Athletes Helping Athletes Showcase Kicks Off Wednesday

The scholastic hockey season kicks off Wednesday with the Athletes Helping Athletes tournament’s opening-night doubleheader.

Revolution Ice Gardens will serve as the venue as North Penn faces Souderton in the 7:20 opener, followed by a 9:05 matchup between Central Bucks East and 2018 Flyers Cup finalist Central Bucks South.

The Wednesday’s games and the tournament itself figure to be competitive, tournament organizer Eric Tye says results are secondary to a greater cause.

“Hockey is the last thing the coaches and myself worry about,” he said. “It’s taking care of special-needs athletes. We have honorary captains for every game. The teams take the kids into the locker room, it’s just an awesome sight.”

Tye, who has only one hand, has had a decades-long stint in hockey as a player, coach, and administrator. He conceived the idea of the tournament, which, with the support of AHA founder Rick Leonetti, is now in its fifth year.

“We started in Year One with four teams,” Tye said. “In Year Two we went to six teams and now we’re at eight teams. I think last year we raised almost $17,000.

The tournament will feature 16 games between Wednesday and October 26. All will be played at Revolution Ice Gardens.

On Friday, October 12, the Flyers Alumni will take the ice against Team AHA which will feature local coaches.

Athletes Helping Athletes Showcase to Kick Off Scholastic Hockey Season

Eight high-school hockey teams are getting ready got lace up their skates for the fifth annual Athletes Helping Athletes curtain raiser that serves as a prelude to the scholastic hockey season.

The event will feature 16 games between October 3 and 26. All will be played at Revolution Ice Gardens in Warwick.

It will also include a game on Friday, October 12 between the Flyers Alumni and Team AHA which will feature a group of area coaches.

Tickets for tournament games will be $5, save for the Flyers Alumni-Team AHA event which will be $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

All proceeds will benefit the AHA effort

For tickets, contact Eric Tye at Coach.EricTye@gmail.com or BarbYoung at BYoung423@msn.com

Game Schedule

Wednesday, October 3

7:20 9 North Penn vs. Souderton 4

9:05 8 C.B. South vs. C.B. East 1

Friday, October 5

7:25 4 North Penn vs Father Judge 11

7:35 12 Hatboro-Horsham vs. Archbishop Wood 1

9:10 6 William Tennent vs. Souderton 9

Wednesday, October 10

7:20 0 Hatboro-Horsham vs. C.B. East 2

9:05 3 Archbishop Wood vs. Father Judge 11

Friday, October 12

7:30 Flyers Alumni vs. Team AHA

Wednesday, October 17

7:00 7 Father Judge vs. C.B. South 2

9:05 7 C.B. East vs. William Tennent 4

Wednesday, October 24

7:20 Archbishop Wood vs. William Tennent

9:05 Souderton vs. Hatboro-Horsham

Thursday, October 25

7:00 C.B. South vs. North Penn

Friday, October 26

5:45 Consolation 7 vs 8

7:25 Consolation 3 vs. 4

7:35 Consolation 1 vs. 2

9:10 Consolation 5 vs. 6

New PA Prep Hockey League Forming

Some of the most prominent scholastic ice hockey programs in the Philadelphia area are aligning to form a new conference.

Holy Ghost Prep, LaSalle, St. Joseph’s Prep, and Malvern Prep will compete against one another this coming season.

The four schools are in different leagues in other sports. Holy Ghost Prep belongs to the Bicentennial Athletic League, St. Joseph’s Prep and LaSalle to the Philadelphia Catholic League, and Malvern Prep to the InterAc League.

The four schools will play each other three times each over the course of the season. A source told Hockey Happenings that plans call for each team to play six of its nine conference games in the afternoon, the other three at night. The regular season will be followed by a pair of one-game semifinals and a one-game final.

The idea behind the new league was to form a conference composed entirely of schools where ice hockey is considered a full-fledged varsity sport. Veteran Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside notes that all four member schools fit hockey into their athletic and academic structures.

“I think that stems from the leadership at these schools,” he said.
All four schools involved in the alliance have longstanding hockey traditions. LaSalle has won 10 Flyers Cup titles, nine in Class 3A and one in Class 2A. Malvern Prep has won seven Cups, all in Class 3A. Holy Ghost Prep has won three Class 3A Flyers Cup titles to go with one in Class 2A while St. Joseph’s Prep claimed its first Flyers Cup title when it won the Class 3A title this past March.

The four schools will remain part of the Flyers Cup structure where will compete in Class 3A but will not be aligned with the Suburban High School Hockey League or the Intercounty Scholastic Hockey League. for scheduling purposes

Jim Britt, who has had a long association with amateur hockey, will serve as commissioner of what is expected to be known as the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference.

Test post

State Championship Results 3-24-18

Class A

Bayard Rustin 4, Bishop McCourt 1—Nicholas Ferraro scored twice as West Chester Bayard Rustin defeated. Bishop McCourt 4-1 on Saturday to win the Pennsylvania Class A ice hockey championship at Ice Line. It was the fifth site title in a row for the Indians, tying an all-time record in any class.

Class 2A

Downiungtown East 3, Armstrong 2—Ryan Prestayko scored at 2:35 of the fifth overtime period to give Downingtown East a 3-2 win over Armstrong in the Pennsylvania Class 2A hockey championship game Saturday afternoon at ice Line in West Chester. The winning goal, which came on an assist from Eric Stankiewicz, gave the Cougars their second consecutive state title.

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead when Luca Pisani, the Most Valuable Player in the recent Class 2A Flyers Cup scored at 2:55 of the opening period.

Jacob Gross and Easton Hooks scored goals for Armstrong 4 minutes, 19 seconds apart to give the River Hawks a 2-1 lead after the first period.

Dan Stankiewicz tied the game for Downingtown East 8:24 into the second period and the teams battled on through 51 minutes of regulation and 42:35 of overtime until the game winner.

Downingtown East is the first Class 2A team to defend a state title since Latrobe won the last of three straight in 2010. The Cougars are the only Class 2A team to successfully defend.

Class 3A

St. Joseph’s Prep 4, Seneca Valley 0 —Mark Colavita scored three goals to propel St. Joseph’s Prep to a 4-0 win over Seneca Valley in the Class 3A state hockey championship game Saturday evening at Ice Line in West Chester. Tyler Boucher also scored for the Hawks, who won the first state championship in school history.

Colavita scored just 42 seconds after the opening face-off and Boucher added a goal nine minutes later to put the Hawks up 2-0 with 7:10 left in the opening period.

Colavita added two goals early in the third period 23 seconds apart, the second one shorthanded, to complete his hat trick.

St, Joseph’s Prep had a 34-19 edge in shots.

The state championship games matching Flyers Cup and Penguins Cup champions began in 1981. There were Class 3A and 2A games starting in 1984. A Class 1A game was added in 1989. It should be remembered that the Flyers Cup did not expand to three classes until 1991.

Our thanks to the administration and staff at Holy Ghost Prep for their support all season long.

Holy Ghost Prep is a private, Catholic, all-boys school located in Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Located adjacent to the busy I-95 corridor in metropolitan Philadelphia, Holy Ghost Prep attracts students from more than 100 elementary feeder schools from throughout metropolitan Philadelphia counties and New Jersey

Today is a vibrant community of nearly 500 young men preparing for college and adult life through a challenging program which stresses the cultivation of students’ unique gifts and talents, academic excellence, and generous service to the poor. We continue to be mindful of our founding history as a seminary as we seek to form young men morally, intellectually, and spiritually in the Spiritan tradition.

St. Joseph’s Prep Wins Class 3A Flyers Cup

St. Joseph’s Prep defeated Holy Ghost Prep 4-2 Tuesday night in the Class 3A Flyers Cup final at Grundy Arena.

Our account of the game can be found HERE via the Bucks County Courier Times web site.

The Penguins Cup tournament crowned two champions Tuesday night

Class 2A Armstrong 5, Quaker Valley 0

Class 3A Seneca Valley 4, Peters Township 2

The state championship games are set for Saturday at Ice Line

11:00 Class A Rustin vs Bishop McCourt

1:30 Class2A Downingtown East vs. Armstrong

4:00 Class 3A St. Joseph’s Prep vs. Seneca Valley

FLYERS CUP CLASS 3A FINAL NOW SET FOR TUESDAY

The Class 3A Flyers Cup title game between Holy Ghost Prep and St. Joseph’s Prep will now be played Tuesday night, March 20 at Grundy Arena.

Game time will be 7 p.m. THE GAME IS STILL ON!!!!!

Bishop McCourt won the Class A Penguins Cup Monday night, defeating Meadville 3-2 in overtime.

The Class 2A and 3A Penguins Cup finals are scheduled for Tuesday at UPMC Lemieux. The Class 2A game at 5:30 will match Armstrong against Quaker Valley.

The Class 3A game at 8:30 matches defending Penguins Cup and state champion Peters Township against Seneca Valley.

The state championship games are scheduled for Saturday at Ice Line in West Chester beginning at 11 AM

Our thanks to the administration and staff at Holy Ghost Prep for their support.

Holy Ghost Prep is a private, Catholic, all-boys school located in Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Downingtown East Wins Flyers Cup

Downingtown East defeated Central Bucks South 4-3 in overtime Thursday night to win the Class 2A Flyers Cup at Hatfield Ice.

Luca Pisai scored the winning goal with 2:10 left in the first sudden-death overtime period.

This account of the game was published in the Intelligencer on Friday, March 16 and the newspaper holds the copyright.

Downingtown East 4, Central Bucks South 3

By Rick Woelfel

HATFIELD— The performance was held on a stage that measured precisely 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. And on that grand stage, Luca Pisani was the brightest star of all. Pisani’s goal, 7 minutes and 50 seconds into overtime, gave Downingtown East a 4-3 win over Central Bucks South Thursday night at Hatfield Ice in a Flyers Cup Class 2A final that was the ultimate advertisement for interscholastic hockey.

The second-seeded and defending championship Cougars, who claimed their four Cup since 2010, went on the power play when the Titans’ Nick Morelli drew a holding penalty at the 7:09 mark when he took down a Cougar on the right wing at the blue line in front of the Titans’ bench and directly in front of one of the referees.

The winning goal came on a slapshot from the left point.

It was Pasani’s second goal of the game; he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

South coach Sean McGinty directed a stream of verbiage at the officiating crew following the goal and afterwards his emotions were still running on high. “In my opinion… you can’t make that call,” he said. “It’s overtime. It’s the Flyers Cup.”

The Titans took a 1-0 lead at the 5:37 mark of the first period when Joe DeLaurentis parked himself on the goal line to the left of the Cougar net and found Reis Braccio in front, Braccio found the back of the net with a forehander. That was the only goal of a fast-paced opening session.

Downingtown East drew even on a second-period power-play chance. The Titans’ Dominic Patrone was sent to the box for high sticking at the 11:59 mark and it took the Cougars just 28 seconds to score. Pisani launched rocket from the center of the ice just inside the blue line and found his target inches off the ice just inside the right post.

Braccio put the top-seeded Titans (30-4) ahead with 1:08 left in the period on a goal that produced traffic in front of the Cougar net. Goaltender Matt Shandler was knocked to the ice in the midst of he scramble. He regained his feet but Bracio scored in the midst of the scrum. The Cougars argued for goaltender interference but the goal was allowed to stand.

DeLaurentis and the Cougars’ Jack Barton traded goals two minutes, 15 seconds apart in the third period before Patrick Bobko tied the game for Downingtown East on a slapshot from the point with 5:03 left in regulation.

It was a game that saw the two teams push each other to a level that only truly outstanding teams can aspire to. Even in the midst of his disappointment, South captain Matt Stoll sensed that.

“It’s awesome,” he said, “playing at such a fast pace. Knowing that for some players, this is the highest level we’ll ever play at. “It’s awesome. It’s truly an honor to make it this far.”

Notes: South was trying for its third Flyers Cup title in five years. Downingtown East will play in the state championship game on March 24. The Cougars, who held a 35-21 edge in shots, are the first Class 2A team to defend the Flyers Cup title since Council Rock South six years ago.

Downingtown East 0 1 2 1—4

C.B. South 1 1 1 0—3

First-period goal: Reis Braccio (CBS) from Joe DeLaurentis, 5:37.

Second-period goals; Luca Pisani (DE) from Mark Stankiewicz and Eric Stankiewicz,, 12:27 (pp); Braccio (CBS) from Dominic Patrone, 15:52.

Third-period goal: DeLaurentis (CBS) unassisted, 3:30; Jack Barton (DE) from Justin Cohn, 5:45 (pp); Patrick Bobko (DE) unassisted, 11:57.

Overtime goal: Pisani (DE) from MIke Bolger, 7:50 (pp).

Shots: Downingtown East 35, C.B. South 21; Saves: Matt Shandler (DE) 18; Tim White (CBS) 31.

Records: Downingtown East (19-5); Central Bucks South (30-4)

A look back at Thursday’s Flyers Cup 2A final

Downingtown East’s Luca Pisani, who scored two goals, including the game winner, is #6.

His teammate Mike Bolger is # 98. Joe DeLaurentis of Central Bucks South is #66.

Photo by Dara Nappen King

www.DaraNKingPhotography.com
www.facebook.com/DaraNKingPhotography
www.linkedin.com/in/daranking
DaraKing@mac.com

Flyers Cup Day 7

Just one game tonight, the Class A final

Top-seeded Bayard Rustin won its fifth straight Flyers Cup title, 5-4 over second-seeded West Chester East ai Ice Line. Matthew Owens scored three times for the winners who tied a record set by Malvern Prep, which won five straight Class 3A Cups from 2001-05.

The Class 2A final, Dowingtown East vs. Central Bucks South is set for Thursday night at Hatfield Ice at 7:00.

The Class 3A final between Holy Ghost Prep and St. Joseph’s Prep has been moved to Wednesday, March 21 at Hatfield Ice. Puck drop will be at 7 pm.

Unionville will face West Chester East for the girls’ title Thursday at 6:30 at Ice Line

Flyers Cup Day 6 Results

Class 2A Semifinals

Central Bucks South 7, Council Rock South 2—the top-seeded Titans trailed 1-0 early but scored six straight goals to advance to their third final in five years; they won the previous two. Joe DeLaurentis and Tyler Boylan scored two goals each

Read our account at www.theintell.com

Downingtown East 2, Conestoga 1—Alex Fox scored the game-winner 3:33 into overtime to send the defending-champion and second-seeded Cougars into the championship game. Downingttown East outshot the third-seeded Pioneers 58-16.

Downingtown East will face Central Bucks South Thursday at 7:00 at Hatfield Ice for the title. the Cougars will be trying to become the first team to successfully defend a Class 2A title since Council Rock South in 2011-12.

Girl Semifinal

West Chester East 8, Radnor 4—Shannon Russell scored four goals for the Vikings

West Chester East will face Unionville in the title game Thursday at Ice Line at 6:30