Penncrest 5 Haverford 4 OT

Nash Grant’s goal 26 seconds into overtime gave Penncrest a 5-4 come-from behind win over Haverford Monday night at the Skatium in a battle of two Central League heavyweights.

Grant’s third goal of the night lifted the Lions to 8-3 overall and kept then a perfect 6-0 in the Central League National Division standings.

Gavin McCarty the Lions the early lead 5:26 into the opening period. Nash extended the lead at the 7:01 mark before Connor Lill answered for Haverford with 1:42 remaining in the period.

Shawn Yoder tied the game for Haverford 28 seconds into the second frame. Penncrest’s Cole McCarty and Haverford’s Alexander Scuderi, scored goals just over a minute-and-a-half apart to tie the game at 3-3 with 1:38 left in the second session.

Dylan McKelvey gave the Fords (8-3, 7-1 in Central National) their only lead of the night at 4-3 with 12:27 remaining in regulation but Grant tied the game with his second goal of the night just 33 seconds later.

Grant’s game-winner gave him a hat trick in two consecutive games; he scored three goals and collected four assists in the Lions’ previous start against Harriton last Friday night.

It was just a really fun game,” said Penncrest coach Steve Mescanti. There was no nonsense and the kids played hard. The kids did a lot of the things we’ve been harping on.”

Both teams are listed in the latest edition of the Flyers Cup rankings, which was released on Monday. Penncrest is listed fourth in Class A while Haverford I ranked second in Class AA.

Penncrest 2 1 1 1—5

Haverford 1 2 1 0—4

First-period goals: Gavin McCarty (P) from Matt McKay, 5:26; Nash Grant (P) from Scott Scranton and McKay, 7:01; Connor Lill (H) from Brendan McCormick and Alexander Scuderi, 15:18
Second-period goals: Shawn Yoder (H) from Jorge Tecedor and Jack Brawley, :28; Cole McCarty (P) from McKay and McCarty, 13:33; Scuderi (H) from Lil, 15:12

Third-period goals: Dylan McKelvey (H) unassisted, 4:33; Grant (P) from Scott Scranton, 5:06

Overtime goal: Grant (P) from Matt Labuono and Scranton, :26

Shots: Penncrest 60 Haverford 30; Saves: Fiona Walker (P) 26, Dylan Vieira 55

Blind Hockey Event to Kick Off Scholastic Season

The Philadelphia Blind Hockey 3 on 3 Blind Awareness Tournament will serve as the unofficial curtain raiser for the scholastic hockey season. It will also exemplify the power of the game of hockey to give back to the communities it touches.

Nine high-school teams will converge at Hatfield Ice on Thursday night. North Penn will be one of them.

Kevin Vaitis, the Knights’ head coach, notes the positive impact hockey has on the community at large.

“We are always looking for ways that we as an organization can give back to the community,” he said. “We do volunteer work, organize a toy drive for those in our community, and help run learn-to -play programs for future ice hockey players at North Penn.

“When we were asked to participate in this event, this was a no-brainer. To give the players an opportunity to see what kind of impact they can make when we all come together for a common cause is truly an unforgettable moment that these kids will remember for a long time. We thank (Flyers Cup President Eric Tye) and the members of Blind Hockey Awareness for including us and we look forward to a great evening and raising a lot of money for a wonderful cause.”

Holy Ghost Prep will also field a team in the tournament. Senior forward Mike Holt, the Firebirds’ captain feels it’s important that he be in the lineup.

“As a captain, I feel like there was definitely a need to step up and let our guys know what we’re all about at Ghost,” he said. “Although a big part of what we do is trying to win and things like that, another big part of it is giving back to the community and I feel like I needed to set that example for my teammates.

“I feel like it’s going to be a great opportunity not just to show my teammates but to show everybody in the awareness that needs to be set for blind hockey.”

Holt, as well as the other players who will skate in the tournament, had a chance to try on the reduced-vision goggles the players will wear on the ice.

“It was definitely a unique experience,” Holt said, “but I think one of the things we took away from it was really realizing what these guys and girls playing blind hockey, or with any kind of disability, go through, not just in hockey but in everyday life, every single day.

“I think it’s important that we raise awareness and we kind of feel what they have to go through. I think it’s really important that we were able to get that experience and so having had that experience we are definitely pumped up to raise awareness and to participate.”

North Penn captain Joey Silvotti, a senior forward, has also tried on the goggles.

“It was challenging,” he said. “When I put the goggles on, I started to think how hard it must be for these players who go through this every day. It made me look forward to being able to participate in the fundraiser event. Myself along with my team and the other teams that night, we want to do everything we can to make it a great night for all those players that are a part of the Blind Hockey Awareness program.”

Besides North Penn and Holy Ghost Prep, the tournament will also include Pennridge, Central Bucks South, Haverford, Malvern Prep, Springfield-Delco, Father Judge, and Penncrest.

Player introductions begin at 6:00 and the first games will kick off at 6:25.

Schedule Set for Philadelphia Blind Hockey Benefit

The schedule has been announced for the Philadelphia Blind Hockey 3 on 3 Blind Awareness tournament. The event is set for Thursday, October 26 at Hatfield Ice beginning at 6 p.m. with pre-tournament introductions. Nine high-school teams will play in the tournament, which will feature three-on-three cross-ice games (three skaters and a goaltender).

The players will be wearing goggles to simulate visual impairment; goaltenders will be blindfolded.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Philadelphia Blind Hockey, which is staging the tournament in conjunction with the Flyers Cup Committee.

The nine schools will be divided into three pools of three teams each. The schedule is as follows:

6:25 Holy Ghost Prep vs. Central Bucks South

Pennridge vs. Father Judge

Malvern Prep at North Penn

6:55 Haverford vs. Holy Ghost Prep

Father Judge vs. Penncrest

Springfield (Delco) vs. Malvern Prep

7:25 Central Bucks South vs. Haverford

Penncrest vs. Pennridge

North Penn vs. Springfield-Delco

For more information about the tournament, go to the Flyers Cup You Tube Channel

In Other Flyers Cup Action

Malvern Prep 6 Holy Ghost Prep 2

The defending Class AAA Flyers Cup champion Friars scored three times in the first period and went on to a 6-2 win over Holy Ghost Prep Wednesday night in a semifinal game at Ice Line.

Matt Harris scored three goals and assisted on another to lead the Friars into next week’s final against St. Joseph’s Prep. That game will be played at Ice Line (date/time TBD).

Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 2

Malvern Prep 3 2 1—6

First-period goals: Hayden Campbell (MP) from Teague Murray, 5:52; Jimmy Jacobs (MP) from Matt Harris, 9:39; Harris (MP) from Caiden Canale and Pierre Larocque, 10:08

Second-period goals: Harris (MP) from Brady Doyle, 3:02; Harris (MP) from Larocque: 5:17

Third-period goals: Brady Baehser (HGP) from Ciaran Chambers and Shaun Moore, 6:29 (pp); Harris (MP) unassisted, 14:54 (sh/en); Brian Butler (HGP) unassisted, 15:59

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 37, Malvern Prep 31; Saves: Jason Soule (HGP) 18 and Colin Mudrick (HGP) 7, Anthony Perti (MP) 35)

Council Rock South 4 Haverford 1

David Vergules scored three goals as the third-seeded Golden Hawks downed the defending champion and second-seeded Fords Wednesday night in a Flyers Cup Class AA semifinal at Ice Line. Julian Wagenmann recoded two assists for the Golden Hawks, who broke the game open with three goals in the third period.

South will face Pennridge next week in the championship game at Hatfield Ice (date/time TBD).

C.R. South 1 0 3—4

Haverford 1 0 0—1

First-period goals: David Vergules (CRS) unassisted, 3:28; Jagur McClelland (H) from Nate Rabadam, 5:19

Third-period goals: Vergules (CRS) from Julian Wagenmann, 4:00; Kevin Koles (CRS) from Wagenmann, 5:43; Vergules (CRS) from Peter Pereborow and Baize Pepe, 15:09 (en)

Shots: Council Rock South 25, Haverford 27; Saves: Carson Lopez (CRS) 26, Jai Jani (H) 21

Flyers Cup Rankings for 12-27-21

The first set of Flyers Cup rankings for the 2021-22 season have been released. The rankings are based on results, records, and the opinions of members of the Flyers Cup Committee, who observe games either in person or virtually.

AAA

Malvern Prep (APAC)
Holy Ghost Prep (APAC)
La Salle College High School (APAC)
St. Joes Prep (APAC)
Father Judge (ICSHL PCL)

Pennridge (SHSHL Continental)
Downingtown West (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
Haverford High (ICSHL Central)
Council Rock South (SHSHL National)
Neshaminy (SHSHL National)

West Chester East (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
Springfield (ICSHL Central)
Hershey (CPIHL)
West Chester Rustin (ICSHL Ches-Mont)
Plymouth Whitemarsh (SHSHL American)

SJ/DE

Salesianum (ICSHL PCL)
Shawnee (SJHSHL)
Eastern (SJHSHL)
Kingsway (SJHSHL)
Moorestown (SJHSHL)
Cherokee (SJHSHL)

Girls

West Chester Henderson (ICSHL National)
Downingtown West (ICSHL National)
Avon Grove (ICSHL National)
Unionville (ICSHL American)
Conestoga (ICSHL American)
Radnor (ICSHL American)

The first installment of the Hockey Happenings podcast featuring Rick Woelfel and Flyers Cup Committee President Eric Tye is now live.

If you’d like to promote your product or service on this blog or the Hockey happenings podcast contact us at rwoelfel2013@gmail.com

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Haverford 2

Joe Samango exploded for four goals as the Hawks downed the Fords Tuesday night in the 10^th annual Pink The Rink Game at the Skatium.

Samango, a sophomore, scored twice in the first period to help his team overcome an early 1-0 deficit before adding two additional goals in the second.

Jagur McClelland Nate Rabadam scored for Haverford, the reigning Flyers Cup Class AA champion.

The Hawks will compete in the National Capital Tournament aka the Purple Puck Tournament beginning next Tuesday.

Haverford 1 1 0—2

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 2 0—4

First-period goals: Jagur McClelland (H) from Gus Scuderi, 2:12 (sh); Joe Samango (SJP) from Shane O’Neill, 4:20; Samango (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond and Michael Ahearn, 6:50 (pp)

Second-period goals: Samango (SJP) from Declan Pierce and Christian Short, 2:16; Nate Rabadam (H) from McClelland Owen Rabadam, 2:49 (pp); Samango (SJP) from Nick Storti, 11:35 (sh)

Shots: Haverford 30, St. Joseph’s Prep 39; Saves: Ajay White (SJP) 15 and Rocco Bruno (SJP) 13; Jai Jani (H) 35

Flyers Cup Update 4-20-21

Class AA Final

Haverford 4, Downingtown West 1

Jacob Orazi scored twice as third-seeded Haverford bested top-seeded Downingtown West 4-1 Tuesday night in the Class AA Flyers Cup final at Ice Line.

Jagur McClelland and Daniel Quartapella also scored for the Fords, who captured the fifth Cup in school history.

Tyler DeTreux scored for Dowingtown West to give the top-seeded Whippets a 1-0 lead 3:33 into the first period.

McClelland and Orazi scored second-period goals for the Fords. Orazi’s shorthanded effort with 1:12 left in the period proved to be the game winner.

Daniel Quartapella and Orazi scored empty-net goals late in the third period.

Haverford 0 2 2—4

Downingtown West 1 0 0—1

First-period goals: Tyler DeTreux (DW) from Thomas Fetterman and Zakari Spero, 3:33

Second-period goals: Jagur McClelland (H) unassisted, 5:43; Jacob Orazi (H) from Mike Mc Geoch and Aidenn Johnson, 15:48 (sh)

Third-period goals: Daniel Quartapella (H) unassisted, 16:01 (en); Orazi (H) unassisted, 16:44 (en)

Shots Haverford 49, Downingtown West 30;: Saves: Jai Jani (H) 29, Aidan McHutchinson, 49

Flyers Cup Class A Final

West Chester East 3, West Chester Henderson 2

Chase Bencel’s goal with 2:04 left in the second period proved to be the game winner Tuesday night as the top-seeded Vikings bested the Warriors in the Class A Flyers Cup at ice Line. Greg Diamond and Henry Thornton also scored for West Chester East, who captured the third Flyers Cup title in school history. Dylan Trench and Alex Holloway scored for the sixth-seeded Warriors.

West Chester East had a 60-26 shot advantage; Henderson goaltender Dylan Kirk made 57 saves.

WC Henderson 2 0 0—2

WC East 1 2 0—3

First-period goals: Dylan Trench (WCH) from Brian Bowan and Alex Holloway, 5:07; Greg Diamond (WCE) from Chase Becnel and Tristan D’Elia, 11:02 (pp); Holloway (WCH) from Dylan DeAngelo and Chris Laurence, 15:12

Second-period goals: Henry Thornton (WCE) from D’Elia, 6:12; Bencel (WCE) from Diamond, 14:56

Shots: WC Henderson 26, WC East 60; Saves: Dylan Krick (WCH) 57, Jake Godshall (WCE) 24

Flyers Cup Finals Preview

All Games at Ice Line

Class AAA

Malvern Prep vs. La Salle Monday, 8:15

The top-seeded Friars and second-seeded Explorers are each seeking their 12^thFlyers Cup championship.

Malvern Prep (13-1), which won the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference regular–season title, features the conference’s two top scorers. Matt Harris scored 13 goals and added 12 assists for 25 points during the regular season and has added three goals and an assist in the Flyers Cup tournament. Jack Constabile contributed 15 goals and eight assists during the regular season plus a goal and an assist in Flyers Cup play

Goaltender Anthony Perti has allowed just two goals in two Flyers Cup games after compiling a 1.84 goals against average and a .934 save percentage in the regular season.

The Friars are looking for their first Flyers Cup since 2005.

La Salle (10-4) is the defending Class AAA Flyers Cup and state champion. The Explorers are paced by Michael Casey, who collected 13 goals and six assists during the regular season for 19 points. He’s added five goals and two assists in two Flyers Cup games. David Kimmel scored six regular-season goals and added nine assists plus a goal and an assist in Flyers Cup play.

Liam Gross compiled a 1.90 goals-against average in the regular season plus a .916 save percentage. He’s allowed three goals in the Flyers Cup.

Flyers Cup Committee President Eric Tye is anticipating a closely contested affair “This is the one (the seeding committee) got right,” he said. “The one and two seeds made it to the finals. I don’t know if you can pick a winner.

“I watched (both semifinals). La dale and Holy Ghost was tight until the end and Malvern had to go to the end with St. Joe’s. I imagine this will be a one-goal game, a two-goal game at the most.”

Malvern Prep won two of three regular-season meetings between the two team this season.

The Friars and the Explorers are tentatively scheduled to meet for the APAC championship on a date to be announced following the state championship game.

Class AA

Downingtown West vs. Haverford Tuesday, 8:15

Top-seeded Whippets (12-3-1) is seeking the first Flyers Cup in the school’s history. The Whippets are paced by Zakari Spero who scored nine goals and added 13 assists during the regular season/league playoffs for 22 points. He’s added three goals and five assists over the course of three Flyers Cup games. Thomas Fetterman scored eight goals and added 10 assists during the regular season and has added four goals and four assists in Flyers Cup play.

Goaltender Aidan McHutchinson compiled a 2.71 goals against average in regular-season play with a save percentage of .925. He’s been even better in the Flyers Cup with a 2.29 GAA.

Downingtown West handed Haverford its only loss this season; the two teams split a pair of regular-season meeting.
The Fords (15-1) come into the final with a 13-game winning streak. They are seeking the fifth Flyers Cup in their history and their first since 2007.

Jagur McClelland leads the team in scoring with 18 regular-season goals for 22 assists for 40 points plus five goals and five assists in three Flyers Cup games. Jacob Orazi pocketed 14 regular-season goals and 20 assists and added five goals and six assists in the Flyers Cup tournament.

Jal Jani has been outstanding in goal. He compiled a 1.36 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage during the regular season. Over the course of three Flyers Cup games, he’s put together a 1.47 GAA.

Tye says both teams will be primed for the title game after being challenged in the semifinals. Downingtown West prevailed over 12^th-seeded Avon Grove while Haverford bested number-10 Pennridge.

“They both got tested really hard in the semifinals,” Tye said. “Avon Grove gave Downingtown West everything they could handle and Pennridge gave Haverford everything they could handle.”

Class A

West Chester East vs. West Chester Henderson Tuesday, 6:00

The top-seeded Vikings (16-0) have been dominant all season, defeating all 16 of their opponents and outscoring them 105-16. They’re seeking the third Flyers Cup title in their history, the first since 2013.

Greg Diamond leads the team in scoring, considering all 16 of his team’s games. He scored 18 goals and added 14 assists for 32 points during the regular season and has added six goals and eight assists during the Flyers Cup tournament.

Tristan D’Elia scored 12 regular-season goals and added 22 assists for 34 points during the regular season. In his loan Flyers Cup appearance, he added two goals and an assist.

Goaltender Jake Godshall put together a 1.92 goals-against average during the regular season with a .941 save percentage. He’s been scored against just once in two Flyers Cup starts.

The sixth-seeded Warriors (6-7-2) are paced in scoring by Alex Holloway, who scored seven goals and added four assists during the regular season. He’s added three goals and two assists during the Flyers Cup tournament. Trey Jefferis collected 11 goals during the regular season. He’s added three goals and an assist during the tournament.

Goaltender Dylan Krick put together a 3.22 GAA during the regular season with a .917 save percentage. He’s allowed two goals in two Flyers Cup games.

The Warriors one previous Flyers Cup championship came in 2007

The Vikings won two regular-season meetings between the two teams by a combined 15-1. They are the likely favorites in the final but Tye offers a caveat.

“They’re probably playing against the hottest goalie in the tournament right now,” he said. “That’s got to be a little bit scary. Strath Haven put 65 shots on that kid in the semifinals and he didn’t allow one until (15) seconds left in the game.”

Girls

Downingtown West vs. West Chester Henderson Wednesday, 8:15

Whoever emerges victorious from this matchup will be a first-time Flyers Cup champion.

The top-seeded Whippets (8-6) are paced in scoring by Ava Thomas who collected 19 goals and four assists for 23 points during the regular season. She added three more goals and three additional assists in the Flyers Cup semifinals. Goaltender Molly Rosenzweig compiled a 4.73 GAA in the regular season before allowing three more goals in the Flyers Cup semifinals.

The third-seeded Warriors (12-3) got 18 goals and 11 assists (29 points) from Kayla Czukoski during the regular season. She’s added two Flyers Cup goals. Cassidy Yaun contributed 20 goals and seven assists during the regular season plus two goals and an assist in Flyers Cup play.

Goaltender Samantha Scebeio carried a 3.34 GA into the postseason. She pitched a two-period shutout in her lone Flyers Cup appearance.

This will be the only Flyers Cup final in which the participants did not meet during the regular season.

Haverford 4, Pennridge 1

WEST GOSHEN— It took Haverford some time to get started Wednesday night. But over the course of 51 minutes the Fords found the right gear and prevailed 4-1 over Pennridge in a Class AA Flyers Cup semifinal at Ice Line.

Third-seeded Haverford (15-1), a winner of its last 13 starts, will face top-seed Downingtown West in Tuesday’s final at Ice Line (6:15 start). The 10th-seeded Rams closed their season at 10-6.

At the evening’s outset, the Rams face the question of how to neutralize Haverford’s speed.
They were successful for most of the first period until Dane Fichette drew the game’s first penalty at the 11:10 mark, giving the Fords the game’s first power play.

It was Pennridge however who got on the scoreboard first when Aidan Boyle blocked a shot from the high slot, which set up Aeryk Lehrhaupt for a shorthanded breakaway. Lehrhaupt deposited the puck behind Haverford goaltender Jai Jani at 13:25.

The Rams maintained their lead past the midway point of the second period but the momentum was starting to shifting the Fords’ way when Quinn Carson tied the game with at the 11:41 mark of the period; his shot from the right wing caromed off Pennridge netminder Ryan Pico and into the net.

Haverford took the lead three-and-a-minutes later when Dan Quartapella tried to score on a wraparound inside the right post. Pico made the save but Alex Gattone poked in the rebound.

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna saw Gattone’s goal as a turning point. “That second goal took a lot out of us,” he said.

By that point, Pico was keeping Pennridge in the game; after two periods The Rams were being outshot 27-14.

The Fords controlled the third period. Jacob Orazi extended his team’s lead when he scored a shorthanded goal at the 6:44 mark off a turnover in the Pennridge zone. Dan Quartapella completed the scoring for the evening at at 10:14. At evening’s end, the Fords’ shot advantage was 37-18.

Montagna saluted his team’s effort. “They did what I wanted,” he said. “They did it our way. It wasn’t sitting back and it wasn’t just waiting for the inevitable to come, They took it to them to start that game as best they could.”

The person perhaps most impressed by Pennridge’s performance was Haverford coach John Povey. “Pennridge gave us everything that we could handle,” he said. Hats off to their team, hats off to their coaching staff.

“That was one of the tougher games we’ve played all year. Hats off to them, but hats off to our guys, down 1-0. I don’t think we’d trailed in a game since the beginning of February, so it was good for us to find a way to win.”

The Fords made some adjustments to neutralize the Rams’ early surge. “We just started getting pucks behind their (defense),” Povey said. Our forecheck was really good. Halfway through the game, we were able to possess the puck and wear them down a little bit.”

The Rams had a long ride home Wednesday night but Blake Stewart, their captain, was quick to point out that the Rams earned the right to hold their heads high at evening’s end.

“We came into the season with low expectations,” he said. “I can say right now, no one thought we’d be here, especially the only SHSHL team here. And that gave us firepower. We came into the playoffs, we came into the Flyers Cup with nothing to lose. We did nothing but prove people wrong.”

Downingtown West defeated 12th seed Avon Grove 4-3 in the other semifinal.

Pennridge 1 0 0—1
Haverford 0 2 2—4
First-period goals: Aeryk Lehrhaupt (P) from Aidan Boyle, 13:25 (sh)
Second period goals: Quinn Carson (H) from Daniel Quartapella and Nate Rabadam, 11:41; Alex Gattone (H) from Quartapella and Carson, 15:13
Third-period goals: Jacob Orazi (H) from Rabadam and Cally Moran, 6:44 (sh); Quartapella (H) Rabadam, 10:41
Shots: Pennridge 18, Haverford 37; Saves: Ryan Pico (P) 33, Jai Jani (H) 17

Flyers Cup Update for 3-11-20

Class AA

Wednesday, March 11 at Skatium

Semifinals

Perkiomen Valley 5, Haverford 4

Downingtown West 4, Boyertown 2

Tonights’s games are available on the Flyers Cup You Tube channel

Tuesday, March 17 at Ice Line

8:15 Championship Game

Three of the four teams in the semifinals, Perkiomen Valley, Downingtown West, and Boyertown, have never won a Flyers Cup title.

Haverford has a long and storied history in the tournaments however. The Fords won a Class A title in 1992, the second year of the current three-class format and claimed Class three consecutive Class AA titles from 2005-7.