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The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has announced the pairing for its junior varsity playoffs
Monday 3-22 Malvern Prep vs. La Salle at Hatfield Ice 7:30
Wednesday 3-24 Holy Ghost Prep vs. St. Jospeh’s Prep at Class of 1923 Rink 4:00
Thursday 3-25 Championship game at Hatfield ice 4:00
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament has already been impacted by Covid issues. Virginia Tech was unable to play its scheduled first-round game against Oregon on Saturday because of an outbreak. The game was declared a no contest; Oregon advanced to the round of 32 and the Commodores are going home.
The same scenario could occur in the upcoming Flyers Cup tournament, which is scheduled to begin on April 5.
Flyers Cup Committee President Eric Tye made it clear that teams that are impacted by a Covid outbreak will not be permitted to participate in/will be removed from the tournament.
“This was addressed at length,” he said. “All the teams who are being considered for selection received an e-mail packet on March 1.
“We stated very clearly if a team cannot play because of a Covid outbreak, no replacement team will be named, the game will be a forfeit and whoever they were playing will move on to the next round.
Tye noted the idea of having replacement teams on standby isn’t practical. “You can’t have a replacement,” he said. “Say we put 10 teams in one bracket, we can’t tell Team 11 to be on call. You can’t put number 11 seed where a number two seed is. There would not be enough time for us to switch all the seeds around, switch all the games around.”
Last year’s Flyers Cup tournament was shut down on March 12 because of Covid issues.
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Malvern Prep scored four times in the first period and went on to a 5-1 over St. Joseph’s Prep Friday night in an APAC game at the Skatium.
Chris Blango, Ryan Sambuco, Pierre Laropcque, Gavin Wilson, and Jack Constabile all scored goals as the Friars improved to 11-1 overall and 5-1-3-0 in the APAC.
Jeffrey Hammond scored for the Hawks (3-7, 1-7) who will conclude their regular season next Friday against La Salle.
The result of this game, combined with La Salle’s 5-1 win over Holy Ghost Prep Friday night, locks in the matchups for the Founders Cup semifinals, which are set for the week of March 29. Malvern Prep will be seeded first, followed by La Salle, Holy Ghost Prep, and St. Joseph’s Prep in that order.
Malvern Prep 4 1 0—5
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 0—1
First-period goals: Chris Blango (MP) unassisted, 2:38; Ryan Sambuco (MP) from Matt Harris, 3:58 (sh); Pierre Larocque (MP) unassisted (pp); Gavin Wilson (MP) from Anthony Perti, second assist unavailable, 14:40
Second-period goals: Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) assist unavailable, 4:33; Jack Constabile (MP) from Jimmy Kirk and Quinn Dougherty, 12:25
Shots: Malvern Prep 44, St. Joseph’s Prep 40
The scholastic hockey season will conclude in April with the Flyers Cup tournament. We’d love to help you promote your product, service, or event during the tournament with your own personalized podcast or advertorial content, tournament. Contact us at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com for more information.
BRISTOL—La Salle has been playing some very good hockey lately. And the timing couldn’t be better.
The Explorers were dominant from the start Friday night in the course of a 5-1 win over Holy Ghost Prep in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Grundy Arena.
Michael Casey’s hat trick helped La Salle (6-4, 5-3 in conference) to its fourth straight win and fifth in its last six outings. David Kimmel provided three assists.
Senior defenseman Nick Astolfi says all the pieces are fitting together for the Explorers after a slow start to this abbreviated season.
“We all came together,” he said. “It started with our coach (Wally Muhlbronner). He got us all together. We’re finally playing as a team, there are no individuals out there, we’re all playing together.”
Jake Hannon got the party started for the Explorers with a power-play goal 8:10 into the first period. With the Firebirds’ Michael Connolly in the box serving a slashing minor, La Salle’s Max Maddalo got position to the net and flopped a blind, backhanded pass in the direction of the crease. Hannon poked the puck in the net during the ensuing scramble.
Casey made it a 2-0 game at the 9:42 mark.
La Salle senior forward Jake Armstrong said the two first-period goals against a traditional rival gave the Explorers a big lift. “I think those two goals kind of took the nerves off,” he said. “Because we have a lot of young guys on the team so getting those two goals early really helped us get the momentum for the rest of the game.”
Casey added his second goal of the night 8:16 into the second period and completed his hat trick at 10:21.
Jack Lindmar extended La Salle’s lead with 56 seconds left in the period.
Armstrong said the circumstances surrounding the 2021 season it tougher for he and his teammates to jell as a unit at first. “I feel like it’s taken a little bit longer this year because of Covid and everything,” he said. “We haven’t had chances like last year to come together and have that team bonding but we’ve kind of found what works for us and were just keeping it rolling game by game.”
Holy Ghost Prep (5-6 overall, 3-3-0-3 in conference) finally got on the scoreboard when Brady Baehser scored a power-play goal with 5:45 left in the game.
“I like how we responded in the third,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “We kind of challenged them between periods and I thought we played well in the third period, but it was just a bad start all around.”
La Salle 2 3 0—5
Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 1—1
First-period goals: Jake Hannon (L) from Keenan Schneider and Max Maddalo, 8:10 (pp); Michael Casey (L) from David Kimmel and Chase Hannon, 9:42
Second-period goals: Casey (L) from Dan Whitock and Kimmel, 8:16; Casey (L) from Kimmel and Dan Whitock, 10:21; Jack Lindmar (L) from Ryan Desmond and Tim Whitock, 15:04
Third-period goal: Brady Baehser (HGP) from Evan Mudrick and Shaun Moore, 10:15 (pp)
Shots; La Salle 31, Holy Ghost Prep 30; Saves: Liam Gross (L) 29; Bobby Baehser (HGP) 26
The scholastic hockey season will conclude in April with the Flyers Cup tournament. We’d love to help you promote your product, service, or event during the tournament with your own personalized podcast or advertorial content, tournament. Contact us at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com for more information.
BRISTOL— It was a rivalry game that matched all expectations. Noah Seewagen scored with 7:52 remaining in the third period to give Neshaminy a 5-4 win over Pennsbury Thursday night at Grundy Arena in a Suburban High School Hockey League game that had significant ramifications.
The ‘Skins improved to 6-4-1 overall and 5-2 in National/Continental Division play and, it should be noted, 2-0 against Pennsbury this season. The Falcons (9-1-0-1, 6-1 in divisional play) suffered their first regulation loss.
Both teams were trying to strengthen their case for a favorable placement on the Flyers Cup bracket when the field is revealed on March 28.
Neshaminy was taking the ice 24 hours after a loss to Central Bucks East and ‘Skins coach Matt DeMatteo said the loss gave his team a jolt.
“I think (Wednesday) night was a huge wakeup call,” he said. “I think the older guys realized how few games are left and they knew they had to being it tonight.”
The key sequence in the game commenced 63 seconds into the second period. With Pennsbury holding a 1-0 lead, the Falcons’ Eddie Bossler drew a five-minute major penalty for high sticking.
It took Nolan Geria just 30 seconds to tie the game and Matt Buchinski put Neshaminy in front just 26 seconds after that.
The ‘Skins never trailed again.
Brendan MacAinsh tied the game for the Falcons at the 5:29 mark of the period while the teams were skating four on four but goals from Max Gallagher and Jacob Helms gave Neshaminy a two-goal lead before the period ended.
Erik Eisler and Justin Marlin scored third period goals for the Falcons but Seewagen’s goal off a Pennsbury turnover proved decisive.
“They came to play and we were just a little undisciplined,” said Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley. No matter the circumstances, these games are always tight and that’s what makes a great rivalry.”
•Thursday’s game was the third annual Gannon Cup game, played in memory of former Neshaminy School District students and hockey players Patrick Gannon and Phil Oseredzuk. Both would have been seniors this year and both played club hockey with many of the players who took the ice Thursday night,
Gannon died as the result of an an accident in July of 2016 at age 13 and Oserdzuk perished in an accident in May of 2019 at age 16.
More than $6,100 was raised Thursday night for charitable organizations that were established in memory of the young men who perished.
Neshaminy’s Rob Seewagen noted that while Thursday’s win meant a lot to he and his teammates, the evening was about something more important.
“At the end of the day, it’s more remembering Pat and Phil,” he said. “They were our age group in terms of the class of 2021. It hurts that they’re not here but this why we come out and do this every year. We love them and we want to honor them and their families.”
The Gannon Cup is named for Mike Gannon, Patrick’s father a longtime coach with the Grundy Senators youth program.
Neshaminy 0 4 1—5
Pennsbury 1 1 2—4
First-period goal: Brendan MacAinsh (P) from Shane Siegmund and Reece Millman, 13:51
Second-period goals: Nolan Geria (N) from Thomas Gallagher, 1:43 (pp); Matt Buchinski (N) from Max Gallagher and Geria, 2:09, (pp); MacAinsh (P) from Shane Siegmund and Reece Millman, 5:29; Max Gallager (N from Michael Knipple, 7:15; Jacob Helms (N) unassisted, 13:57
Third-period goals: Erik Eisler (P) from Justin Marlin, :33 (pp); Marlin (P) from Jake McCaw, 7:49; Noah Seewagen (N) from Max Gallagher, 8:08
Shots: Neshaminy 40, Pennsbury 36; Saves: Brian Nelson (N) 32, Marek Jorgenson (P) 35
The Suburban High School Hockey League has officially announced its playoff format. The postseason will begin on Monday, March 29. Six teams vie for the National/Continental division championship while four other teams will square off for the American Division crown.
On Match 29, the number National/Continental seed will face the number six seed while the fourth seed will face the fifth seed. The winners will advance to play the top two seeds in the semifinals Wednesday, March 31.
The American Division semifinals will also be contested on March 31 with Wissahickon, the top seed, facing the fourth seed and the second seed going against the third seed. The championship games in both classes will be played on Thursday, April 1.
The results of the playoffs will have no bearing on the seedings for Flyers Cup tournament, which will be announced on March 28.
Abington 6, Truman 1
The postseason doesn’t officially begin for another week and a half but Abington has already adopted a playoff mindset. The Galloping Ghosts are in a stretch that wills see than play four games in a span of 10 days. The results will determine not only their status for the SHSHL American Division playoffs but perhaps earn them a place on the Class AA Flyers Cup bracket,
The first step in the process took place Wednesday night as Abington scored a 6-1 decision over Truman at the Bucks County Ice Sports Center.
Griffin Carpenter scored twice and four other players added one goal each as Abington improved its record to 6-3
“Tonight’s game started Monday night,” said Abington coach Ken Brzozowski. “We had an outstanding practice. We knew that we had four games coming up, games we know that we can compete in. We had an outstanding practice and that transferred into tonight. They did everything that I asked them to do.”
The Galloping Ghosts were forced off the ice for a time earlier this year because of Covid issues. But the team made the most of the down time,
“We got shut down for 10 days,” Brzozowski said. “we got together, we watched some game film over Zoom. I think that helps as well, whenever the kid can see themselves on the ice, and then come to practice and try to fix those things, as simple as they may be, I think paid dividends tonight.”
Senior Defenseman Holden Brooker said the Monday practice helped he and his teammates get their skates back under them following the layoff.
“We didn’t have a game for one week and we were looking a little sluggish,” he said. That practice definitely helped us out a little bit. It definitely got us moving tonight and hopefully we can do that our next game too.”
With three games remaining in the regular season, the Galloping Ghosts still have hopes of a Flyers Cup invitation; despite the fact they are competing the SHSHL’s American Division they are classified as a Class AA team for Flyers Cup purposes.
“I can’t remember the last time we were in the Flyers Cup,” Brooker said. “it would be great, it would keep (our) spirits up. We’ll try to do the best we can.”
• The SHSHL playoffs will be contested the week of March 29. Four American Division teams and six National/Continental teams will qualify and play for separate championships.
Truman 0 1 0—1
Abington 1 3 2—6
First-period goals: Colin Bruton (A) from Ian Heydt, 10:47
Second-period goals: Ian Heydt (A) from Nick Kleinwski and Jordan Heydt, :25; Jarrett Wolf (T) from James Gallagher and Jeremy McCartney, 2:28; Griffin Carpenter (A) from Joe Stelacio, 8:38; Sam Pavlik (A) from Stelacio, 10:59
Third-period goals: Carpenter (A) unassisted, 1:40; Sean Faye (A) from Pavlik and Ian Heydt, 7:59 (pp)
Shots: Truman 19, Abington 46; Saves: Connor Pilla (T) 40, Sam Nemec (A) 18
Four different players scored goals as La Salle downed St. Joseph’s Prep 4-2 Wednesday afternoon in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Hatfield Ice.
The win was the Explorers’ third straight and improved them to 4-3 in the APAC (5-4 overall).
Keenan Schneider and Jack Armstrong scored first-period goals to give the hosts a 2-0 lead. Matt Moresco scored for the Hawks (3-6, 1-6) 3:44 into the second period to cut the margin in half but Max Mongo extended La Sake’s lead at the 5:56 mark.
Chase Hannon’s power-play goal with 2:37 left in the game sealed the win for the Explorers before Moresco added a power-play goal of his own with. 22 seconds remaining.
La Salle enjoyed a 42-20 edge in shots. The Explorers are now tied for second place in the APAC with a game in hand. The Explorers and the Firebirds will meet Friday night at Grundy Arena.
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 1—2
La Salle 2 1 1—4
First-period goals: Keenan Schneider (L) from Jake Hannon and Ryan Desmond, 7:11; Jack Armstrong (L) from Desmond, 12:59
Second-period goals: Matt Moresco (SJP) from Joseph Samango, 3:44; Max Mongo (L) from Armstrong, 5:56
Third-period goals: Chase Hannon (L) from Thomas Doucet, 13:23 (pp); Moresco (SJP) from Michael Ahearn and Dominic Fantozzi, 15:38 (pp)
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 20, La Salle 42; Saves: Rocco Bruno (SJP) 38, Liam Gross (L) 18
Braedon Baehser scored two goals as Holy Ghost Prep defeated Father Judge 7-2 Monday night at Grundy Arena. Sean Marshall, Carlos Rodriguez, Landon Stout, Col Stevens, and Eric Pohl all added goals for the Firebirds, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Father Judge 1 1 0—2
Holy Ghost Prep 2 4 1—7
WEST GOSHEN— A lot of people stepped up for Malvern Prep Monday afternoon. Jack Constabile scored two goals and five other players scored one goal each as the Friars downed St. Joseph’s Prep 7-0 in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Ice Line.
The win gave Malvern Prep the APAC regular season title and essentially assured the Friars (10-1 overall, 5-1-2-0 in conference) of the top seed for the Class AAA Flyers Cup, which begins April 5.
The Hawks, who were missing several players for an assortment of reasons (they dressed just 16 players) dropped 3-5 overall and 1-5 in conference.
As has been the case for Malvern Prep all season long everyone helped out. “We’re sticking to our basics,” Constabile said. “Everyone is putting in a part, they all have a role. Everyone is doing their job.
“We’re moving pucks fast, getting second opportunities in front of the net. I think that’s been a big part of our success this year.
The first period was contested almost exclusively on Malvern Prep’s offensive side of the red line, but the Friars couldn’t solve Andrew Custer in the St. Joseph’s Prep net; he stopped 12 shots in the period and went on to make 42 saves in the game. His teammates did good work in front of him early on to deprive their opponents of quality chances.
“Our first period, we didn’t play the game we wanted to,” Constabile said. “We weren’t getting guys in front, second opportunities. It was not our typical game but in the second period we started to play our game.”
The Friars certainly did. Matt Harris beat Custer with a shot from between the faceoff dots at the 2:13 mark for the day’s first goal before he and his teammates broke the game open with a three-goal spurt late in the period.
Quinn Dougherty finished off an end-to-end rush up the right wing before beating Custer with a backhander at 11:34. Constabile made it 3-0 42 seconds later when he finished off a game of tic tac toe with Harris and Jimmy Kirk. When Hayden Campbell found the back of the net at the 14:33 mark, it was Malvern Prep’s third goal in a span of 2:59.
Jeremy Jacobs, Chris Blango, and Constabile all scored goals in the third period.
Senior forward Ryan Sambuco finished the afternoon with two assists. He noted his team thrived on a back-to-basics approach, in part because of its depth.
“We have big depths going into the games,” he said. “We can get consistent from our first through our fourth line. It’s huge going into it and it makes it easier for us to kept it simple and just roll the lines and keep moving forward throughout the game.”
Ice Chips— Anthony Puerto made 15 saves in the Malvern Prep net before being relieved by Riley McCarry with 5:11 left in the game. McCarry made four saves of his own and preserved the shutout … The Friars were listed first in the Class AAA Flyers Cup rankings that were released Monday, while the Hawks were ranked fourth. No further rankings will be published prior to the tournament field being announced on Sunday, March 28. The APAC playoffs will not affect the Flyers Cup seedings.
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 0—0
Malvern Prep 0 4 3—7
Second-period goals: Matt Harris (MP) from Pierre Larocque and Jack Constabile, 2:13; Quinn Dougherty (M) unassisted, 11:34; Constabile (MP) from Kirk and Harris, 12:16; Hayden Campbell (MP) from Matt Donatucci and Chris Blango, 14:33
Third-period goals: Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Jack Sharer, :58 (pp); Blango (MP) unassisted, 8:25 (pp): Constabile (MP) from Blango, 14:27
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 19, Malvern Prep 49; Saves: Andrew Custer (SJP) 42, Anthony Perti (MP) 15 and Riley McCarry (MP 4
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