Holy Ghost Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1

fast start goes along way on any night but particularly at playoff time. Holy Ghost Prep found success with that formula Wednesday evening.

By the time the game was barely three minutes old the Firebirds had a 2-0 lead. They added a third goal before the first period ended and went on to a 4-1 win over Malvern Prep in an APAC semifinal game at Grundy Arena.

Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (17-4-1) which is unbeaten in its last seven games, will face La Salle in the Founders Cup title game next Wednesday at the same venue (5 p.m. start). Fourth-seeded Malvern Prep will find out Sunday night where and when it will start play in the Class AAA Flyers Cup.

The loudest note of the night was sounded on the first shot of the game. William Hamar found the back of the net with forehander from between the circles just 15 seconds into the first period. Brady Logue made it a 2-0 game not quite three minutes later.

The Friars and the Firebirds split two regular-season meetings; Malvern Prep prevailed at Grundy Arena 4-2 on November 20. With that result in mind, Logue spoke to the importance of a fast start.

“Losing on home ice always leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Logue said, “so we tried to get them back. (The Firebirds later won on Malvern Prep’s home ice.) Brian Kinniry added a goal with 1:50 left in the opening session. From that point on Malvern Prep was skating uphill.

“I think we came out flat in the beginning of the fame,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “Ghost popped two goals in early.

“I think the second and third periods our boys’ energy was there. I thought we battled hard in the corners. The effort was there.”

Indeed. The team battle on essentially even terms for most of the rest of the way.

Teague Murray was able to solve Holy Ghost Prep netminder Jack Unger with a shorthanded effort with 1:33 remaining.

Logue scored his second goal of the game.

Unger finished his evening with 22 saves.

“Obviously we came out strong,” he said. “A goal in the first 15 seconds of the game really, really helped. When that happens, it gets the confidence level up for the whole team.”

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie says Wednesday night marked a fresh start not just for his team but for everyone in the APAC.

“Everybody is going to kind of amp up their play a little bit,” he said. “Everything is going to be tougher, we’ve got to fight for everything.

“Obviously it was nice to get the first shot on goal going in, but we’ve got to clean some stuff up and get better.”

Malvern Prep 0 0 1—1

Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 1—4

First-period goals: William Harmar (HGP) from Brady Logue and Joe Spadaccino, :15; Brady Logue (HGP) from Ryan Lippy and Harvard, 3:10; Brian Kinniry (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Jack Unger, 15:10

Third-period goals: Teague Murray (MP) from Paxton Hoishik 15:27 (sh); Logue (HGP) from Spadaccino and Harmar, 16:20

Shots: Malvern Prep 23, Holy Ghost Prep 28; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 23, Jack Unger (HGP) 22

APAC Semifinal Preview

Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference Semifinals

Wednesday 2-19 at Grundy Arena

3:10 (2) La Salle vs. (3) St . Joseph’s Prep

5:20 (1) Holy Ghost Prep vs. (4) Malvern Prep

La Salle (14-6, 6-2 in APAC)

Coach: Wally Muehlbronner

Players to watch: Nole Donohue 10 goals, 14 assists, 24 points; Grant LaGreca 16-4-20; Michael Zarzycki 10-9-19; Jake Rossi 1.87 GAA, .929 save percentage

St. Joseph’s Prep (10-8, 5-3 )

Coach: David Giacomin

Player to Watch: Cole Gargon 13 goals, 5 assists, 18 points; Frank Ely 7-9-16; Noah Stuhl 4-10-14; Declan Geary 1.97 GAA, .925 save percentage

This year

11-6 La Salle 4 St. Joseph’s Prep 2

1-22 La Salle 3 St. Joseph’s Prep 2 OT

Holy Ghost Prep (16-4-1, 6-2)

Coach: John Ritchie

Players to watch: Brady Logue 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points; Joe Spadaccino 10-12-22; Anthony Valeriote 10-10—20; Jack Unger 1.69 GAA, .923 save percentage; Matt Salita 1.80 GAA, .903 save percentage

Malvern Prep (5-9, 3-5)

Coach: Bill Keenan

Players to watch: James Young 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points; Teague Murry 5-2-7; Andrew Starck 5-2-7; Matt Crawford 2.20 GAA, .912 save percentage

This year:

11-20 Malvern Prep 4 Holy Ghost Prep 2

12-12 Holy Ghost Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1

The two semifinal winners will meet for the Founders Cup championship on Wednesday, February 26 at 4 PM. The gme will be hosted by the highest seeded finalist.

It’s About More Than the Score

It’s been a difficult season at Malvern Prep if you go strictly by the numbers. The Friars are just 4-9 on the season and 3-5 in the APAC as they prepare to host The Hun School on Monday in the Founders Cup playoffs play-in game (3:30 at Ice Line). At one point, they lost seven consecutive games but they’ve won two of their last three heading into the postseason.

But there is much more to high-school hockey and high-school sports in general than wins and losses. There are life lessons to be learned and relationships to be nurtured.

Bill Keenan understands that and in fact embraces that mindset. Now completing his sixth season as the Friars’ head coach, he reflects on what he wants the nine seniors on his roster to take away from their high-school hockey experience.

“The thing I want them to take away is that there’s more than just hockey, right?,” he said. “One of my philosophies is Malvern Prep is a great school, they have a great culture. My job is to yes, coach hockey but it’s to create better young people. I hope that they take that away from this game, this experience.

“It’s just a family and the brotherhoods that they make within the game, with their teammates, that’s what really carries them for the rest of their lives. They’ll look back and they’ll remember the guys they were playing with shoulder to shoulder. Guys they were out there practicing with. So, to me, that’s what I want them to take away.”

One lesson Keenan wants his players to learn is how do deal with adversity, on the ice and off; how to deal with the gut punches and occasional low blows that life hands out. He says hockey can be an effective teaching tool in that regard.

“Adversity comes in all facets of your life,” he said, “and with the game of hockey you’re going to have ups, you’re going to have downs, you’re going to have good games you’re going to have bad games.

“You can even break down the shifts, you’re going to have good shifts and bad shifts.

“You just have to be a resilient person and I think we have a resilient team. Yes, we’ve had a rough year. We had a good couple games where we fell short a goal or two but it’s good just to see the team start to rebound, hopefully through the end of the season and the Flyers Cup.”

Malvern Prep 4 The Hun School 2

Malvern Prep overcame an early 1-0 deficit by scoring three times in the first period and going on to a 4-2 APAC win over The Hun School Wednesday afternoon at Ice Land.

The Friars concluded APAC play at 3-5, they stand at 4-10 overall. Then Raiders, who are winless in seven conference starts, stand at 5-14-2 overall.

Luca Jean opened the scoring for Hun School 3:34 into the first period. Ryan Behrle, Gabe Bedwell, and Logan Love responded for the Friars with the goals coming in a span of 7 minutes, 10 seconds to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage with 4:38 left in the opening session.

Connor Mulligan scored for the Riders to make it a one-goal game with 4:16 left in regulation but Cole Scarbinsky answered for Malvern Prep with 3:04 remaining.

Hun School will face St. Joseph’s Prep Friday night at the Skatium to close out the APAC regular season before squaring off with the Friars once more on Monday at Ice Line (3:30 start) in the Founders Cup playoffs play-in game.

Malvern Prep 3 0 1—4

Hun School 1 0 1—2

First-period goals: Luca Jean (HS) from Jake Beck, 3:34; Ryan Behrle (MP) from Quinn Riley and Peter Narog, 5:12; Gabe Bedwell (MP) from Staton Johnson and Andrew Starck, 8:37; Logan Love (MP) from Starck and Johnson, 12:22

Third-period goals: Conor Mulligan (HS) from Evan Koserowski and Bailey Cook, 12:44; Cole Scarinsky (MP) unassisted, 13:56

Shots Malvern Prep 35, Hun School 26: Saves: Riley Doyle (MP) 24, Elliot Wong (HS) 31

APAC Playoff Dates Announced

The Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference has announced the schedule for the Founders Cup playoffs, which will commence with the play-in game on Monday, February 10 an continue with the semifinals on Wednesday, February 19 and the Founders Cup final on Wednesday, February 26.

La Salle is the two-time defending champion.

Monday, February 10 at Ice Line

(4) Malvern Prep vs. (5) Hun School 3:30

Wednesday, February 19 at Grundy Arena

(2) La Salle vs. (3) St. Josephs Prep 3:10

Play-in Winner vs, Holy Ghost Prep 5:20

Wednesday, February 26 Site and time TBD

Founders Cup Final hosted by highest seeded finalist

Malvern Prep 4 Hun School 0

Four different player scored goal as Malvern Prep shut out Hun School 4-0 Wednesday afternoon in an APAC game at Ice Line.

The win broke the Friars’ seven-game losing streak and lifted them to 3-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Raiders fell to 3-9-2 and 0-4 in the APAC.

Gabe Bdwell gave his team the lead with a shorthanded goal 8:19 into the first period.

The hosts broke the game open in the third period when Jake Weingartner, Teague Murray, and Finn Gatta scored goals in a span of 7 minutes, 26 seconds.

Matt Crawford earned the shutout in goal with 28 saves.

Hun School 0 0 0—0

Malvern Prep 1 0 3—4

First-period goal: Gabe Bedwell (MP) unassisted, 8:19 (sh) Teague Murray (MP) from Matt Barbacanem 7:41 (pp); Finn Gatta (MP) from James Young, 11:29

Third-period goals: Jake Weingartner (MP) unassisted, 4:03;

Shots: Hun School 28, Malvern Prep 40; Saves: Elliot Wong (HS) 36, Matt Crawford (MP) 28

Explorers, Firebirds Win at Spring Mountain

La Salle 3 Malvern Prep 0

Three different players scored goals as La Salle bested Malvern Prep 3-0 Wednesday night in the opening game of the Atlantic Prep Athletic conference doubleheader at Spring Mountain Adventures.

The game was scoreless for almost two periods. Cameron Ross put the Explorers (8-5, 4-2 in the APAC) in front with 11 seconds left in the second period. Nole Donohue extended La Salle’s lead with 6:28 remaining in regulation and Grant LaGreca completed the scoring with 1:20 remaining.

Jake Rossi earned the shutout in goal with 13 saves. Matt Crawford stopped 23 shots for the Friars, who slipped to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in conference.

Malvern Prep 0 0 0—0

La Salle 0 1 2—3

Second-period goals: Cameron Ross (L) from John Greenwalt 16:49

Third-period goals: Nole Donohue (L) from Alistair St. Hillaire, 10:32; Grant LaGreca (L) unassisted, 15:40

Shots: Malvern Prep 13, La Salle 26 Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 23, Jake Rossi (L) 13

Holy Ghost Prep 5 St. Joseph’s Prep 1

Brady Logue scored three goals and assisted on another as Holy Ghost Prep downed St. Joseph’ Prep 5-1 Wednesday night in the second half of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference doubleheader at Spring Mountain Adventures.

The Firebirds improved to 10-3 on the season and 4-2 in the APAC while the Hawks dropped to 8-5 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

Logue scored his first goal with one second remaining in the first period to give Holy Ghost Prep the lead. Patryk Oszer made it a 2-0 game 3:37 into the second period before Logue extended his team’s lead with a power-play goal with 43 seconds remaining.

Logue completed his hat trick 32 seconds into the third period and Joe Spadaccino made it a 5-0 game with 12:33 left in regulation.

Cole Gargon scored for St. Joseph’s Prep with 10:13 remaining.

Jack Unger earned the shutout in goal for Holy Ghost Prep by stopping 23 shots.

“It’s always difficult to judge the quality of a game when there are external factors like rink size and weather affecting the outcome,” said Holy Ghosy Prep coach John Ritchie, “but our guys had fun and it was good to get a win for eding decision down the road.

“The conditions were most difficult for the goalies. I was happy with how Unger handled the condtions.”

Holy Ghost Prep 1 2 2—5

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 1—1

First-period goal: Brady Logue (HGP) unassisted, 16:59

Second-period goals: Patryk Oszer (HGP) from Nathan Romer, 3:37; Logue (HGP) from Anthony Valeriote and Joe Spadaccino, 16:17

Third-period goals: Logue (HGP) from Joseph Kauffman, :32 (pp); Spadaccino (HGP) from Logue and Lucas Gonzalez, 4:27; Cole Gargon (SJP) from Frankie Ely, 6:47

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 24, St. Joseph’s Prep 23; Saves: Jack Unger (HGP) 23, Bruno Mainardi (SJP) 19

St. John’s College High 3 Malvern Prep 0

St. John’s scored twice in the first period and went on to the shutout win Sunday afternoon at Ice Line. in a non-league matchup.

St. John’s College High 2 0 1

Malvern Prep 0 0 0—0

First-period goals: Calvin Johnson (SJ) unassisted, 2:57; Beaudy Hummer (S) unassisted, 4:44

Third-period goal: Colin Doherty (SJ) unassisted, 11:11

Shots: St. John’s College 30, Malvern Prep 28; Saves: Jack Faricy (SJ) 28, Matt Crawford (MP) 27

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1

PHILADELPHIA—Cole Gargon stepped up for St. Joseph’s Prep in a big way for Sr. Joseph’s Prep Wednesday afternoon. The sophomore scored three of his team’s goals as the Hawks bested Malvern Prep 4-1 in an APAC encounter at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Arena.

The win lifted St. Joseph’s Prep (5-1, 3-1 in the APAC) into a three-way tie for the top spot in the conference standings but the Hawks have a game in hand over Holy Ghost Prep and La Salle, the teams they are tied with.

The hosts had to play from behind. After a scoreless first frame Gabe Bedwell gave the Friars (2-5, 1-3) the lead 6:50 into the second people when he put in a rebound of Matt Barbacane’s shot.

Gargon tied the game with a power-play goal at the 7:56 mark and put his team ahead for good 86 seconds later when he weaved his way through traffic front of the net and beat Malvern Prep goaltender Riley Doyle.

Gargon completed his hat trick six minutes into the third period before Frank Ely, who missed some time after being helped off the ice with an injury early in the first period finished the scoring with 2:08 left in the game.

Afterwards, Gawk coach David Giacomin credited Gargon and his linemates for their effort.

“Their line played well,” he said. “It was tough being without Frankie Ely for a while because of the injury but once he came back it was nice to be able to get that line back.”

Giacomin noted his team had some ups and downs over the course of the afternoon.

“The first 10 minutes of the game we played really well,” he said. “Then they took it to us a bit and won the board battle and all that stuff and it took us a little while to get back into it.”

Giacomin said the break for an ice cut between the second and third periods helped the Hawks regain their focus.

“Today it was well needed,” he said. The second period was not a pretty period to watch. There were a lot of scrums, there wasn’t much up-and-down skating. We had to get them back to doing what we were supposed to do.”

The Friars were limited to just 15 shots on goal.

“We’ve been stressing moving through the ice, good zone entry, and getting shots on net,” aid Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “We weren’t able to get much traffic today.

“Overall, I thought our effort was there for a period-and-a-half and then it tailed off.”

Malvern Prep 0 1 0—1

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 2 2—4

Second-period goals: Gabe Bedwell (MP) from Matt Barbcane and Paton Hoishak, 3:50 (pp); Cole Gargon (SJP) from Frank Ely, 9:04; Gargon (SJP) unassisted, 10:30 (pp)

Third-period goals: Gargon (SJP) from Michael Castelli and Ely, 6:00; Ely (SJP) unassisted, 14:52

Shots: Malvern Prep 15, St. Joseph’s Prep 25; Saves: Riley Doyle (MP) 21, Declan Geary (SJP) 14

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Holy Ghost Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1

Looking to pick up its second Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference win in two days, Holy Ghost Prep didn’t miss a beat. Chase Logue scored two goals as the Firebirds downed Malvern Prep 4-1 Thursday night at Ice Line.

The win was the Firebirds’ fourth straight and lifted them to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the APAC.

Logue opened the scoring 6:28 into the first period with an assist from his brother Brady. John Gavaghan made it a 2-0 game with a shorthanded goal just 28 seconds into the second frame while his teammate Logan Barnes was in the box serving a tripping penalty.

Andrew Starck answered for the Friars (2-4, 1-2 APAC) with a power-play goal 46 seconds later.

Chase Logue scored his second goal 1:13 into the final period, again with his brother’s assistance and again while his team was shorthanded; Anthony Valeriote was in the box at the time.

The Firebirds enjoyed a 40-19 edge in shots. Jack Unger got the win in goal. Losing goaltender Matt Crawford kept his team in the game by making 36 saves.

The evening served as fundraiser in support of families dealing with Rubnenstein Taybi Syndrome, a genetic disorder. Connor Keenan, the son of Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan, is afflicted with the disorder.

Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie said he and his players were homoted to e part of the occasion.

“Holy Ghost Prep was very grateful to be asked to be part of such a great event,” he said. “The event’s success is a testament to our league and to our school communities as they support Bill and his family and it’s an event that I hope continues for many years.”

Holy Ghost Prep 1 1 2 —4

Malvern Prep 0 1 0—1

First-period goal: Chase Logue (HGP) from Brady Logue, 6:28

Second-period goals: John Gavaghan (HGP) unassisted, :28 (sh); Andrew Starck (MP) from James Young, 1:14 (pp);

Third-period goals: Chase Logue (HGP) from Brady Logue, 1:13 (sh); Brady Logue (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez, 11:33

Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 40, Malvern Prep 19; Saves: Jack Unger (HGP) 18, Matt Crawford (MP) 36

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