La Salle 3, Holy Ghost Prep 0

BRISTOL— LaSalle seems poised for a stretch run in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference. Three different players scored goals Monday afternoon as the Explorers shut out Holy Ghost Prep in an APAC matchup at Grundy Arena.

The win was La Salle’s third straight in APAC after the Explorers (4-4 overall) started the conference campaign with three consecutive defeats. They were listed third in the Class AAA Flyers Cup rankings that were released Monday prior to game time.

“We’re starting to play hard,” said LaSalle coach Wally Muehlbronner. “We’re scoring some goals, which has helped and Liam (goaltender Liam Gross) is giving us a chance to win.

On this occasion Gross, a senior, stopped all 33 shots he saw. He noted the Explorers have picked up their play defensively of late.

“We struggled in the beginning of the year with that,” he said. ”But, the group is really coming together, especially the defensive four and the other goalie (Aries Carangi) so it’ really good to see how they battled for me, blocked shots, and made plays.”
Gross says the seniors on the La Salle roster have been providing effective leadership. “All the guys want to win so badly this year,” he said. “We felt like we could have won (a Flyers Cup) last year too (before the season was halted by the pandemic) so this is sort of like a redemption year and I think our leadership is really coming together. We have a young team this year. (The seniors) are leading the young guys on and showing them the way., and they’re picking up pretty fast too.”

After a scoreless first period, Dan Whitock beat Bobby Baehser in the Firebird net just 37 seconds into the second session. The Explorers extended their lead with 1:24 in the period when Ryan Warner poked in a rebound of a David Kimmel shot from the right point. That was it until Kimmel scored into an empty net with 1:07 remaining in regulation.

The Firebirds, who have lost three straight, saw their record fall to 4-4 overall and 3-4 in conference. They were listed second in Monday’s Flyers Cup rankings.

“I thought it was a good game,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “I liked our jump … We played well but not well enough. We’ve got to start finding ways to win.”
Whiteside said he’s encouraging his team to take a back-to-basics approach. “Just sticking with the fundamentals,” he said. “Doing things that they do well and not try to do things they can’t do well.”

La Salle 0 2 1—3

Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 0—0

Second-period goals: Dan Whitock (L) unassisted, :37; Ryan Warner (L) from David Kimmel and Michael Casey, 15:24

Third-period goal: Kimmel (L) from Casey, 14:53 (en)

Shots: La Salle 31, Holy Ghost Prep 33: Saves: Liam Gross (L) 33, Bobby Baehser (HGP) 30

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La Salle 5, Malvern Prep 2

HATFIELD— All season long, La Salle has been waiting for its offense to kick into high gear. It finally happened Wednesday afternoon. Keenan Schneider scored twice and three other players added one goal each as the Explorers built off a fast start and went on to defeat Malvern Prep 5-2 in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Hatfield Ice.

The win was La Salle’s second in five APAC starts and improved the Explorers to 3-4 overall. The loss was the first for the Friars in eight games (2-1-2-0) in conference) and left then a point behind Holy Ghost Prep in an ongoing battle for first place in the APAC standings.

La Salle came out swarming and in less than four minutes built a 2-0 lead. Michel Casey beat Anthony Perti in the Friars’ net just 33 second after the opening faceoff and Schneider extended the lead at the 3:49 mark.
“We talked before the game about how differently we play if we score first,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner. “That definitely gave us a lot more spark.”

Jack Constabile got cut the La Salle lead in half when he put the puck past Liam Gross with 2:05 left in the period.

Max Maddalo responded for the Explorers 2:07 into the second session when he put in a rebound of Schneider’s original shot from directly in front of the net.

The La Salle penalty killing unit came up big later in the period when Max Mozo (interference) and Dan Whitock (unsportsmanlike conduct) drew simultaneous penalties. The Explorers ended up two men short for 91 seconds but the Friars were unable to capitalize.

Casey was on the ice for the Explorers for the entire kill. “It was a big kill,” he said. “We needed it. We knew they had a really good power play, that’s where they got most of their chances.”

Casey, a senior, spoke to the discipline necessary for a penalty killing unit to perform at its best. “It takes a lot of patience,” he said. “You have to be disciplined, you can’t get overaggressive. That’s what we did. We just stayed in our triangle, kept them out of the middle of the ice, and let them take their shots from the outside.”

Just 20 seconds after the twin penalties expired, Schneider scored to give the Explorers a three-goal lead. Tim Whitock made it a 5-1 game 54 seconds after that.

Malvern Prep’s Matt Harris put in a rebound of a Chris Blango shot with 9:20 left in regulation for what proved to be the only goal of the third period.

Friars coach Bill Keenan anticipated the Explorers’ quick start. “We knew La Salle was going to come out fast,” he said. “They popped in two goals in the first four minutes of the game and our guys just never found their legs.”

• Perti was shaken up during a second-period collision. He was checked by a trainer at period’s end but played solidly in the third frame, making 14 saves.

Malvern Prep 1 0—2
La Salle 2 3 1—5
First-period goals: Michael Casey (L) from Dan Whitlock and David Kimmel; Keenan Schneider (L) unassisted, 3:49; Jack Constabile (MP) unassisted, 13:55
Second period goals: Max Maddalo (L) from Schneider and Jake Hannon, 2:07; Schneider (L) from Jake Hannon, 12:49; Tim Whitlock (L) from Chase Hannon, 13:43.
Third-period goal: Matt Harris (MP) from Chris Blango, 6:40.
Shots: Malvern Prep 22, La Salle 34; Saves: Anthony Perti MP) 29, Liam Gross (L) 20

La Salle 3, St. Joseph’s Prep 2

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP— When the time came to step up, La Salle met the challenge. Matt Maddalo and Dan Whitock scored goals 31 seconds apart early in the third period and the Explorers held off St. Joseph’s Prep 3-2 Friday night in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference matchup at the Skatium.
Maddalo found the back of the net at the 2:58 mark before Whitock beat Rocco Bruno with what proved to be the game winner at 3:29.

It was La Salle’s first win in four starts, all in conference play.

Michael Casey assisted on the winning goal. “We needed this one really badly,” he said. “We were all over them the first and second periods. In the third period, we had a lot of shots so we knew we could do it. We went out there and just kept pounding them.”

La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner was pleased with his team’s all-around effort. “I thought we played probably the best game we’ve played for three periods,” he said. “We’re not capitalizing on good opportunities. We did score a couple good goals by going to the net and hopefully that’s a sign of good things to come.”

St. Joseph’s Prep (2-2, 0-2 in the APAC) was quick to take advantage of two early La Salle penalties. Quinn Egan scored from the left circle 3:09 into the opening period while his team was enjoying a two-man advantage; it turned out to be the only goal of the period.

Jeffrey Hammond made it a 2-0 game with an even-strength goal 66 seconds into the second stanza.
La Salle had a power-play chance of its own minutes later one that included a brief two-man advantage when the Hawks’ Declan Pierce drew a boarding penalty that included an automatic 10-minute misconduct, but couldn’t capitalize. Casey eventually got the Explorers on the scoreboard with 2:30 left in the period.

The Hawks were missing five regulars because of injuries and club duty including three of their top defensemen. Their coach David Giacomin was more than satisfied with his team’s effort, despite the defeat.
“I’m extremely proud of them,” he said. “To be shorthanded as bad as we were and to come out and play as hard as we did for the whole game, it’s fun to watch. “And it’s great to be a coach.”

La Salle 0 1 2—3
St. Joseph’s Prep 1 1 0—2
First-period goal: Quinn Egan (SJP) from Jack Yerger and Matt Moresco, 3:09 (pp)
Second-period goals: Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) from Declain Pierce, 1:06; Michael Casey (L) from Andrew Budzynski, 13:30.
Third-period goals: Matt Maddalo (L) from Matt Giordano and Chris Wnek, 2:58; Dan Whitock(L) from Casey, 3:29.
Shots: La Salle 35, St. Joseph’s Prep 27; Saves: Aries Carangi (L) 25, Rocco Bruno (SJP) 32

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Malvern Prep 4, La Salle 1

Malvern Prep scored four times in the first period and went on to a 4-1 win over La Salle Wednesday night in an APAC game at Ice Line.

Matt Harris, Jack Constabile, Jimmy Kirk, and Gavin Wilson all scored for the Friars, who recorded their second won over the Explorers (0-3 overall and in the APAC) in eight days.

Chase Hannon scored La Salle’s only goal.

La Salle 0 1 0

Malvern Prep 4 0 0—4

First-period goals: Matt Harris (MP) unassisted, 5:36; Jack Constabile (MP) from Jimmy Kirk, 8:56 (pp); Kirk (MP) from Constabile, 11:42; Gavin Wilson (MP) from Harris, 14:11.

Second-period goal: Chase Hannon (L) from Ryan Desmond and Gavin O’ Connell, 14:49.

Shots: La Salle 22, Malvern Prep 34; Saves: Liam Gross (L) 30, Anthony Perti (MP) 21

Malvern Prep 4, La Salle 0

HATFIELD— Malvern Prep made a statement Wednesday afternoon. And the rest of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference is sure to notice.

Jack Constabile delivered a hat trick and Anthony Perti pitched a shutout in goal as the Friars prevailed over La Salle 4-0 at Hatfield Ice. It was Malvern Prep’s fourth win of the season without a blemish but Wednesday’s game was its first in conference play and the win over the two-time defending APAC champion Explorers served notice the Friars will be a team to be reckoned with.

Perti made 31 saves in goal, with a half dozen falling into the ‘Extremely Difficult’ category. “I wanted to come out out and prove that we are a good team,” he said,

Prior to Wednesday, Malvern Prep played three non-league games against teams from the InterCounty League, albeit teams classified below the AAA level. Perti spoke to the importance of the Friars stepping up in their conference opener.

“It can’t be (overstated),” he said. “The game we played today, I don’t think it was even the best we’ve played. So, we still have more to prove, and honestly, out goal is to win the Flyers Cup, so this is one step in the right direction.”

Malvern Prep’s Chris Blango (l) and La Salle’s Jake Armstrong battle in Monday’s game.

Jeremy Jacobs gave his team a 1-0 lead 3:51 into the opening period when he made a solo run down the left wing and beat La Salle netminder Aries Carangi. Constabile made it a 2-0 game when he tipped in Chris Blango’s blast from the high slot with 38 seconds left in the period during a Malvern Prep power play.

Constabile added two additional goals not quite four minutes apart late in the second period.
Blango, a defenseman and his team’s captain, has been experiencing the satisfaction of merely being on the ice in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “My senior year and all the other seniors (on the Malvern Prep roster) and all the other schools. It feels great just to play, to be able to compete. And to try to win a Flyers Cup.”

In addition to being the two-time defending APAC champion, La Salle is the reigning Class AAA Flyers Cup and state champion. But the Explorers have dropped their first two starts, both in APAC play and in 96 minutes of hockey have scored just three goals.

Veteran coach Wally Muehlbronner is looking for answers. “Not as much progress as I was hoping for since last week’s game (a Friday loss to Holy Ghost Prep,” he said. “We’ve got to get better playing together. I don’t think we’re playing that well together.”

Muehlbronner said his team us still trying to define itself. “Right now it’s kind of about forming an identity,” he said, “getting the guys to figure out who the leaders are going to be and then filling in the roles so the guys can follow along and follow their lead.”

• Between them, the Friars (eight) and La Salle (11) have won Flyers Cups. The Friars won five straight from 2001-‘05, a record for Class AAA.

Malvern Prep 2 2 0—4
La Salle 0 0 0—0
First-period goals: Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Pierre Larocque, 3:51; Jack Constabile (MP) rom Matt Harris and Chris Blango, 15:22 (pp).
Second-period goals: Contabile (MP) from Quinn Dougherty and Ryan Sambuco, 10:48; Constabile (MP) from Dougherty and Harris, 14:43.
Shots: Malvern Prep 28, La Salle 31; Saves: Anthony Perti (MP) 31, Aries Carangi (L) 24

Holy Ghost Prep 5, La Salle 3

HATFIELD—A lead that once seemed safe was on the verge of slipping away. After holding a three-goal advantage with just over eight minutes left in regulation and a two-goal lead with little more than five minutes remaining, Holy Ghost Prep spent the rest of Friday evening trying to kill three penalties but hung on for a 5-3 win over La Salle in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference season opener at Hatfield Ice.

The Firebirds (2-0 overall) were shorthanded the last 5:04 of regulation.

Sean Marshall’s empty-net goal with 35 seconds remaining finally settled matters but more importantly, the junior played a key role on his team’s penalty killing unit.

“We were up the whole game and we needed some big plays,” Marshall said. “I think we got them done on the (penalty kills). It was a total team effort.”

Goals from Michael Connelly, Brady Baehser, and Shaun Moore gave the Firebirds a 3-0 lead with 6:32 left in the second period. Michael Casey scored for La Salle (0-1) with 1:23 remaining in the period but Evan Mudrick’s power-play goal 7:50 into the third frame extended the Holy Ghost Prep lead to three goals once more.

That’s when things began to get interesting. Dan Whitock scored for the Explorers with 5:38 remaining to make it a 4-2 game. With 5:04 remaining, the Firebirds’ E.J. Pohl went to the box for cross checking. Landon Stout drew a tripping penalty just 34 seconds later, leaving Holy Ghost Prep two men short for 1:26.

Chase Hannon scored a power-play goal for La Salle with 2:22 left to make it a one-goal game with La Salle still on a power play for another 52 seconds.

The Firebirds survived that stretch unscathed but Luke Panepresso was sent off for hooking with exactly two minutes to play, leaving his team shorthanded for the balance of regulation unless La Salle scored the tying goal. Instead, Marshall shot the puck from his side of the red line down the middle of the ice and into the empty net.

“They put a lot of pressure on us toward the end there,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “We found a way to win. We had a good jump early. Have a 3-0 lead helps, but it’s never secure when these two teams are playing.”

It was La Salle’s first game action since the Flyers Cup quarterfinals last March. The tournament was never completed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We looked like we hadn’t played since March,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner. “We did some good things and we did a lot of things that looked like we hadn’t been playing together.”
Muehlbronner was pleased with the way his team rallied in the third period. “We definitely had some good opportunities,” he said. “Their goaltender (Bobby Baehser) did a great job, especially towards the end there. He did a great job. So, that’s something to build on.”

La Salle had a 27-25 edge in shots … The APAC has gone to a four-official system this season.

Holy Ghost Prep 1 2 2—5

La Salle 0 1 2—3

First-period goals: Michael Connelly (HGP) from Patrick McAneny, 9:40.

Second-period goals: Brady Baehser (HGP) unassisted, :21; Shaun Moore (HGP) from Cole Stevens and Ciaran Chambers, 9:28; Michael Casey (L) unassisted, 14:37.

Third-period goals: Evan Mudrick (HGP) from E.J. Pohl, 7:50 (pp); Dan Whitock (L) from Max Maddalo and Casey, 10:22; Casey (L) from Chase Hannon, 12:38 (pp); Sean Marshall (HGP) unassisted, (sh), (en), 15:25.

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 25, La Salle 27; Saves: Bobby Baehser (HGP) 24, Liam Gross (L) 20

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APAC Teams Ready to Hit the Ice

After three months of Covid-mandated delays, the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference is ready to begin its third season. Here’s a look at what to expect from the four conference schools.

La Salle

Coach: Wally Muehlbronner (23^rdseason)

Last year: 14-10-2, 3-3-2-1 in APAC; won league title

Key players: Sr. Liam Gross (G); Sr. Andrew Budzynski (D); Sr. Nick Astolfi (D); Sr. David Kimmel (F); Sr. Jake Hannon (F); Jr. Keenan Schneider (F).

Outlook: The Explorers enter the season as the two-time defending APAC champions. They are also the defending Class AAA Flyers Cup and state champions, since those events were not completed/did not occur last season.

This year’s team is deep and experienced. Twelve players return from last year’s roster, including the top scoring line and some experienced defensemen.

Muehlbronner’s hope is that his corps of returnees will bond quickly with a group of eager newcomers to create cohesiveness in a compressed season.

Kimmel. Hannon, and Schneider are all proven goal scorers while Budzynski heads the blue-line corps.

Holy Ghost Prep

Coach: Gump Whiteside (12^thseason)

Last year: 16-5-1, 5-3-1-0 in APAC

Key players: Sr. Bobby Baeshser (G); Sr. E.J. Pohl (D); Sr. Jake Marek (D); Sr. Jimmy Littley (D); Jr. Luke Panepresso (D); Jr Brian Butler (D); Brady Baesher (F); Sr. Evan Mudrick (F); Sr. Cole Stevens (F); Sr. Carlos Rodriguez, Jr. (F); Sr. John Connelly (F); Sr. Michael Connelly (F); JR. Sean Marshall (F); Sr. Pat McAneny (F); So. Anthony Sparo (F).

Outlook: The Firebirds’ lineup will feature an abundance of experienced veterans. Mudrick and Stevens will be counted on up front while Pohl is a fixture on the blue line and Baehser is experienced in goal.

Whiteside is expecting his senior class to provide leadership but will be looking to his younger players to step up when called upon.

Malvern Prep

Coach: Bill Keenan (second season)

Last year: 8-8, 2-5-2-0 in APAC

Key players: Sr. Chris Blango (D); Sr. Ryan Sambuco (F); Sr. Jack Costabile (F); Jr. Matt Harris (F); Jr. Anthony Perti (G); Jr. Pierre Larocque (F); Jr. Quinn Dougherty (D); Fr. Jeremy Jacobs (F); So. Jimmy Jacobs (F); Fr. Brady Doyle (D).

Outlook: The Friars will enter APAC play having already played and won three non-league games.

There is a strong core of returnees, featuring Perti in goal and Blango and Dougherty on the blue line. Harris, Constabile, Sambuco, and Larocque are being counted on up front.

St. Joseph’s Prep

Coach: David Giacomin (eighth season)

Last year: 15-13, 3-2-0-4 in APAC

Key players: St. Andrew Custer (G); Sr. Ryan Newby (D); Sr. Dominic Fantozzi (F); Sr. Connor Burman (F); Sr. Riley Abel (D); Sr. Ben Miraglia (F); Sr. Jack Yerger (F); Jr. Matthew Moresco (D); Jr. Nick Storti (D); So. Rocco Bruno (G); So. Jeffrey Hammond (F); So. Joe Samango (F).

Outlook: This season’s edition of the Hawks is lacking in experience but Giacomin likes this group’s enthusiasm.

“We can’t wait to get playing” he said. We have leadership in key areas”.

One of those key areas is in goal, where Custer and Bruno figure to be an effective tandem.

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APAC Eyeing Mid-January Start

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has formulated plans to begin its 2021 season the week of January 11.

According to APAC Commissioner Jim Britt, the schedule now under consideration would see the four conference schools, La Salle, Malvern Prep, St. Joseph’s Prep and Holy Ghost Prep play a 10-game regular season schedule that would see each team face each of the others three times while also playing one additional game against a Class AAA team from the Intercounty Scholastic Hockey League (Cardinal O’Hara, Father Judge, and Roman Catholic would be among the possibilities).

That 10^thgame is important because as of now, teams are required to play 10 league games to be eligible to compete in the Flyers Cup tournament this coming spring.

The four APAC schools have been off the ice in the wake of Governor Tom Wolf’s executive order that closed indoor recreational facilities around the state, including ice rinks, effective December 12. They will remain closed until January 4.

Prior to the shutdown, Malvern Prep played and won two non-league games but the other three league schools have yet to play a game this season.

Britt is hoping that APAC teams will be able to get back on the ice for practice on or shortly after January 4. He acknowledged that that may not happen.

“At this time, there is no guarantee that the pause will be lifted at that time,” he said, “potentially causing delays to the planned restart of practices and the regular season. Player safety, with a reasonable amount of practices before starting the regular season, is an important consideration.”

Britt said the goal is to conclude the APAC regular season by mid-March with the league playoffs, prior to the start of the Flyers Cup tournament on April 5. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on April 20.

Hun School to Join APAC

Britt also announced that The Hun School will become the fifth member of the APAC beginning with the 2021-22 season. The school’s membership application was unanimously approved by the four current conference members but due to Covid restrictions in place in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the school has suspended its winter sports programs for the current school year. Hun School has competed against APAC schools in non-league games in the past.

APAC Season to Begin in January

The start of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference’s third season will be delayed until January due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. League officials are hoping to implement a 10-league schedule following the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, depending on the academic schedules of the league’s four member schools, La Salle, Holy Ghost Prep, Malvern Prep, and St. Joseph’s Prep.

“Many of the details depend on the schools’ academic calendars, which are still in flux,” said APAC Commissioner Jim Britt. “Some schools have yet to finalize their academic calendars for the 2020 winter months through May 2021, including holiday breaks, spring breaks, exam periods, and dates we might potentially need to black out.

“The impact of schedule conflicts for students who normally participate in spring sports or other activities is also a factor to be considered.”

The APAC is hoping to conclude its season by late February to coincide with the traditional start date of the Flyers Cup tournament.

All four league schools have been on the ice for preseason drills.

Malvern Prep has scheduled non-league games against West Chester Rustin on November 12 and Cardinal O’Hara on Thanksgiving Eve. Two-time defending APAC champion La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep are hoping to schedule non-league games during November and December while Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside indicated his team would not play a game until January.

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APAC Announces All-Conference Team

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference is pleased to announce the 2019-2020 All-APAC teams. The honorees were selected by vote of the Head Coaches of the APAC member schools: Holy Ghost Prep, LaSalle College High School, Malvern Prep, and St. Joseph’s Prep; institutions that share similar missions to promote academic and athletic excellence for their student-athletes.

First Team

Byron Hartley

Holy Ghost Prep (senior)

Position: Forward

Key facts: The APAC’s leading scorer with 26 goals and 22 assists for 48 points and helped the Firebirds reach the Flyers Cup semifinals.

“Byron was our senior captain,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “He was a true leader who developed tremendously over his four years at Holy Ghost Prep. He was a great teammate who made players better by his work ethic and personality.

Ryan Sambuco

Malvern Prep (junior)

Position: Forward

Key facts: Played a key role for the Friars while scoring 10 goals and adding 16 assists for 26 points. “He shows great vision, said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan, “and always finds ways to jump start the team.”

James Craig

St. Joseph’s Prep (senior)

Position: Forward

Key facts: A tenacious player whose eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in APAC/Flyers Cup play and helped his team reach the Flyers Cup semifinals.

“He did everything a coach could ask for,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin. “He was a tremendous competitor.”

Andrew Centrella

St. Joseph’s Prep (sophomore)

Position: Defense

Key facts: Scored four goals and provided 13 assists for 17 points in APAC and Flyers Cup play.

“He was an assistant captain and our hardest worker,” Giacomin said. “He played huge minutes and was always a threat on the ice.”

Chris Blango

Malvern Prep (junior)

Position: Defense

Key facts: Was a major force on the blue line for the Friars, scoring three goals and adding eight assists for 11 points. “He was the anchor of Malvern’s defense,” Keenan said, “and is very posed with the puck.”

Aidan McCabe

La Salle (senior)

Position: Goaltender

Key facts: A four-year varsity performer, he was the catalyst for an Explorer team that captured its second straight APAC title and reached the Flyers Cup semifinals. “He was the backbone of our team,” said La Salle coach Wally Muehlbronner.

Second Team

Nathan Benner

La Salle (senior)

Position: Forward

Key facts: Finished his final high-school season with nine goals and six assists for 15 points. “He was one of our captains,” Muehlbronner said, “and a solid all-around player.”

Jeffrey Hammond

St. Josephs Prep (freshman)

Position: Forward

Key facts: Made an impressive debut for the Hawks with nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in APAC/Flyers Cup competition. “He’s a great two-way player,” Giacomin said. “He played in all situations.”

David Kimmell

La Salle (junior)

Position: Forward

Key facts: An offensive catalyst for the Explorers. Led the team in scoring with 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. “He was our top scorer,” Muehlbronner said, “and an offensive key.”

Michael Urbani

St. Joseph’s Prep (senior)

Position: Defense

Key facts: Served as one of the Hawks’ captains and contributed five goals and 11 assists to his team’s effort. “He was a captain and the leader of our defensive corps,” Giacomin said. “He has a deadly shot and was a key defensively.”

Nolan Woudenberg

La Salle (sophomore)

Position: Defense

Key facts: Had a solid season for the Explorers with 10 goals and six assists for 16 points. “He was a strong, all around defenseman,” Muehlbronner said.”

Sean Joyce

Holy Ghost Prep (senior)

Position: Goaltender

Key facts: Finished his final season with the Firebirds with a 2.13 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

“Sean was a gamer,” said his coach, Gump Whiteside. One of the best goalies in the history of Holy Ghost Prep hockey. When Sean was in net, you always knew you could win the game.”

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