The historic Class of 1923 Rink on the University of Pennsylvania campus will be the venue for the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference semifinals on Wednesday, February 21st.
The semifinals will be preceded by a play-in game on a date to be determined, between the teams that finish fourth and fifth in the regular-season standings.
The Founders Cup championship game is tentatively set for Wednesday, February 28th at the home rink of the highest seeded finalist.
Ideally, A hockey team will evolve and mature as the season progresses, on and off the ice. So, it has been at Malvern Prep.
After a 3-4 start that included a three-game losing streak the Friars have rebounded to take four of their last six starts. They’ll take a 7-6 record into an APAC matchup with Holy Ghost Prep on Thursday.
With the Friars fielding a young lineup in spots, the role of the veterans on the roster has been important, not only for their on-ice performance but also for how they have embraced their roles as mentors to their younger teammates.
Jeremy Jacobs leads the APAC in scoring but he embraces his role as his team’s captain as much as he does his on-ice accomplishments. Jacobs, a senior says he’s following the path that was forged by those who came before him.
“I’ve got to be there for my underclassmen and teach them,” he said,” “and teach them the way, because I had great senior leadership when I was younger. “I’m just trying to give it all to my underclassmen so they can learn and get better every day. That’s definitely the mentality here, we’ve got to keep that up.”
Jonathan Holt, who, like Jacobs, is a senior, points out that providing support to younger teammates is in keeping with the philosophy of the school.
“When we were younger, we had seniors that taught us the way and brought us under their wing,” he said.
“So I think just learning from them and seeing how they do it and remembering how we felt is our primary focus. Being able to take guys under our wing and just develop a brotherhood. Honestly, our school staple is ‘Develop a brotherhood with Everybody.’ I think within a team setting, it’s even easier to develop that aspect.”
Jacobs points out there are other factors that have contributed to Malvern Prep’s recent success on the ice.
“At the start of the season we didn’t start too hot,” he said, “and we kind of had to change our mindset a little bit, and ever since we changed our mindset and focused on energy, the simple stuff.
“We’ve had guys hurt all year and how, there’s guys starting to come back we’re starting to develop true lines. Our lineup was always mixing and matching, it was and now it’s starting to become more solidified, and the more we have that chemistry, the more we can go out on the ice and produce.”
Alistaire St. Hilaire, Charlie Kennedy, and Patrick Brace scored goals as La Salle bested Malvern Prep 3-0 Wednesday afternoon in an APAC matchup at Hatfield Ice.
The win was the sixth for the Explorers in conference play without defeat and assured them of the regular-season title and the top seed for the Founders Cup playoffs next month.
Alistaire St. Hilaire got things started for the Explorers (15-2 overall) when he beat Matt Crawford in the Malvern Prep net with 41 seconds left in the opening period with help from Dean Carvalho and Logan Dicus.
Charlie Kennedy made it a 2-0 game 7:16 into the second session with assists from Ryan Wiley and Thomas Doucet.
Wiley went on to assist Brace on the final goal of the afternoon which came with eight seconds left on regulation.
At the other end of the ice, Jake Rossi was impregnable; he turned aside 23 shots without a blemish.
The Explorers have allowed just five goals on six conference games,
Matt Crawford, his counterpart with the Friars (7-5, 2-3 in conference) was also stellar; he finished with 40 saves.
Malvern Prep 0 0 0—0
La Salle 1 1 1—3
First-period goal: Alistaire St. Hilaire (L) from Dean Carvalho and Logan Dicus, 16:19
Second-period goal: Charlie Kennedy (L) from Ryan Wiley and Thomas Doucet, 7:16 (pp)
Third-period goals: Patrick Brace (L) from Wiley, 16:52
Shots: La Salle 43, Malvern Prep 23; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 40, Jake Rossi (L) 23
WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP—The evening offered a little bit of everything, including a dramatic conclusion to a first-rate hockey game.
Frankie Ely’s goal in the sixth round of a shootout was the margin of victory as St. Joseph’s Prep edged Malvern Prep 4-3 Wednesday night in an APAC matchup at Ice Line.
For the Hawks, who improved to 3-1 overall (1-1 in the APAC) it was another step in the maturation of a young hockey team. Ely was one of five freshmen who saw ice time for his team.
“The very first [APAC] game against La Salle opened my eyes a little bit,” said St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin. “These kids can get challenged a little bit and play well.
“We had a good game against Gonzaga and the kids really stepped up. I think they’re a bit more experienced, a little bit less nervous, when they’re out there playing against the bigger and older kids.” Calum Hartnell gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead 11:24 into the opening period off a turnover at the Friars’ blue line. Tristan Winata made it a 2-0 game at the 13:20 mark when he beat Matt Crawford in goal on an effort from the left faceoff circle.
Winata, a junior, is impressed with the play of his younger teammates.
“They’re so much better than when I originally met them,” he said. “They’re playing great out there. A lot of speed, everyone is playing together.”
Winata noted the importance of the veterans on the roster setting the tone for the newcomers.
“I think as an older [member of the team] we have to show them all out plays,” he said, “playing together, those kinds of things. When I was a freshman I had a hard time getting used to it, so I want to be a leader for them.”
The Hawks had a chance to build on their lead at the start of the second game when they were awarded their third power play of the evening. The Friars ( 3-3, 1-2) were able to kill the penalty however and used that sequence as an impetus to get back in the game.
Caiden Canale tipped in Jeremy Jacob’s shot from the right point at the 1:55 mark while the teams were skating four on four. The Friars tied the game with 1.4 seconds left in the period when Gabriel Bedwell, with Jacobs’ help, beat Hawk netminder Jacob Aranda when he put his shot just under the crossbar.
The Friars took the lead on shorthanded goal with 6:31 left in regulation when Jacobs forced a turnover inside the Hawks’ blue line went on to beat Aranda from close range.
As the clock would down, Malvern Prep seemed to have the upper hand but Caiden Kelly scored for the Hawks via a deflection to send the two teams to overtime.
Cole Gargon started the shootout by scoring for the Hawks. James Young responded immediately for the Friars and the two goaltenders, who had performed with distinction for 56 minutes, were impenetrable until Ely’s game winner and Aranda’s game-ending save, when he denied Paxton Hoishik to send the Hawks home with a win.
Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan praised his team for rallying from a two-goal deficit.
“I told our guys it’s hard to come back from a 2-0 deficit,” he said. “The resilience of them to get the game back tied and get a shorthanded goal to go up 3-2 said a lot about our team, about the grit that we have.”
Ice chips—Wednesday’s game was a benefit for families with children afflicted with Rubenstein-Taybi Syndrome or RTS. The genetic disorder causes intellectual and developmental disabilities and impacts one in 125,000 children, among them Connor Keenan, Bill Keenan’s 3-year old son.
The two teams wore multicolored jerseys during the warmup in support of families impacted by RTS.
Connor Keenan (with glasses) standing with his mother Sarah and father Bill during Wednesday’s ceremonial faceoff. With them are Connor’s siblings J.J. and Olivia. (photo by Max Mangigian)
St. Joseph’s Prep 2 0 1 0 1—4
Malvern Prep 0 2 1 0 0—3
First-period goals: Calum Hartnell (SJP) unassisted. 11:24; Tristan Winata (SJP) from Bobby McGinn. 13:20
Second-period goals: Caiden Canale (MP) from Jeremy Jacobs, 1:55; Gabriel Bedwell (MP) from Jacobs, 16:58
For the second consecutive year, Malvern Prep and St. Joseph’s Prep will meet on the ice as part of an effort to raise awareness of Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome or RTS.
The Friars and the Hawks will square off in a regularly scheduled Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game this coming Thursday, November 30, at 6:30 at Ice Line.
Proceeds from the evening will be donated to several organizations who support individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes intellectual and developmental disabilities and impacts one in 125,000 children.
Connor Keenan, the son of Malvern Pep coach Bill Keenan, is afflicted with RTS; he will celebrate his fourth birthday in January.
Thursday’s varsity game will be the main event of a tripleheader which will begin with a junior-varsity game at 3:30 followed by a middle-school game at 5:10.
The day’s events actually begin at 3:00 Thursday afternoon with a Dine and Donate event at Ice Line’s Goal Line Pub that will run until 9:00 that evening. Keenan expressed his thanks to his colleagues at Malvern Prep and in the hockey community for their support.
“Spreading awareness of this rare syndrome is very important to us,” he said. “The Malvern community has been so amazing and supportive to helping us raise awareness.
“Last year was the first year we did this event and we are so happy to bring it back again this year. It is something we look forward to each and every year. Connor and our family are truly blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people.”
Speaking at last year’s inaugural benefit event, Keenan’s wife Sarah cited the importance of raising awareness of RTS.
“It’s very rare,” she said. “So, it’s important just make people aware of it for inclusion purposes and to get that research really going to see if they can help kids with the syndrome out.”
Bill Keenen cited St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin for his support of the event.
“When I asked Coach Giacomin to be a part of this event last year, there was no hesitation and an immediate ‘Yes’ response,” he said. “St. Joe Prep, although rivals on the ice are great partners and show a great amount of sportsmanship by being involved.”
BRISTOL—Malvern Prep and Holy Ghost Prep took their first steps into the sometimes-perilous waters of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference Thursday afternoon. It was the Friars who found smooth sailing.
Brayden Baum and Aidan Kelly scored second-period goals to give their side a 2-1 win over the Firebirds at Grundy Arena. It was the Friars’ third win in four starts.
“We’ve got a lot of good kids on our team,” Kelly said. “Everyone’s really motivated after the year we had last year (10-8 and a loss in the opening round of the Founders Cup playoffs). The coaches are doing a great of getting us motivated.”
Kelly noted that he and his teammates, including the newcomers on hand, are adjusting to their roles in this year’s lineup.
“I think everyone is really excited with their new roles,” the senior said. “It comes with a little bit of nerves, a little bit of pressure, just playing for such a great team in such a great league.
“But I think the older guys, the more experienced guys, are doing a great of helping everyone fit their role and get used to playing at this level.”
Malvern Prep enjoyed a 14-5 shots advantage in the opening period but couldn’t solve Firebird netminder Jack Botthof and the first frame was scoreless.
Baum got the Friars on the scoreboard 12:17 into the middle period and Kelly made it a 2-0 game at 13:58.
Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan was pleased with the way his players moved the puck.
“The puck was moving at both ends,” he said. “Not a lot of sustained pressure but we settled down into our game. “We were able to be a little more poised with the puck and get pucks deep and sustain that pressure. I’m pretty happy with the result.”
Two goals down and perhaps a bit back on their heels, the Firebirds (0-2, 0-1 in the APAC) came out swarming at the start of the third period.
It took A.J. Prete just 19 seconds to score and make it a one-goal game. But Matt Crawford in the Malvern Prep net was perfect the rest of the way; the junior stopped 15 of the 16 shots he saw in the final period.
“Matt is pretty much anchor here for us,” Keenan said. “He played that well against Council Rock South (a game the Friars lost in overtime) and he [played] that way here today too. I think overall, he’s got a good future here, especially within the APAC. He did well today.”
For a young Holy Ghost Prep team, Wednesday’s game was another step in the building process.
“Better than Game One,” Firebird coach John Richie said of his team’s effort. “Not good enough though. “That second period, we kind of took a step backwards, then that third period was much stronger.
“But we’re a team that can’t have a lapse in judgment for 10 minutes of the second period.”
Malvern Prep 0 2 0—2
Holy Ghost Prep 0 0 1—1
Second-period goals: Brayden Baum (MP) from Gabriel Bedwell and Paxton Hoishik, 12:17; Aidan Kelly (MP) from Caiden Canale and Matt Crawford, 13:58
Third-period goal: A.J. Prete (HGP) from Mike Holt, :19
Shots: Malvern Prep 27, Holy Ghost Prep 29; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 28, Jack Botthof (HGP) 25
Blaise Pepe’s goal with 1:27 left in overtime gave Council Rock South a 3-2 non-league win over host Malvern Prep Monday night at Ice Line.
Illia Mukhin and Chase Trovsky also scored for the Golden Hawks who have started the season with three consecutive wins, two of them over APAC opponents.
Tovsky’s shorthanded goal with 4:26 left in the second period tied the game after Brady Doyle scored a pair of goals two minutes apart to give the Friars (2-1) a 2-1 lead.
Trevor Rakszawski got the win in goal; he was credited with 54 saves. Matt Crawford was credited with 40 at the other end of the ice.
Council Rock South 1 1 0 1—3
Malvern Prep 0 2 0 0—2
First-period goal: Illia Mukhin (CRS) from Kevin Koles and Jake Weiner, 13:48
Second-period goals: Brady Doyle (MP) from Caiden Canale, 10:11; Brady Doyle (MP) from Jeremy Jacobs and Adan Kelly, 12:11 (pp); Chase Trovsky (CRS) unassisted, 12:34 (sh)
Overtime goal: Blaise Pepe (CRS) unassisted, 3:33
Shots: Council Rock South 56, Malvern Prep 43; Saves: Trevor Rakszawski (CRS) 54, Matt Crawford (MP) 40
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