Class AAA Flyers Cup Preview

Defending champion Malvern Prep and St. Joseph’s Prep are set to square off Monday night in the Class AAA Flyers Cup final. Game time is 6:30 at Ice Line. The Friars are attempting to become the first Class AAA team to successfully defend the Flyers Cup title since La Salle in 2014. Here’s how the two teams match up.

St. Joseph’s Prep

Coach: David Giacomin

Record: 10-8-1

This tournament: Defeated Cardinal O’Hara 6-1 in the first round. Defeated La Salle 2-0 in the semifinals.

Key players: Jeffrey Hammond, 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points in APAC play; 3 goals and 1 assist in the Flyers Cup tournament.

Joey Samango, 8 goals and 2 assists for 10 points in APAC competition; 2 assists in the Flyers Cup.

Dante Passio, 1 goal and 7 assists in the APAC.

Rocco Bruno. Has made 46 saves in 2 Flyers Cup starts

Flyers Cup history: Won Flyers Cup and state titles in 2018

Malvern Prep

Coach: Bill Keenan

Record: 15-3, Founders Cup champion

This tournament: defeated Holy Ghost Prep 6-2 in the semifinals

Key players: Matt Harris, 13 goals and 9 assists for 22 points during the APAC season. Scored four goals and added an assist in the Flyers Cup semifinals.

Jim Jacobs, 8 goals and 9 assists for 17 points during the APAC season.

Jeremy Jacobs, 7 goals, 7 assists for 14 points during the APAC season.

Anthony Perti, Made 35 saves in the semifinals

Flyers Cup history: Won 9 Flyers Cup titles in 1987, ’90, ’97, 2001-05, and 2021. Won state titles in 1990, 2004, and 2021.

Notes: The Hawks and the Friars met twice during the APAC season. Malvern Prep won the first meeting 6-5 on December 10. St. Joseph’s Prep won the rematch 4-2 on January 27. That was Malvern Prep’s only APAC loss.

The winner of this game advances to the Class AAA state championship game on Saturday, March 26 at 5 p.m. at Ice Line.

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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

Getsie and Malvern Prep Primed for Flyers Cup

Steve Getsie was drawn to Malvern Prep because of his passion for hockey and lacrosse. By all accounts, it’s been a good fit. The junior defenseman will be in the lineup Wednesday night when the Friars face off against Holy Ghost Prep in the Class AAA Flyers Cup semifinals at Ice Line (6:45 start).

Malvern Prep is the defending Flyers Cup and state champion and recently claimed the APAC title.

Getsie is in his third varsity season, a stay-at-home defenseman who does the little things well and processes a strong work ethic. Not that he didn’t have some adjustments to make at first. Like most newcomers to high school hockey, he had to become comfortable playing with and against players who were bigger, stronger, and older.

“I’m a January ‘05 birthday,” he said, “so I was usually older than most of the kids I played with. My eighth- grade year I was playing with ‘06s, so I was so I was a lot bigger than most of the guys I was playing against, so when I came into high school it was definitely a change to be playing on varsity against seniors that were a lot bigger and stronger than me.”

Getsie prides himself on being a physical player, but he had to tone down that side of his game when he first came to Malvern Prep because of the physical maturity of his teammates and opponents.

”Just because being a younger guy out there was a little bit different,” he said.

But the foundation of Getsie’s game remained unchanged.

“I definitely just played my game of hockey,” he said. “I didn’t come in and try to do something else. I feel like I’ve always been more of a defensive defenseman than an offensive defenseman. Coming to Malvern, I was definitely able to harp on those strengths.

“I would be a physical player, I would block a bunch of shots and a lot of the older guys, when I was a freshman and sophomore, they really respected me for putting my body on the line for the team. So, that was able to help me fit in on the team and that’s kind of my place still, being a defensive defenseman that puts his body on the line and plays for the team.”

The Friars have set a standard of excellence for two seasons now. Many of their players play together at the club level. Getsie says that familiarity breeds success.

“We’ve been together for the last three years, pretty much,” he said. “The star players that are the juniors and senior Jimmy (Jacobs) Pierre (Larocque), (Matt) Harris and Quinn Dougherty, they’ve all been playing on the same team since our freshman and sophomore years, so this has all been over the last three years.

“Just being able to play with each other on Malvern as well as most of those guys playing in the same organization or on the same team elsewhere. I think that has allowed everyone to develop good chemistry the last three years. And then it has helped Malvern develop into the kind of team we are.”

Getsie notes that the culture at Malvern Prep encourages unselfishness, and that mindset carries over onto the ice.

“I think it’s kind of the history of Malvern hockey,” he said, “whether we were a top team or not. The seniors, and the older guys before those guys, kind of set (the standard) to always be a leader for the team and not a self-centered guy.

“As well as at Malvern, we kind of have that theme of brotherhood and I’ve definitely seen that come out on the team as well the school in total just going through Covid. Everyone has come together and we’re all like a family so, I feel like in the environment we have on our team, nobody plays for themselves and they all want what’s best for the team.”

The Friars are focused on successfully defending the Class AAA Flyers Cup, something that hasn’t happened since 2014.

“The mindset is ‘Take advantage of what we have,’” Getsie said. “We have another really good team this year and all of us would love to win it again. We’ve been practicing and we’re making sure we’re staying primed, staying in the atmosphere and mindset of hockey. We’re going to hit the ice on Wednesday and play like we left off last game.”

Malvern Prep 4 La Salle 1

WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP—Their opportunity was delayed 12 long months. Which made their accomplishment all the more satisfying.

Malvern Prep scored twice in the first period and went on to a 4-1 win over La Salle Wednesday night to claim the Founders Cup, symbolic of the championship of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference, at Ice Line.

An enthusiastic audience was on hand to see the Friars (14-3) claim the championship they did not have the opportunity to play for last season because of Covid issues; the scheduled conference final between the Friars and the Explorers was never contested.

Even after Malvern Prep went on to win the Class AAA Flyers Cup and state titles, there was something missing from a glittering resume. Wednesday’s result perhaps helped fill that void.

“It’s super satisfying,” said Friars captain Matt Harris. “We don’t have to share that trophy any more and we can bring it back to Warren Avenue and not have to split it between two teams.

“It’s good to have a full season and get what we deserve. We put in the work on Mondays in practice and brought it back to Warren Ave.

The Friars jumped in front 2:47 into the first period. Brady Doyle launched a knuckleball from just inside the blue line that caught the top right corner of the net. According to LaSalle coach Wally Muehlbronner, goaltender Aries Carangi was screened on the play and never saw the puck.

Teague Murray hit the same corner of the net on Carangi’s glove side to make it a 2-0 game at the 13:47.From that moment on, La Salle (8-8-1) was trying to climb a very steep hill.

“They had a lot of jump,” Muehlbronner said of the Friars. “They scored some really nice goals on some really good shots. We did not have a whole lot of jump tonight. We did not give them the game that I was hoping we were going to.”

Muehlbronner said his team needed to respond of Larocque’s early goal, but didn’t. “We needed a spark after we went down 1-zip,” said,. We didn’t get it.We had a couple opportunities around the net, but nothing that was really a strong opportunity.”

At period’s end, Muehlbronner made a goaltender change, with Will Braun replacing Carangi.

Harris, the APAC’s scoring champion, extended the Friars’ lead 12:10 into the second period on what was most certainly one of the most picturesque goals of the season. The senior made a move down the right wing, cut to his left and split two defenders before beating Braun.

La Salle got on the scoreboard on a goal from Patrick Brace 9:12 into the final period before Harris scored into an imply net with 1:47 remaining.

Brace’s goal was the only blemish on Anthony Perti’s record, the Malvern Prep netminder stopped 37 shots.

“We wanted to come in and win (the Founders Cup) for ourselves,” he said. “Keep it for ourselves and ourselves only.”

Perti said Wednesday’s game was reminiscent of last year’s Flyers Cup final, which saw the Friars top the Explorers. “Same type of game, same type of atmosphere,” he said. “Honestly I was pretty calm, didn’t think too much of it. Just another game.”

La Salle 0 0 1—1

Malvern Prep 2 1 1—4

First-period goals: Brady Doyle (MP) unassisted, 2:47; Teague Murray (MP) from Gavin Wilson, 13:47

Second-period goal: Matt Harris (MP) from Jack Shaver, 12:10

Third-period goals: Patrick Brace (L) from Ryan Desmond, 9:12; Harris (MP) from Quinn Dougherty, 15:13 (en)

Shots: La Salle 38, Malvern Prep 40; Saves: Aries Carangi (L) 12 and Will Braun (L) 24; Anthony Perti (MP) 37

The game’s first goal

Matt Harris extended Malvern Prep’s lead in the second period.

Patrick Brace scores for La Salle

Video courtesy of Erin Schneider

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Explorers, Friars Set to Play for Founders Cup

Last year’s championship matchup never happened because of Covid issues. But La Salle and Malvern Prep are letting nothing stand in their way this season. The Explorers and the Friars will meet Wednesday night at Ice Line for the Founders Cup and the championship of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference. Game time will be 8:00.

The two teams were scheduled to meet for the Cup last season but that game was cancelled and the APAC title declared vacant. due to Covid Malvern Prep went on to defeat La Salle in the Class AAA Flyers Cup final and later won the state championship.

La Salle won the first two Founder Cup titles in 2019 and ‘20

La Salle

Coach: Wally Muehlbronner

Record: 8-7-1/4-3-0-1 in the APAC seed 2

Semifinals: def. St. Joseph’s Prep 4-1

Top scorers (APAC games only)

Keenan Schneider 5 goals, 2 assists 7 points

Max Maddalo 3 goals 3 assists 6 points

Chris Wnek 2 goals 4 assists 6 points

Malvern Prep

Coach: Bill Keenan

Record: 13-3/5-1-2-0 in APAC seeed 1

Semifinals: def. Holy Ghost Prep 4-1

Top scorers (APAC games only)

Matt Harris 11 goals, 9 assists, 20 points

Jim Jacobs 8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points

Jeremy Jacobs 7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points

Pierre Larocque 5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points

Earlier this season:

November 5

Malvern Prep 2 La Salle 0—Pierre Larocque scored the winning goal with 5:55 remaining in regulation in the APAC season opener at Hatfield Ice. Matt Harris added an empty net goal.

January 24

Malvern Prep 5 La Salle 4 OT—Matt Harris scored with 1:08 remaining in overtime to give the Friars the win at Ice Line. LaSalle forced overtime. Harris and Jimmy Jacobs scored two goals each.

La Sale forced overtime with goals from Keenan Schneider and Chris Wnek in the final 87 seconds of regulation.

Malvern Prep 4 Holy Ghost Prep 1

WEST GOSHEN—There wasn’t much to choose between Malvern Prep and Holy Ghost Prep Wednesday night. The end result, a 4-1 victory for the Friars, was somewhat misleading.

With two minutes remaining in regulation the two teams were locked in a 1-1 standoff but Malvern Prep scored three times in a span of 1 minute, 25 seconds to emerge victorious in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference semifinal at Iceline.

The top-seeded Friars (13-3) will host Founders Cup final next week on a date and at a time to be announced. The fifth-seeded Firebirds fell to 10-11. Both teams will be part of the Class AAA Flyers Cup field next month; the Friars are the defending champions.

Jeremy Jacobs scored what proved to be the winning goal with 1:29 left in regulation in the midst of a scramble in front of the Firebirds’ net off a setup from Matt Harris and Larocque.

Harris added a goal from long range with 1:02 remaining before scoring into an empty net with four seconds left. He noted the game was up for grabs entering the final stanza.

“We knew (Holly Ghost Prep) was going to come out strong,” he said. “We knew they had beaten Hun School 9-4 (in Monday’s play-in game) so we knew we had to keep the pressure on the whole game.”

The Firebirds controlled the first minutes of the opening period but, in a prelude of things to come, couldn’t solve Anthony Perti in the Friars’ net and eventually momentum shifted Malvern Prep’s way.

Pierre Larocque gave the Friars a 1-0 just past the midway point of the opening period on a goal off an offensive-right-wing faceoff.

That was all the scoring there was until Kieran Mulholland tied the game for Holy Ghost Prep 2:54 into the final period.

It was a testament to both goaltenders that there wasn’t more scoring; both came up big. Perti stopped 31 of the 32 shots he saw. His counterpart, Jason Soule made 36 saves including a stop on a backhander from Harris that kept the score 1-0 at the time.

Harris lauded Perti’s work. “It meant a lot,” he said. “Our goalie has ben playing phenomenal. During this last stretch it’s pretty much win or go home. The goalies have to be hot.”

Firebird coach Gump Whiteside felt his team deserved better. “A credit to Malvern Prep,” he said. They had our number tonight, they’ve had our number all year. (But) we have the Flyers Cup to look forward to.”

Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 1

Malvern Prep 1 0 3—4

First-period goal: Pierre Larocque (MP) from Brayden Baum and Hayden Campbell, 8:27

Third-period goals: Kieran Mulholland (HGP) from Dominic Lombardo and Brandon Barger, 2:54; Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Matt Harris and Larocque, 15:31 Harris (MP) unassisted, 15:58; Harris (MP) unassisted 16:56

Shots: Malvern Prep 40, Holy Ghost Prep 32; Saves: Jason Soule (HGP) 36, Anthony Perti (MP) 31

Malvern Prep 4 The Hun School 1

Matt Harris scored two goals to lead Malvern Prep to a 4-1 win over The Hun School Wednesday afternoon at Iceland. The win officially clinched the APAC regular-championship for the Friars (12-3 overall, 5-1-2-0 in conference).

Jimmy Jacobs and Jeremy Jacobs also scored goals for Malvern Prep, which will be the top seed for next week’ Founders Cup playoffs and is favored to be the top seed for the upcoming Class AAA Flyers Cup tournament.

Brendan Marino scored for Hun School which dropped to 7-8 overall and 2-4-1 in conference.

Harris scored the only goal of the first period, a shorthanded effort at the 6:26 mark. He added his second goal 27 seconds into the second period to give his team a 2-0 lead before Marino cut the lead in half at the 6:26 mark

Jimmy Jacobs extended the Malvern Prep lead with a power-play 10:26 into the third period; Jeremy Jacobs completed the scoring into an empty net.

Brandon Novabilski earned the win in goal with 30 saves.

Malvern Prep 1 1 2—4

Hun School 0 1 0—1

First-period goal: Matt Harris (MP) from Quinn Dougherty, 6:26 (sh)

Second-period goals: Harris (MP) from Jimmy Jacobs and Aidan Kelly, :27; Brendan Marino (HS) from Elian Estulin and Nick Dimatos, 6:35

Third-period goals: Jimmy Jacobs (MP) from Pierre Larocque and Dougherty, 10:26; Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Jimmy Jacobs, 13:54 (en)

Shots: Malvern Prep 34, Hun School 31; Saves: Brandon Novabilski (MP) 30, Jack Borek (MP) 31

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

Malvern Prep 6 Spaulding 2

Hayden Campbell scored two goals as Malvern Prep downed Spaulding 6-2 Wednesday afternoon at Ice Line.

Pierre Larocque, Jimmy Jacobs, Teague Murray and Jeremy Jacobs also scored for the Friars, who improved to 11-3 overall.

Spaulding 1 0 1—2

Malvern Prep 3 1 2—6

St. Joseph’s Prep 4, Malvern Prep 2

Four different players scored goals as St. Joseph’s Prep downed Malvern Prep 4-2 Thursday afternoon in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Ice Line.

Christian Short, Jeffrey Hammond, Joey Samango, and Michael Ahearn all scored goals as the Hawks (6-6 overall, 1-2-1-0 in conference) handed the Friars (10-3, 5-1-1-0) their first conference loss.

Ajay White came up big in goal for the Hawks, making 47 saves; his team was outshot 49-25.

Goals from Short and Hammond gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead at the 1:22 mark of the second period. Teague Murray scored for Malvern Prep to cut the margin in half at the 3:50 mark before goals from Samango and Ahearn extended the St. Joseph’s Prep lead.
Matt Harris scored for Malvern Prep in the final minute of the second period but the Friars could not come any closer.

St. Joseph’s Prep 1 3 0—4

Malvern Prep 0 2 0—2

First-period goals: Christian Short (SJP) unassisted, 14:28

Second-period goals: Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) from Nick Storti and Dante Passio, 1:22; Teague Murray (MP) from Hayden Campbell and Matt Barbacane, 3:50; Joey Samango (SJP) from Hammond and Passio, 8:22; Michael Ahearn (SJP) from Tristan Winata and Passio, 13:22; Matt Harris (MP) from Jeremy Jacobs and Quinn Dougherty, 16:02 (pp)

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 25, Malcom Prep 49; Saves: Ajay White (SJP) 47, Anthony Perti (MP) 21

Jeffrey Hammond scores in the second period to give St. Joseph’s Prep a 2-0 lead.

Teague Murray scores for Malvern Prep in the second period.

Videos provided by St. Joseph’s Prep.

Elsewhere

Hun School 10, Pingry School 3

The Raiders scored two shorthanded goals before the game was two minutes old and went on to the win on Thursday at Iceland.

Seth Kaplan paced the Raiders (6-6) with two goals and four assists. Elian Estulin and Josh Sosner also scored two goals each for Hun School, which registered its first win since December 10 in just its second start since December 15

Pingry School 0 0 2—2

Hun School 4 3 3—10