La Salle 3 Wyoming Seminary 2 OT

HATFIELD—A young hockey team found out some things about itself Wednesday afternoon. La Salle got a live-fire test from Wyoming Seminary before the Explorers emerged with a 3-2 overtime win at Hatfield Ice.

It was the second consecutive win for the defending APAC and Class AAA Flyers Cup champions to open the new season.

Julian Tarsi delivered the game-winning goal off a centering pass from Declan Kelly with 1:13 remaining in the extra period.

Tarsi liked his team’s mindset against a quality opponent.

“It’s good for us early in the year to play a good team like that,” the senior said. “It’s good to see the boys working hard like that and digging deep. Especially later in the game, find a way to win.”

After a scoreless first frame, Kelly gave the Explorers a 1-0 lead when he found the back of the net 8:01 into the middle period.

James Fitzpatrick answered right back for the Knights (1-3) at the 9:47 mark.

The third period also featured two goals in quick succession. Grant Lagreca gave the hosts the lead, albeit briefly at the 3:03 mark. Colin Donovan responded for the Knights at 5:05 during a power play after the Explorers were flagged for having too many men on the ice.

Jake Rossi got the win in goal, stopping 24 of 26 shots.

“We got some good work in our defensive zone,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner. “I thought we played pretty well in the D-zone. We’ve been working a lot on that in the practices that we’ve had.”

La Salle lost 11 seniors off last year’s championship team. Those stepping into this year’s lineup are going through a necessary, if sometimes challenging transition.

“For a lot of the newer guys, it’s a different pace than they’re used to,” Muehlbronner said. “That was a good team that we just played, so I’m very pleased. I think that we got better as the game went along and I think the guys learned what they needed to do. We simplified some things and played a good game.”

Tarsi says his younger teammates are moving in the right direction.

“They’ve just got to get adjusted to the system,” he said, “and I think they’ve done a good job of that so far. They’re working hard. I’m excited to see what he future holds for them.”

Tarsi spoke to the responsibility the veterans on the roster have to show their younger teammates the way.

“It’s very important,” he said. “We’re supposed to be the leaders of the team.

“Honesty, coming off a huge loss last year, a devastating loss [in the state championship game] we’ve got to lead these guys back and find a way to get the job done.”

Wyoming Seminary 0 1 1 0—2

La Salle 0 1 1 1—3

Second-period goals: Declan Kelly (L) from Jacob Warner, 8:01; James Fitzpatrick (WS) from Sebastian Bilde, 9:47

Third-period goals: Grant Lagreca (L) from Michael Zarzycki, 3:03; Colin Donovan (WS) from Heil DeSeve and Jagar MacDonald, 5:27 (pp)

Overtime goal: Julian Tarsi (L) from Kelly and Cameron Ross, 3:47

Shots: Wyoming Seminary 26, La Salle 36; Saves: Jonah Boles (WS) 33, Jake Rossi (L) 24

Steve Mackell Takes the Reins at APAC

A new era is dawning in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference this season. Steve Mackell, a longtime coach and administrator, is beginning his first season as the APAC’s commissioner.
He replaces Jim Britt, who served as the commissioner in the conference’s first six years of existence.

Mackell played high-school hockey at Cardinal O’Hara and junior hockey with the Quakers before playing for a year at West Chester State.

He began his coaching career alongside Jim McCrossin at Malvern Prep and later served as the Friars’ head coach. He also spent time behind the bench with the Quakers and Junior Flyers before joining Atlantic District player development staff.

“I’ve admired what the APAC mission was about”, Mackell said, “I know the schools, I know a lot of the coaches and the administrators from those schools and was really excited to be offered this opportunity.”

Mackell noted the unique stature that hockey is afforded at the five APAC member schools, Holy Ghost Prep, La Salle, Malvern Prep, St. oseph’s Prep, and Hun School.

“I think the common thread is hockey is recognized as a varsity sport in each of the schools,” he said. It’s run by the administration through the athletic director as well as the coaches.

“To be a varsity sport and have the backing of the school I think is paramount to being successful.”

Mackell points out the APAC’s success on the ice is coupled with a commitment to academic excellence.

“What the APAC has done in the [six] years they’ve been in existence is create a very competitive environment,” he said. “All those schools are academically challenging and I think they draw a lot of the same type student-athletes into the sport. They’ve been able to create a very high level of competitiveness through their individual scheduling at the schools as well as through the APAC scheduling.”

Since the APAC made it’ debut for the 2018-19 season, conference schools have won six consecutive Class AAA Flyers Cups. All told, they’ve won 24, including the last 13 in succession.

Jeremy Jacobs Taking the Next Step in His Hockey Career

Jeremy Jacobs taken another step in his development as a hockey player. Jacobs who will soon graduate from Malvern Prep, recently played five games for the Odessa (Texas) Jackalopes in the North American Hockey League.

Jacobs spoke to how it all came about.

“They came to one of my games,” he said. “They watched me for two months or so and ended up talking to me.

“I went down and was able to get in a game with them. And from then on, I was like ‘This is where I want to be.’ I ended up signing with them.”

Jacobs’ five-game stint with the Jackalopes included his first NAHL goal on April 4 against Corpus Christi. He was used at center and also spent a brief amount of time killing penalties.

But a lot of this postgraduate course in his hockey education was spent in practice, as a member of Odesa’s extended roster.

“I was there for two weeks and able to practice for those two weeks” he said, “and embrace the full two weeks rather than being in and out for a week.”

Jacobs’ time in Odessa gave him new insights into the game.

“You just pick up on the little details, he said, “and just how they go about things differently, how they see the game differently, and how it’s just at a faster level. It just helps you elevate your game and play better. It’s a faster speed.

“The guys were accepting and really, really helped me out. Being sent there helped me grow and be a better hockey player.”

It took some time but Jacobs adapted to the NAHL’s pace.

“Once you go there the first few minutes of practice are definitely a little shocking,” he said, “but after that you just pick right up where you left off.

“It’s not too bad, at least I thought. I thought the speed was pretty good, and I like playing at that speed.

“It’s definitely a great group around to help you elevate your game.”

Virtually everyone in the Tier II NAHL has aspirations of playing at a higher level of junior hockey and/or in college, and Jacobs, who has signed a tender to play in Odessa next season, is no exception.

But he will take his memories of his time at Malvern Prep with him. Jacobs finished his final high-school season with 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points, including a goal and four assists in three Class AAA Flyers Cup games. He played on Flyers Cup championship teams his first two high-school seasons and on a state-championship team as a freshman. This year’s edition of the Friars, with Jacobs as their captain, reached the Flyers Cup finals before falling to La Salle.

“Winning that state championship is something I’ll remember forever,” Jacobs said, “and going back to back in the Flyers Cup.

“That (2022 team) was a special team and having a bigger role on that team as opposed to being a freshman, that was huge, being a bigger part. I thought I had a pretty solid part in my freshman year but I’ll definitely take away those first two years because we came out on top.”

As a captain, Jacobs embraced the role of mentor to his teammates.

“I enjoyed that,” he said, “being able to teach the younger guys what I was taught when I was younger.”

Some of Jacobs’ fondest memories of Malvern Prep were made off the ice.

“I’m going to take away the friendships and relationships I made with everyone,” he said. “Winning is great and all but the relationships are what I’m going to take away the most, just because it was a great experience all my four years.”

Jeremy Jacobs

Flyers Cup Schedule Thursday 3-14

Thursday, March 14

Class AAA Semifinals

La Salle 5 Holy Ghost Prep 2

Malvern Prep 3 St. Joseph’s Prep 1—Teague Murray and James Young scored first-period goals and the second-seeded Friars went on to beat the third-seeded Hawks Thursday night in a Class AAA Flyers Cup semifinal at Ice Line.

Henry Tesoriero also scored for Malvern Prep (11-8) which will meet La Salle in the final.

Tristan Winata scored for St. Joseph’ Prep (16-7)

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 1—1

Malvern Prep 2 0 1—3

First-period goals: Teague Murray (MP) from Jeremy Jacobs and Jonathan Holt, 12:11 (pp); James Young (MP) from Logan Love, 13:47

Third-period goals: Henry Tesoriero (MP) unassisted, 15:25 (en); Tristan Winata (SJP) unassisted. 16:09

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 36, Malvern Prep 35; Saves: Jacob Aranda (SJP) 32; Matt Crawford (MP) 35

Class AA Semifinals

Penneidge 10, Downingtown West 1—

The top-seeded Rams scored six goals in the first period and rolled to the win over the fourth-seeded Whippets in a Class AA semifinal Thursday night at Hatfield Ice.

Shane Dachowswki scored four goals for Pennridge (21-2-2) and added an assist. Nolan Shaw provided two goals. Kevin Pico, Josh Kelly, Tyler Manto, and Andrew Savona all scored goals.

Joseph Butter scored for Downingtown West (18-5)

Downingtown West 0 1 0

Pennridge 6 2 2

Council Rock South 3 Boyertown 1

Championship games will be played Tuesday, and Wednesday, March 19, and 20.

La Salle 7 St. Joseph’s Prep 0

Once they got their arms around the APAC championship, La Salle never let go. The Explorers scored four times the first period and went on to a 10-0 win over St. Joseph’s Prep Wednesday afternoon in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference championship game at Hatfield Ice.

The win gave La Salle (20-3) its fourth outright Founders Cup title in the APAC’s six-year history; they’ve also shared a fifth.

It was the second APAC title for La Salle defenseman Doucet who noted the second championship felt just as good as the first.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Probably a little bit better. It gets a little bit better every year, I love this.”

The Hawks, who were appearing in an APAC final for the first time, dropped to 15-6.

Next up for both teams is the Class AAA Flyers Cup.

It was Patrick Brace got things started for La Salle on Monday when he beat Jacob Aranda from close range 7:11 into the opening period. Alex Fusaro made it a 2-0 game just 72 seconds later, and Michael Zarzycki and Will Capenter added additional goals before the first frame ended.

La Salle senior Dean Carvalho said the seeds for the fast start were planted earlier this week.

“I think it was the practices we had this past weekend, Sunday and Monday,” he said. “We knew it was going to be tough going into the game. Our last game (the semifinal win over Holy Ghost Prep) we didn’t start out the way we wanted to, so we did what we needed to do going into this game. I think we got that done”

For the Hawks (15-6) the first-period blitz proved overwhelming.

“We know what the makeup of that team is,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin. “They’re big, strong, fast kids. “We tried to warn the kids that the first five or six minutes were going to be important; protect our zone, move the puck quickly Not letting them [penetrate] the zone. Unfortunately they scored three goals from right in front of the net. You can’t give that stuff up.”

Carvalho scored the only goal of the second period at the 7:19 mark. Prior to the final period, Giacomin made a goaltender change, inserting Declan Geary in Aranda’s place.

The Explorers didn’t miss a beat, as Julian Tarsi and Charlie Kennedy found the back of the net.

Carvalho felt the Explorers’s edge in experience had a significant impact on what happened on the ice.

“It was huge,” he said. Almost half our team went through it last year and just the experience of being in. That environment with a lot of people here, and a lot of pressure. I think it really helps out.”

Ice chips¸—La Salle will face Perkiomen Valley Monday night in the Flyers Cup quarterfinals while the Hawks will go against Salesianum.

St.Joseph’s Prep 0 0 0—0

La Salle 4 1 2—7

First-period goals: Patrick Brace (L) from Ryan Wiley and Charlie Kennedy, 7:11; Alex Fusaro (L) Fromm Michael Zarzycki, 8:23; Zarzycki (L) from Fusaro and Cameron Ross, 11:50; Will Carpenter (L) from Grant LaGreca, 15:50

Second-period goal: Dean Carvalo (L) from Julian Tarsi, 7:19

Third-period goals: Tarsi (L) from Brace, 8:48; Kennedy (L) from Will Gregorio, 9:29

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 21, La Salle 40 Saves: Jacob Aranda (SJP) 25 and Declan Geary (SJP) 7. Jake Rossi (L) 21

Playoff Ponderings—APAC

Wednesday, February 28 4:00 at Hatfield Ice

Founders Cup Championship Game

La Salle (19-3) vs. 3. St. Josephs Prep (15-5)

How they got here:

St. Joseph’s Prep defeated Malvern Prep 3-2 in the semifinals. La Salle defeated Holy Ghost Prep 3-1

Against each other:

La Salle won the first of two meetings this season, 3-1 on November 15, then overcame a 3-0 third-period deficit to post a 5-3 win on February 14.

La Salle

The Explorers have been part of every Founders Cup final in history. They claimed the APAC title in 2019, ’20, and ’23. They were declared co-champions along with Malvern Prep in 2021 when the final came was cancelled due to Covid. They lost the title game to the Friars in 2022.

Dean Carvalho leads the team in scoring with 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points in all competitions He also led the APAC in regular-season scoring with six goals and six assists for 12 points. Patrick Brace has eight goals and 12 assists for 20 point in all competitions; 4-4-8 in APAC games including the playoff semifinals. Goaltender Jake Rossi come into the final with a .938 save percentage and a 1.60 GAA.

St. Joseph’s Prep

This marks the first time the Hawks have appeared in the APAC championship game in the conference’s six-year history. Brayden Collins leads the team in scoring with eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points. He has three goals and three assists for six points in conference play. John Lynch, who scored a game-tying goal in the third period of the semifinal win over Malvern Prep, now has five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in all competitions. Jake Shultz was the Hawks’ top scorer against APAC foes, contributing four goals and three assists for seven points; 7-5-12 overall. Jacob Aranda is the likely starter in goal. He comes into the final with an .891 save percentage and a 2.78 GAA.

What comes next:

Both teams will move on to the Class AAA Flyers Cup.

La Salle is the defending champion and number-one seed and will face Perkiomen Valley on March 4. St. Joseph’s Prep is seeded third in the tournament and will face Salesianum the same evening.

La Salle’s Carvalho Primed for APAC Finale

La Salle senior Dean Carvalho knows all about the rivalry between the Explorers and St. Joseph’s Prep. The two schools have been competing against each other since the Philadelphia Catholic League was founded in 1920.

“I think just the level of [competition] between both schools and just the will to win, has just grown over the many years we’ve been competing against them in hockey and many other sports,” he said. “The will to win is there.”

The rivalry between the Explorers and the Hawks will be renewed on Wednesday afternoon when the two schools meet for the Founders Cup and the championship of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference (4:00 at Hatfield Ice). La Salle is the defending champion and has won three conference titles in five seasons while sharing another.

Carvalho sees the rivalry as mutually respectful, albeit intense.

“I think the respect is there, definitely,” he said.” We look forward to those games. In some ways, they’re a lot more fun than playing other schools because it’s a rivalry. It just makes the game that much more intense and the speed that much higher so I think it’s fun for everybody.”

Dean Carvalho

The Explorers own two wins over the Hawks this season, most recently a 5-3 win on February 14 that saw La Salle enter the third period trailing 3-0. Carvalho says the team regrouped during the post-second period ice cut.

“I think we just came together as a team and just realized how we needed to play,” he said. “Things we were doing wrong and what we needed to improve on. I think that period we came out really focused as a team, ready to play. We scored one and kept it rolling and things worked out at the end.”

Carvalho led the APAC in scoring, with six goals and six assists for 12 points (1.5 ppg) during the conference season. He enters Wednesday’s final with 16 goals and 11 assists in all competitions (22 games). He notes the Explorers are team that can and must rely on scoring balance to be successful.

“I think it’s huge,” he said. “One of our strengths as a team is the amount of depth that we have. We have four lines, probably more than four lines that can play, and more than six defenseman that can play. So, there’s never a weak link on the ice and that that reflects the success we’ve had this season so far. I think it’s really important because there’s never that weak link.”

St. Joseph Prep’s McDonald Focused on APAC Final

Wednesday’s APAC championship game for the Founders Cup (4:00 at Hatfield Ice) will be a moment in history for St. Joseph’s Prep. It will mark the Hawks’ first appearance in the final in the APAC’s six –year history.

That’s something Gareth McDonald, a senior defenseman with the Hawks, was well aware of when he spoke of what a victory would mean.

“It would mean a lot,” he said. “I know the APAC is a young league but there’s not a lot of teams in the league so we certainly should be in the championship game more often.”

The Hawks dropped two decisions to the Explorers this season. The second, on February 14 was particularly difficult to digest. St. Joseph’s Prep led 3-0 after two periods before surrendering five goals in the third, one of them into an empty net.

“I think we got a little too comfortable,” McDonald said. “We’ve just got to prove this year that we can beat them. And even after the championship game, because we’re going to have to play them in the Flyers Cup too (St. Joseph’s Prep and La Salle could meet in the Class AAA Flyers Cup finals). We’ve got to prove to them that we can beat them, and to ourselves.”

Gareth McDonald/photo by Joe Mancini

The rivalry between the Hawks and the Explorers does not lack for intensity, but McDonald is quick to point is quick to point out it is also characterized by mutual respect.

“We play against La Salle more on a personal level than if we play against other schools,” he said. “Not because of how we don’t like each other but because we’re friends with kids on the other team. It feels more on a personal level, to prove that we’re better than them.

“We respect La Salle a lot and I’m sure they give us that same kind of respect.”

As high-energy as Wednesday’s matchup promises to be, McDonald says it’s essential for he and his teammates to keep their emotions in check.

“We’re going to have to be very stale emotionally,” he said. “We can’t get down, even if they go up a goal or two. Or, if we go up a goal or two, we’ve got to stay comfortable, keep playing our game. There’s no reason to [lose focus], regardless of anything that happens.”

McDonald admits that a loss in Wednesday’s final would leave a sour taste, even with the Flyers Cup still to come.

“It’s almost worthless getting to the game and not winning it,” he said. we want to finish the job.”

Jim Britt on the State of the APAC

Wednesday’s Founders Cup championship game between La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep will mark the conclusion of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference’s sixth season.

Jim Britt has served the APAC’s commissioner since the conference was formed prior to the 2018-19 season. He expressed satisfaction with how the league has evolved since then.

“We have been very pleased,” he said “The reason why the APAC has been so successful is that the institutions are so likeminded when it comes to developing the whole student, athletically, academically, and with a strong service component. This year, it’s been amazing with all the schools, how well they’ve done on the ice with the competition among each other, and against schools from other leagues.

“But the special things they’ve done off the ice have been truly amazing, so it’s a great thing. And we’re looking forward to continuing and growing that.”

Hockey is a varsity sport at all five APAC schools. Britt, who at one time was the head coach at Holy Ghost Prep, says the conference’s hockey programs are aligned with the philosophies of each member school.

“One of the benefits of the way we are structured and the schools, the way they approach it, is that hockey is an integral part of the school’s institutions,” he said. “Their DNA, their philosophies, their values, the integrity of what they’re trying to do.

As a hockey coach, one of the things amazingly valuable was the structure that we might try and instill in the hockey players didn’t stop at the rink door. It was part and parcel of the daily experience at the school. I used to joke that I found it easy to coach when my boss was the athletic director because I knew the philosophies and values that school exhibited and wanted to demonstrate through the athletic program; it was easy to comply with that. It’s a whole lot easier to get everyone the same page.”

Britt credit the coaches of the five conference schools for their approach and for understanding what the APAC is about.

“I’ve known all of the APAC coaches for many years, dare I say decades,” he said.

“The latest coach to join, John Ritchie at Holy Ghost Prep, was one of my players. I’m very proud to be part of this circle of people who are trying to do the right thing and provide an outstanding experience for the hockey players.”

There is considerable speculation within the area hockey community concerning if and the APAC will expand beyond its current alignment of Holy Ghost Prep, Hun School, and Malvern Prep in addition to the two Founders Cup finalists. Britt deals with that issue on a regular basis.

“I don’t think a week goes by, especially this past season, where someone hasn’t pulled me aside or sent me an e-mail [regarding expansion],” he said.

“We’re going to enjoy this APAC playoff season and certainly look forward to a successful Flyers Cup season at the AAA level for the four teams who do compete in the Flyers Cup, then we’ll get together and decide the direction of next year and possible growth.

“There are several school who have expressed an interest in joining the APAC but we want to make sure that everything is aligned correctly, the right way, so that the integrity of the conference remains high. That the schools that might be considered to join APAC are competitive, are aligned with the same values on and off the ice. I would not want to predict a timeline for growth or anything in the near future.”

Updated Playoff Schedule 2-22-24

Thursday, February 22

SHSHL National Division Quarterfinal

4. Central Bucks East vs. 5. North Penn

7:10 at Hatfield Ice

Wednesday, February 28

APAC Championship Game

St. Joseph’s Prep at La Salle

4:00 Hatfield Ice

SHSHL American Division Final

Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Bensalem

6:50 at Hatfield Ice

SHSHL National Division Semifinal

C.B. South vs. Council Rock South

7:20 at Grundy Arena

SHSHL National Division Semifinal

C.B. East or North Penn vs. Pennridge

8:45 at Hatfield Ice

Thursday, February 29

SHSHL National Division Final

Site, Time TBD