forti took some positives away from the loss.

“You’re never really happy with a loss, but I think there were a lot of positive takeaways,” he said. “Fifty shots on goal; their goalie played really well. A couple rebound chances we couldn’t bury here and there.”

• An altercation following a pileup at the Hatboro-Horsham net with 12 seconds left in the game led to 53 minutes in penalties being handed out. The Hatters’ Reid Rochestie received a major penalty for slew footing. He’ll serve a two-game suspension….The Hatters now stand at 14-2 overall. The Colonials are 12-2 overall and in the division.

Hatboro-Horsham 0 0 5—5

P-W 0 2 2—4

Second-period goals: Cooper Kanzee (PW) from Liam Kelly and Daniel Guller, 11:06; Dan Moloney (PW) from Luke Smith and Guller, 14:41 (pp)

Third-period goals: Luca Staffieri (HH) from Kyle Roesing, :56: Reid Rochestie (HH) from Vincent Graziani, 1:31; Graziani (HH) from Staffieri, 3:42; Guller (PW) from Kanzee and Moloney 8:43; Nate Nemchinov (HH) from Staffieri and Roesing, 12:51; Jarrett Olenginski (PW) from Ryan Jagher, 15:01; Staffieri (HH) from  Vincent Graziani, 16:02

Shots: Hatboro-Horsham 28, Plymouth Whitemarsh 50; Saves: Patrick Murphy (HH) 46 Lucas Bennett (PW) 23

Holy Ghost Prep 5 St. Joseph’s Prep 1

Through the peaks and valleys of a long season, Holy Ghost Prep has stayed on an even keel. That was evident Wednesday afternoon as the Firebirds closed out their APAC campaign against St. Joseph’s Prep at Grundy Arena.

The hosts took a one-goal lead after 34 minutes before erupting for the three goals in the third period. The resultant 5-1 win gave Holy Ghost Prep a perfect 8-0 APAC record (16-4 overall), the top seed in the upcoming Founders Cup playoffs and presumably the top seed in next month’s Class AAA Flyers Cup tournament, which the Firebirds will enter as defending champions.

St. Joseph’s Prep closed the regular season 14-6 overall and 4-4 in the APAC, sharing second place with Hun School. The Raiders will be seeded second in playoffs on the basis of having beaten the Hawks twice this season.

After two periods, Wednesday’s game was up for grabs. Jackson Foster got things started for the Firebirds, off a scramble in front of the Hawks’ net, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead with 4:58 left in the first period.

Cole Garson tied the game for the Hawks with 7:07 left in the middle period when he collected a feed from Bradan Fisher and tucked the puck inside the right post. Mason Thompson put Holy Ghost Prep in front for good with 3:47 left in the period and Lucas Gonzalez extended the lead 3:30 into the final stanza.

Junior defenseman Anthony Cerne had the primary assist on Gonzalez’s goal. He and his teammates knew what was at stake going into the final period.

“Coach {John Ritchie} said in the locker room that some guys were going to have to step up,” he said. “We went out there and we were like ‘We’ve got to win this game, it’s a big game,” he said.

Chase Logue made it a 4-1 game 3:38 remaining and Nate Romer completed the scoring with 2:19 left.

By that point, the game’s emotional temperature had risen several degrees. The Firebirds’ Jack Gavaghan drew a misconduct penalty in the wake of Romer’s goal and Garson was given a minor plus a misconduct for head contact a few moments later. The Hawks were accessed five penalties in the third period.

St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula voiced his frustrations.

“We fell apart in every way possible,” he said. “We’re not going win hockey games that way, especially against a team like that. They exploited us.

“We’ve been getting away with this stuff for a long time and still winning games. But {Holy Ghost Prep} played well, they’re a good team.”

Cerne notes that teamwork was at the heart of the Firebirds’ success, on this occasion and throughout the season.

“Everyone came together as a team,” he said. “We put in a lot of work after hours to match up the lines with the other teams.

“We really played as a team. Gonzalez had a great game. Chase had a great game. Everyone found a way to put the puck in the net today.”

  • The Founders Cup semifinals are set for Wednesday, February 18 at Ice Line. Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep will face the winner of the February 11 play-in between fourth-seeded La Salle and fifth-seed Malvern Prep at 3:30. St. Joseph’s Prep and Hun School will meet in the other semifinal. at 5:45. The final on February 25 will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 0—1

Holy Ghost Prep 1 1 3—5

First-period goal: Jackson Foster (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote and Lucas Gonzalez, 12:02

Second-period goals: Cole Garson (SJP) from Bradan Fisher and Jake Ely, 9;53; Mason Thomas (HGP) from Chris Marshall and  Jack Gavaghan,  13:13

Third-period goals: Gonzalez (HGP) from Anthony Cerone and Valeriote, 3;30;   Chase Logue (HGP) from Valeriote and Foster, 13;22; Nate Romer (HGP) from Marshall, 2:19

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 25, Holy Ghost Prep 30; Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 25, Jack Botthof (HGP) 24

APAC Standings 2-3-26

                                                Won    Lost    Otw    Otl       Shw  Shl    Pts

Holy Ghost Prep (15-4)          7          0           1            0        0         0     20

St. Joseph’s Prep (14-5)         4           3          0           1         1        0      12

Hun School (12-9)                   3          4          2            3        0         0       9

La Salle (5-12)                          2          5         0            1        0         0     7

Malvern Prep (4-10-2)            2       5             1             0        1         0     6

Remaining Conference Games

Tuesday: Malvern Prep at Hun School 4:00 at Ice Land

Wednesday: St. Joseph’s Prep at Holy Ghost Prep 4:00 at Grundy

SHSHL Update 2-2-26

National Division                W    L   T  OTW OTL    SOW SOL Pts

North Penn (16-1)              13    0   0   –       –          –            –       52

Council Rock South (14-2) 11     2   0    –        –         –           –     44

Central Bucks South (10-4)    9      3    0      –         –          –     36

Pennsbury (10-4-1)               8     4   1   –    –             –            –   34

Pennridge   (5-8-1)               5     8  –     –       2           –            –      22

Central Bucks East (5-8-1)   5    7   1   1                –            –      21`

Souderton (3-10)                   3    9   0   1    1          –           –        12

Neshaminy (2-11)                  2  10   0    1    –           –            –      7

Central Bucks West (0-14)  0   13   0    –     –           –           –       0                                 

American Division          W    L    T    OTW     OTL   SHW  SOL PTS  

Hatboro-Horsham (13-2)  11    2     0       1         –          –      45

Plym. Whitemarsh (11-1)   11    1     0     –           –         –          44

Wissahickon (5-8)            5   7      0    2          –        –          –       18  

Springfield (4-9)               4    8     0     1      –           –                 15

Abington (0-13)                0    13    0      –         2       –          –       1

Scoring   All League Scheduled Games                        

 National Division                      GP    G     A      Pts

Shane Gleisner   Pb                    15    39   19     58

Jake Weiner CRS                        13     34  17      51

Samuel Norton NP                     15     19  25     44

Chris Silvotti NP                          17     20  20     40

Nolan Shingle                              16     19    14   33

Jordan Sarne   CRS                      13    17   15    32

Ryan Frey     C.B. South              14      13    19   32

Ismael Cabrales   NP                   15     10    22   32

 

American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

  Vincent Graziani HH      15      29   23   52

 Daniel Guller       PW       12    12    29    41

 Nate Nemchinov HH      13     20    20    40

 Bill Moffa   HH                14      11   16    27

Mack Risnychok Wiss    12      18     8     26

Luca Staffieri HH            12      13    13   26

Blake Ambler PW            10     10     16   26

Cooper Kanze   PW         8       13     11   24

Grayson Quinn Sp.         13      16     7    23

Reid Rochestie     HH     14       7     15   22

Wissahickon’s Dicus Has Picked Up a Whistle

When Logan Dicus isn’t on the ice with a stick in his hands he might be found on the ice blowing a whistle. The Wissahickon senior is a USA Hockey referee and spends his Saturday and Sunday mornings officiating youth games.

Dicus started thinking about officiating last summer.

“I didn’t really have much going on so I thought I’d just look into it. A couple of my friends did it so I thought ‘Why not?’ So, I signed up and have been doing the early morning games and slowly making my way up.

I have a lot of fun doing it as well. And it’s a good time.”

As a Level 1 official, Dicus is certified to work games including players as old as age 10. But hockey, like all sports, is dealing with a shortage of officials and it’s theoretically possible he could be assigned at a high level.

USA Hockey’s requirements for new referees include paying an application fee ($55), completing on-line and classroom training sessions, a rules test, and a background check. Those 18 and older (birth year 2008, as Dicus is, or prior) must also complete a SafeSport training protocol.

Dicus says officiating has him seeing the game differently than he does as a player.

“When you’re reffing, you see a different perspective from when you’re playing the game,” he said. “You’re not even paying attention to the score, honestly.

“You’re staring at the puck. You’re staring at the players around the puck. You’re barely paying attention to the game, honestly. You’re just kind of watching in areas. It’s definitely a different perspective than playing the game.”

Dicus has gotten an abundance of support from his more experienced officiating partners.

“All the refs that I have {officiated} with have been very nice,” he said, “very respectful, and that makes it an easier environment to learn in.”

Dicus will head to college next fall but plans to take his striped shirt and whistle with him. He says being on the ice as a referee brings back memories of when he was getting started in the game himself.

“Watching younger kids playing the game and knowing that I was once on that position,” he said. “I didn’t really understand hockey at that point and how much it was going to have to do with my life. And I just get to see my life all over again.”

Pennsbury 4 Pennridge 3

Elite players have a way of taking over a game. Shane Gleisner did just that Thursday night.

The Pennsbury senior delivered three goals, including the game winner, as the Falcons bested Pennridge 4-3 in a SHSHL National matchup at Hatfield Ice.

Gleisner took the ice Thursday night as the National Division’s leading scorer. He now has 34 goals and 16 assists for 50 points in divisional games; 39-19-58 overall, which puts atop him both scoring lists for both goals and points

Being his team’s primary offensive force is a role Gleisner has grown into over the course of his four varsity seasons.

“When I was a freshman, sophomore, and junior, I was working my way up to be the guy,” he said. “It feels good to be relied on. Now that I’m a senior, I’d say I’ve worked out all the mistakes I used to make, so I’m finally ready to be the goal-scoring guy.”

Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley cited Gleisner’s impact.

“He’s had a phenomenal year so far,” Daley said. He was a big role player the year we won the Flyers Cup (2023) and we could tell the best was yet to come with him.

“He just filled into that body, got big, got fast, with one of the hardest shots you’ll see in this league.”

Gleisner’s talents allow the Falcon to employ the up-tempo style Daley prefers.

“That’s kind of been what we’ve tried to have as our calling card the last few years,” Daley said. “This year, we’ve finally got kind of the right pieces again to have that explosive offense, stretch the ice a little bit, get those odd-man rushes.”

Pennsbury (10-4-1, 8-4-1 in the division) had to play from behind early on. The Rams (5-8-1, 5-8), who had just 10 skaters dressed, took a 1-0 lead on Landon Bishop’s goal 3:32 into the opening period. Gleisner tied the game 2:04 into the second frame and after Shane Hicks put the Falcons in front at 9:18 they never trailed again.

Gleisner extended his team’s lead with 5:03 remaining in the period but Pennridge, which had just 10 skaters dressed, refused to go away.

James Rush made it a one-goal game 18 seconds into the final period but Gleisner responded when he finished a solo breakaway 25 seconds later. Even then the Rams refused to yield. Dinsmore made it a 4-3 game with 13:36 still remaining and Pennsbury goaltender Brendan Milliken made some big saves down the stretch to keep his team in front.

“We lost to the best goal scorer in the league this year,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “And that’s the way it goes sometimes. He did a great job, he finished the chances he had to. We kept fighting back and came up a little bit short tonight.”

Pennsbury 0 3 1—4

Pennridge 1 0 2—3

First-period goal: Landon Bishop (Pr) from Justin Dinsmore, 3:32

Second-period goals: Shane Gleisner (Pb) from Francis DeLucia,  2:04; Shane Hicks (Pb) from Jake Sarver, 9:18; Gleisner (Pb) from  Connor Gray, 11:57

Third-period goals: James Rush (Pr) from  Ryan Burke, 2:42; Gleisner (Pb) unassisted, 3:07; Dinsmore (Pr) from Rush, 3:24

Shots: Pennsbury 25, Pennridge 27: Saves: Brendan Milliken(Pb) 24, Andrew Slutsky (Pr) 21