Thanksgiving Eve Celebrates High School Hockey

The night before Thanksgiving is a highlight of the high-school hockey season. The schedule features a number of traditional rivalries. Here’s a look at the schedule.

SHSHL

Central Bucks South vs. North Penn 5:00 at Hatfield

Souderton vs. Pennridge 7:00 at Hatfield

Council Rock North vs. Council Rock South 7:00 at RIG

Neshaminy vs. Pennsbury 7:20 at Grundy

Upper Moreland vs. William Tennent/HH 8:45 at RIG

C.B. East vs. C.B. West 9:00 at Hatfield

APAC

Father Judge vs. Holy Ghost Prep (non-league) 8:10 at FSZ

La Salle vs. Malvern Prep 8:30 at Ice Line

ICSHL

Downingtown West vs. Downingtown East 5:10 at Ice Line

Marple Newtown vs Garnet Valley 5:30 at Ice Works

Archbishop Carroll/PJP vs. Great Valley/P-vIlle 6:00 at PNY

Unionville vs. WC Henderson 6:10 at Ice Line

WC Rustin vs WC East 6:50 at Ice Line

Haverford vs. Springfield Delco 7:00 at Skatium

Oxford vs. Sun Valley/Chichester 7:00 at IceWorks

Spring Ford vs. Perk Valley 7:00 at Center Ice

Kingsway Girls vs WC Rustin Girls 7:45 at PNY

Conestoga vs. Radnor 7:50 at Ice Line

D-town Wet Girls vs. Avon Grove Girls 8:30 at Ice Line

Strath Haven vs. Penncrest 8:30 at Ice Works

OJR vs. Boyertown 9:00 at Center Ice

Conestoga Girls vs Radnor Girls 9:30 at Ice Line

Counting Down to the SHSHL Season

Sixteen teams will skate under the Suburban High School Hockey League umbrella during the 2022-23 season.

The new season will commence on Wednesday, November 2 with 12 teams skating in the National Division (Class AA) and five more competing in the Class A American Division.

The National Division will feature defending league, Flyers Cup, and state champion Pennridge along with Bensalem, Council Rock North, Council Rock South, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks West, Central Bucks South Neshaminy, North Penn, Pennsbury, and Souderton.

Defending champion Abington heads the American Division which will also include Plymouth Whitemarsh, Quakertown, Wissahickon, and newcomer Springfield (Montco).

Teams will not necessarily be in the same classifications for the regular season and the Flyers Cup tournament.

Hatboro-Horsham and William Tennent, which both skated in the American Division a year ago, have combined forces this year and will skate against American Division opponents. The team will play a full league schedule but their results will not be reflected in the standings, nor will they be eligible for the SHSHL playoffs or the Flyers Cup tournament.

20222-23 marks the SHSHL’s 50^th season. The league as it is known now made its debut in 1973-74, coincidentally the same

National Scholastic Field Set

Defending champion Holy Ghost Prep heads the field for the 16^th annual National Invitational Scholastic Showcase. The annual extravaganza is scheduled for December 2-4 in Jamestown, NY and will feature teams from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Ontario who will all be on a quest to win the Governor’s Cup.

The field will include:

• Bethel Park Blackhawks WPA – 2021 Pa Hockey Scholastic Showcase Champions

• Buffalo St Francis Red Raiders NY – 2006 NISS Governors Cup Champions

• Cathedral Prep Ramblers WPA – 2019 NISS Governors Cup Champions

• Culver Academy IND – 32-Time Indiana Champions

• Franklin Regional Panthers WPA – 2022 Penguins Cup Finalists

• Holy Ghost Prep Firebirds EPA – 2022 and 5 NISS Governors Cup Champions

• Glenbrook South Titans ILL – 2022 Hoosier Cup Champions

• Meadville Bulldogs WPA – 8 Time Pennsylvania Champions

• Medina Bees OHIO – 3-Time Ohio Club Champions

• North Allegheny Tigers WPA – 3-Time Pennsylvania Cup Champions

• Ontario Hockey Academy – 3-time NISS Governors Cup Champions

• Peters Township Indians WPA – 2022 Pennsylvania Champions

• St Edwards Eagles OHIO – 11-Time Ohio State Champions

• St Ignatius Wildcats OHIO – 7-Time Ohio State Champions

• St Joseph’s Marauders NY – 10- Time New York State Champions

• University School Preppers OHIO – 2-Time Ohio State Champions

SHSHL Update for 2-2-22

National/Continental-Class AA W L T OTL Pts

Pennridge (12-0) 7 0 0 0 14

Council Rock South (9-1-1) 7 0 0 0 14

Neshaminy (8-2-1) 5 2 0 0 10

Central Bucks South (5-5-1) 5 2 0 0 10

Pennsbury (6-3-1) 4 2 0 0 8

Souderton (6-5) 4 4 0 0 8

Central Bucks East (4-7) 3 4 0 0 6

Council Rock North (4-6) 3 5 0 0 6

Bensalem (3-8) 1 6 0 0 2

Central Bucks West (3-8) 0 7 0 0 0

North Penn (1-10) 0 7 0 0 0

For Flyers Cup purposes, Council Rock North is a Class A team

American Division-Class A W L T OTL Pts

Abington (8-1) 7 0 0 0 12

Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-1) 7 1 0 0 14

Wissahickon (5-6) 5 3 0 0 10

Quakertown (5-7) 5 5 0 0 10

William Tennent (3-9) 3 6 0 0 6

Upper Dublin (3-7-0-1) 2 5 0 1 5

Hatboro-Horsham (1-9) 0 8 0 0 0

For Flyers Cup purposes Abington is a Class AA team

If you or a family member, or friend are looking for a dentist, Hockey Happenings is proud to recommend All Smiles Family Dentistry. They’re located at 1620 South Broad Street in Lansdale.

Dr. Caroline Hsu, Dr. Azure Pelberg and their team provide high-quality dental care in a caring, nurturing environment. They’ve been taking care of my teeth for 25 years and I would recommend them to anyone. Going to the dentist can be an unsettling experience but everyone at All Smiles Family Dentistry will work to put you at ease.

Call for an appointment at 215-616-0609 or e-mail them at allsmilesfamilydentistry@verizon.net. You can also find them on line at www.allsmileslansdale.com.

That’s All Smiles Family Dentistry of Lansdale.

Scoring

Class AA G A Pts

Shane Siegmund (PB) 13 16 29

Karson Grainey (CRN) 16 8 24

Brendan Macainsh (Pb) 15 7 22

Kevin Pico (Pr) 14 10 24

Kevin Koles (CRS) 9 12 21

Max Gallagher (Nesh) 10 10 20

Aeryk Lehrhaupt (Pr) 13 6 19

Aydin Thierolf (CBS) 12 7 19

Nick Hahn (CRN) 7 11 18

Julian Sarne (CRS) 13 4 17

Class A G A Pts

Luke Weikel (PW) 26 15 41

Aidan Keogh (PW) 12 28 40

Matt Kramer (Ab 20 13 33

Joe Stelacio (Ab) 13 15 28

Jack Bocul (UD) 20 6 26

Will Hussa (Wiss) 13 13 26

Danny Hussa (Wiss) 18 7 25

A.J. Pounds (Wiss) 12 11 23

Matthew Flynn (PW) 5 17 22

Frank Rosenberry (WT) 12 9 21

The Grundy Skate Shop is a full service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services. We do a range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. We recently celebrated our 5th year at the shop but owner, Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Please visit ourFacebook page or stop in and check us out!

Flyers Cup Rankings for 1-17

Rankings based on on-ice performance and observations of the Flyers Cup Committee

AAA

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

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

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

NJ/DE

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

Girls

West Chester Henderson (ICSHL NAT)
Avon Grove (ICSHL NAT)
Downingtown West (ICSHL NAT)
Unionville (ICSHL AM)
Kingsway (ICSHL AM)

A New Era is Unfolding at The Hun School

A new day is dawning at The Hun School. Come Thursday afternoon at the stroke of 4, at the Ice Land Skating Center in Hamilton Township, N.J, the Raiders will embark on their first season of conference play in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference. St. Joseph’s Prep will provide the opposition.

The Raiders started their season this past weekend in Western Pennsylvania at the Shady Side Academy tournament where they won three of four games.

Hun School is no stranger to the schools in the APAC, it has competed regularly against conference members in non-league games in seasons past. They are also members, along with La Salle, in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League.

Ian McNally, Hun School’s veteran coach, is familiar with the APAC’s history. “When they started this league, I kind of knew what it was,” he said, “but I caught up last year with (La Salle coach Wally Muhelbronner) more about it.”

McNally, who played college hockey at Princeton, says that membership in the APAC makes the regular season more meaningful.

“Previous to the Mid-Atlantic League, we were just playing a selection of games,” he said. “Just schedule 20 games and you play them. It’s great, but it’s hard to get up for everything for the kids. Sometimes there wasn’t the same amount of emphasis put on playing well and getting the win each time.

“I think that was the goal, to try to have our schedule be all meaningful games. We’d go play Malvern on a Wednesday afternoon but for either team, it wasn’t necessarily the biggest game of the year. So, we’ll have those same games and they’ll all be more meaningful and impactful. I think for the kids, it’s a big benefit to feel like there’s (three) points on the line each game.”

The Hun School is unique among the APAC membership. It is the first coeducational school in the conference and has boarding students. Also, the school starts its hockey season later than the other conference members to avoid having it overlap with fall sports. But it is committed to putting a quality hockey team on the ice while remaining committed to academic excellence.

“We’re not looking to be a hockey factory,” McNally said, “but we do have strong hockey kids and have a competitive hockey team, so having likeminded schools to play against, it means something. It was a pretty easy ‘Yes’ for us (to joining the APAC) and I hope it was an easy ‘Yes’ for them to want us in the league as well.”

A number of Hun School players are presently playing club hockey but some played other sports for their school this fall.

“Half our team has been here but not been playing hockey,” McNally said. Some of them played football or soccer for Hun or ran cross country.

So, not only are we catching up that way but there’s kids that haven’t played since whenever they last played at their home. Maybe when they left in August or whatever so we’ll see.

“I think we’ll be fine and the difference I think for us is once we start, we skate every day so we’ll probably catch up, in terms of hours on the ice, pretty quick.”

Learn more about The Hun School

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.com

The Road Ahead

The path to the start of the hockey season has been difficult to navigate to stay the least. But all interested parties now parties now have a road map that shows a route all the way to the end of the season.

The Inter County Scholastic Hockey League (ICSHL) launched its 2021 campaign last Friday and the Suburban High School Hockey League is kicking off its season this week.

Meantime, the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference (APAC) remains on hold, on deference to the Covid-19 restrictions which are still in place in the City of Philadelphia and have mandated the closing of ice rinks, specifically the Class of 1923 rink at the University of Pennsylvania and the Flyers Skatezonein Northeast Philadelphia.Those restrictions are scheduled to be lifted this Friday, January 15.

APAC Commissioner Jim Britt said the conference is aiming at a February 1 start date. “The teams are making the final tweaks for APAC games and crossovers against selected ICSHL Class AAA teams,” he said.”

Britt praised the coaches and school administrators at the four APAC schools for their efforts to bring the 2021 season to fruition.

““Everyone was disappointed last March when the 2020 Flyers Cup was paused & eventually cancelled,” he said. “The APAC coaching staffs & administrators have been working hard to provide the best & safest 2021 experience possible, being creative & flexible as we navigate the challenges. We’re all looking forward to getting back on the ice.”

As for the 2021 Flyers Cup tournament, Flyers Cup Committee President Eric Tye indicated that the field for this year’s tournament will be announced on Sunday, March 28. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 5 and conclude on Thursday, April 15.

Those dates are subject to change if the season is interrupted because of Covid issues or some other cause.

The state championship games are scheduled for Saturday, April 24 in Pittsburgh.