Category: Hockey News

Owls Enjoying Their Time on Ice

BRISTOL—The result was a disappointment albeit not a totally unexpected one. Bensalem was no match for Pennsbury Thursday night and fell 11-1 in a Suburban High School Hockey League Class AA game at Grundy Arena.

But the result paled in comparison to the reality of the Owls being on the ice, in uniforms that carried their school’s name and its colors of silver and blue.

The team is coached by Jordan Roth, a special education teacher in the district and a man with an affection for the game of hockey.

“Hockey has always been a passion of mine,” he said, “as well as coaching. I’m excited to grow this program to the best of ability.”

The Owls who now stand at 3-9 overall and 1-7 in divisional play, have one of the youngest teams in the SHSHL. 

Sophomore goaltender Rickey Gonzalez stood tall for his team Wednesday night despite the score line He allowed 11 goals but also made 39 saves before the contest was terminated via the 10-goal mercy rule 8:11 into the third period.

Gonzalez found himself drawn to playing in goal early on. “When I was little I always had a thing for weird positions,” he said. “When I played football, I always wanted to be a ref.

“So, I guess I ended up picking goalie. But after a while, you see the other guys having all the fun out there and I kind of feel left out. I want to be a (skater) sometimes.”

Gonzalez enjoys the opportunity to step on the ice with the student-athletes he sees in school each day. “I find it a little bit more fun and exciting to play with them,” he said. I get to show off my skills a little bit for my friends and the people who come to our games.”

Alex Hood scored the Owls’ only goal Wednesday night. Hood, who is also a sophomore has collected 12 goals and five assists for 17 points this season.

Hood was elated when he learned Bensalem would field a hockey team this season. “I was really excited,” he said, because I could play with my friends here and it’s something new to do.”

Like Gonzalez, Hood is savoring the chance to play alongside his friends. “I’ve always loved playing with (Gonzalez),” he said. “He’s one of my best friends off the ice. It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Roth tells his squad to appreciate the opportunity they have to skate for their school. “I tell the guys in the locker room that it’s a privilege to play this game every day,” he said. “Finding ice, being in enclosed arenas. Hockey is a very expensive sport. I’m very thankful to be a part of the program. I like to instill that importance of respect, respect the game and respect the officials on and off the ice.”

The Falcons (7-3-1, 5-2 in the division) took command by scoring six goals in the first period. Brendan MacAinsh, Reece Milkman and Jake McCaw each scored two goals

Bensalem 0 1 0—1

Pennsbury 6 2 3—11

First-period goals: Brendan Macainsh (P) from Colin Michalak and Shane Siegmund, :22; Jake McCaw (P) from Chris Sarver 5:23; Logan Doyle (P) from Connor Coyne, 8:50 (sh); Reece Millman (P) from Macainsh, 11:17; McCaw (P) from Sarver and Millman, 14:02; Sarver (P) from Millman and Duyle, 14:51;

Second-period goals: Alex Hood (B) from Matt Rowan and Alex Bazylevich, 11:31; Millman (P) unassisted, 12:59 (pp); Doyle (P) from Macainsh and Conor Kane, 13:15

Third-period goals: McCaw (P) Doyle, 1:01 (sh); Macainsh (P) from Siegmund and Stephen Grossup, 3:02; McCaw (P) from Siegmound, 8:11

Shots: Bensalem 8, Pennsbury 50; Saves: Ricky Gonzalez (B) 39, Aaron McDaniel (P) 7

Game terminated at 8:11 of the third period

Council Rock North 6 Neshaminy 5

BRISTOL—Council Rock North and Neshaminy had a lot to play for Wednesday night. Both teams were trying to enhance their standing in the eyes of the Flyers Cup Competition Committee and the ‘Skins were trying to wipe away the memories of 6-1 loss to Council Rock South in their last start.

It was the Indians who prevailed, and in dramatic fashion, overcoming deficits of 4-0 and 5-1 to post a 6-5 win at Grundy Arena. Nick Hahn scored what proved to be the winning goal with 5:20 remaining in regulation.

Council Rock North improved to 5-6 overall and 4-5 in divisional play. The win is sure to make a lasting impression While North competes in the Class AA Division of the SHSHL, the Indians are a Class A team for Flyers Cup and are doing their best to make a case for inclusion in the field.

North coach Greg McDonald was asked if the win was his team’s biggest to date.

“I’d probably say so,” he said. “I think we had all but one player here tonight. It was the first time we had a full roster, so we were able to kind of manage the game differently. Certainly, by the boys’ reaction, I think it was the biggest win of the year.

At the end of the first period, the Indians were staring into the abyss. Goals from Jacob Adami, and Joey Hornung, and two from Max Gallagher, gave Neshaminy (8-3-1, 5-3 in the division) what seemed to be a commanding 4-0 lead.

Jackson Accardi got North on the board 1:13 into the second frame but David McColgan answered for Neshaminy with a power-play goal at the five-minute mark to seemingly restore the status quo.

The Indians kept at it however. Accardi scored his second goal of the game, a shorthanded effort, at 5:40, and Jackson Mosley followed with a goal of his own at 9:23 to make it a 5-3 game heading into the third period.

Neshaminy kept up the pressure as the final session began. Mosley scored his second goal of the night at 4:13 before Karson Grainey tied the game at 6:16.

But North found itself shorthanded going down the stretch. With 7:35 left in regulation, Mosley was called for slashing and drew a 10-minute misconduct along with it. That gave him four penalties on the night and an automatic game misconduct. With 3:39 still to play, Accardi drew a 10-minute misconduct penalty of his own.

But Neshaminy persevered and Hahn sent his teammates into celebratory mode with his game-winning goal. Hahn, a sophomore, said the Indians were poised to continue their comeback as the final period began.

’We had great (chemistry) going into the third,” he said. “We were pumped up and ready to go.”

The events of the last two periods left Neshaminy coach Matt DeMatteo perplexed and frustrated. His team was ranked fifth in the latest set of Class AA Flyers Cup rankings and the loss was a black eye, or perhaps a left hook to the jaw.

“You get a four-goal lead and you can’t keep it, that’s embarrassing,” he said. “We came out, we stuck to the game plan early on, we played a good first period, then the last two periods we just fell apart.

“We didn’t stick to the game plan. Top to bottom, we just abandoned it and I don’t know why. If something is working, why wouldn’t you stay with it?”

Council Rock North 0 3 3—6

Neshaminy 4 1 0—5

First-period goals: Jacob Adami (N) from J.J. Hathaway, 4:30; Joey Hornung (N) from D.J. Harris, 11:52; Max Gallagher (N) from Hathaway, 14:31; Gallagher (M) from Ryan DeMatteo, and Liam Mooney, 15:02

Second-period goals: Jackson Accardi  (CRN) from Karson Grainey and Nick Hahn, 1:13; Dan McColgan (N) from Hathaway, 5:00 (pp); Accardi (CRN) from Grainey and Jackson Mosley, 5:40 (sh); Mosley (CRN) from Zach Weissman and Grainey, 9:23

Third-period goals: Mosley (CRN) from Weissman and Lucas Siomos, 4:1; Grainey (CRN) unassisted, 6:16; Hahn (CRN) from Weissman and Siomos,11:40

Shots: Council Rock North 32, Neshaminy 33

Saves: Ian Goldberg (CRN) 28 Cory Hemberger (N) 26

SHSHL Update for 2-2-22

 National/Continental-Class AA     W     L     T    OTL     Pts

Pennridge (12-0)                                7     0     0       0        14 

Council Rock South (9-1-1)               7     0     0       0        14

Neshaminy (8-2-1)                             5     2     0      0        10

Central Bucks South (5-5-1)              5     2     0      0       10

Pennsbury (6-3-1)                              4      2     0      0        8

Souderton (6-5)                                  4      4     0      0        8

Central Bucks East (4-7)                    3     4     0      0        6

Council Rock North (4-6)                  3      5     0      0        6

Bensalem (3-8)                                   1      6     0      0        2

Central Bucks West (3-8)                   0      7     0      0       0

North Penn (1-10)                               0      7    0       0       0

For Flyers Cup purposes, Council Rock North is a Class A team

American Division-Class A                  W    L   T    OTL      Pts

Abington (8-1)                                        7     0  0     0        12

Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-1)                 7    1  0     0        14

Wissahickon (5-6)                                   5     3  0     0        10

Quakertown (5-7)                                   5     5  0     0        10

William Tennent (3-9)                            3      6  0    0          6

Upper Dublin (3-7-0-1)                          2    5   0     1           5

Hatboro-Horsham (1-9)                         0    8     0     0        0 

For Flyers Cup purposes Abington is a Class AA team

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Scoring

Class AA                                                  G      A      Pts

Shane Siegmund (PB)                          13      16    29

Karson Grainey (CRN)                         16      8       24

Brendan Macainsh (Pb)                     15      7        22

Kevin Pico (Pr)                                     14     10      24

Kevin Koles (CRS)                                 9       12     21

Max Gallagher (Nesh)                       10       10     20

Aeryk Lehrhaupt (Pr)                          13      6      19

Aydin Thierolf (CBS)                            12      7      19

Nick Hahn (CRN)                                  7       11     18

Julian Sarne (CRS)                              13      4       17

Class A                                                     G       A      Pts

Luke Weikel (PW)                                  26      15    41

Aidan Keogh (PW)                                 12     28     40

Matt Kramer (Ab                                   20      13     33

Joe Stelacio (Ab)                                    13       15    28

Jack Bocul (UD)                                      20      6       26 

Will Hussa (Wiss)                                   13       13    26

Danny Hussa (Wiss)                               18       7      25

A.J. Pounds (Wiss)                                 12     11      23

Matthew Flynn (PW)                              5       17    22

Frank Rosenberry (WT)                         12       9     21

The Grundy Skate Shop is a full service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services.  We do a range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. We recently celebrated our 5th year at the shop but owner, Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Please visit ourFacebook page or stop in and check us out!

SHSHL Sets Playoff Dates

The Suburban High School Hockey League’s postseason is just three weeks away.

The SHSHL playoffs will commence on Wednesday, February 23 and Thursday the 24th with four first-round Class AA games and two Class A semifinal games.

The Class AA semifinals are set for Wednesday, March 2 and the finals in both classes will be contested the following evening, Thursday, March 3. 

 The Flyers Cup tournament field will be announced on Sunday, February 27, which allows for the results of the Class AA quarterfinals to be considered by the Flyers Cup Committee when it is determining the makeup of the tournament field.

Hun School 2 La Salle 1

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J.—The momentum of a hockey game can change in the blink of an eye. So it was at Iceland Tuesday afternoon. Elian Estulin and Seth Kaplan scored third-period goals to propel The Hun School past La Salle 2-1 in a tightly contested Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference matchup.

The win lifted the Raiders (7-6 overall) to 2-2-0-1 in APAC play. 
The Explorers fell to 6-7 overall and 3-3-0-1 in conference.
La Salle’s Keenan Schneider scored the afternoon’s first goal on a forehander from the low slot with 4:25 left in the second period.

Keenan Schneider scores the games first goal (Erin Schneider)

That was all the two teams could manage through the first two period against a pair of hot goaltenders, the Explorers’ Aries Carangi and the Raiders’ Stephen Chen, although the Raiders had a goal disallowed early in the period because, according to Hun School coach Ian McNally, the whistle blew before the puck crossed the goal line.

Early in the third fame however, the flow of the game shifted rather abruptly in Hun School’s direction. The sequence began at the 4:38 mark when La Salle’s Ryan Warner was flagged for slashing. Just 17 seconds later, Max Maddalo was sent off for cross checking, giving the Raiders an extended two-man advantage. Estulin tied the game at the 5:12 mark with a shot from the right side of the slot.

The Raiders had the momentum from that moment forward. Seth Kaplan scored the winning goal on a partial breakaway with 3:37 remaining in regulation.

“(The coaches) trust in our power-play unit,” Estulin said. “I was on the right side and got a five-hole goal We celebrated, then we got back out and got one.”

Seth Kaplan scores the winning goal

La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner cited the back-to-back penalties as the key point in the game.

“We talked going into the third about being smart and staying out of the box,” he said. “We took a couple penalties, it was unfortunate. I thought we played well.

“A couple of the guys that were in the box were guys that normally kill for us as well.”

Muehlbronner was quick to credit the Raiders for their effort.

“I thought Hun played well,” he said. “They’re a tough team to play against. They’re and they had some good opportunities.”

McNally noted there was sniping in the Raider locker room while the ice was being resurfaced before the third period but was glad his players maintained their composure.

“No one could get over the non-call goal he said. “I was worried we weren’t going to be able to regroup. And we did.”

The win keeps the Raiders mathematically alive in the quest for the APAC regular-season title. They can finish in first place alone if they win their three remaining conference games in regulation. Estulin however says he and his teammates are taking things one step at a time and not worrying about what the standings look like.

“We’re just going to play our game,” he said. “We’re not going to worry about who is 5-0 or who is 3-2. We’re just going to play our game.”

Tempers flared at the close of regulation when the teams scuffled  behind the Hun School net. Maddalo, his teammate Chase Hannon, and Hun School’s Nick Dimatos and Mark Gall were accessed a total of 50 minutes in penalties.

La Salle 0 1 0—1

Hun School 0 0 2—2

Second-period goal: Keenan Schneider (L) from Tim Whittock and Chase Hannon, 12:25

Third-period goals: Elian Estulin (HS) from Riley Frost and Nick Dimatos, 5:18; Seth Kaplan (HS) from Dimatos and Frost, 13:23

Shots La Salle 39, Hun School 30; Saves: Aries Carangi (L) 28, Stephen Chen (HS) 38

For more information about La Salle College High School CLICK HERE

For more information about The Hun School CLICK HERE

La Salle 5 Holy Ghost Prep 1

BRISTOL—The La Salle Express is getting up a full head of steam. Max Maddalo scored two goals and assisted on another as the Explorers scored a 5-1 decision over Holy Ghost Prep Monday afternoon in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Grundy Arena.

The win boosts La Salle to 6-6 overall and 3-2-0-1 in the APAC. While the Explorers could theoretically tie Malvern Prep for first place in the conference standings by winning their two remaining APAC games (Tuesday against Hun School and February 9 against St. Joseph’s Prep) the Friars would win the tiebreaker for the regular-season title, having beaten the Explorers twice.

Holy Ghost Prep (9-8, 1-4-1-1) took an early lead on John Seravalli’s goal 4:02 into the first period but Maddalo and Chris Wnek responded for La Salle before the first period ended and La Salle was in control from then on.

While the Explorers have scored just 15 goals in six APAC games they have allowed just 13. Maddalo says he and his teammates make defense their top priority.

“(Head Coach Wally Muehlbronner) usually drills it into us at the beginning of the year to play team defense,” the senior said. “So, we just play good team defense and that shows on offense.”

Gavin O’ Connell and Keenan Schneider scored second-period goals for La Salle before Maddalo scored into an empty net with 1:54 left in regulation.

The Explorers dropped their first four games of the season but are 6-2 since December 1.

“The first few games it starts out slow,” Maddalo said. “The new kids are trying to learn (Muehlbronner’s system). But, after midseason we started to pick up the pace on it.”

Muehlbronner expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance.

“Especially in the second period we really played well,” he said. “We had good tempo. All four lines were going. I think our defense really played just simple, smart hockey, getting pucks out or getting pucks deep, the way we need to play.”

Muehlbronner says his players, particularly the newcomers, have become more comfortable with his system as the season has progressed.

“The second half, they’ve done a pretty good job of sticking to it,” he said. “We’ve had our lapses at times, but we need to remember what’s going to make us have success.”

Will Braun got the win in goal, making 24 saves.

“We’ve ben rotating (our goaltenders),” Muehlbronner said,” and they’ve both done a really nice job.”

La Salle’s Aidan Mann launches a shot Holy Ghost Prep’s Colin Mudrick makes the save.

For Holy Ghost Prep, it was another disappointing result after a promising start. The Firebirds have lost seven straight.

“We started off the game really hard the first seven minutes,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “We got that first goal. I thought we played horribly in the second period and then battled in the third, but you’ve got to play three solid periods and we weren’t able to do that tonight.”

La Salle 2 2 1—5

Holy Ghost Prep 1 0 0—1

First-period goals: John Seravalli (HGP) from Shaun Moore and Landon Stout, 4:02; Max Maddalo (L) from Chris Wnek, 11:14; Wnek (L) from Maddalo, 13:04 (pp)

Second-period goals: Gavin O’ Connell (L) from Chase Hannon and Charlie Kennedy, 4:11; Keenan Schneider (L) unassisted, 7:21

Third-period goal; Maddalo (L) from Schneider, 15:06 (en)

Shots: La Salle 27, Holy Ghost Prep 25; Saves: Will Braun (L) 24, Colin Mudrick (HGP) 22

For more about La Salle College High School CLICK HERE

For more about Holy Ghost Prep CLICK HERE

Video provided by Nur B. Adam

Flyers Cup Rankings for 1-31-22

Class AAA

  1. Malvern Prep
  2. Sr. Joseph’s Prep
  3. La Salle
  4. Holy Ghost Prep
  5. Cardinal O’Hara

Class AA

  1. Pennridge
  2. Haverford
  3. Council Rock South
  4. Avon Grove
  5. Neshaminy

Class A

  1. West Chester East
  2. Springfield-Delco
  3. West Chester Rustin
  4. Hershey
  5. Plymouth Whitemarsh

NJ/Del

  1. Salesianum
  2. Eastern
  3. Shawnee
  4. Moorsetown
  5. Kingsway
  6. Cherokee

Girls

  1. West Chester Henderson
  2. Avon Grove
  3. Downingtown West
  4. Unionville
  5. Kingsway

Rankings determined by the Flyers Cup Competition Committee based on game results and personal observations. The field for the 43rd Flyers Cup tournament will be announced on Sunday, February 27.

The Grundy Skate Shop is a full-service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services.  We do a full range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. Owner Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Please visit our Facebook page or stop in and check us out!

Jeff Mauro has written a book on the history of the Pennsylvania state high school hockey championship. To find out more and order a copy CLICK HERE

APAC Update for 1-31-22

                                                  Won     Lost     OTW     OTL     Pts        GF     GA

Malvern Prep (11-3)                4            1          2           0         16         29     19

St. Joseph’s Prep (7-6)            3            2          0           2         11          22      18

La Salle (6-7)                             3            3          0          1          10          16     15

Hun School (7-7)                      2            3          1           0          8           15     13

Holy Ghost Prep (9-8)             1            4          1           1           6           15    28

This Week

Monday: La Salle 5 Holy Ghost Prep 1

Tuesday: Hun School 2 La Salle 1

Wednesday: Spaulding at Malvern Prep 3:30

Friday: St. Joseph’s Prep 3 Hun School 1

Scoring                              GP     G     A     Pts     PPG

Matt Harris (MP)              7       7      8     15       2.14

Jim Jacobs (MP)                7       7      7   14       2.00

Joey Samago (SJP)            6       8      2  10       1.67

Jeremy Jacobs (MP)         7       5      6     11       1.57

Pierre Laracque (MP)       7      4       5      9        1.29

Jeffrey Hammond (SJP)    6     3       4      7        1.17

Dante Passio (SJP)               6     1       6       7      1.17

Sean Marshall  (HGP)     7      4       3       7         1.00

Elian Estulin (HS)              4      2       2       4         1.00

Josh Ovelette (HS)           4      1       3       4         1.00

conference games only (minimum of 3) through February 1

Scoring through January 31

Conference games only (minimum of 3)

Council Rock South 6 Neshaminy 1

BRISTOL— It’s something that occurs around this time in every hockey season. Council Rock South finds another gear.

The Golden Hawks played one of their best games of the season Thursday night a 6-1 SHSHL Class AA win over Neshaminy at Grundy Arena.

Evan Mostoller scored two goals and four other players scored one goal each as South improved to 9-1-1 overall and stayed unbeaten in divisional play with a 7-0 mark.

The margin of victory might have been greater had it not been for the play of Neshaminy goaltender Brian Nelson who made 41 saves. From the opening faceoff to the final buzzer, the Golden Hawks dominated.

Sophomore Kevin Koles contributed a goal and two assists. 

“We’ve got playoffs soon,” he said. “We’re trying to (play) more like a team. We got the job done.”

South is one of the most balanced teams offensively in the SHSHL. Entering play Thursday night, four different players had scored 11 points or more this season.

Veteran coach Joe Houk says that balance is one of the keys to his team’s success this season.

“I think it’s most important,” he said. “We’ve always talked over the years about how your top guys always (contribute). “I think the second and third liners are the guys that are the most important. And now I have a couple D-men this year that are putting points up on the board also.

“So, at any given time during the game, I don’t have to rely on one or two guys. I can rely on a lot of other people too.”

Thanks in part to Nelson’s 18 saves, the Golden Hawks led just 1-0 after one period; Blaise Pepe put his team in front at the 1:38 mark.

Julian Wagenmann made it a 2-0 game 1:14 into the second frame before South broke the game open late in the period. Jeremy Rahyer, Koles, and Mostoller scored in a span of five-and-a-half minutes to build a 5-0 lead by period’s end.

It marked the first time this year Neshaminy (8-2-1, 5-2 in the division) had surrendered more than three goals in a game this season.

Neshaminy coach Matt DeMatteo was disappointed in his team’s effort.

“(South) is a very good team,” he said. “They played a very disciplined game. They clearly had a game plan and they executed it. We did not. That’s what it looks like when two good teams play and one doesn’t show up.”

Emotions boiled over at the 3:35 mark of the third period. South’ Matt Constantini and Neshaminy’s Nolan Geria were the antagonists. Constantini drew a minor for cross checking plus a 10-minute misconduct. Geria, who had been flagged three times to that point, was called for a minor penalty for a check from behind,  and the automatic misconduct penalty that went with it, plus a double game misconduct.

J.J. Hathaway scored for Neshaminy 8:27 into the final period before Mostoller completed the scoring at 13:20.

Council Rock South 1 4 1—6

Neshaminy 0 0 1—1

First-period goals: Blaise Pepe (CRS) from Alec Pepe and Chase Trovsky, 1:38

Second-period goals: Julian Wagenmann (CRS) from Matt Constantini and Nolan O’Brien, 1:14; Jeremy Rayher (CRS) from Julian Sarne and Kyle Boss, 11:11; Kevin Koles (CRS) unassisted, 12:44; Evan Mostoller (CRS) from Koles and David Vergules, 16:41

Third-period goals: J.J. Hathaway (N) unassisted, 8:27; Mostoller (CRS) from Trovsky and Koles, 13:20

Shots: Council Rock South 47, Neshaminy 19; Saves: Carson Lopez (CRS) 18, Brian Nelson (N) 41