SHSHL Unveils 2023-24 Alignment

A total of 16 teams will skate in the Suburban High School Hockey League this season, one fewer than last year.

The National Division will feature 10 teams Defending champion Council Rock South will be joined by defending Class AA Flyers Cup champion Pennsbury along with Council Rock North, Neshaminy, Pennridge, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks West, Central Bucks South, Souderton, and North Penn

The six-team American Division will include defending champion Abington, Wissahickon, Hatboro-Horsham, which will skate as a pure team this season, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Springfield, and Bensalem, which moves over from the National Division, replacing Quakertown, which will not be part of the SHSHL in 2023-24.

The season schedule has not been announced. Traditionally the league season begins on or around the first week of November.

Hatfield Ice to Host 3-on-3 Blind Hockey Tournament Featuring Area High School Teams

Nine area high schools will take part in a 3-on-3 preseason tournament to highlight the sport of blind hockey. The one-night tournament will be played on Thursday, October 26 beginning at 6:00 at Hatfield Ice. The players will skate wearing low-vision stimulation glasses to highlight visual impairment issues.

The participating teams will include Father Judge, Penncrest, Haverford and Springfield Delco from the Intercounty League, Malvern Prep and Holy Ghost Prep from the APAC, and Central Bucks South, North Penn, and Pennridge from the SHSHL.The event is being coordinated by Philadelphia Blind Hockey.

Philadelphia Blind Hockey Gets Youngsters on Ice

Hatfield Ice was the venue on Sunday as Philadelphia Blind Hockey held a clinic for visually impaired youngsters. Attendance was limited because of the weather and related road closures, but Kelsey McGuire, Philadelphia Blind Hockey’s founder and executive director says, the enthusiasm of the participants made up for the lack of numbers.

“We had one new player who signed up; it was her first time ever being out on the ice,” she said, “and the rest were returning players that were so excited to be back on the ice.

It was so good to see them.”

The PBH staff was supported by members of the Pennridge hockey team, who renewed relationships with players they had worked with at a clinic this past spring.

“There was a bunch of them there where it was their second time doing it,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “I didn’t ask them this time, they all volunteered to do it on their own; they came to me.

“We had six kids all together. For four of them it was their second time doing it. They really, really enjoyed doing that. And they’re starting to know who a couple of the kids are. They’re building a relationship with them.”

McGuire says Pennridge players are looking for ways to support Philadelphia Blind Hockey that go beyond being on the ice, including designing and building sleds for the program’s participants to help them become more comfortable on skates.

“So they won’t be leaning on sticks and actually learning how to skate properly with their head up,” McGuire said, “and not be afraid to fall.

“[The Pennridge players] came to me and said ‘We want to go even farther to give back to your program.’ They just love the kids and they love everything that we do.”

McGuire says the Blind Hockey program enhances the participants’ self-confidence.

“You just see in some of our younger kids,” she said. “That they’re so much more outgoing and they’re not afraid, which is a big part of it.

“Kids are always [being told] ‘They can’t do that.’ And this gives them the opportunity to prove that they can do it.”

The next Philadelphia Blind Hockey event is scheduled for Saturday, August 5 at Hatfield Ice from noon until 2:00.

For more information contact Philadelphia Blind Hockey.

Pennridge Rams Dean Venner (left) and Josh Kelly lend a helping hand.

Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference All-Conference Team 2023

The 2023 All-APAC team as selected by the conference coaches.

First Team

F Brady Baehser Holy Ghost Prep Sr.

F Chase Hannon La Salle Sr.

F Joey Samango St. Joseph’s Prep Sr.

D Matt Giordano La Salle Sr.

D Ryan Lippy Holy Ghost Prep So.

G Stephen Chen Hun School Sr.

G Aries Carangi La Salle Sr.

@ The vote for goaltender ended in a tie

Second Team

F Jeremy Jacobs Malvern Prep Jr.

F Jeffrey Hammond St. Joseph’s Prep Sr.

F Justin LaPlante Hun School Jr.

D Brady Doyle Malvern Prep Jr.

D John Lynch St. Joseph’s Prep Jr.

G Rocco Bruno St. Joseph’s Prep Sr.

Honorable Mention

F Jim Jacobs Malvern Prep Sr.

F Elian Estulin Hun School Sr.

F Kieran Mulholland Holy Ghost Prep Sr.

F John Seravalli Holy Ghost Prep Sr.

F Ryan Desmond La Salle Sr.

F TimWhittock La Salle Sr.

D Scott Richmond Hun School Sr.

D Michael Holt Holy Ghost Prep Jr.

D Jack Sharer Malvern Prep Sr.

D RyanWarner La Salle Sr.

D Shane O’Neill St. Joseph’s Prep Jr.

G Brandon Novabilski Malvern Prep Sr.

G Colin Mudrick Holy Ghost Prep Sr.

La Salle 7 Peters Township 3

La Salle got contributions from all hands Saturday afternoon. The result was a state championship. Seven different players scored goals in the course of a 7-3 win over Peter Township in the Class AAA Pennsylvania Cup championship game at the Robert Morris University Sports Center outside of Pittsburgh.

The win gave the Explorers (16-9-2) their seventh state title, their first since 2019.

“It was a great team effort,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner.

The Explorers broke the game open with four unanswered goals in the second period.

Charlie Kennedy gave La Salle a 1-0 lead with 41 seconds left in the first period when he put in a rebound of his own shot from the right point.

Will Tomko tied the game for the Indians early in the second period off an offensive left-circle faceoff.

But La Salle dominated the remainder of the period. Julian Tarsi, Evan Golato, Chase Hannon, and Ryan Desmond scored goals to give the Explorers a 5-1 lead at period’s end.

Peters Township (18-4-1) which came into the game as the defending state champion, drew closer with a pair of goals that made it a 5-3 game with 11:02 still left in regulation but Michael Zarzycki extended La Salle’s lead at the 7:39 mark.

Max Monzo finished the scoring with an empty net goal with 1:16 remaining.

““The boys truly bought in and gave one of their best performances of the season,” Muehlbronner said. “Our senior leadership this season was outstanding.”

Ice chips—La Salle’s previous state titles came in 1998, 2008-09, 2012, 2016, and 2019.

State Championship Schedule

The Pennsylvania Cup championship games are scheduled for Saturday. All three games will be played at the

Robert Morris University Island Sports Center inNeville Township, PA

Here’s the schedule

Class A

West Chester East 8 Kiski 1

Third consecutive state title for West Chester East and fifth overall.

Class AA 2:00 PM

Pennsbury vs. South Fayette

Class 3A 5:00 PM
La Salle vs. Peters Township

La Salle 2 Holy Ghost Prep 1 OT

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—Two hockey teams lifted their games and their sport into the clouds Tuesday night, and brought a full house at Hatfield Ice along for the ride. It was La Salle that emerged victorious, 2-1 in overtime over Holy Ghost Prep in the Class AAA Flyers Cup championship game.

Chase Hannon scored the winning goal 6:19 into overtime to give the top-seeded Explorers (15-9-2) their first Flyers Cup title since 2019 and their 12^thoverall. They will face defending champion Peters Township for the Class AAA state title on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

The second-seeded Firebirds finished their season at 18-8. Tuesday’s game brought down the curtain on the career of Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside, who announced his retirement earlier this season

Hannon, a senior, scored both of his team’s goals.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “I lost a Flyers Cup my sophomore year (to Malvern Prep) in overtime, so, to win in overtime was great redemption.”

There was little to choose between the Explorers and the Firebirds through 51 minutes of regulation hockey and six minutes of overtime. La Salle’s Aries Carangi and Holy Ghost Prep’s Colin Mudrick were in top form in their respective nets. Mudrick denied La Salle’s James Carpenter on a backhander from close range early in the second period; it may have been the best save of the net by either goaltender.

John Seravalli gave the Firebirds a 1-0 lead 3:23 into the second period on a shot that came directly off an offensive right-circle faceoff. Hannon answered at the 11:49 mark after recovering a loose puck in the offensive zone.

But both goaltenders were sharp and knew their opposite number was as well. The two netminders embraced on the ice following the game.

Carangi, a senior was gratified he was able to play a part in his team’s win. He wound up winning the Bobby Clarke Award as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“My sophomore year, I was a part of that team when we lost in overtime,” he said. “I was out with an injury and it felt like I couldn’t help my team at all.

“So, it felt really good to be out there, and do my job out for the guys and help them get this win today.”

Hannon’s winning goal came on a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that rocketed past Mudrick under the crossbar. He sald he and his teammates were confident going into overtime.

“The mindset was ‘Score a goal,’” he said. “And win. If anyone on our team did it, we were happy about it. It didn’t matter who if we got the job done.”

And it was the Explorers who celebrated at evening’s end, while Whiteside reflected on his team’s effort.

“It’s one of the best games I’ve ever been involved with as a coach,” he said. “Both teams played really well. I thought either team could have won it. I thought our boys responded well and I’m just really proud of the effort our kids gave.

“I just wish they had a better result, but it was a tremendous high-school hockey game.”

Ice chips: Besides Carangi, the All-Tournament team included Hannon and Thomas Doucet from La Salle and Seravalli, Brady Baehser, and Ciaran Chambers from Holy Ghost Prep.

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 0 0—1

La Salle 0 1 0 1—2

Second-period goals: John Seravalli (HGP) from Shaun Moore, 3:23; Chase Hannon (L) unassisted, 11:49

Overtime goal: Hannon (L) from Evan Golato and Ryan Desmond 6:19

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 35, La Salle 35; Saves; Colin Mudrick (HGP) 33, Aries Carangi (L) 34

Pennsbury 5 Pennridge 3

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP— After a long and arduous journey, Pennsbury has reached the mountaintop. Justin Marlin’s goal with 8:19 left in the third period was the game winner as the Falcons downed Pennridge 5-3 Tuesday night in the Class AA Flyers Cup championship game at Hatfield Ice.

It’s the third Flyers Cup title in school history and the first for the Falcons at the Class AA level.

Pennsbury (18-6), the fifth seed in the tournament, will face South Fayette, the Penguins Cup champion, for the state championship on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Second-seeded Pennridge, the defending champion, finished the season at 16-6.

Brendan MacAinsh scored three goals and received the Bobby Clarke Most Valuable Player Award.

“That was exciting,” MacAinsh said of the win. “I’ve been waiting a long time for something like that.”

After a relatively quiet opening sequence, Shane Dachowski put the Rams in front 4:39 into the opening frame, off a feed from Tyler Manto.

Pennsbury goaltender Aaron McDaniel was busy in the opening session; Pennridge generated 12 shots in the first period while holding the Falcons to nine. One of those eight came on a shorthanded breakaway in the waning second of the period but Jacob Winston denied MacAinsh with just under nine seconds remaining.

The game’s intensity level picked up with 5:08 left in the second period when Marlin delivered a hard hit to Dachowski along the right wall in the Pennridge offensive zone. Dachowski stayed down on the ice for a time before being helped to the bench. He would return for the third period No penalty was called on the play and the tempo of the game picked up from there.

Less than two minutes later, Marlin assisted MacAinsh’s game-tying goal which came off a Pennridge turnover. With 75 seconds left in the period MacAinsh put his team in front with a slapshot from the right post that caught iron as it entered the net.

The third period featured the offensive fireworks that might have been expected from two teams that scored 37 goals between them in three previous meetings.

MacAinsh said the break after the second period to resurface the ice gave he and his teammates a chance to refocus.

“That break really helped us,” he said. “We’re usually gassed in the (second period). That break makes us come out on fire even more, every time.”

Evan Eisler extended Pennbury’s lead 2:35 into the period but Tyler Manto (during a power play) and Dachowski (during a shorthanded breakaway) scored goals 84 seconds apart to tie the game with 11:14 left in regulation.

Marlin’s goal, which came when he corralled a loose puck the Pennridge zone, proved decisive. The senior defenseman called Tuesday’s result a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an opportunity to move past disappointments.

“Especially being a senior here,” he said. “We’ve been close (but) this year we weren’t letting it go.

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna credited the Falcons for their effort.

“They did what champions do,” he said. “We threw everything we had at them. And you know what? Props to Pennsbury and props to (McDaniel).

“I told MacAinsh after the game he’s as good a player that’s come through this league. He’s as good a leader that’s come through this league. If we’re going to lose to somebody, I’d rather lose to him.

Ice chips: The All-Tournament team included MacAinsh, Dachowski, Marlin, McDaniel, Colin Dachowski (Pennridge) and Andrew Falkenstein (Pennsbury)

Pennsbury 0 2 3—5

Pennridge 1 0 2—3

First-period goals Shane Dachowski (Pr) from Tyler Manto, 4:39

Second-period goals: Brendan MacAinsh (Pb) from Justin Marlin, 13:38; MacAinsh (Pb) from Marlin, 15:45

Third-period goals: Evan Eisler (Pb) from Andrew Falkenstein, 2:35; Manto (Pr) from James Rush, 4:22 (pp); Shane Dachowski (Pr) from Kevin Pico, 5:46 (sh); Justin Marlin (Pb) unassisted, 8:41; MacAinsh (Pb) unassisted, 16:59

Shots: Pennsbury 29, Pennridge 37; Saves: Aaron McDaniel (Pb) 34, Jacob Winston (Pr) 24

Class AAA Flyers Cup Finals Preview

There will be no secrets when La Salle and Holy Ghost Prep collide for the Class AAA Flyers Cup championship Tuesday night (8:30 at Hatfield Ice). Perhaps no two area hockey teams are more familiar with each other than the top-seeded Explorers (14-9-2) and the second-seeded Firebirds (18-7).

Tuesday’s meeting will be their fourth of this season alone; Holy Ghost Prep won the first, La Salle has taken the last two including the APAC championship game on March 1^st.

The Explorers have won 12 Flyers Cup titles in their history, most recently in 2019 one of those titles came as a Class AA team. The most recent of the Firebirds’ three championships came in 2017. One of those three came in the Class AA classification

La Salle (14-9-2)

Coach: Wally Muehlbronner

Players to watch: Sr. Aries Carangi (G); Sr. Ryan Warner (D) Sr. Evan Golato (F); Jr; Sr. Ryan Desmond (F)

Holy Ghost Prep (18-7)

Coach: Gump Whiteside

Players to watch: Sr. Colin Mudrick (G); Jr. Michael Holt (D); Sr. Brady Baehser (F); Sr. Kieran Mulholland (F); St. Landon Stout (F)

Previous Meetings

11-9Holy Ghost Prep 6 La Salle 2

2-13 La Salle 6 Holy Ghost Prep 5

3-1 La Salle 7 Holy Ghost Prep 3

Class AA Flyers Cup Finals Preview

Tuesday’s Class AA Flyers Cup championship game between second-seeded Pennridge and defending champion and fifth-seeded Pennsbury (6:00 at Hatfield Ice) figures to be quite a shootout. Rams and the Falcons have scored a combined 37 goals in their three meetings against each other this season. Pennsbury has won two of the three, including in the SHSHL National Division semifinals on March 1.

Pennridge’s Flyers Cup win last March is the only one in school history. Pennsbury won titles as a Class A team in 1993 and 2000. The Falcons were members of the Lower Bucks League at the time. They joined the SHSHL for the 2007-08 season.

Pennridge (16-5)

Coach: Jeff Montagna

Players to watch: So. Jacob Winton (G); Jr. Colin Dachowski (D); So. Shane Dachowski (F); Jr. Kevin Pico (F); Jr. Andrew Savona (F)

Pennsbury (17-6)

Coach: Ryan Daley

Players to watch: Jr. Aaron McDaniel (G); Sr. Justin Marlin (D); Sr. Brendan MacAinish (F); Sr. Andrew Falkenstein (F); Jr. Logan Doyle (F)

11-3 Pennsbury 6 Pennridge 3

1-12 Pennridge 11 Pennsbury 4

3-1 Pennsbury 8 Pennridge 5