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

Hun School 2 Holy Ghost Prep 1

BRISTOL—Holy Ghost Prep and The Hun School left everything they had on the ice Friday night. There was little to separate the two teams, save for Josh Ouelette’s goal 21 seconds into the third period that gave the Raiders a 2-1 win in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference’s regular-season finale at Grundy Arena.

The two teams will do it all over again Monday afternoon at 4:00 at Ice Land in the play-in game that will kick off the postseason. The Raiders (8-8, 3-4-1-0 in conference) tied St. Joseph’s Prep for third place in the regular-season standings but lost a tiebreaker for the third slot on goal differential and are seeded fourth for the APAC playoffs. The Firebirds (9-10, 1-5-1-1 in the APAC) are seeded fifth.

The winning goal came off a faceoff in the Raiders’ offensive right wing circle.

“I was surprised that I even scored right off the faceoff,” Ouelette said. “I just put it in.”

Ouelette embraced the atmosphere in the building in what was the Firebirds’ Senior Night. “The whole crowd was electric,” he said.

Prior to Hun School joining the APAC this season, Head Coach Ian McDonald regularly brought the Raiders to Grundy Arena for non-league games.

“We’ve been coming here for eight or nine years, playing Holy Ghost in this rink,” he said. “The game is always awesome, close, up and down the ice, scoring chances each way.”

Holy Ghost Prep, which was trying to end an eight-game losing streak, had much the better of a scoreless first period, but was unable to solve Stephen Chen in the Raider net; the junior made 14 saves in the opening 17 minutes.

Kieran Mulholland gave the Firebirds a 1-0 lead 2:53 into the second session when scored a shorthanded goal on a scramble in front of the Raider net.

Hun School drew even at 7:10 when Brendan Marino hit Ryan Croddick in full stride, allowing the latter to move in on Firebird goaltender Jason Soule. Soule made a quality save but Crodddick put in the rebound.

Four-and-a-half minutes later Croddick was excused for the evening after a disagreement with Holy Ghost Prep’s Brendan Schultz. Schultz drew a roughing minor but Croddick was accessed a five-minute major for head butting plus an automatic game misconduct, meaning he’ll be suspended for Monday’s playoff game.

That was the end of the fireworks until the winning goal.

Holy Ghost Prep captain Sean Marshall praised the efforts of his teammates, despite the loss. “Just from the way we’ve been playing the last couple months, we knew we had to have a great game here,” he said. “I thought we played great. I thought we won pretty much every 50-50 battle in the corners. “We had tons of chances, we just, I don’t know, ran into a hot goalie.”

Firebird coach Gump Whiteside thought his team deserved a better fate. “I thought the boys deserved better,” he said, “But that’s why you play three periods. I thought we played really well today.”

Hun School 0 1 1—2

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 0—1

Second-period goals: Kieran Mulholland (HGP) unassisted, 2:53 (sh); Ryan Croddick (HS) from Brendan Marino, 7:10

Third-period goal: Josh Ouellette (HS) from Simon Gregoire, :21

Shots: Hun School 26, Holy Ghost Prep 33; Saves: Stephen Chen (HS) 32, Jason Soule (HGP) 24

Playoff Ponderings

The Founders Cup playoff schedule is as follows

Monday, February 14 Play In

(5) Holy Ghost Prep at (4) Hun School 4 p.m. at Ice Land

Wednesday, February 16

Monday’s winner vs (1) Malvern Prep 6:45 ay Ice Line

(3) St. Joseph’s Prep vs (2) La Salle 8:45 at Ice Line

Founders Cup final will be played February 23 or 24 and hosted by the highest-seeded finalist.

APAC Update for 2-12-22

Won Lost OTW OTL Pts GF GA

Malvern Prep (13-3) 5 1 2 0 19 33 20

La Salle (8-7-1) 4 3 0 1 13 19 16

@ St. Joseph’s Prep (8-8-1) 3 3 0 2 11 23 21

Hun School (8-9) 3 4 1 0 11 16 20

Holy Ghost Prep (10-111) 1 5 1 1 6 16 30

@ St. Joseph’s Prep finishes third via tiebreak (goal differential)

End Regular Season

Playoff Schedule

Monday, February 14 Play In

Holy Ghost Prep 9 Hun School 4

Wednesday, February 16

Malvern Prep 4, Holy Ghost Prep 1

La Salle 4 St. Joseph’s Prep 1

Founders Cup final will be played February 23 or 24 and hosted by the highest-seeded finalist.

Scoring GP G A Pts PPG

Matt Harris (MP) 8 9 8 17 2.13

Jim Jacobs (MP) 8 8 9 17 2.13

Jeremy Jacobs (MP) 8 6 7 13 1.63

Joey Samango (SJP) 8 8 2 10 1.25

Pierre Larocque (MP) 7 4 6 10 1.25

Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) 8 3 5 8 1.00

Quinn Dougherty (MP) 8 2 6 8 1.00

Dante Passio (SJP) 8 1 7 8 1.00

Shaun Marshall (HGP) 8 4 3 7 0.88

Elian Estulin (HS) 8 2 5 7 0.88

Brady Baehser (HGP) 7 3 3 6 0.75

Nick Storti (SJP 8 3 3 6 0.75

Keenan Schneider (L) 8 5 1 6 0.75

Chris Wnek (L) 8 2 4 6 0.75

conference games only Shootout goals not included

APAC Sets Playoff Dates

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has set the dates for the Founders Cup playoffs.

The postseason will begin on Monday, February 14 with the fourth-place regular season finisher hosting the fifth-place team.

The winner will advance to the semifinals, which will be staged as a doubleheader at Ice Line on Wednesday, February 16. The championship game will be played on either Wednesday, February 23 or Thursday, December 24 and will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.

Because of when they are scheduled, the results of the Founders Cup playoffs will factor into the seedings for the Flyers Cup tournament which will be announced on Sunday, February 27.

The complete Founders Cup playoff schedule is as follows:
1st Round – Feb 14th: 4 x 5 play in, Site TBD (Highest Seed)

Semifinals – Feb 16th @ Iceline: 6:45pm & 8:45pm

Championship: Feb 23rd/24th (TBD), hosted by higher seed

The Founders Cup playoffs will mark the conclusion of the APAC’s fourth season. La Salle claimed the first two league titles in 2019 and ’20. Last year’s playoffs were not concluded because of Covid issues.

APAC Update for 1-23-22

Won Lost OTW OTL Pts

Malvern Prep (10-3) 5 1 1 0 17

St. Joseph’s Prep (4-5-1) 2 2 0 2 8

La Salle (5-6) 2 2 0 1 7

Holy Ghost Prep (9-7) 1 3 1 1 6

Hun School (6-6) 1 2 1 0 5

This Week

Monday: Malvern Prep 5 La Salle 4 OT

Wednesday: Hill School 4 Hun School 1

Lawrenceville 6 La Salle 0

Thursday: Pingry School at Hun School 4:00

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Malvern Prep 2

Scoring GP G A Pts. PPG

Jeremy Jacobs (MP) 5 5 6 11 2.20

Matt Harris (MP) 5 4 6 10 2.00

Joey Samango (SJP) 5 7 2 9 1.80

Jim Jacobs (MP) 5 5 4 9 1.80

Pierre Larocque (MP) 5 3 3 6 1.20

Sean Marshall (HGP) 6 4 3 7 1.17

Brady Baehser (HGP) 6 3 3 6 1.00

Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) 5 2 3 5 1.00

Elian Estulin (HS) 4 2 2 4 1.00

Josh Ovelette (HS) 4 1 3 4 1.00

Conference ganes only

St. Joseph’s Prep 5 Holy Ghost Prep 1

BRISTOL—St. Joseph’s Prep arrived at Grundy Arena Monday afternoon eager to get on the ice. Because of Covid-cancellations, the Hawks hadn’t played a game December 21. Upon their arrival, they spent 51 minutes of pent up energy.

The result was a 5-1 Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference win over host Holy Ghost Prep. The win was the first for the Hawks (4-4-1 overall, 1-1-0-2 in the APAC) in four conference starts and an ideal start to the six-week stretch that serves as a prelude to the Founders Cup playoffs and the Flyers Cup tournament.

“I think this is really going to set the tone for the rest of our year,” said sophomore Joey Samango.

Samango scored two goals for the Hawks and assisted on two others, giving him seven goals and two assists in conference play.

Junior Jeffrey Hammond contributed a goal and two assists. “We knew what we had to do,” he said. “Last time we played Ghost (a 5-4 overtime loss on November 12) we were winning 4-1 and then we let up with penalties. We came in knowing what we had to do.

Freshman Jake Schultz scored the game’s first goal 9:26 into the first period. Samango made it a 2-0 game at the 12:59 mark.

Nick Storti made it a 3-0 game to finish off a play that Hammond started 63 seconds into the second session.

Jake Schultz starts the scoring

At that point, Holy Ghost Prep coach Gup Whiteside made a goaltender change, inserting Colin Mudrick for starter Jason Soule (Soule returned for the third period).

Sean Marshall answered for Holy Ghost Prep (9-6, 1-3-1-0 in conference) just 26 seconds later but Hammond extended the Hawks’ lead with 1:44 left in the period.

Samango added his second goal of the game 11:22 into the third period.

Dante Passio (33 in red) wins a battle in the corner

Hammond is pleased with how this year’s edition of the Hawks has evolved through the first half of the season.

“Everyone knows their role,” he said, “and when everyone knows their role, and when everyone plays their role, we win a game. In a 5-1 win, everyone played their role.

St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin says his team is a more focused group than the team that struggled much of last year.

“This senior class, that’s all they talked about,” he said, “saying ‘We’re a good enough team to compete with everybody, but we’ve got to be ready every game and not just show up.

“So, having a full lineup definitely helps but also having the attitude that you want to be there and you want to compete hard.”

Jason Soule makes a save in the Firebirds’ net

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 2 1—5

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 0—1

First-period goals: Jacob Schultz (SJP) from Michael Ahearn. 9:26; Joey Samango (SJP) from Dante Passio and Jeffrey Hammond, 12:59

Second-period goals: Nick Storti (SJP) from Liam Mooney, 1:03: Sean Marshall (HGP) from Ciaran Chambers, 1:29; Hammond (SJP) from Mooney and Samango, 15:16

Third-period goals: Samango (SJP) from Hammond and Storti, 11:22

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 32, Holy Ghost Prep 30; Saves: Rocco Bruno (SJP) 29, Jason Soule (HGP) 23 and Colin Mudrick (HGP) 4

For more about St. Joseph’s Prep Click Here

For more about Holy Ghost Prep Click Here

Video provided by Nur B. Adam

Holy Ghost Prep vs. North Allegheny

Click HERE for a link to tonight’s game between North Allegheny and Holy Ghost Prep.

Final North Allegheny 4 Holy Ghost Prep 3—North Allegheny scores the winning goal with 38 seconds left in regulation.

End second period Holy Ghost Prep 2 North Allegheny 1

End first period: Holy Ghost Prep 0 North Allegheny 0

Snow falling through the period making for a slow-paced game. North Allegheny had the puck in the offensive zone much of the period.

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Shady Side Academy 5 Holy Ghost Prep 1

Shady Side Academy defeated Holy Ghost Prep 5-1 Wednesday evening. The Firebirds will play North Allegeny in a an outdoor game Thursday night.

Holy Ghost Prep Headed West

Holy Ghost Prep will begin its post-holiday hockey schedule with a trip to western Pennsylvania. The Firebirds will face Shady Side Academy on Wednesday (6:30) before taking on North Allegheny, last year’s Class AAA state runner up, in an outdoor game on Friday at Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park (7:00 start).

Senior forward Brian Butler one of his team’s captains, is looking forward to the trip.

“It’s such a great experience,” he said, “especially for us, and the younger guys to get to know each other even more.

“I know we’re playing two high-caliber teams. And it’s important for us to compete, and that’s what we do well. And that’s what we’re looking forward to doing; just go and compete.”

Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside was a prep-school teammate of Mike Bagnoto, his counterpart at North Allegheny.

“Mike Bagnoto, and I were teammates at Northwood Prep back in 1981,” Whiteside recalls, “and we’ve created a friendship over the years. And North Allegheny competes in the Jamestown (N.Y.) tournament (a fixture on the Holy Ghost Prep schedule) as well. So, when this opportunity came up, I reached out to Mike and he said “Let’s do it.’”

Apart from the two hockey games, the Firebirds will also be participating in a seminar organized by the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation entitled Finding Your Dream in Pittsburgh.

The student-athletes will explore how to use their passion for hockey to create relationships with marginalized students. They will also learn how professional sports teams use their influence to lift up communities in need.

The seminar is part of the Spiritan Immersion Program and, along with the outdoor game, the brainchild of Holy Ghost Prep graduate Jim Britt Jr. who heads the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Whiteside said. “It’s another opportunity for our hockey program and our school to just find out a little bit more about other schools.”

CLICK HERE for more about Holy Ghost Prep

Pennridge 3 Holy Ghost Prep 2 OT

TRENTON, N.J.—The Pennridge Rams took the ice Wednesday night looking to make a statement. And they did. Andrew Savona’s goal with 1:26 remaining in overtime gave the Rams a 3-2 non-league victory over Holy Ghost Prep.

The win was Pennridge’s eighth this season without a blemish and it came on a night when the Rams were without veteran forwards Aidan Boyle and Andrew David. And while only a sparse crowd was on hand to witness the encounter inside the cavernous Cure Insurance Arena, the result is sure to reverberate within the area hockey community.

“These guys really wanted to play this game,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “They wanted this game. “And (when it was scheduled) they were really excited. Because, they wanted a chance to show that they were as good as anybody and that they could play with anybody.

Montagna was proud of the way his team battled the Firebirds.

“They didn’t back down,” he said. “They went toe to toe with them and they deserved everything they got tonight. I don’t know if it’s making a statement but I hope it showed them they can play with anybody of they do what they’re supposed to do.”

Holy Ghost Prep (9-3) had the better of the in a scoreless period but was the Rams who struck first, 4:50 into the second frame finished off a play that originated deep in the Pennridge defensive zone.

The goal seemed to wake up the Firebirds and Landon Stout tied the game at the 6:25 mark.

His teammate Brady Baehser gave Holy Prep a 2-1 lead 6:43 into the third period when he scored during a four-on-four situation.

The game seemed to be flowing the Firebirds way at that point but Shane Dachowski tied the game for Pennridge when he beat Holy Ghost Prep goaltender Jason Soule from close range at the 10:42 mark.

Soule and Pennridge’s Ryan Pico each made one big save in overtime before Savona’s game winner.

Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside said his team needs to make some changes.

“(Changes in) how we approach the game,” he said. “How we approach each shift, how we approach each other.

“I thought we were a little two individualistic tonight but they’re high-school kids. And talking to these guys after the game, I know they have each other’s backs.”

• There was a scary moment when Pennridge forward Aeryk Lehrhaupt was taken into the wall with 3:52 left in the second period. Lehrhaupt was down on the ice for several minutes but left the ice surface under how own power … The Rams enjoyed a 35-25 edge in shots.

Pennridge 0 1 1 1—3

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 1 0—2

Second-period goals: Jack Lowery (P) from Aeryk Lehrhaupt, 4:50; Landon Stout (HG) from Brian Butler and Kieran Mulholland, 6:25

Third-period goals: Brady Baehser (HGP) from Colin Moore and Sean Marshall, 6:43; Shane Dachowski (P) from Ryan Shuler, 10:42

Overtime goal: Andrew Savona (P) from Colin Dachowski and Shane Dachowski, 3:34

Shots: Pennridge 35, Holy Ghost Prep 25; Saves: Ryan Pico (P) 23, Jason Soule (HGP) 32

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