Abington 6 Quakertown 2

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP— Abington took its first steps on its postseason journey Thursday night. Matt Kramer and Jordan Heydt scored two goals each as the Galloping Ghosts downed Quakertown 6-2 in a SHSHL American Division semifinal at Hatfield Ice.

Top-seeded Abington (14-1) will learn Sunday if it qualifies for the Class AA Flyers Cup field before taking the ice against Wissahickon for the American Division title Thursday.

Fourth-seeded Quakertown, playing its first playoff game in its three-year tenure in the SHSHL, finishes at 7-9.

Abington coach Ken Brzozowski noted his team turned in a workmanlike effort. “It’s kind of what we’ve been doing all year,” he said, “working hard. Our philosophy is ‘Carry the puck wide, get it deep, and and then go to work. We’ve got got some skilled guy that have got some pretty good hands and can find a little hole there through open space.”

Kramer and Heydt scored first-period goals to stake their team to a 2-0 lead.

Heydt extended his team’s lead with a backhander from the low slot midway through the second session. Ryan Porter made it a 4-0 game with 56 seconds left in the period.

The Panthers however did not back down. Anthony Pagliei and Lucas Cunnane scored goals 45 seconds apart to make it a 3-2 game 3:01 into the third period.

But Quakertown couldn’t get closer. Kramer scored his second goal of the game midway through the period before Sam Paulik added a goal of his own down the stretch.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the boys,” said Quakertown coach Keith Krem. “They came out and they played hard. It didn’t go where we want it to go but we were happy to be in a playoff game and taking our season to a new step.”

Quakertown 0 0 2—2

Abington 2 2 2—6

First—period goals: Matt Kramer (A) from Joe Stelacio, 9:48; Jordan Heydt (A) unassisted, 13:33

Second-period goals: Heydt (A) 8:13; Ryan Portner (A) from Stelacio, 16:04

Third-period goals: Anthony Pagliei (Q) unassisted, 2:16; Lucas (Q) from Wilham Shaw, 3:01; Kramer (A) from Heydt and Brian Murdoch, 8:32; Sam Paulik from Pat Stelacio,15:50

Shots: Abington 29, Quakertown 20;

Pasch Leads CR North Into Postseason

The success of Council Rock North is arguably one of the biggest surprises, if not the biggest surprise, of the Suburban High School Hockey League season.
The Indians have overcome a 1-4 start to win seven of their last nine games and post an 8-6 overall record (5-5 on Class AA divisional play) heading into this week’s SHSHL playoffs. They’re seeded fifth heading into a quarterfinal game against Central Bucks South Wednesday night.

While the Indians are a Class AA team in the SHSHL, they are listed as a Class A team for Flyers Cup purposes. They will learn Sunday if they have made the tournament field.

Will Pasch has a lot to do with all this Pasch is the Indians’ captain. As the only senior on a team with a first-year head coach (Greg McDonald), Pasch was positioned to lead his team forward, or into the abyss. That he chose the former is a testament to his leadership skills.

“I think from the very first practice, the boys wanted him to be the captain,” McDonald said, “and he wanted it, honestly. I think it hurt him that last year (when North could not field a pure team) was what it was. It’s his senior year he’s super excited to play.”

Pasch says he and his teammates jelled as the season progressed. “We started off the season pretty rocky, I think we can all agree on that,” he said, ‘but as the season went through, off the ice we just kind of bonded together as a team. We promoted the team at school and stuff and brought everybody together. We saw each other outside of school and just kind of formed a camaraderie and a friendship that I just hadn’t seen before in my four years playing here so it really says something special.”

As the postseason begins, Pasch says he and his teammates have something to prove, particularly to any naysayers that are paying attention.

“A very small amount of people expected us to be where we are right now,” he said. “That’s just something special that I’m going to cherish forever. I’m just happy that we’re able to be in the playoffs and be in the position that we’re at. Just to prove everybody wrong.”

Three Indians are among the Class AA Division’s top scorers.

Karson Grainey has accumulated 26 goals and 16 assists for 42 points; he leads the division in scoring. Nick Hahn has scored 10 goals and added 18 assists for 28 points, he’s tied for fifth on the scoring list. Jackson Accari is seventh with 16 goals and nine assists for 25 points.

Pasch does his best to see to it his teammates are focused on the task at hand.

“Just trying to make sure everyone’s got their head in the game,” he said. I’m trying to make sure we’re focused on game day at practices. Thankfully, the boys have done a great job dealing with adversity throughout the season and ups and downs. I’m just happy that it all came together when it mattered.”

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SHSHL Updated Playoff Schedule

Wednesday, February 23

Class AA Quarterfinals

1 CR South vs. 8 Souderton 7:50 at Rev. Ice Gardens

4 C.B. South vs. 5 C.R. North 8:30 at Hatfield Ice

2 Pennridge vs. 7 C.B. East 7:20 at Hatfield Ice

3 Pennsbury vs. 6 Neshaminy 7:20 at Grundy Arena

Thursday, February 24

Class A Semifinals

1 Abington vs 4 Quakertown 7:10 at Hatfield

2 Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. 3 Wissahickon 8:50 at Hat. Ice

Wednesday 3-2

Class AA Semifinals at Hatfield

7:10 Top half of Bracket

7:50 Bottom half of Bracket

Thursday Match 3

Championship Night at Hatfield

7:10 Class AA Final

8:30 Class A Final

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C.R. North 5 C.B. West 2

HATFIELD—Council Rock North is one of the major success stories of 2021-22 hockey season. Unable to field a pure team last season, the Indians were forced to drop out of the Suburban High School Hockey League.

But they have returned this year are unquestionably making an impact.

Chapter One of the North Saga concluded Thursday night with a 5-2 win over Central Bucks West at Hatfield Ice in the regular-season finale for both sides.

Jackson Accardi, Will Pasch, and Karson Grainey all scored goals in a span of 2 minutes, 9 seconds midway through the second period to break the game open.

North concluded its regular season at 8-6 (5-5 in divisional play). The Indians will be seeded somewhere between fifth and seventh for next week’s SHSHL playoffs and are hoping to land a bid in the upcoming Class A Flyers Cup tournament.

“We talked about it,” said North coach Greg McDonald. “We only had like 11 skaters. The difference between when we have a full bench and when we don’t is tremendous.

“So that was exactly what we talked about; win the small game. Win the puck battles with shifts, win the puck races, win the open spot for your teammates.”

Ryan Keil gave the Indians a 1-0 lead 7:23 into the first period off a scramble in front of West goaltender Liam Rogers

Billy Loughnane tied the game for the Buck (5-9, 2-8) off the faceoff that commenced the second period.

Rogers kept the game tied when he turned aside a blast from Lucas Siomos with 11;35 left in the period.

But the Indians eventually broke through. Accardi put his team in front for good at the 7:16 mark, Pasch followed up at 8:23 and Grainey completed the trifecta at 9:25.

The Bucks got a bit closer when Loughnane scored his second goal of the game with 2:56 remaining in regulation but couldn’t get any closer.

Grainey scored his second goal of the game into an empty net just before the clock hit all zeroes.

The evening marked the conclusion of the career of five West seniors. Their coach, Dave Baun, is pleased with how his young team matured over the course of the season.

“I’m very optimistic about the team going forward,” he said. “Nine of our players are freshmen and sophomores and that’s pretty young, but they’re all good players. When they’re all good and they’re that young, that’s a good thing because they’re only going to get better.

“And we’re expecting to add a few more good players next year.”

Ice chips— Ian Goldberg made 33 saves in the North net. The Indians will learn on February 27 whether they made the Flyers Cup field.

Council Rock North 1 3 1—5

C.B. West 0 1 1—2

First-period goal: Ryan Keil (CRN) from Noah Epstein and Karson Grainey, 7:23

Second-period goals: Billy Loughnane (CBW) from Nick Bruno and Anthony Dowd, :11; Jackson Accardi (CRN) from Grainey, 7:16; Will Pasch (CRN) from Keil 8:23; Grainey (CRN) from Accardi and Epstein, 9:25

Third-period goals: Loughnane (CBW) from Dowd, 14:04; Grainey (CRN) from Accardi, 16:59 (en)

Shots: C.R. North 43, C.B. West 35; Saves: Ian Goldberg (CRN) 33, Liam Rogers (CBW) 38

Council Rock South 3 Pennridge 3

Kevin Pico scored with 5:26 remaining in the third period to give Pennridge a 3-3 tie with Council Rock South Wednesday night at Grundy Arena. The result left the teams deadlocked at the top of the SHSHL Class AA standings with identical 9-0-1 divisional records.

Council Rock South will be seeded first for next week’s SHSHL playoffs on the basis of fewer goals allowed in divisional play (15 to 16).

Aeryk Lehraupt and Shane Dachowki also scored for the Rams. Julian Sarne, Kevin Koles and Julian Wagenmann all scored for the Golden Hawks.
Wagenmann’s goal with 5:06 remaining in the second period gave South a 3-2 lead before Pico’s goal tied the game.

Neither team scored during overtime and the SHSHL does not utilize shootouts.

Pennridge 1 1 1 0—3

C.R. South 2 1 0 0—3

First-period goals: Julian Sarne (CRS) from Kevin Koles, 7:01; Aeryk Lehrhaupt (P) from Shane Dachowski and Jack Lowery, 9:33; Koles (CRS) from David Vergules and Julian Wagenmann, 12:49;

Second-period goals: Wagenmann (CRS) unassisted, 11:54; Shane Dachowski (P) from Andrew David, 13:43

Third-period goal: Kevin Pico (P) from Tyler Manto, 11:34

SHSHL Update for 2-15-22

National/Continental-Class AA W L T OTL Pts

Pennridge (14-0-1) 9 0 1 0 19

Council Rock South (11-1-2) 9 0 1 0 19

Pennsbury (9-3-1) 7 2 0 0 14

Central Bucks South (5-6-1) 5 3 0 1 11

Neshaminy (8-4-1) 5 4 0 0 10

Council Rock North (8-6) 5 5 0 0 10

Central Bucks East (6-8) 5 5 0 0 10

Souderton (6-7) 4 6 0 0 8

Bensalem (3-11) 1 8 0 0 2

Central Bucks West (5-9) 1 8 0 0 2

North Penn (1-13) 0 10 0 0 0

American Division-Class A W L T OTL Pts

Abington (13-1) 12 0 0 0 24

Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-3) 9 3 0 0 18

Wissahickon (8-7) 8 4 0 0 14

Quakertown (7-8) 7 5 0 0 14

William Tennent (3-12) 3 9 0 0 6

Upper Dublin (3-10-0-1) 2 8 0 1 5

Hatboro-Horsham (1-13) 0 11 0 0 0

teams in bold will be the teams competing in the SHSHL playoffs. A berth in the SHSHL playoffs does not assure a team of a place in the Flyers Cup tournament.

Scoring

Class AA G A Pts

Karson Grainey (CRN) 25 13 38

Shane Siegmund (PB) 14 22 36

Brendan Macainsh (Pb) 19 12 31

Kevin Pico (Pr) 15 13 28

Nick Hahn (CRN) 10 18 28

Kevin Koles (CRS) 12 14 26

Max Gallagher (Nesh) 13 10 23

Jackson Accardi 15 7 22

Reece Millman (Pb) 10 11 21

Aydin Thierolf (CBS) 13 7 20

Flyers Cup Rankings for 2-14

The latest set of Flyers Cup rankings have been released. The rankings are determined based on won-loss records, strength of schedule, and observations by members of the Flyers Cup Competition Committee.

AAA

Malvern Prep (APAC)
La Salle College High School (APAC)
St. Joes Prep (APAC)
Holy Ghost Prep (APAC)
Cardinal O’Hara (ICSHL PCL)

Pennridge (SHSHL Continental)
Haverford High (ICSHL Central)
Council Rock South (SHSHL National)
Avon Grove (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
Pennsbury (SHSHL National)

West Chester East (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
Springfield (ICSHL Central)
West Chester Rustin (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
Hershey (CPIHL)
Palmyra (CPIHL)

NJ/DE

Salesianum (ICSHL PCL)
Eastern (SJHSHL)
Shawnee (SJHSHL)
Moorestown (SJHSHL)
Kingsway (SJHSHL)
Cherokee (SJHSHL)

Girls

West Chester Henderson (ICSHL National)
Avon Grove (ICSHL National)
Downingtown West (ICSHL National)
Unionville (ICSHL American)
Kingsway (ICSHL American)

The tournament field will be announced on Sunday, February 27. There are no automatic bids.

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Wissahickon 7 Plymouth Whitemarsh 2

Thursday proved to be an eventful evening at Hatfield Ice. Both Wissahickon and Plymouth Whitemarsh had reason to feel good about what they accomplished, albeit using different criteria.

The Trojans dominated on the ice, scoring three first-period goals on the way to a 7-2 SHSHL American Division win. A.J. Pounds, Nolan Pounds, and Nick Hussa all scored two goals as the Trojans improved to 7-6 overall and 7-3 in divisional play with two games remaining.

Wissahickon coach Ken Harrington called it his team’s best effort of the year. “Our team played together,” he said. “Against a good opponent. We always have good matchups with P-W.”

Harrington said there have been signs team has been coming together. The Trojans have won five of their last seven starts, although they had lost two straight coming into Thursday.

“We’ve been jelling,” he said, “but we weren’t really getting results as much. We kept to it. it was almost you could see them thinking ‘Yeah, this works.’”

For the Colonials (10-3, 8-2) it was a disappointing result at best. They are no longer on control of their destiny in the American Division title chase and Thursday’s setback may leave a negative impression in the minds of those who seed the Class A Flyers Cup field.

Luke Weikel and Aidan Keogh scored goals but there were few other bright spots for Colonial coach Josh Aiello to point to.

“Tonight was not our best game,” he said.

But the Colonials came up big with their efforts in support of Hockey Fights Cancer, an organization that was founded in 1998 by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association to support cancer patients and their families. Proceeds from Thursday’s game, including tee shirt sales, will be donated to Hockey Fights Cancer.

It’s the sixth straight year the Plymouth Whitemarsh hockey program has held a charitable event in conjunction with a game. The event is organized by the players.

“This particular year we did Hockey Fights Cancer,” Aiello said. “In the past we’ve done Team Cancer America and the Susan G. Komen Foundation (breast cancer awareness).

“I’m just proud of our guys,” Aiello said. “We’re dedicated to performing well on the ice but it’s equally as important to do good outside of the rink and our players have been focused on that year after year. I’m really proud of our guys.”

• The Trojans lost forward Nick Bonnani in the third period after he drew a major penalty for fighting. It was his fourth penalty of the game. Bonnani will likely serve a suspension.

Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 0 1—2

Wissahickon 3 3 1—7

First-period goals: Nick Hussa from Ty Schiff, 4:15; A.J. Pounds from Nick Hussa, 11:31; Luke Weikel (PW) from Dylan Novitski and Aidan Keogh 12:13; Nick Hussa from Schiff and Nick Pounds, 13:42 (pp)

Second-period goals: Will Hussa from Schiff, 2:39; Nolan Pounds from Nick Pounds, 12:48; Nolan Pounds from A.J. Pounds and John Kufner, 16:55

Third-period goals: Keogh (PW) from Conlan Carpenter, 10:34 (pp); A.J. Pounds from Griffin Lynch, 11:44 (sh)

Shots: Plymouth Whitemarsh 25, Wissahickon 33; Saves: Kolton Galike (PW) 26, Michael Bonnani 23

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SHSHL Finalizes Playoff Sites/Times

The Suburban High School Hockey League has finalized its venues and game times for its upcoming playoffs. The postseason will begin on Wednesday, February 23 with four Class AA quarterfinal games. The Class A semifinals will be played the following night, Thursday February 24.

The Class AA semifinals are set for Wednesday, Match 2 and the championship games in both classes will be played for Thursday, March 3.

The Flyers Cup tournament will begin on Monday, March 7. The results of the Class AA quarterfinals and the Class A semifinals will be factored into the Flyers Cup seedings.

Wednesday 2-23

Class AA Quarterfinals

Seed 1 vs. Seed 8 7:20 at Hatfield

Seed 2 vs. Seed 7 7:50 at Rev. Ice Gardens

Seed 3 vs. Seed 6 7:20 at Grundy

Seed 4 vs. Seed 5 8:30 at Hatfield

Thursday 2-24

Class A Semifinals

Seed 1 vs. Seed 4 7:10 at Hatfield

Seed 2 vs. Seed 3 8:50 at Hatfield

Wednesday 3-2

Class AA Semifinals

7:10 Seed 1 vs. Seed 4

7:50 Seed 2 vs. Seed 3

Thursday Match 3

Championship Night at Hatfield

7:10 Class AA Final

8:30 Class A Final

Pennridge 6 Neshaminy 1

HATFIELD—It was business as usual for Pennridge Wednesday night. The Rams scored three times in the first period and rolled to a 6-1 win over Neshaminy in a SHSHL Class AA matchup at Hatfield Ice.

Pennridge remains perfect with a 14-0 overall record (9-0 in divisional play) heading into its regular-season finale with Council Rock South next Wednesday. It’s last lost came to Haverford in the Flyers Cup semifinals last April.

The game was essentially decided in the first 13:55 of the opening period. Pierce McGinley, Andrew Savong, and Tyler Manto scored goals in that stretch, and Rams were never threatened thereafter.

“We got off to a rough start,” said Neshaminy coach Matt DeMatteo. “The one rebound came right out to (McGinley) who buried it. Then we had (a tip-in) and then we had the second or third goal the guy dangled through us and nobody stepped up to play physical. So, I feel like we kind of put ourselves in that hole. It’s tough to battle back against a really good team like that.”

Max Gallagher scored a power-play goal for Neshaminy (9-3-1, 5-4 in the division) 9:49 into the second period but Kevin Pico and Aeryk Lehrhaupt responded for the Rams (Lehrhaupt’s goal came while his team was shorthanded) before Shane Dachowski added a goal in the third period.

The final margin would doubtless have been wider had it not been for the work of Brian Nelson in the Neshaminy net. Nelson was credited with 46 saves while his Pennridge counterpart Ryan Pico was given credit for 41.

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna said his team got a big boost from its quick start. “Especially after our last game (a 5-3 win over Central Bucks South) where we didn’t,” he said. “We talked about it. I thought it was our best first period of the year. I thought we started the game better than we have all year and it set the tone for the rest of the night.”

After next week, the Rams will cross the threshold into the postseason. Expectations are high in light of last year’s Flyers Cup effort. So, in a very real sense, Wednesday night’s first period was about setting the tone for something beyond a regular-season game in February.

Neshaminy’s. A.J. Dougherty was injured in the second period when Pennridge’s Andrew David delivered a shoulder check while Dougherty was standing with his back to the boards in the Pennridge offensive left wing corner. No penalty was called on the play. Dougherty was helped off the ice. According to DeMatteo, he will enter concussion protocol.

•The regular season will conclude next week. The SHSHL playoffs will commence on February 23 and 24 so the results of the Class AA quarterfinals will factor into the Flyers Cup seedings.

Neshaminy 0 1 0

Pennridge 3 2 1—6

First-period goals: Pierce McGinley (P) from Josh Kelly, 2:59; Andrew Savong (P) unassisted, 9:09; Tyler Manto (P) from Ryan Schuler, 13:55

Second-period goals: Max Gallagher (N) from Dan McColgan and J.J. Hathaway, 9:49 (pp); Kevin Pico, from Manto and Boyle, 13:44; Aeryk Lehrhaupt (P) unassisted, 15:51 (sh)

Third-period goals: Shane Dachowski (P) from Aidan Boyle Jack Lowery, 9:58 (pp)

Shots: Neshaminy 42, Pennridge 52; Saves: Brian Nelson (N) 46, Ryan Pico P) 41