LaSalle 2, Central Bucks South 1 OT

By Rick Woelfel

HATFIELD— The start of a new hockey season always brings changes with it. Rosters change and even returning players assume new roles. But attention to detail matters.
A number of players who played key roles for the LaSalle team that won the Class AAA Flyers Cup and state titles last year are gone. But the program’s commitment to excellence remains as was demonstrated Monday night

Ryan Ferry scored 28 seconds into three-on-three overtime (a new feature of USA Hockey varsity competition this season) to give the Explorers a 2-1 non-league win over Central Bucks South at Hatfield Ice. Ferry collected a feed from Nate Benner out of the deep left-wing corner and beat Titan keeper Mason Moyer inside the left-wing corner. The puck hit the back of the net as Ferry was being checked to the ice.

It was the second non-league win of the season for the Explorers, who begin Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference play next week. But Ferry says he and his teammates still have some work to do. “I doin’t think we played up to our potential today,” he said. “But it was good just to get a win.”

Ferry, a senior, noted that this year’s LaSalle team is still taking shape. “We lost a lot of kids last year,” he said. “We have a long way to go. We’re not where we need to be right now. But I think if we all put in the hard work, we’re going to get there.”

LaSalle had the better of the opening period but South goaltender Mason Moyer kept the game scoreless most of the way by making 13 saves. His task was complicated by his teammates having to kill three minor penalties in front of him.

“Mason obviously played outstanding,” said South coach Shaun McGinty. “He does that game in and game out, he’s the vital piece in our puzzle. Every team needs a good goaltender; he played stellar tonight.”

Moyer finally yielded when junior Nate Benner scored off a turnover with 13 seconds left in the period while the Explorers themselves were shorthanded.

The Titans drew even with 12:18 gone in the second frame when Colin Abbonizio, their captain, beat William Gross off an offensive right circle faceoff.

LaSalle enjoyed a 29-18 advantage in shots. Aidan McCabe William Gross split the evening in the Explorer net with Gross taking over midway through the second session.

LaSalle coach Wally Muehlbronner said his team has to do the little things well to be successful. “We don’t have the ability to put a lot of pucks in the net right now,” he said. “We’ve got to play a simple game and be strong defensively. And the compete levels has got to get higher.”
C.B. South 0 1 0 0—1
LaSalle 1 0 0 1—2
First-period goals: Nate Benner (L) unassisted, 15:47 (sh)
Second-period goals: Colin Abbonizio (CBS) from David Kvecher, 12:18
Overtime goal: Ryan Ferry (L) from Benner, :28
Shots: C.B.South 18, LaSalle 29; Saves: Mason Moyer (CBS) 27, Aidan McCabe (L) 7 and William Gross 10
Records: Central Bucks South 0-1, LaSalle 2-0

SHSHL Ready for New Season

On Wednsday night, the Suburban High School Hockey League will kick off its 47^th season. Four games are on the schedule.

Defending Class AAA Flyers Cup and state champion LaSalle will face off against Central Bucks South at 7:20 at the Hatfield Gray rink.

Elsewhere, Truman will take on Central Bucks East at 7:20 on the opening game of a doubleheader at Revolution Ice Gardens, with Hatboro-Horsham facing Abington in the 9:00 nightcap.

Plymouth Whitemarsh and Council Rock North are scheduled to square off at 9:00 at Grundy Arena.

All four games are non-league encounters.

Hockey Happenings will provide a recap of the LaSalle-C.B. South game following its conclusion.

Pennridge Wins SHSHL Class AA title

By Rick Woelfel

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—The combination of solid defense and quality goaltending will win a lot of hockey games, especially in the postseason. The Pennridge Rams utilized that formula to become champions Thursday night.

Luke Stranick stopped 35 shots and Matt Guinette and Michael Eissler provided the necessary scoring as the Rams downed Central Bucks South 2-0 in the Suburban High School Hockey League Class AA championship game at Hatfield Ice

It’s the second SHSHL title in history for the second-seeded Rams, who improved their record to 14-2-3. The top-seeded Titans (13-4-2) were attempting to capture an unprecedented fifth straight SHSHL crown and their ninth in history.
After shutting down one of the most potent offenses in the area, the Rams were savoring their success.

“I’ve only gone here for two years, and it feels great to me” said junior defenseman Frankie Rota, who transferred from Quakertown prior to last season. “I can imagine the guys that have been going here for four, I imagine it feels incredible.”

The Rams outshot the Titans by just 40-35 but the efforts of the blueline corps limited South’s quality chances and made life easier for their goaltender.

“My defense played perfect,” Stranick said. “They did everything I could have asked for. They kept the shots to the outside, they kept the screens out of my way, they made it real easy.”

The Titans had the better of things early on until the pace picked up midway through the opening period. Guinette got the Rams on the board at the 8:18 mark of the first frame with a shot from midway between the tops of the two faceoff circles that beat South netminder Oscar Levin, who had a solid game between the pipes despite the defeat.

Pennridge’s second goal, which came 3:30 into the middle period, was the result of a picturesque individual effort by Eissler, who went up the middle and over the blue line before deking around a South defender and beating Moyer. That was all the scoring there was but that was all that was needed.

“Defensively, we gave up some chances,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna, “but we did a real good job not giving up second-chance opportunities. Our defensemen blocked a ton of shots in this game and we swept everything up.

“(South) is a hard team to hold off for 51 minutes and we did.”

Notes: The Rams won their first league crown in 2008 …Both teams will see action in the Flyers Cup tournament next Wednesday. The second-seeded Titans will face 15th-seed Downingtown West on Wednesday at Revolution Ice Gardens at 7:15. The fourth-seeded Rams will take on 13th seed Garnet Valley the same evening at Hatfield Ice at 8:40 … Shaun McGinty was not behind the Titans’ bench Thursday night because of work commitments. Assistant Tyler Skronski stepped in for him.

Pennridge 1 1 0—2

C.B. South 0 0 0—0

First-period goal: Matt Guinette (P) from Eric Slater, 8:18

Second-period goal: Michael Eissler (P) from Jeff Manto, 3:30

Shots: Pennridge 40, C.B. South 35; Saves: Luke Stranick 35 Oscar Levin (CBS) 33

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Flyers Cup Seedings 2019

A total of 42 high school hockey teams have been selected and seeded for the 40th annual Flyers Cup tournament.

Sixteen teams each will comprise the boys’ Class A and Class AA brackets while seven more will compete in Class AAA and three others will meet in a girls’ competition.

First-round games will be played March 4-6 and the tournament will continue from there before the champions are crowned at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday, March 17

Two-time defending Flyers Cup and state champion Downingtown East has drawn the top seed in Class 2A. Central Bucks South, which lost to the Cougars in overtime in last year’s championship game, is seeded second, followed by Conestoga, Pennridge, and North Penn.

Haverford is seeded sixth, followed by Boyertown, Neshaminy, Parkland, and Central Bucks West. Central Bucks East is seeded 11th, followed by Pennsbury, Garnet Valley, Perkiomen Valley, Downingtown West, and Council Rock South.

The field includes eight teams from the Suburban High School Hockey League, seven from the Intercounty Scholastic Hockey League and one from the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League.

Five-time defending Flyers Cup and State Class A champion Bayard Rustin is once again the top seed in its bracket, followed by Strath Haven, West Chester Henderson, West Chester East, Palmyra, Hershey, Lower Moreland, and Lower Merion.

Owen J. Roberts is seeded ninth, followed by Unionville, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Springfield-Delco, Wissahickon, Kennett, Hatboro-Horsham, and Sun Valley.

LaSalle, which captured the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference regular-season title, is the top seed in Class AAA. The Explorers will be trying to win the Flyers Cup for the 11th time and will be the only boys’ team in any division with an opening-round bye.

Malvern Prep is seeded second followed by Cardinal O’Hara, Holy Ghost Prep, Father Judge, St. Joseph’s Prep, and Roman Catholic.

Unionville will have the bye in the girls’ bracket. West Chester East and West Chester Rustin will meet on March 13 for a place in the championship game.

SHSHL Playoff Game Times Set

The brackets have been finalized for the 2019 Suburban High School Hockey League playoffs. Action gets underway Monday, February 25 with four Class AA quarterfinal games and continues on Wednesday the 27^th with semifinal games in Class AA and Class A. The championship games in each class will be played at Hatfield Ice on Thursday, February 28.

Central Bucks South is the four-time defending champion in Class AA; if they successfully defend this year it will extra blush a new league record. Hatboro-Horsham meanwhile will be trying to defend the Class A crown.

It should be noted that the results of the SHSHL playoffs will have no impact on the Flyers Cup seedings which are scheduled to be announced on Sunday.

Monday, February 25

Class AA Quarterfinals

1 C.B. South vs. 8 Council Rock South 7:00 at Rev. Ice Gardens

4 C.B. West vs 5 Neshaminy 8:40 at Rev Ice Gardens

3 North Penn vs 6 Pennsbury 8:40 at Hatfield Ice

2 Pennridge vs 7 Central Bucks East 7:00 at Hatfield Ice

Wednesday, February 27

Class AA Semifinals

Upper Bracket winners 7:00 at Revolution Ice Gardens

Lower Bracket winners 7:00 at Hatfield Ice

Class A Semifinals

1 Lower Moreland vs 4 Hatboro-Horsham 8:45 at Rev. Ice Gardens

2 Wissahickon vs 3 Plymouth Whitemarsh 8:45 at Hatfield Ice

Thursday, February 28

Class AA Final 7:00 at Hatfield Ice

Class A Final 8:45 at Hatfield Ice

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SHSHL Regular Season Standings 2-22-19

Class AA W L T Pts

Central Bucks South (11-3-2) 9 0 2 20

Penneidge (11-2-3) 8 1 2 18

North Penn (10-3-3) 7 2 2 16

Central Bucks West (9-7) 7 4 0 14

Neshaminy (7-4-4) 5 3 3 13

Pennsbury (7-7-3) 5 5 1 11

Central Bucks East (9-5-2) 5 5 1 11

# Council Rock South (6-7-3) 3 5 3 9

Abington (5-7-4) 3 5 3 9

Truman (3-11-3) 2 7 2 6

William Tennent (3-11-2) 1 8 2 4

Souderton (2-13-1) 0 10 1 1

# Council Rock South has tiebreaker over Abington. The tiebreaker was goals-against average during the 11 league games.

Tentative quarterfinal playoff matchups

Central Bucks South vs. 8. Council Rock South
Central Bucks West vs. 5. Neshaminy
Pennridge vs. 7. Central Bucks East
North Penn vs. 6. Pennsbury

Quarterfinal games February 25. Sites, times TBA

Class A W L T Pts

Lower Moreland (10-2-3) 7 2 3 17

Wissahickon (11-3-2) 7 3 2 16

Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-5-1) 6 5 1 13

Hatboro-Horsham (9-5-2) 5 5 2 12

Upper Dublin (4-12) 1 11 0 2

Tentative semifinal matchups

1.Lower Moreland vs. 4 Hatboro-Horsham

2. Wissahickon vs. 3 Plymouth Whitemarsh

Semifinal games February 27. Times and sites TBA

Playoff seedings and pairings are tentative until officially verified by the SHSHL

SHSHL Standings as of 2-21-19

Up to the minute as of 8:55 AM 2-21-19

Suburban High School Hockey League Standings as of 2-19-19

Class AA W L T Its

Central Bucks South (11-3-2) 9 0 2 20

*Pennridge (11-2-2) 8 1 1 17

North Penn (10-2-3) 7 1 2 16

*Neshaminy (7-4-4) 5 3 3 13

Central Bucks West (8-7) 6 4 0 12

*Pennsbury (6-7-3) 5 5 1 11

Central Bucks East (9-5-2) 5 5 1 11

Abington (4-7-4) 3 5 3 9

Council Rock South (6-7-2) 3 5 2 8

Truman (3-10-3) 2 7 2 6

William Tennent (3-10-2) 1 7 2 4

Souderton (2-13-1) 0 10 1 1

* Pennridge has the tiebreaker over North Penn

* Neshaminy has the tiebreaker over Central Bucks West

• Pennsbury has the tiebreaker over Central Bucks East

Class A W L T Pts

Lower Moreland (10-2-3) 7 2 3 17

Wissahickon (11-3-2) 7 3 2 16

Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-4-1) 6 4 1 13

Hatboro-Horsham (9-5-2) 5 5 2 12

Upper Dublin (3-12-0) 0 11 0 0

Thursday

Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Upper Dublin 7:10 at Hatfield

Central Bucks West vs. North Penn 8:50 at Hatfield

Pennridge vs. Council Rock South 7:20 at Grundy

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C.B. South and Pennridge Tie 3-3

Colin Abbonizio scored with 2:47 left in the third period to give Central Bucks South a 3-3 tie with Pennridge Thursday night in a Suburban High School Hockey League game at Hatfield Ice.

The win assured the Titans (11-3-2, 9-0-2 in league play) of the SHSHL Class AA regular-season title and the top seed in next week’s playoffs.

Pennridge now stands at 11-2-2 overall and 8-1-1 in the league heading into its scheduled regular-season finale against Council Rock South Thursday night.

Abbonizio’s goal concluded a four-goal flurry in the third period, that saw each team score twice.

Dominic Liberta opened the scoring for the Titans when he scored with 5:58 left in the opening period.

The score stayed unchanged deep into the second session when the Rams killed off a 1 minute, 15-second two-man disadvantage as a prelude to Eric Slater’s goal with 4:59 left in the period. It came just two seconds after the second penalty expired.

Pennridge took the lead for the first time when Matt Guinette scored 51 seconds into the final period. Harry McLaughlin answered back for the Titans at 9:12 to set up what turned out to be a frantic finish.

Slater scored his second goal of the game with 3:54 remaining before Abbonizio responded just 67 seconds later.

“It was a really good game,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “They made then last play.”

The Titans had a 23-20 edge in shots. South coach Shaun McGinty was concerned about his power play, which failed to score in five opportunities. “It was a good game,” he said, “a good defensive game. They blocked a lot of shots. We’ve got to do better on special teams.”

Notes: The Rams beat the Titans 3-2 in a non-league game on January 9 … Montagna praised defenseman Frankie Rota for his shot-blocking efforts. “He’s going to be sore tomorrow,” Montagna said. The result means that Pennridge will be seeded second on third for the playoffs depending on their result Thursday and the result of the game between North Penn and Central Bucks West, which was postponed to Thursday.

Pennridge 0 1 2—3

C.B. South 1 0 2—3

First-period goal: Dominic Liberta (CBS) from David Kvcher and Harry McLaughlin, 10:02.

Second-period goal: Eric Slater (P) from Michael Walker, 11:01.

Third-period goals: Matt Guinette (P) from Slater and Walker, :51; McLaughlin (CBS) unassisted, 9:12; Slater (P) from Frankie Rota, 12:06; Colin Abbonizio (CBS) from D.J. Loverdi, 13:13.

Shots: Pennridge 20, Central Bucks South 23; Saves: Luke Stranik (P) 20, Oscar Levin (CBS) 17.

SHSHL Playoff Ponderings

Next week, the Suburban High School Hockey League will begin its 46^th postseason. The league has been able to account for 43 of its past 45 Class AA champions; we are still working to determine the champions for the 1995-96 and 2006-07 seasons. Class A champions have been accounted for from 2004-05 to the present with efforts ongoing to identify champions from 2003-04 and earlier, if available.

That said, here are some historical notes to pass along as the postseason nears.

Most Class AA Titles

11—Germantown Academy: 1980-83, 1993-95, 1998-2001

8—Central Bucks South: 2005, 2010, 2012, ’13, 2015-18

6—Abington: 1974-76, 1978, 2003, ‘04

Council Rock: 1984, 1987-89, 1991, 1997

* Abington also won the championship of the league that played out of Wintersport Arena during the 72-73 season. What was then called the Suburban Collegiate High School Hockey League played its first season in 1973-74.

The Suburban High School Hockey League filed for non-profit status on August 22, 1975.

* Council Rock played for the championship in 1990. The result of that game has not been documented.

Most consecutive Class AA titles

4—Central Bucks South 2015-18

Germantown Academy 1980-83 and 1998-2001

Most Class A Titles

2—Wissahickon: 2010, 2015

Archbishop Wood 2013, 2017,

Upper Moreland 2012, 2014

Note: The championships of 2003, 2004, and 2007 are still being documented

SHSHL Standings 2-19-18 (Corrected)