Jack Constabile scored two goals to lead Malvern Prep to 4-1 win over St. Joseph’s Prep on Monday at Ice Line as the Friars celebrated Senior Night. Matt Harris and Pierre Larocque also scored for Malvern Prep, which moved into first place in the APAC standings with the win, their eighth of the season in nine starts (3-1-2-0 in the APAC).
“The boys came out fast,” said Friars’ coach Bill Keenan. After losing to La Salle (on March 3) we had to get back to basics. It was good to get a win for our seniors on Senior Night.”
Dominic Fantozzi scored for the Hawks (3-4, 1-4)
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 1—1
Malvern Prep 1 3 0—4
First-period goal: Jack Constabile (MP) from Chris Blango, 15:25
Second-period goals: Constabile (MP) from Matt Harris and Quinn Dougherty, 4:07; Jonathan Holt (MP) from Hayden Campbell and Blango, 6:54; Harris (MP) from Ryan Sambuco and Matt Donatucci, 15:55
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
BRISTOL—For the second time in five days, Malvern Prep and Holy Ghost Prep needed a shootout to determine a winner. For the second time the Friars emerged victorious, and by the same score, 3-2 in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Grundy Arena that matched the intensity and competitiveness of its predecessor.
A goal from Pierre Larocque 8:21 into the first period off a feed from Chris Blango and another from Matt Harris at the 13:52 mark off a turnover enabled Malvern Prep (7-0, 2-0-2-0 in the APAC) to take a 2-0 advantage.
The score remained unchanged through the second period but it was not for lack of effort on the Firebirds’ part. They held a 30-18 edge in shots to that point but were unable to solve Anthony Perti in the Friars’ net.
In the third period, Holy Ghost Prep (4-2 overall, 3-0-0-2 in conference) came out storming. Evan Mudrick beat Perti off a feed from Brady Baehser just 23 seconds into the period. The Firebirds successfully killed off a pair of minor penalties before stepping up the pressure down the stretch. Anthony Sparo tied the game with 1:13 left in regulation off a feed from Shaun Moore to force overtime.
Neither team seriously threatened in the extra five-minute session before Blango and Harris found the net in the shootout.
“Overtime is always fun,” Blango said, “but we’ve got to clean up stuff on our end, and especially in the third period in our D-zone. We can’t have days like this, where they score two third-period goals back to back. It’s fun, but we’ve got to take care of our stuff.”
Blango felt he and his teammates became, in his words “Too comfortable,” at some point. “We definitely got sloppy,” he said. “You could probably see it. Our passes weren’t made the same, we were not communicating as much. You’ve got to clean that up, headed into playoffs and the Flyers Cup.”
During the break between the second and third periods, Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan urged his troops to maintain their focus. “Our message in between periods, the second and third was to tell our guys ‘The next goal’s important,’” he said. “Holy Ghost came out strong and ended up tying it, but it was good to see our guys fight back and get a win in the shootout.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside was philosophical about the loss. “It was a great game,” he said. “I don’t like the result, but I liked our response in the third period and we did what we had to do to win the hockey game. it’s tough to lose hockey games like that, but we did what we had to do.”
• The Firebirds outshot the Friars 50-34… Monday’s game was a makeup of a postponement. The Friars will face La Salle on Wednesday to start a stretch that will see them play three conference games in eight days. Holy Ghost Prep will take on St. Joseph’s Prep on Friday to begin a run of four conference games in 11 days.
Malvern Prep 2 0 0 0 (2)—3
Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 2 0 (0)—2
First-period goals: Pierre Larocque (MP from Chris Blango, 8:21; Matt Harris (MP) from Jack Constabile, 13:52
Third-period goals: Evan Mudrick (HGP) from Brady Baehser and Shaun Moore, :23: Anthony Sparo (HGP) from Moore and Mudrick, 14:47.
Shots: Malvern Prep 34, Holy Ghost Prep 50: Saves: Anthony Perti (MP) 48. Bobby Baehser (HGP) 32
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WEST GOSHEN—In a normal hockey season, the field for the Flyers Cup tournament would be announced about now. Because of the pandemic, the 2021 regular season still has a month to go. But Wednesday night, Holy Ghost Prep and Malvern Prep demonstrated what a Flyers Cup game should look like.
Jack Constabile scored in the bottom of the fourth round of a shootout to give the Friars a 3-2 win over the Firebirds in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Ice Line. The win kept Malvern Prep in six starts this season (3-0 in the APAC). It was the first loss for Holy Ghost Prep in four tries (2-1 in conference).
It was the first of three regular-season meeting between the two teams who have emerged as the top contenders for the APAC championship. On Wednesday night, there was little that separated them.
“I thought Holy Ghost played a tremendous game,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan.”‘I think it’s a testament to our league, and how good the teams are, the strength.”
Malvern Prep’s Jack Constabile (in white) battles with Holy Ghost Prep’s Sean Marshall (photo: Gracie Cleveland)
On a night when the level of play was superb, the brightest star in the heavens was Friar goaltender Anthony Perti. He made 28 saves over the course of 48 minutes of regulation play and five minutes of three-on-three overtime including a half dozen that belong on a highlight reel. The junior sensed the importance of the occasion.
“I kind of knew,” he said. “Big moments, you’ve got to be ready for them if you want to be a big-time player, so I was definitely ready for them. It was a massive game.”
Bobby Baehser in the Firebirds’ net didn’t have to be as spectacular as his counterpart but he was just as efficient; he also finished with 28 saves.
Brady Baehser opened the scoring for Holy Ghost Prep 4:48 into the first period off a turnover deep in the Malvern Prep defensive zone. It took the Friars just 15 seconds to respond; Jeremy Jacobs won a goal-mouth scrum at the 5:03 mark.
The hosts took the lead with 1:05 left in the second stanza when Matt Harris tipped in Steven Getsie’s shot from the left point.
A few minutes prior to that however, Perti made his best save of the game when he denied Anthony Sparo at the end of a two-on-none rush.
The Firebirds stepped up the pressure in the third period, outshooting the Friars 13-5. It was Shaun Moore who scored the tying goal on a backhander from the right side of the net at the 8:11 mark.
Both teams had chances in overtime but only Constabile could find the net in the shootout. It wasn’t for a lack of trying however; the Firebirds found iron three times in four attempts.
“It was a great high-school hockey game,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “Two good teams. I though their goalie played really well, made some big stops.
“I thought at times we didn’t have good puck luck either, a couple posts here and there. But that’s hockey.”
Ice Chips—The Firebirds and the Friars will face each other Monday afternoon at Grundy Arena and again on March 11, also at Grundy with additional meetings possible in the APAC playoffs and during the Class AAA Flyers Cup tournament … The Friars unveiled a new set of white sweaters Wednesday which featured a logo commemorating the 50th anniversary of the school’s hockey program. The school fielded its first team in 1970.
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
During his time at Malvern Prep, Chris Blango has become an accomplished hockey player. But the school has shaped him in an abundance of other ways as well.
So, despite having the option to continue his hockey career at a New England prep school, the senior defenseman chose to remain with the Friars.
With the end of his scholastic hockey career fast approaching, Blango reflects on what Malvern Prep has meant to him.
“I started at Malvern in sixth grade,” he said. “What kind of led me there was obviously athletics but also the academics. The academics are vigorous.
“It challenges you both in the classroom and in my case, on the ice. So, I think it was the perfect spot for me.”
Blango says the curriculum at Malvern Prep is designed to teach students to think independently and accept the consequences of their decisions.
“It’s really up to you,” he said. “If you miss school and have to make up an assignment, or something like that, the teacher is not going to beg you to make it up. You kind of have to reach out and ask; it’s very independent in that aspect.”
Blango notes that effective time management is important to a student’s academic success.
“(The faculty) don’t really hold your hand through it,” he said.” “It’s all based upon you and how you manage your time effectively for yourself to make sure you get all your schoolwork done and make sure you’re thriving in your sport.”
Chris Blango
Blango was chosen the Friars’ captain by his teammates. His leadership style might best be described as a blend of actions and words.
“Mostly I lead by example,” he said. “I’m not really the most talkative guy. I’m pretty shy when you first get to know me.
‘But if I have to get the boys going or whatnot before a big game, I ‘ll do that; just kind of make sure everyone’s dialed in when they lose focus, or pick people up when they’re not having the best day.”
In a 2021 season unlike any other in memory, Blango is embracing the task of keeping his teammates concentrating on the task at hand.
“Getting everybody to kind of be friends with everybody, get along really well, and kind of keep their focus on the season,” he said, “and not letting their thoughts wander and whatnot.
“It’s huge because we don’t know if we’re going to be able to play another game, or anything about the future, until we actually are on the ice.”
After three non-league wins, the Friars opened APAC play with a 4-0 win over La Salle on Feb 3. Blango says this year’s team is shaping up as a close-knot group.
“I feel as though the seniors this year, not just me bust as a group, they’ve really helped everybody get dialed in,” he said, “and the young kids aren’t really afraid to make a mistake. Because they know that if they do make a mistake we won’t be yelling and screaming at them in their ear. We’ll be right there picking them up and encouraging them to keep going and try to keep playing the way they play, because we have some talented freshmen and talented sophomores so if we don’t hold them back by yelling and screaming at them, we’ll have a very successful year.”
In a few months’ time Blango will leave Malvern Prep and continue his journey into adulthood. He’s like to play junior hockey, and college hockey after that. He will take with him the life lessons he has learned at Malvern Prep.
I think Malvern has taught me countless lessons and has really shaped me as the person that I am today, being independent, responsible.”
Before, I was a little hesitant on reaching out to teachers and stuff for extra help if I wasn’t in class or if I didn’t understand the topic and the Upper School at Malvern has really forced me to do that, and its helped me out tremendously. I have the utmost confidence going into my adulthood.”
For more information about Malvern Prep CLICK HERE
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
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 (23rdseason)
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 (12thseason)
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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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 10thgame 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.
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