Tag: Colin Franzoni

Plymouth Whitemarsh 13, Hatboro-Horsham 3

HATFIELD—Plymouth Whitemarsh took the ice Friday night immersed in a cauldron of emotion. Senior Colin Franzoni was in uniform in the wake of the recent death of his mother from. On this night, the rink was his sanctuary, his teammates his support system.

It was somehow fitting that Franzoni scored the first goal of the game just 18 seconds after the opening faceoff. The Colonials went on to score seven goals in the first period and went on to a 13-3 win in a game that was halted via the 10-goal mercy rule with 3:40 remaining in the third period.

The win lofted Plymouth Whitemarsh to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Suburban High School Hockey League’s American Division. The loss was the first after five wins for the Hatters, who were opening their conference schedule.

There were some impressive numbers on the scoresheet. Aidan Keogh scored three goals for the Colonials and added five assists. He has now compiled 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in six games. Jake Weikel also had a had trick and three assists. Luke Weikel provided two goals and two assists. Dean Keller scored twice.

Franzoni added a second goal himself but what was most memorable about the evening was how his teammates supported him.

Keller is the Colonials’ captain. “It was obviously a tough week,” he said. “We lost someone who was really close to us and we put it all out on the ice for them and I’m proud of every one of (his teammates). It was just a great overall team win.”

Keller describes the Colonials as a close-knit group. “This is one of the closest hockey teams I’ve ever played on,” he said. I’m happy to say that; this is one of the best years of my life.”

It was an emotional evening for Colonial coach Josh Aiello. Prior to the game the Colonials’ middle-school team practiced and visited the varsity dressing room and the Plymouth Whitemarsh junior varsity team took the ice following the varsity contest.

“It’s pretty cool being involved with this team,” Aiello said. “Because they’re really young men, it’s not like they’re children. I guess technically by age they are, but they’re very nature for their age. They’re very goal oriented and if anything happens, they have each other’s backs. It’s a great group and I’m privileged to be involved.”

 

Seth Lerner, Tarek Elsbbagh, and Ben Lerner scored the Hatboro-Horsham goals.

 

Hatboro-Horsham 1 2 0—3

Plymouth Whitemarsh 7 3 3—13

First-period goals: Colin Franzoni (PW) from Zach Spera, :18;  Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh, 1:29; Seth Lerner (HH) from Alex Howieson and Nick Maslij, 2:13; Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh and Luke Weikel, 2:37; Dean Keller (PW) from Conor Keogh, 4:58 (pp) Aidan Keogh (PW) from Jake Weikel, 10:50; Luke Weikel (PW) from  Jake Weikel and Keogh, 12:21; Keller (PW) unassisted, 12:32.

Second-period goals: Tarek Elsabbah (HH) from Seth Lerner, 1:19; Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh and Conlan Carpenter, 2:21; Ben Lerner (HH) unassisted, 8:29 (sh); Franzoni (PW) from Keller, 14:03 (pp); Spera (PW) from Dean, 14:21.

Third-period goals: Aidan Keogh, from Luke Weikel and Spencer Reilly, 3:48 (pp); Aidan Keogh (PW) from Jake Weikel, 10:49; Luke Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh, 12:20.

Game called at 12:20 of the third period.

 

Additional Score

Holy Ghost Prep 7, Glenbrook South, Illinois 3—Byron Hartley scored two goals as the Firebirds prevailed in the opening round of the National Scholastic Invitational in Jamestown, N.Y.

Plymouth Whitemarsh 7, Wissahickon 4

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—On some nights, a single occurrence can turn a hockey game on its axis and send it in an entirely new direction. So it was at Hatfield Ice Wednesday night.

Leading by a goal in the waning moments of the second period but facing a two-man disadvantage, Plymouth Whitemarsh not only successfully killed both penalties but scored a shorthanded goal to boot and went on to a 7-4 win over previously unbeaten Wissahickon in a Suburban High School Hockey League American Division encounter.

Colin Franzoni and Dean Keller scored two goals each and Ben Yuter made 33 saves in goal but the win was made possible in large part by what happened late in the middle period and early in the third.

Keller had just scored a goal to put the Colonials up 4-3 when, with 2:08 left in the middle period, Franzoni was sent to the box for high sticking. With 51 seconds left in the period Desmond Brock was corralled for a hooking infraction, leaving Plymouth Whitemarsh two men short for 46 seconds.

As the clock wound down inside the final half minute of the period the Colonials iced the puck. Two Trojans headed back to retrieve it but the Colonials’ Jake Weikel got to the puck first behind the Wissahickon net and spotted Franzoni waiting in front. The junior proceeded to put the puck past Trojan netminder Michael Henderson with nine seconds left in the period.

“I just busted all the way (down the ice) Franzoni said. “(Weikel) got the open pass, I shot it and it went in.”

Franzoni’s second goal of the game didn’t mean the Colonials (7-3, 4-3 SHSHL American) could rest easy. Dan Glazer scored for Wissahickon (6-1-2, 4-1-2) 56 seconds into the third period to bring the Trojans within a goal at 5-4. But Gavin Mulligan and Keller scored goals at 6:14 and 12:26, respectively, to give the Colonials some insurance.

The winners were outshot 37-24 but Yuter, a junior, was on top of his game. He said the key was maintaining his concentration. “Just staying intense the whole time and just watching every shot in,” he said,”and just seeing where everyone is, and just playing every shift like it’s my last.”

After losing a 13-8 shootout to Lower Moreland last Thursday, Yuter said it was important for he and his mates to step up Wednesday night.

“It was very important,” he said, “because we’ve always had a big rivalry against Wissahickon. They’re undefeated (prior to Wednesday) and we just need to show them what’s up and who is boss in this league.”

That issue won’t be settled until season’s end but Wissahickon coach Ken Harrington acknowledged Plymouth Whitemarsh was the superior team on this occasion.

“They were outworking us over and over,” he said. “We weren’t adjusting; they were collapsing on us and we weren’t adjusting.”

Harrington acknowledged his team still has some work to do.  “We looked real sluggish,” he said. “A couple guys were under the weather, they were game time decisions, but no excuses. They’re were outworking us and the one-on-one battles, they won a lot of them.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh 2 3 2—7
Wissahickon 2 1 1—4
First-period goals: Colin Franzoni (PW) from Ben Lucas, 9:10; Bryan Gary (W) from Sean Gary, 9:31; Peter Troy (PW) from Dean Keller, 15:06; Sean Gary (W) from Bryan Gary and Nick Hussa, 15:36 (pp).
Second-period goals: Aidan Keith (PW) from Troy, 5:43; Bryan Gary (W) from Sean Gary, 11:55; Keller (PW) unassisted, 12:29; Franzoni (PW) from Jake Weikel, 15:49 (sh).
Third-period goals: Dan Glazer (W) from Ty Schaffer, :56; Gavin Mulligan (W) from Desmond Brock, 6:14; Keller (PW) from Franzoni, 12:26.
Shots: Plymouth Whitemarsh 24, Wissahickon 37; Saves: Ben Yuter (PW) 33, Michael Henderson (W) 17

By Rick Woelfel