Holy Ghost Prep 3 Malvern Prep 2 OT

BRISTOL—There wasn’t much to choose between Holy Ghost Prep and Malvern Prep Wednesday afternoon. The regulation 51 minutes wasn’t enough to decide things. It took Brady Baehser’s goal 2:03 into overtime to give the host Firebirds a 3-2 win in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Gundy Arena.

The win lifted Holy Ghost Prep to 13-5 overall and 4-1-1-1 in the APAC. Malvern Prep dropped to 6-5 overall and 1-4-0-1 in conference.

Baehser said the Friars controlled the flow of the game for most of the afternoon.

“It looked like they were trying to slow down our speed and eliminate chances,” he said. ”When we did get chances, their goalie had a really good game, but we started to figure it out towards the end and got the win.”

Senior forward Zach Pers said the Firebirds’ experience (there are 10 seniors on the roster) made an impact in the late going.

“Going down the stretch in a game like that shows how deep our team is,” he said. “We got a couple fortunate bounces, guys looked like they were slipping on banana peels out there. But other than that, I think we have a good group here that knows what they’re doing and is up to any task.”

It could be argued the Friars deserved a better fate. They never trailed until Baehser scored his game-winning goal. Their goaltender, sophomore Matt Crawford, was stellar between the pipes, making 36 saves.

“Matt hasn’t had much time in the net this year,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “It was his second game. We played him against Hun last week and he looked good and we wanted to give him a shot against Ghost.

“He looked good. He stood on his hand, he kept control of the puck, and have us an opportunity to win the game.”

The Friars took a 1-0 lead on Jeremy Jacobs’ shorthanded goal with 5:16 left in the first period. The goal came while his teammate Colin Inskeep was serving an interference penalty.

Pers tied the game for Holy Ghost Prep with 2:16 left in the period. It was the only regulation goal scored with both teams at full strength.

Malvern Prep got another power-play chance early in the second period when the Firebirds’ Patrick Slook was sent to the penalty box for delay of game when he was judged to have purposely knocked his own net off its moorings. Jack Sharer scored the go-ahead goal for the Friars 3:52 into the period.

Kieran Mulholland tied the game for the Firebirds with 3:37 left in the second session.

The third period was scoreless, largely in part to Crawford’s efforts on goal. He stopped 14 shots in the final session.

The Firebirds began the overtime on a power play after the Friars’ Jimmy Jacobs was boxed for an obvious holding infraction with 1:41 left in regulation.

The winning goal was set up by Mulholland’s dash up the center of the ice. Crawford stopped his shot but Baehser put in the rebound for the win.

Firebird senior Ciaran Chambers credited his teammates for their patience.

“It was extremely important to wait for our time,” he said. “We knew as a unit, going into this game, that we are the better team. We knew that going in. We wanted to go out there and wait for our time because we knew it was going to come.”

Holy Ghost Prep’s Ciaran Chambers (in white) battles with Malvern Prep’s Jack Sharer in front of Malvern Prep goaltender Matt Crawford during Wednesday’s game. (Photo by Robert Barnes)

Malvern Prep 1 1 0 0—2

Holy Ghost Prep 1 1 0 1—3

First-period goals: Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Jimmy Jacobs, 11:44 (sh); Zach Pers (HGP) from Ronnie Selzer and Kieran Mulholland, 14:49

Second-period goals: Jack Sharer (MP) from Jimmy Jacobs and Jeremy Jacobs, 3:52 (pp); Mulholland (HGP) from Brady Baehser and Landon Stout, 13:23 (pp)

Overtime goal: Baehser (HGP) from Mulholland, 2:03

Shots: Malvern Prep 22, Holy Ghost Prep 39; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 36, Colin Mudrick (HGP) 20

CLICK HERE for more information about Holy Ghost Prep

CLICK HERE for more information about Malvern Prep

More Reflections from the APAC Outdoor Classic

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference, its member schools, and fans, are basking in the glow of Wednesday’s APAC Outdoor Classic at the Spring Mountain resort

APAC Commissioner Jim Britt was lavish in his praise for the inaugural Classic.

“It’s idyllic,” he said. “I am very impressed by what they’ve done here to develop this into an adventure; an outdoor classic. The amenities are set up, it’s easy to watch a game, the lighting is great.

“The students are reacting tremendously. Everybody is having a great time and we really appreciate what they’ve done here to develop this and four teams being here for the APAC Outdoor Classic is something special to see.”

The results of the games mattered of course. La Salle bested St. Joseph’s Prep 5-1 in the back end of the twin bill but senior Tim Whitlock pointed out he and his teammates’ most vivid memories will be of the Classic itself.

‘The guys are excited,” he said Wednesday night. “It was a different type of game, kind of. It was a good game.

Whittock said the energy of the fans on hand added to the experience.

“Definitely a little more,” he said. “But, by the end of the day, it doesn’t matter about the people on the sidelines. It matters about the boys on the ice.”

Malvern Prep in white ands Holy Ghost Prep line up for the National Anthem on Wednesday. (Max Mangigian)

Holy Ghost Prep senior and captain Brady Baehser helped his team to a 6-5 win over Malvern Prep to open the evening’s festivities.

“This is an experience we’re going to remember for the rest of our lives,” he said.

Baehser noted that the conditions mandated the players make some adjustments.

“When we first got out there we were having trouble seeing the puck he said “and trouble with the lighting. But it’s the same for everyone so you get used to it and you play the game.”

Baehser was asked for his most vivid memory of the evening.

“Honestly when you first step on the ice,” he said. “You look around, and it’s a beautiful atmosphere.”

La Salle’s Ryan Wiley carries the puck Wednesday night. #33 for St. Joseph’s Prep is Dante Pasio (Max Mangigian)

St. Joseph’s Prep’s Tyler DiGirolamo moves the puck. (Max Mangigian)

Holy Ghost Prep’s Kieran Mulholland (in blue) is challenged by Malvern Prep’s Jack Sharer (Max Mangigian)

Holy Ghost Prep 6 N. Allegheny 3

Brady Baehser, Kieran Mulholland, and Zach Pers all scored two goals as Holy Ghost Prep defeated North Allegheny 6-3 Thursday night outdoors and under the lights at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh.

Baehser’s second goal of the game with 3:25 left in the second period broke a 3-3 tie, Mulholland made it a 5-3 game with his second goal with 4:25 left in the third period. Pers finished the scoring with an empty net goal in the final seconds.

Holy Ghost Prep Heading West on a Trip That is About More Than Hockey

Holy Ghost Prep will travel to Pittsburgh this week on a trip that is one part hockey and one part community service. The Firebirds are scheduled to play Shady Side Academy on Wednesday before facing North Allegheny on Thursday night in an outdoor game.

In addition, the hockey team will partner with the DePaul School for Hearing in Speech in Pittsburgh as part of HGP’s immersion program. This signature initiative is part of HGP’s academic curriculum allowing every student the opportunity to be a part of a multi-day service program in the United States and/or around the world.

The hockey team, including the managers, along with 12 additional Holy Ghost sophomores and juniors, will spend the day Friday with the students from the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech. The DePaul School helps students adapt to the use of cochlear implants and teaches them how to speak and hear using technology.

Senior Brady Baehser is the captain of the Holy Ghost Prep hockey team. He was also part of the squad that made the trip to Pittsburgh last January.

“We bring (their fellow students) along) so that can see what it’s like to mix sports and service together,” he said. “We do a lot of fun things with (the DePaul students). They love to see us.

“We’re going to the Hunt Armory rink with them, which is sponsored by the Penguin Foundation, and a Holy Ghost Prep alum, Jim Britt. We’re incredibly lucky for that.”

Baehser says the immersion program has helped him mature. “It made me realize how grateful me and my teammates are,” he said. “We have it so good. So, it always feels good to get back to reality and realize what other kids (are dealing with) so we can be more grateful and use our power to help other people.”

On the ice, the Firebirds, who are 10-2 overall and 3-0-1 in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference, have won their last four games and eight of their last nine. Their only loss in that span was to Glenbrook South (Illinois) in the finals of the National Scholastic Invitational on December 4. Baehser has scored 15 goals and added 13 assists for 28 points this season and leads the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference in scoring with five goals and five assists in four conference games.

“I really think it starts with senior leadership,” he said. “We haven’t had this many seniors (10) on the team in a while and we all want to win so bad. We stay together as a team; when we’re losing games, we don’t get down on each other. We really compete hard at practice and it really goes to show in the games.”

Holy Ghost Prep 6 St. Albans 3

Brady Baehser and Landon Stout each scored two goals as Holyy Ghost Prep defeated St. Albans 6-1 Monday evening at Ice Line. Kieran Mulholland and A.J. Prete also scored for the Firebirds, who won their fourth straight.

Prete, Baehser, and Stout scored goals in a six-and-a-half minute span in the first period to give their team a 3-1 lead.

Baehser’s second goal of the game, 5:30 into the second period, extended the Firebirds’ lead but St. Albans scored two goal on first a five-on-three and then a five-on-four power play to make it a one-goal game with seven minutes to go before Stout and Mulholalnd scored additional goals for the Firebirds.

Holy Ghost Prep (10-2 overall) will play two games in Pittsburgh later this week, facing Shady Side Academy on Thursday and North Allegheny in an outdoor game on Friday.

Holy Ghost Prep 3 1 2—6

St. Albans 1 0 2—3

Holy Ghost Prep 7 Hun School 3

Brady Baehser scored four goals as Holy Ghost Prep overcame an early 3-1 deficit to defeat The Hun School 7-3 Friday evening in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Ice Land.

The Firebirds now stand at 7-2 overall and 2-0-0-1 in the APAC while the Raiders dropped to 4-4 and 1-1.

Baehser gave Holy Ghost Prep a 1-0 lead exactly halfway through the first period but Scott Richmond and Justin Laplante scored goals 51 seconds apart to put Hun School in front with 30 seconds left in the period.

Laplante scored his second goal of the game 3:29 into the second frame but Holy Ghost Prep took over from there. Baehser tied the game at the 8:37 before the Firebirds scored three times in a span of 100 seconds to race out to a 5-3 lead with 1:12 left in the second frame. Kieran Mulholand scored twice in the flurry before Baehser completed a hat trick.

Baehser and Zach Pers scored in the third period.

Holy Ghost Prep 1 4 2—7

Hun School 2 1 0—3

First-period goals: Brady Baehser (HGP) unassisted, 8:30; Scott Richmond (HS) from Ryan Levesque and Justin Laplante, 15:39; Laplante (HS) from Elian Estulin and Levesque, 16:30.

Second-period goals: Laplante (HS) from Estulin and Levesque, 3:29; Baehser (HGP unassisted, 8:37; Kieran Mulholland (HGP) from Shaun Moore and John Seravalli, 14:09; Mulholland (HGP) from Seravalli, 14:48; Baehser (HGP unassisted, 15:48.

Holy Ghost Prep 5 Erie Cathedral Prep 4

Brady Baehser delivered a hat trick, including the winning goal with 1:23 left in overtime, as Holy Ghost Prep downed Erie Cathedral Prep 5-4 Friday evening in the opening round of the National Scholastic Invitational in Jamestown, New York.

Cathedral Prep scored two power-play goals to take a 4-3 lead with 1:38 left in regulation before Baesher tied the game 20 seconds later to force overtime.The Firebirds (3-1), who are the Invitational’s defending champions, are scheduled to face Medina (Ohio) at noon on Saturday and St, Francis from Buffalo at 6:00 Saturday evening.

Holy Ghost Prep 9 The Hun School 4

Hamilton Township, N.J.— It is often said that the postseason marks a new beginning. So it was for Holy Ghost Prep Monday afternoon. The Firebirds produced their best offensive output of the season over the course of a 9-4 win over The Hun School in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference play-in game at Iceland in front of an audience that included as substantial number of Holy Ghost Prep supporters.

Brady Baehser scored three goals and assisted on two others for fifth-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (10-10).

The Firebirds move on to face top-seeded Malvern Prep in a Founders Cup semifinal game Wednesday night at Ice Line (6:45 start). Seth Kaplan scored three goals for fourth-seeded Hun School, which finished its season at 8-9.

Wednesday’s result comes less than 72 hours after the Raiders handed the Firebirds a 2-1 loss in Friday’s regular-season finale.

But Baehser said he and his teammates have refocused of late. “Over the past two weeks, after the losing streak, we kind of regrouped,” he said. “Our coaches gave us a new plan for practice. I think Friday we came out and played well, we just couldn’t score. Today, we just found the back of the net a lot more.”

Six different Firebirds scored goals on Wednesday, a total of 12 were listed on the scoresheet.

“It was nice to see Point Night for the Firebirds finally,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “It was a great effort. We never gave up on our guys. It’s attribute to them, the way they played three solid periods.”

Baesher scored one goal and assisted Dominic Lombardo’s effort as Holy Ghost Prep took a 2-1 first-period lead.

Perhaps the biggest surprised of the afternoon came after Sean Marshall scored the first of his two goals 7:41 into the second frame. At that point, Hun School coach Ian McNally made a goaltender change, inserting Stephen Chen in place of starter Jack Borek who surrendered three goals on 10 shots

Riley Frost scored for the Raiders at the 10:04 mark to make it a one-goal game but the Firebirds responded with three unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead 2:24 into the third period and were more or less in control thereafter.

Borek returned to the net for the start of the third period after Chen allowed two goals on 11 shots.

“Once we’d score, we were never able to build on it,” McNally said. “They’d score seconds later and you could never keep any momentum going.”

While Monday brought the Hun School season to an end, it was a season that saw the Raider hockey program get back on track; the 2020-21 season was limited to three games because of Covid issues. This season, Hun School participated in the APAC for the first time, which assured the Raiders of a postseason to point toward.

“I think it’s been great,” McNally said. “We don’t have a state tournament because there aren’t enough teams of like size or teams that want to participate.

“This kind of gives us a taste of what it can be like to finish our season with games that mean something and the potential to host games, so we’re very happy.”

Holy Ghost Prep 2 3 4—9

Hun School 1 1 2—4

First-period goals: Seth Kaplan (SH) from Elian Estolin and Christian Clover, 11:13; Brady Baehser (HGP) from Landon Stout, 11:40; Dominic Lombardo (HGP) from Baehser 13:27 (pp)

Second-period goals: Sean Marshall (HGP) from Brian Butler, 7:41; Riley Frost (HS) from Josh Oullette, 10:04; Baehser (HGP) from Shaun Moore, 12:31; Kieran Mulholland (HGP) from Baehser 14:59 (pp)

Third-period goals: Baehser (HGP) from Landon Stout, 2:24; Kaplan (HS) unassisted, 6:59; Marshall (HGP) from John Seravalli and Colin Moore, (pp); Shaun Moore (HGP) from Mulholland, 9:46; Kaplan (HS) from Estulin and Frost, 11:55 (pp) Logan Barnes (HGP) from Brandon Barger and Michael Holt , 15:37

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 33, Hun School 32; Saves: Jason Soule (HGP) 28, Jack Borek (HS) 15 and Stephen Chen (HS) 9

For more information about The Hun School CLICK HERE

For more about Holy Ghost Prep CLICK HERE

Holy Ghost Prep Wins National Scholastic Invitational

Holy Ghost Prep is headed home from the National Scholastic Invitational with a championship trophy; the Governor’s Cup

Brady Baehser scored two goals and Luke Panepresso, Colin Moore, and Landon Stout contributed one each as the Firebirds downed Culver (Indiana) Academy 5-1 in the championship game in Jamestown, N.Y.

The win lifted the Firebirds to 9-1 on the season. The loss was the first for Culver Academy (15-1-2).

Baehser was named the championship game’s Most Valuable Player.

Jason Soule made 20 saves on the afternoon. He was in goal for all five games during the weekend.

“I’m super excited to get such a prestigious win during my senior year,” he said. “I have a great team in front of me and that helps provide a ton of confidence no matter who we are playing.”

Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside said the tournament was an opportunity for his team to grow and mature on and off the ice.

“I’m very happy for the team,” he said. “This retreat weekend is full of opportunities for the players to grow together and to play some talented teams from different parts of the county. We look forward to jumping back into our APAC conference schedule later this week.”

The Firebirds will face the Hun School in an APAC game Friday afternoon.

Jeff Mauro has written a book on the history of the Pennsylvania state high school hockey championship. To find out more and order a copy CLICK HERE

Hockey Happenings is looking for reliable individuals to provide video clips of APAC games. If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact us at rwoelfel2103@gmail.

National Scholastic Invitational-Final Round

Semifinals

Holy Ghost Prep 3, North Allegheny 2 OT—Brady Baehser scored in overtime to give the Firebirds the win in Jamestown, N.Y. Luke Panepresso and Landon Stout scored goals in regulation.

Culver Academy 5, Bethel Park 3

Culver Academy from Culver, Indiana, will face Holy Ghost Prep for the tournament title at 1:00

Jeff Mauro has written a book on the history of the Pennsylvania state high school hockey championship. To find out more and/or order a copy CLICK HERE

Hockey Happenings is looking for reliable individuals to provide video clips of APAC games. If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact us at rwoelfel2103@gmail.