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Pax Hoishik Jake Weingartner each scored twice as the Friars opened their season with an overtime loss at Wyoming Seminary on Wednesday.
Malvern Prep found itself down 3-0 in the game’s first eight minutes before rallying to force overtime.
“Our team showed resilience,” said Friars’ head coach Bill Keenan. “We have a handful of new players who played well in their first game with Malvern. ”
Holy Ghost Prep made history Wednesday evening.
Joe Kaufmann’s goal with 12:32 left in the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and Holy Ghost Prep went on to a 6-4 win over La Salle in the APAC Founders Cup championship game at Grundy Arena.
It was the first triumph for top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (18-4-1) in an APAC final in three tries.
The win marked the Firebirds’ third over second-seeded La Salle (15-7) this season but it did not come easily. Brady Logue, Colin Bara, and Brian Kinniry scored goals in a span of 7 minutes, 21 seconds in the first period to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage.
“That was our game plan going in,” Kinniry said. “Get on them early.”
But, just before the midway point of the second period, the Explorers woke up. Michael Esmond made a run up the middle of the ice and finished the play himself 2:19 into the period. Nole Donohue made it a 3-2 game at the 8:53 mark and Cam Ross tied the game 2:09 into the third period when he put in a rebound.
Kauffman said he and his teammates knew they had a fight on their hands as La Salle made its surge.
“We weren’t sure what was really going to happen,” he said. “We just knew when we got back on the ice in the third that we had to give it our all. Either put something in the net, or stop them from scoring.”
And Kaufmann did just that with a shot from the right wing. Logue extended his team’s lead with 9:43 left in the regulation and Kinniry scored his second goal of the game with 1:36 left.
Kinniry said he and his teammates stayed focused on their mission.
“It really gave us motivation to get through the third period,” he said. “Our second period was pretty bad so we came back out and got the go-ahead goals.”
La Salle coach Wally Muehlbonner said his team struggled from the start.
“I don’t think we played a good game at all,” he said. “We played the way we needed to in the second period, that was our best period obviously. But it’s tough to come back from down three.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie credited his players for a season’s worth of effort.
“This isn’t about the adults,” he said. “This is about the kids. They’re so deserving.
“It’s a long year, it’s tough to stay on top in a league like this. I can’t say enough positive things about the group that’s in there.
“Everybody bought in, everybody did their jobs and even when it got close and don’t think there was any doubt we would figure a way to beat them.”
The Firebirds and Explorers will open Class AAA Flyers Cup play on Tuesday. Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep will face eighth-seeded Owen J. Roberts (6:15) while second-seeded La Salle will go against number-seven Devon Prep. Both games will be played at Hatfield Ice.
La Salle 0 2 2
Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 3
First-period goals; Brady Logue (HGP) from Jack Gavaghan and Ryan Lippy, 5:10; Colin Bara (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Brian Kinniry, 9:15; Kinniry (HGP) from Chase Logue, 12:31 (sh)
Second-period goals: Michael Esmond (L) from John Greenawalt, 7:19; Nole Donohue (L) from Jake Warner, 8:53;
Third-period goal: Cam Ross (L) from Alistair St. Hilaire, 2:09; Joe Kaufmann (HGP) from. Anthony Valeriote, 4:28; Brady Logue (HGP) from Chase Logue, 7:17; Kinniry HGP unassisted, 15:24; Ross (L) from St. Hilaire and Declan Kelly, 16:36 (pp)
Shots totals were unavailable
APAC Founders Cup Championship Game
Wednesday, February 26 at Grundy Arena, 5:00 PM
(1) Holy Ghost Prep vs (2) La Salle
Holy Ghost Prep (17-4-1)
Coach: John Ritchie
Players to watch: Brady Logue 17 goals, 16 assists, 33 points; Joe Spadaccino 10-14-24; Anthony Valeriote 10-10-20; Brian Kinniry 15-4-19; Jack Unger 1.63 GAA, .926 save percentage; John Botthof 2.52 GAA, .891 save percentage
La Salle (15-6)
Coach: Wally Muehlbronner
Players to watch: Nole Donohue 12-15-27; Grant LaGreca 17-5-22; Julian Tarsi 10-10-20; Michael Zarzycki 10-10-20; Jake Rossi 1.78 GAA, .932 save percentage
This year: Holy Ghost Prep won both regular-season meetings, 3-1 on November 11 and 6-4 on December 11.
La Salle is the two-time defending APAC champion and comes into this game with a seven-game winning streak and having won nine of its last 10 starts. Holy Ghost Prep has won five straight and is unbeaten in its last seven starts and 14 of its last 15.
Ice chips: The teams have played in two previous Founders Cup finals. La Salle won both, 4-1 in 2020 and 7-3 in 2023. The Explorers have played in all five previous Founders Cup finals and are 4-1 in those games.
Holy Ghost Prep is 0-2 in Founders Cup finals. There was no title game in 2021 due to the pandemic; La Salle and Malvern Prep were declared co-champions.
Holy Ghost Prep is seeded first for the upcoming Class AAA Flyers Cup. La Salle is seeded second.
Organizers of the Pennsylvania state championship games announced Tuesday evening that the all-star game/showcase that was scheduled for Friday, March 21 in Pittsburgh has been postponed.
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.
Ryan Lippy, Brian Kinniry, and Colin Bara scored goals as the Firebirds won the non-league game on Monday. Jack Unger got the win in goal.
Regular Season Standings W L Pts OTW OTL
Holy Ghost Prep (12-4-1) 5 2 15 0 0
La Salle (11-6) 5 2 14 1 0
St. Joseph’s Prep (8-7) 3 3 10 0 1
Malvern Prep (3-8) 2 4 6 0 0
Hun School (5-15-2) 0 4 0 0 0
Scoring (Conference Games) GP G A Pts PPG
Brady Logue HGP 8 10 11 21 2.63
Cole Gagron SJP 7 8 1 9 1.29
Noel Donohue La 8 5 5 10 1.25
Grant LaGrrca La 8 8 1 9 1.13
Michael Zarzycki La 8 6 3 9 1.13
Frank Ely La 8 2 6 8 1.00
Chase Logue HGP 7 3 4 7 1.00
Anthony Valeriote HGP 8 5 3 8 1.00
Joe Spadaccino HGP 6 3 3 6 1.00
Save Percentage GP Shots GA Save %
Jake Rossi La 6 225 14 .938
John Botthof HGP 2 64 5 .922
Declan Geary SJP 7 190 15 .921
Matt Crawford MP 6 176 14 .920
Jack Unger HGP 3 79 8 .899
Patrick Donoghue HS 2 109 10 .908
Goals Against MP GA GAA
Jake Rossi La 394 14 1.81
Matt Salita HGP 153 6 2.00
Declan Geary SJP 364 15 2.10
Matt Crawford MP 208 14 2.20
John Botthof HGP 102 5 2.50
Jack Unger HGP 153 8 2.67
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It’s been a difficult season at Malvern Prep if you go strictly by the numbers. The Friars are just 4-9 on the season and 3-5 in the APAC as they prepare to host The Hun School on Monday in the Founders Cup playoffs play-in game (3:30 at Ice Line). At one point, they lost seven consecutive games but they’ve won two of their last three heading into the postseason.
But there is much more to high-school hockey and high-school sports in general than wins and losses. There are life lessons to be learned and relationships to be nurtured.
Bill Keenan understands that and in fact embraces that mindset. Now completing his sixth season as the Friars’ head coach, he reflects on what he wants the nine seniors on his roster to take away from their high-school hockey experience.
“The thing I want them to take away is that there’s more than just hockey, right?,” he said. “One of my philosophies is Malvern Prep is a great school, they have a great culture. My job is to yes, coach hockey but it’s to create better young people. I hope that they take that away from this game, this experience.
“It’s just a family and the brotherhoods that they make within the game, with their teammates, that’s what really carries them for the rest of their lives. They’ll look back and they’ll remember the guys they were playing with shoulder to shoulder. Guys they were out there practicing with. So, to me, that’s what I want them to take away.”
One lesson Keenan wants his players to learn is how do deal with adversity, on the ice and off; how to deal with the gut punches and occasional low blows that life hands out. He says hockey can be an effective teaching tool in that regard.
“Adversity comes in all facets of your life,” he said, “and with the game of hockey you’re going to have ups, you’re going to have downs, you’re going to have good games you’re going to have bad games.
“You can even break down the shifts, you’re going to have good shifts and bad shifts.
“You just have to be a resilient person and I think we have a resilient team. Yes, we’ve had a rough year. We had a good couple games where we fell short a goal or two but it’s good just to see the team start to rebound, hopefully through the end of the season and the Flyers Cup.”
Malvern Prep overcame an early 1-0 deficit by scoring three times in the first period and going on to a 4-2 APAC win over The Hun School Wednesday afternoon at Ice Land.
The Friars concluded APAC play at 3-5, they stand at 4-10 overall. Then Raiders, who are winless in seven conference starts, stand at 5-14-2 overall.
Luca Jean opened the scoring for Hun School 3:34 into the first period. Ryan Behrle, Gabe Bedwell, and Logan Love responded for the Friars with the goals coming in a span of 7 minutes, 10 seconds to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage with 4:38 left in the opening session.
Connor Mulligan scored for the Riders to make it a one-goal game with 4:16 left in regulation but Cole Scarbinsky answered for Malvern Prep with 3:04 remaining.
Hun School will face St. Joseph’s Prep Friday night at the Skatium to close out the APAC regular season before squaring off with the Friars once more on Monday at Ice Line (3:30 start) in the Founders Cup playoffs play-in game.
Malvern Prep 3 0 1—4
Hun School 1 0 1—2
First-period goals: Luca Jean (HS) from Jake Beck, 3:34; Ryan Behrle (MP) from Quinn Riley and Peter Narog, 5:12; Gabe Bedwell (MP) from Staton Johnson and Andrew Starck, 8:37; Logan Love (MP) from Starck and Johnson, 12:22
Third-period goals: Conor Mulligan (HS) from Evan Koserowski and Bailey Cook, 12:44; Cole Scarinsky (MP) unassisted, 13:56
Shots Malvern Prep 35, Hun School 26: Saves: Riley Doyle (MP) 24, Elliot Wong (HS) 31
The APAC playoffs are still a ways off, but fans who took in Thursday’s matchup between St. Joseph’s Prep and Malvern Prep got a taste of the postseason atmosphere. Cole Gargon’s goal 2:37 into overtime gave the Hawks a 2-1 win that put a damper on the Friars’ Senior Day.
The result assures St. Joseph’s Prep (9-7, 4-3 in the APAC) of a third place in the conference standings with one regular-season conference game remaining against Hun School next Friday. By virtue of the point acquired in the overtime loss, Malvern Prep (3-9, 2-5) will finish fourth, regardless of the result of their regular-season league finale next Wednesday, also against Hun School.
Gargon’s winning goal concluded an overtime session that for most of two minutes played out in the Malvern Prep offensive zone. But a turnover in the neutral zone gave the Hawks their opportunity. They patiently cycled the puck before Frankie Ely deposited it on Gargon’s stick and the sophomore put a shot past Friar goaltender Matt Crawford.
“In overtime, like anything else, it’s a possession game,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin. “and they possessed it.
“You don’t want to overcommit, you want that one turnover so you can start possessing the game. And, if you watched that play develop, he took the puck out of the (Hawks’) offensive zone; they had a little bit of tired legs and all it needs is one move around a guy and we’re walking in and getting shots.”
The two regulation goals came late in the first period. Jake Weingrtner put the hosts in front when he beat Declan Geary in the Hawk net with 4:03 left in the opening session. The goal came when Michael Castelli was in the box serving a roughing infraction, one of eight penalties called in the first period.
The Hawks responded with an even-strength goal from Bradan Fisher, who beat Crawford from the low slot with 1:27 remaining.
From there. The game evolved into a goaltending dual between Geary and Crawford who between them made 48 saves. Both netminders needed to be in top form.
“It’s always fun playing against {Crawford} Geary said. “We’ve practiced with goalie coaches before. It’s a fun environment with Senior Night. It’s a big one.”
Geary said the pressure of a big game sharpens his focus.
“It’dun,” he said. “I don’t like high-scoring game. I like the low-scoring ones here it’s tight and all that. It’s just fun to compete.”
Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan said his team was looking to keep the momentum going after defeating Hun School two days ago.
“We knew it would be a tough battle with St. Joe’s,” he said. “They’re a physical team, they move the puck well.
“Our guys matched it, our intensity was high, we came up a little short.”
The Friars are assured of hosting the postseason play-in game against Hun School sometime prior to February 19 when the semifinal are scheduled. The winner will face Holy Ghost Prep in one semifinal. St. Joseph’s Prep will face La Salle in the other. Both semifinal games will be played at Grundy Arena. The highest seeded finaliat will host the Founders Cup championship game.
St. Joseph’s Prep 1 0 0 1—2
Malvern Prep 1 0 0 0—1
First-period goals: Jake Weingartner (MP) from House Young, 12:57 (pp); Ben Kersun (SJP) from Bradan Fisher, 15:33
Overtime goal: Cole Gargon (SJP) from Frank Ely, 2:37
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 28, Malvern Prep 23 Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 22, Matt Crawford (MP) 26
The start of the scholastic hockey playoffs is fast approaching. Contact us here at Hockey Happenings for information on how to promote your product or service.
It was a first step for a team with lofty ambitions for the days to come. Brady Logue scored twice and three other players contributed one goal each as Holy Ghost Prep downed The Hun School 5-1 Friday night at Grundy Arena.
The win gave the Firebirds (13-4-2, 6-2 in the APAC) the APAC regular-season title, but far more importantly, the top seed for the Founders Cup playoffs next month. The result also solidifies Holy Ghost Prep’s position atop the latest Class AAA Flyers Cup rankings.
The Firebirds are 9-1-1 in their last 11 starts. Their captain, senior defenseman Ryan Lippy says cohesiveness has been at the foundation of that record.
“I think coming together as a team in the locker room {has been a factor},” he said. “We’ve been getting more involved as a team. We can bring it together and make it more of a team so everyone can work together better.”
The hosts were in control from the start. Logue scored the first goal of the game 4:10 into the opening period. Joe Spadaccino made a 2-0 with 4:02 left in the period when he stole the puck at center ice and went in alone on Raider goaltender Elliott Wong.
Logue made a big run of his own less during a power play than two minutes into the second frame when he rocketed down the right wing before dishing off to Anthony Valeriote who finished the play.
William Harmar made it a 4-0 affair with 6:33 left in the period before Jake O’ Connell got Hun School (3-10-2, 0-5) on the scoreboard by beating Firebird goaltender Matt Salita through the five-hole.
Logue’s second goal of the night was the only goal of the third period but the final session did not lack for fireworks. There were 12 penalties called in the period, five of them as the result of a scuffle with 9:11 left in regulation that sent three players to the penalty box.
With 2:44 remaining, Hun School’s Justin Bibeau, who assisted on his team’s goal, was called for spearing and was accessed a major penalty plus a game misconduct.
Senior defenseman Joe Kaufmann, the Firebirds’ alternate captain, stressed the importance of he and his teammates maintaining their poise.
“We kept our composure,” he said. “We tried not to get any guys not able to play in the APAC playoffs.”
Hun School coach Eric Szeker was missing half a dozen players from his lineup due to illness but was pleased with the effort he got from the players who were available.
“You can either show up or decide not to,” he said. “We showed up and tried to play our best.
The Firebirds celebrated the win but Kaufmann was quick to point out there’s a long way to go.
“The job’s not done yet,” he said. “We’ve still got a lot of games ahead of us. We’ve got to take it one day at a time.”
• Holy Ghost Prep will host the Founders Cup semifinals on February 19. The semifinal results will factor into the Flyers Cup selection/seeding process.
Hun School 0 1 0—1
Holy Ghost Prep 2 2 1—5
First-period goals: Brady Logue (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Joe Spadaccino, 4:10; Spadaccino (HGP) unassisted, 15:20 (sh)
Second-period goals: Anthony Valeriote (HGP) from Logue, 1:51 (pp); William Harmar (HGP) from Nathan Romer, 10:27; Jake O’ Connell (HS) from Justin Bibeau, 15:07
Third-period goal: Logue (HGP) unassisted, 13:31 (sh)
Shots: Hun School 10, Holy Ghost Prep 44; Saves: Elliot Wong (HS) 39, Matt Salita (HGP) 9
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