Your Source for High School Hockey
Hockey Happenings is looking for writers to be part of our coverage of Philadelphia area high-school hockey this season. I am particularly in need of writers to cover games in Delaware and Chester Counties.
Candidates should have some sort of writing background, be knowledgeable about ice hockey, and have availability on weeknights.
For more information, contact us through this web site or at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com. Please include: High School Hockey in the subject line.
Several Suburban Hugh School Hockey League teams will have new faces behind their benches when the 2025-26 season kicks off next month and a familiar face will be returning.
That familiar face is Jeff Montagna, who will be back for his eighth season at Pennridge; he had previously announced his resignation.
Josh Sklar, a former player and assistant coach at Central Bucks South, is taking over for Shuan McGinty, who has stepped down after nine seasons.
Frank Blust, an assistant to Montagna at the club level, will assume command of the program at Central Bucks West, replacing Dave Baun, who is retiring after 20 seasons in charge.
Ryan Uchniat, who directed Souderton for five seasons for five years before stepping away last year, is returning this season, replacing Scott Ryon.
There is one change in the league’s alignment this coming season. Council Rick North will not be part of the National Division. the Indians have formed a combined team with New Hope-Solebury that will compete in the Intercounty Scholastic Hockey League.
Charlie Van Kula is the new varsity hockey coach at St. Joseph’s Prep. He replaces David Giacomin who spent 14 seasons behind the Hawks’ bench.
For the past three seasons Van Kula has coached the Hawks’ JV Gray team. He has also served as a varsity assistant and been a coach for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey organization.
A St. Joseph’s Prep graduate, Van Kula was a four-year letter winner as a goaltender for the Hawks before going on to Boston College where he was a student manager apart from a brief stint as a walk on during the 2015-16 season.
Van Kula returned to the Prep in 2018-19 as an Alumni Service Corps member, during which time he served as a Varsity and JV assistant coach. He was a frequent presence at subsequent Prep Hockey summer camps and clinics.
Van Kula has also coached with a variety of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey and Education organization’s programs from 2018-2021. Since 2022 he has been a full-time member of St. Joseph Prep’s Institutional Advancement team.
In addition to his coaching and playing experience, Van Kula has been an on-ice official for the past 17 seasons, including three full-time seasons in the USHL and NAHL. He currently referees at the NCAA Division I and Division III levels.
Hockey players from throughout the Commonwealth will converge at Penn State University next weekend for the Keystone State Games. Round robin play will take place at Pegula Ice Arena next Friday and Saturday, July 25-26. The gold and bronze medal games will be played on Sunday, July 27.
Games will be played in five divisions: 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U, and 19U (female) with teams representing four regions in the state.
Listed below are the U16 and U18 rosters for the South region, which encompasses the five-county Philadelphia area.
18U
1 Aiden Mott G
2 David Brown D
3 Brett Linker D
4 Aiden Paster D
5 Michael Snyder D
6 Jake Stepp D
7 Wim van Rossum D
8 Sean Cutter F
9 Shane Dachowski F
10 Declan Dowd F
11 Thomas Ely F
12 Ryan Frey F
13 Grady Jones F
14 Socrates Kelly F
15 Mason McCabe F
16 Lucas Mott F
17 Kevin Pico F
18 Cole Pluck F
19 Reed Surak F
30 Jacob Rotwitt G
16U
1 Nate Napolitano G
2 Seth Bender D
3 Aiden Collins D
4 Gabriel Dunn D
5 Aiden North D
6 Sean Tobin D
7 John Wagner D
8 Ryan Christie F
9 Joseph Darrah F
10 Malakye Johnson F
11 AJ Marazzacco F
12 Sean Scott F
13 Gavin Tietz F
14 Dean Venner F
15 Delan Wilson F
16 Alex Wilson F
17 Connor Boland F
18 Kamren Wetherell F
19 Dominic Gibson F
30 Peter Neveil G
Hockey Happenings is looking for contributing writers for the upcoming hockey season. If you’d like more information, e-mail is at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com
The Atlantic Prep Athletuc Conference has named its all-conference team for 2024-25. Players were selected by the five conference head coaches.
First Team
F Brady Logue Jr. Holy Ghost Prep
F Grant LaGreca Sr. LaSalle College High School
F Cole Gargon So. St Josephs Prep
D Will Gregorio Sr. LaSalle College High School
D Ryan Lippy Sr. Holy Ghost Prep
G Jake Rossi Sr. LaSalle College High School
Second Team
F Teague Murray Sr. Malvern Prep
F Julian Tarsi Sr. LaSalle College High School
F Joe Spaddacino Sr. Holy Ghost Prep
D Joe Kauffman Sr. Holy Ghost Prep
D Declan Kelly Sr. LaSalle College High School
G Jack Unger Sr. Holy Ghost Prep
Honorable Mention
Forwards
Micheal Zarzycki Sr. LaSalle College High School
Anthony Valeriote Jr. Holy Ghost Prep
Gabe Bedwell Sr. Malvern Prep
Pax Hoishuk Jr. Malvern Prep
Thomas Ely Jr. St Josephs Prep
Noah Stuhl Jr. St Josephs Prep
Defensemen
Cole Scarbinsky Jr. Malvern Prep
Adam Charaffi Jr. St Josephs Prep
Matt Barbacane Sr. Malvern Prep
Ben Kersun Sr. St Josephs Prep
Jake Beck Jr. The Hun School
Andrew Darst Jr. The Hun School
Goalies
Elliott Wong Sr. The Hun School
Patrick Donohue Sr.The Hun School
Matt Crawford Sr. Malvern Prep
Declan Geary So. Joesphs Prep
It’s been not quite a week now since Cole Pluck and his North Penn teammates left the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center in procession of the Class AA Pennsylvania Cup after a 4-1 won over Erie Cathedral Prep.
The state-title game marked the conclusion of a remarkable senior season for Pluck, who finished with 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points. He provided five goals and two assists in three Flyers Cup games to share the top of Class AA division pyramid in both goals and scoring but it could be argued his most significant contribution of the season came late in the state final.
Going into the third period, North Penn trailed, 1-0 having had a an apparent game-tying goal waved off late in the second period because the net was dislodged. Sam Norton drew his team even however with a power-play goal 2:49 into the final session. Norton’s goal the Knights a fresh surge of energy as momentum swung in their direction.
“We were all excited to get one on the board,” Pluck said, “especially after one was waved off. And yeah, it swung the momentum our way. And then we had more energy.”
As the clock wound down inside the four-minute mark the Knights got control of the game with two quick goals. Pluck assisted on James Boyle’s effort with 3:36 left in regulation. Daniel Cabrales extended his team’s lead just 19 seconds later.
{Cathedral Prep} didn’t know what to do at that point Pluck recalled.
Nolan Single added the final goal to put the finishing touches on a season that saw North Penn win 21 of 24 starts. At one point, they won 13 consecutive games.
After dropping their opener, the Knights won three straight, outscoring their opponents 30-6. Pluck said it was about then he and his teammates realized they had the potential to do something special.
“I would say after the first couple games when we were just blowing teams out,” he said.
“We knew we were going to be a good team coming into it. But we didn’t know we would make it this far for sure. we definitely didn’t know that we’d win states.”
Pluck, who is hoping to play college club or junior hockey next season, notes that North Penn’s roster blended youth and experience. Of the 25 players on the Knights’ Flyers Cup roster, 11 were underclassmen, including four freshmen.
“The younger kids aren’t afraid to show what the can do on the ice,” he said. “The older kids, they have confidence and don’t have a problem with them showing what they can do.’
Pluck said there was no resentment among the veterans about losing ice time to younger teammates.
“I don’t think anybody had a problem,” he said. “we just all wanted to win.”
In the end the depth on the roster was a big reason for the Knights’ success.
“It was a huge factor,” Pluck said. “We all contributed.”
The chasm proved too wide to navigate. Seneca Valley scored twice in the first period and went on to a 7-2 win over Holy Ghost Prep in the Pennsylvania Class AAA state championship game Saturday night at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center in suburban Pittsburgh.
The state title was Seneca Valley’s first.
The Firebirds, who closed the season at 21-5-1, were seeking their second state championship, and their first came in 2017.
Ethan Riffle got the Raiders started 7:30 into the opening period when he had an open look and beat Jack Unger from the edge of the left faceoff circle. Braden Morin made it a 2-0 game with 3:29 left in the first frame. Marshall Hewitt etended the Seneca Valley lead 3:32 into the second session, leaving the Flyers Cup champion with a steep hill to climb.
They gave it their best shot. John Gavaghan scored off a setup from Brady Logue 7:07 into the period and when Ryan Lippy put in a rebound during a power play with 2:56 left in the period the Firebirds appeared to have the momentum.
But Jimmy Murphy responded for the Raiders just 84 seconds later and when Murphy scored his second goal of the game 1:04 into third period the outcome was no longer in doubt. Holt Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie lifted Unger at that point.
“I’m disappointed, obviously,” Ritchie said, “but I don’t think the score did the game justice.
Seneca Valley is s really good team and they finished their chances off our mistakes.”
Ritchie wants his players to look back with pride on their season once they over the pain of Saturday’s loss.
“I am very proud of our players,” he said. It’s an incredible group of kids and a season to remember at some point when they get away from the emption of losing tonight.
“They should be very proud of what they accomplished.”
Holy Ghost Prep 0 2 0—2
Seneca Valley 2 2 3—7
First-period goals: Ethan Riffe (SV) from Tyler Maxwell, 7:30; Braden Morin (SV) from Carter Hoehn and John Sroka, 13:31 (pp)
Second-period goals: Marshall Hewitt (SV) from Sroka , 3:32; John Gavaghan (HGP) from Brady Logue, 7:07; Ryan Lippy (HGP) unassisted, 14:04; Jimmy Murphy (HGP) from Owen Martin. 15:38
Third-period goals: Murphy (SV) from Martin, 1:04; Morin from Hewitt, 4:30; Morin (SV) from Hewitt, 7:02 (en)
Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 26, Seneca Valley 30; Saves: Jack Unger (HGP) 15 and John Botthof 7, Chris Brown (SV) 24
The game was up for grabs. North Penn stepped up and took it.
James Boyle and Daniel Carbrales scored third-period goals 19 apart Saturday afternoon to snap a 1-1 tie and propel the Knights to 4-1 win over Erie Cathedral Prep in the Pennsylvania Class AA hockey championship game at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center.
It was the first state hockey championship for North Penn (22-3) in the school’s history and the third state championship for the Suburban High School Hockey League in four years: Pennridge won Class AA titles in 2022 and ’24.
There was little to choose between the two teams for the first two periods. The Raiders’ Tucker Kinnear delivered the only goal in that span, 5:19 into the second frame.
With 4:52 left in the period the Knights briefly appeared to have scored the tying goal. Cathedral Prep goaltender Ian Brown denied Norton on a wraparound before Derek Lugera put in the rebound. The apparent goal was disallowed however when it ruled was the net had come off its moorings prior to the puck crossing the goal line.
During the post-second period ice cut, North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis reassured his players.
“I told them we’ve just got to keep moving the puck,” he said, “keep playing our game and our chances are going to come.”
At the start of the third period, Samuel Norton stepped up. With the Ramblers’ Charlie McBrier in the box serving an interference penalty, Norton, a sophomore made a dash down the right wing and beat Brown to tie the game 2:49 into the period.
As the clock wound down, momentum seemed to be shifting in North Penn’s direction. Boyle drove that point home with emphasis with 3:36 left in the game when he found the back of the net with a one-timer from the left point. It was a power-play goal; the Raiders were playing a man down after being caught with too many men on the ice.
Just 19 seconds later Cabrales scored a goal of his own to tighten the Knights’ hold on the game,
Nolan Shingle the evening with a goal into an empty net with 43 seconds remaining.
Vaitis said sened early on this could be a special season.
“At the beginning of the season when we met with them for the first time, we knew with the team we were going to have and the talent we were going to have what we were capable of doing,” he said. “We believed in them and it was a matter of them understanding of they were able to put the work in, just how special the season could be for them.”
North Penn 0 0 4—4
Cathedral Prep 0 1 0—1
Second-period goal: Tucker Kinnear from Ethan Cunningham and Chris Bruschi, 5:19
Third-period goals: Samuel Norton (NP) unassisted, 2:49 (pp); James Boyle (NP) from Norton and Cole Pluck, 13:24 (pp); Daniel Cabrales (NP), 13:43 unassisted; Nolan Single (NP) 16:17 (en) unassisted
Shots: North Penn 35, Erie Cathedral Prep 27; Saves: Andy Norton (NP) 26, Ian Brown (CP) 31
Garnet Valley’s up-tempo offense was on display Saturday afternoon for all the world to see. Nolan Stott and Kevin Walton each scored two goals and each contributed two assists as the Jaguars pounced on Avonworth 7-2 to win the Class A Pennsylvania at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center in suburban Pittsburgh.
It marks the first state championship for Garnet Valley (23-) which finished its season as Central League, Flyers Cup, and state champions.
Head coach Stephane Charbonneau said the state title marked the climax of a long journey that featured contribution from the entire group.
“We all had a job to do,” he said. “We went one by one. We asked our guys ‘What is your job for your team and what are you going to do and what are you going to sacrifice?’
“Everyone had a job to do and these kids are awesome.”
Jake Morrow gave the Jaguars a 1-0 lead 7:18 into the opening period. Cooper Powell answered for the Antelopes at the 9:43 mark but Garnet Valley counterattacked by scoring six unanswered goals.
Kaden Longo’ goal with 3:32 left in the first period put Garnet Valley in front for good. Walton and Stott added goals in the second period and Aiden Delfin, Stott, and Walton in the third to give the Jaguars a 7-1 lead with 4:34 left in the game.
Garrett Stoops stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced in goal.
This game marked the 12th straight victory for the East in the state title game.
Garnet Valley 2 2 1—7 23-2
Avonworth 1 0 1—2
First-period goals: Jake Morow (GV) fron Nolan Stott,7:18 (pp); Cooper Powell (A) unassisted, 9:43; Kaden Longo (GV) unassisted 14:28;
Second-period goals: Kevin Walton (GV) from Dylan Orr, 4:16; Stott from A.J. Tenhuisen, 6:53
Third-period goals: Aiden Delfin (GV) from Walton, 1:04; Stott (GV) from Walton, 2:32 (pp); Walton (GV from Delfin and Matt Abbonizio, 3:20; Austin Dzadovsky from Connor Ralston 12:26 (sh)
Shots: Garnet Valley 33, Avonworth 26; Saves: Garrett Stoops (GV) 24, Danny Mack (A) 26
North Penn 4 Cathedral Prep 1 NP 21-3
North Penn 0 0 3—4
Cathedral Prep 0 1 0—1
Second-period goal: Tucker Kinnear from Ethan Cunningham and Chris Bruschi, 5:19
Third-period goals: Samuel Norton (NP) unassisted, 2:49 (pp); James Boyle (NP) from Norton and Cole Pluck, 13:21 (pp); Daniel Cabrales (NP), 13:43 unassisted; Nolan Single (NP) 16:17 (en) unassisted
Shots: North Penn 35, Erie Cathedral Prep 27; Saves: Andy Norton (NP) 26, Ian Brown (CP) 31
Saturday 3-22
At Robert Morris University Neville Island site
Class A
12:45 Garnet Valley 7 Avonworth 2 Final
Class AA
3:30 North Penn vs Cathedral Prep
Class AAA
6:15 Holy Ghost vs Seneca Valley
A video stream will be available at:
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