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The Inter County Scholastic Hockey League has released its playoff brackets.
Links to each division’s bracket are listed below. Playoff results have no bearing on the selections and seedings for the Flyers Cup tournament.
Post your link or your company’s link here tarting today and right through the Flyers Cup and state tournament. Use the Contact link to reach us or e-mail is at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com
The SHSHL playoffs kick off Monday night with two national Division first-round games. Council Rock South, which has a bye into the semifinals, is the two-time defending National Division champion.
Pennridge enters the postseason as the defending Class AA Flyers Cup champion and state champion, having claimed those distinctions twice in the last three seasons. The Rams last won the SHSHL title in 2022. C.B. East’s last title cane in 2011
Central Bucks South’s last SHSHL National title came in 2018 when the Titans completed a run of four consecutive league titles, six in seven seasons, and seven in nine seasons. Pennsbury, which won the Class AA Flyers Cup title in 2023 won the SHSHL National title in 2021.
North Penn last won an SHSHL title in 2014.
Pennridge (12-7, 11-7 in National Division)
Coach: Jeff Montagna
Players to watch Shane Dachowski 32 goals, 25 assists, 57 points; James Rush 24-24-48; Jacob Winton 2.58 GAA, .918 sae percentage
Central Bucks East (10-8-1, 10-7-1 in National Division)
Coach: Jeff Mitchell
Players to watch: Alex Wilson 14 goals, 6 assists, 20 points; Jaden Young 10-6-16; Cole Breen 4.06 GAA, .875 save percentage
The winner will play top-seeded Council Rock South on Wednesday in the semifinals
Central Bucks South (15-5, 15-3 in National Division)
Coach: Shaun McGinty
Players to watch: Sean Cutter 16 goals, 19 assists, 35 points; Jeff Kvecher 12-21-33; Jake Matkowski 3.75 GAA, .838 save percentage; Nate Napolitano 3.81, .859
Pennsbury (7-12, 6-12 in National Division)
Coach: Ryan Daley
Players to watch: Chris Sarver 11 goals, 23 assists, 34 points; Shane Hicks 14-17-31; Brendan Milliken 5.71 GAA, .810 save percentage.
The winner will play second-seeded North Penn on Wednesday in the semifinals
Post your link on Hockey Happenings starting today through the duration and the Flyers Cup and state tournament. Use the contact link above or e-mail us at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com
LaBuono, Braeden Graham, and Sean Melican each scored two goals as Salesianum concluded its regular season with a 7-1 win over The Haverford School Friday afternoon at Ice Line.
The Sallies closed the regular season 15-3 against ICSHL competition closed the regular season with three consecutive conference win.
Liam Bell also scored for the Sallies. Melican added two assists.
After a scoreless first period, LaBuono started the scoring four minutes into the second period. Harry Neilly tied the game for the Fords (2-6 in the division) just 19 seconds later but Salesianum broke the game open when Bell, Melican Graham, and LaBuono scored goals in a four-and-a-half minute span.
Melican and Graham added goals in the third period.
Salesianum 0 5 2—7
Haverford School 0 1 0—1
Second-period goals: Nick LaBuono (S) unassisted, 4:00; Harry Neilly (HS) from Michael DiPalma and Henry Cagliuso, 4:19; Liam Bell (S) from Sean Melican 5:08; Melican (S) from Michael Flaherty and Jerry Distefano, 6:46; Braeden Graham (S) from LaBuono (S) and Grayson Betterly, 7:53; LaBuono (S) from Melican and Jerry Distefano, 9:48
Third-period goals: Melican (S) from Blake D’Italia and Sean Albert 5:29; Graham (S) from Park Stipa, 9:12
Shots: Salesianum 38, Haverford School 6 Saves: Gavin Needs (S) 6, Ike Matoney (HS) 31
Monday February 24
National Division First Round at Hatfield
6:10 Pennridge vs Central Bucks East
8:00 Central Bucks South vs. Pennsbury
Wednesday, February 26
American Division Semifinal
6:10 Hatboro-Horsham vs. Springfield at Hatfield
National Division Semifinals
8:00 North Penn vs. C.B. South or Pennsbury at Hatfield
7:00 Council Rock South vs. Pennridge or C.B. East at Grundy
Thursday, February 27
American Division Final
6:00 Plymouth Whitemarsh vs TBD at Hatfield
National Division Final hosted by highest seeded finalist
7:00 if at Grundy 8:10 if at Hatfield
Note: Playoff results will. not impact Flyers Cup seedings or pairings
The last pieces of the puzzle have been filled in and the field is set for the SHSHL postseason.
Six National Division and three American Division teams will begin playoff action on Monday.
Three games Wednesday night solidified the final field.
Council Rock South 5 Neshaminy 2—Jordan Sarne and Jake Weiner each scored two goals as the Golden Hawks clinched the National Division regular-season title Wednesday night at Grundy Arena. Jeremy Rayher also scored for South (18-2, 17-1 in the division) who built a 5-0 lead before Ryan DeMatteo scored two third-period goals for the ‘Skins (6-12-1, 5-12-1).
The result means Pennsbury will be the sixth and final seed for the National Division playoffs.
See below for the complete list.
Central Bucks East 3 Pennridge 2—Dave Brown scored a shorthanded goal with 12:23 left in regulation to give the Patriots the win over the Rams at Hatfield Ice. The result locks the Rams (12-7, 11-7 in the division) into the fourth position for the National Division playoffs. The Patriots (10-8-1, 10-7-1) were already assured of the fifth seed. Gavin Widmer and Tyson Cowan also scored for East. James Embert and Kaden Gunning scored for Pennridge.
Springfield 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh 2—Kellen Warman broke a 2-2 tie when he scored with 2:42 left in the second period to put the Spartans in front for good Wednesday night at Grundy Arena. Gabriel Wells added an insurance goal in the third period as Springfield (8-8) closed its regular season with six consecutive wins to claim the third and final playoff spot from the American Division. The loss was the first for Plymouth Whitemarsh (15-1) which will enter the postseason as the division’s top seed. Hatboro-Horsham, which closes its regular season Thursday night, will be the second seed.
National Division Seedings
American Division Seedings
fast start goes along way on any night but particularly at playoff time. Holy Ghost Prep found success with that formula Wednesday evening.
By the time the game was barely three minutes old the Firebirds had a 2-0 lead. They added a third goal before the first period ended and went on to a 4-1 win over Malvern Prep in an APAC semifinal game at Grundy Arena.
Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (17-4-1) which is unbeaten in its last seven games, will face La Salle in the Founders Cup title game next Wednesday at the same venue (5 p.m. start). Fourth-seeded Malvern Prep will find out Sunday night where and when it will start play in the Class AAA Flyers Cup.
The loudest note of the night was sounded on the first shot of the game. William Hamar found the back of the net with forehander from between the circles just 15 seconds into the first period. Brady Logue made it a 2-0 game not quite three minutes later.
The Friars and the Firebirds split two regular-season meetings; Malvern Prep prevailed at Grundy Arena 4-2 on November 20. With that result in mind, Logue spoke to the importance of a fast start.
“Losing on home ice always leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Logue said, “so we tried to get them back. (The Firebirds later won on Malvern Prep’s home ice.) Brian Kinniry added a goal with 1:50 left in the opening session. From that point on Malvern Prep was skating uphill.
“I think we came out flat in the beginning of the fame,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “Ghost popped two goals in early.
“I think the second and third periods our boys’ energy was there. I thought we battled hard in the corners. The effort was there.”
Indeed. The team battle on essentially even terms for most of the rest of the way.
Teague Murray was able to solve Holy Ghost Prep netminder Jack Unger with a shorthanded effort with 1:33 remaining.
Logue scored his second goal of the game.
Unger finished his evening with 22 saves.
“Obviously we came out strong,” he said. “A goal in the first 15 seconds of the game really, really helped. When that happens, it gets the confidence level up for the whole team.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie says Wednesday night marked a fresh start not just for his team but for everyone in the APAC.
“Everybody is going to kind of amp up their play a little bit,” he said. “Everything is going to be tougher, we’ve got to fight for everything.
“Obviously it was nice to get the first shot on goal going in, but we’ve got to clean some stuff up and get better.”
Malvern Prep 0 0 1—1
Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 1—4
First-period goals: William Harmar (HGP) from Brady Logue and Joe Spadaccino, :15; Brady Logue (HGP) from Ryan Lippy and Harvard, 3:10; Brian Kinniry (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Jack Unger, 15:10
Third-period goals: Teague Murray (MP) from Paxton Hoishik 15:27 (sh); Logue (HGP) from Spadaccino and Harmar, 16:20
Shots: Malvern Prep 23, Holy Ghost Prep 28; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 23, Jack Unger (HGP) 22
Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference Semifinals
Wednesday 2-19 at Grundy Arena
3:10 (2) La Salle vs. (3) St . Joseph’s Prep
5:20 (1) Holy Ghost Prep vs. (4) Malvern Prep
La Salle (14-6, 6-2 in APAC)
Coach: Wally Muehlbronner
Players to watch: Nole Donohue 10 goals, 14 assists, 24 points; Grant LaGreca 16-4-20; Michael Zarzycki 10-9-19; Jake Rossi 1.87 GAA, .929 save percentage
St. Joseph’s Prep (10-8, 5-3 )
Coach: David Giacomin
Player to Watch: Cole Gargon 13 goals, 5 assists, 18 points; Frank Ely 7-9-16; Noah Stuhl 4-10-14; Declan Geary 1.97 GAA, .925 save percentage
This year
11-6 La Salle 4 St. Joseph’s Prep 2
1-22 La Salle 3 St. Joseph’s Prep 2 OT
Holy Ghost Prep (16-4-1, 6-2)
Coach: John Ritchie
Players to watch: Brady Logue 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points; Joe Spadaccino 10-12-22; Anthony Valeriote 10-10—20; Jack Unger 1.69 GAA, .923 save percentage; Matt Salita 1.80 GAA, .903 save percentage
Malvern Prep (5-9, 3-5)
Coach: Bill Keenan
Players to watch: James Young 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points; Teague Murry 5-2-7; Andrew Starck 5-2-7; Matt Crawford 2.20 GAA, .912 save percentage
This year:
11-20 Malvern Prep 4 Holy Ghost Prep 2
12-12 Holy Ghost Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1
The two semifinal winners will meet for the Founders Cup championship on Wednesday, February 26 at 4 PM. The gme will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.
The SHSHL has announced its playoff schedule. Postseason play will begin on Monday, February 24 and continue through Thursday, February 27.
Playoff results will have no impact on selections and seedings for the Flyers Cup tournament, which will be announced on Sunday, February 23, eight days before the start of the tournament.
Playoff dates, sites, and times are as follows
National Division (Class AA)
Monday 2-24 First Round
Seed 4 vs Seed 5 6:10
Seed 3 vs Seed 6 8:00
Both games at Hatfield Ice
Wednesday 2-26
American Division (Class A) Semifinal
Seed 2 vs Seed 3 6:10 at Hatfield Ice
National Division Semifinals
At Hatfield Ice 8:00
At Grundy Arena 7:10
Thursday, 2-27
American Division Final
Plymouth Whitemarsh vs TBD 6:00 at Hatfield Ice
National Division Final
Hosted by Highest-Seeded Finalist
8:10 at Hatfield Ice or 7:00 at Grundy
Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna announced Thursday night that he will step down at the end of the season.
Montagna is in his seventh season behind the Rams’ bench.
His teams won Class AA Flyers Cup and state championships in 2022 and again last season. They also claimed SHSHL National Division titles in 2019 and ’22.
Montagna, who also coaches at the club level, said he needed a break from high-school hockey.
“I’m burnt out,” he said. “I can’t do this if I can’t give what needs to be given to it. I’m taking a step back and dealing with club hockey next year.
“I want to continue coaching high school but I need a little bit of a breather. Whether it’s a year, two years, whatever it is, it’s time.”
Jake Weiner changed the course of a hockey game Thursday night. With he and his Council Rock South teammates trailing Pennridge 2-0 almost in the blink of an eye, Weiner stepped up and grabbed hold of the affair.
The junior set up Jordan Sarne for his team’s first goal and scored two others before the first period ended. He capped off his night’s work with an empty-net goal as the Golden left Grundy Arena with a 5-2 win that puts South back in first place the SHSHL National Division race, one point in front of North Penn and in control of its destiny in the division title chase.
If South (17-2, 16-1 in the division) scores a regulation win in its regular-season finale against Neshaminy next Wednesday it will be the top seed for the divisional playoffs regardless of how North Penn fares against Council Rock North the same evening.
Weiner, who now has 39 goals and 16 goals for 55 points this season, reached the 100-goal plateau for his South career Thursday night and his contributions were sorely needed.
Nathan McKean gave Pennridge (12-6, 11-6 in the division) a 1-0 lead with a rocket directly off an offensive right-circle faceoff just 47 seconds into the game. Landon Bishop made it a 2-0 game at the 1:21 mark off a spurt down the left wing.
The Hawks took some big punches early on but got off the canvas.
“We just had the mindset we had to come back,” Weiner said. “We got kicked in the teeth early but just came back and worked.”
Sarne’s goal came off a shot from the top of the left circle to make it a 2-1 game just 2:41 into the period. Weiner tied the game with five minutes left in the opening session scored what was officially the game-winning goal when Jacob Winton in the Pennridge net lost control a rebound with 2:12 remaining the period.
The pace of the game slowed somewhat from there. Both teams had some holes in the lineup for an assortment of reasons but Rams in particular were hurt by the absence of leading scorer Shane Dachowski who was serving a suspension. They also lost James Rush to injury in the second period
Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna found himself working with just two lines and the situation took its toll on his players, who exhausted their energy reserves.
“We played without our top three scorers,” he said. “We tolled two lines to the end of the game and they played their [tails] off.
“They did exactly what I sked and they scratched and clawed for every inch of ice out there.”
Jagger Smith extended South’s led to two goals when he scored in the midst of a goal-mouth scramble with one second left in the second period. Weiner completed his hat trick with 31 seconds left in the game.
Senior defenseman Peter Pereborow said the Hawks’ comeback was due to the player embracing a team-first mentality.
“We turned it around it around with a ‘We’ mentality,” he said. “Like {Coach Joe Houk} said in the locker room like the Eagles’ offensive line, our job is just play as a team. Not ‘I.’ Work, just keep grinding.”
Ice chips—The Golden Hawks drew 14 penalties so Houk will sit out the regular-season finale.SSF
Pennridge 2 0 0
C. R. South 3 1 1—5
First-period goals: Nathan McKean (P) from Ryan Burke, :47; Landon Bishop (P) from Burke and Dean Venner, 1:21; Jordan Sarne (CRS) from Jake Weiner, 2:41; Weiner (CRS) from Jeremy Rahyer and Jackson Mosley, 12:00; Weiner (CRS) from Mosley and Jagger Smith, 14:48;
Second-period goal: Smith (CRS) from Jacob Cohen, 16:59;
Third-period goal: Weiner (CRS) unassisted, 16:29
Shots: Pennridge 30m C.R. South 39; Saves: Jacob Winton (P) 34. Trey Prozzillo (CRS) 28
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