Tag: North Penn

SHSHL Playoff Schedule

The Suburban High School Hockey League playoff schedule for 2026 is now set. Pairings and game times are listed below.

Monday, February  23

National Division First  Round

  1. Central Bucks South vs 6. Central Bucks East 7:00 at Hatfield
  2. Pennsbury vs. 5 Pennridge 7:10 at Grundy

Wednesday, February 25

National Division Semifinals

  1. North Penn vs. Pennsbury or Pennridge 6:30 at Hatfield
  2. Council Rock South vs. Central Bucks South or Central Bucks East 7:20 at Grundy

American Division Semifinal

  1. Hatboro-Horsham vs. 3. Springfield 8:30 at Hatfield

Thursday, February 26

National Division Final

@ 6:10 at Hatfield

American Division Final

8:20 at Hatfield

@ If Council Rock South is the highest seeded finalist this game will be played at Grundy

North Penn 7 Pennridge 0

While the U.S. men’s hockey team was celebrating its opening win at the Olympic Games, North Penn took the ice Thursday night and continued its winning ways. The Knights took on Pennridge already assured of the SHSHL regular-season title. But they appeared to not let that circumstance distract them from the tasks at hand.

Chris Silvotti and Nolan Shingle scored twice and three other players scored one goal each as North Penn left Hatfield Ice a 7-0 winner.

With their regular-season finale against Council Rock South to come next Wednesday, the Knights stand at 19-1 overall and a perfect 15-0 in divisional play. For the defending Class AA Flyers Cup and state champions, Thursday night was business as usual.

“They knew {they had clinched the regular-season title} going into this game, but it was never brought up before the game,” said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis. “They truly look at it one game at a time and that’s the mentality they’ve had all season.”

Silvotti and Tyler Evans gave North Penn a 2-0 first-period lead. Silvotti, Declan Leahy, and Shingle extended the lead in the second stanza and ended the suspense, since Aidan Quigley was working on a shutout at the other end of the ice. The junior finished with 19 saves.

For all the Knights have accomplished this season; they are the highest scoring team in SHSHL National, it is their defensive prowess that is especially noteworthy. In 15 divisional games this season, North Penn has allowed just 20 goals.

“It just comes down to our practices and our mentality going into the games,” Quigley said. “We’re focused and we stay focused, it keeps the team in the game.”

Quigley, a junior, notes that defensive is the top priority for the Knights. “We play defense first,” he said, “then move to offense. Our defense is very good. They also know when to move up and join the offense. I think that leads to a lot of our goals, when our defenseman are up in the play too after making a good defensive play.”

Shingle and Gabriel Dunn added third period goals for the Knights, who launched 54 shots at Pennridge goaltender Andrew Slutsky.

For the Rams (5-10-1, 5-10), who are battling with Central Bucks East and Souderton for the division’s last two playoff spots, it was a difficult evening.

“We were outclassed,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “They’re the better team and we need a lot of things to go right. We had chances, and if we’re going to have a chance against this team, we need to finish some of them.

“Obviously, it’s hard to compete with them; they’re the defending state champs. But, if we’re not going to finish, we don’t have much of a chance.”

• The Rams close the regular season next Thursday against Central Bucks East,

North Penn 2 3 2—7

Pennridge 0 0 0—0

First-period goals: Chris Silvotti (NP) from Ismael Cabrales and Gabe Dunn, 3:12; Tyler Evans (NP) from Milo Little and Landon Hostetter, 13:36

Second-period goals: Silvotti (NP) from Ismael Cabrales and Briggs Hostetter, 1:03; Declan Leahy (NP) from Chase Kelly Del Ricci and Evans, 6:56; Nolan Shingle (NP) from Daniel Cabrales and Ismael Cabrales,  12:08

Third-period goals: Shingle (NP) from Silvotti and Ismael Cabrles 1:57; Gabriel Dunn (NP) from Leahy and Daniel Cabrales

Shots: North Penn 54, Pennridge 19; Saves : Aidan Quigley (NP) 19, Andrew Slutsky (Pr) 47

Knights Embark on Cancer Fight

It was a night when the final score truly didn’t matter. There were four points at stake when North Penn and Souderton squared off on Wednesday night at Hatfield Ice but the focus of the evening was the Knights’ Hockey Fights Cancer effort. The Knights took the ice on Wednesday wearing white sweaters trimmed in purple to commemorate the occasion, which was part of a multipronged effort to promote and raise funds for the fight against cancer.

“We got some contributions from some local businesses, said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis. We got their logos put on the backs of the jerseys and were able to get these jerseys made

The North Penn junior varsity will play a Hockey Stops Cancer game of its own on Friday against Father Judge (8:50 at Hatfield) and two North Penn middle-school level teams will take the ice on Sunday against separate opponents.

North Penn assistant coach Frank Stumpo spearheaded the effort. Stumpo is also the North Penn Hockey Club treasurer; his son was diagnosed with cancer in 2024

“It’s incredible,” he said. “We talked about doing this for a couple years. My son was diagnosed with cancer a year-and-a-half ago at age 37. He’s come through it and is very healthy and that was kind of the impetus for us.

“So many of our families, not just on the hockey team but in the community have been affected by cancer. It’s a terrible disease.

“This is an opportunity, and the kids got behind it as well, to give back. We’re trying to play hockey and we’re trying to win hockey games. But we’re developing young men an we’re trying to teach them that’s there’s more to life than just what goes on on the ice so it’s a good opportunity and a wonderful learning experience for them as well.”

North Penn head coach Kevin Vaitis saw the event as a teaching moment for his players.

“I think it’s always good to give back,” he said, “and kind of make these kids aware, and the rest of our families aware; everybody’s going to be impacted to some degree by somebody battling cancer or lost somebody to cancer.

“I think if we can do our part to help raise a little bit more awareness, it goes a long way, and hopefully this is something other high-school teams in the area want to participate in as well so we can make it something bigger over the next couple years.”

North Penn Hockey Gears Up to Fight Cancer


Join the North Penn Ice Hockey Association as they take the ice to fight cancer.

North Penn will play four (4) games in January to support the American Cancer Society and Hockey Fights Cancer.

  • Varsity will suit up on Wednesday, January 7th vs Souderton at 7:20 PM 
  • Junior Varsity will take on Father Judge on Friday, January 9th at 8:50 PM
  • Middle School AAA will battle the CB West Bucks on Sunday, January 11th at 7:50 PM 
  • Middle School A will face off against Quakertown, also on Sunday, January 11th at 6:25PM
  • All games will be at Hatfield Ice

Donations can be made directly to the American Cancer Society at: https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/Northpennhockey

This is a great opportunity for North Penn to give back to the community.  Hockey Fights Cancer is an initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds for cancer research and support of those affected by cancer.   North Penn looks to make this an annual event. 

“As an organization, we always strive to be one of the premier high school ice hockey programs, not only with our performance on the ice but some of the things we do within the community,” said North Penn head coach Kevin Vaitis. “So far this year, we have support our local veterans, we have organized a leaf pick up for some of the elderly in our community, and next week 12/15 we are delivering toys to those less fortunate at the North Penn Valley Boys and Girls Club. We are excited in January for these Cancer Awareness Games.”

Assistant Coach and Treasurer Frank Stumpo adds “I have been involved with North Penn Ice Hockey for over 25 years from my kids playing to now serving as a coach and a volunteer within the organization. We always look to teach these players some life lessons that are more important than the game of hockey at times. Cancer has most likely impacted all of us at some point in our life and I hope that we are able to raise some money for research and awareness through this game on January 7th.”

North Penn 8 C.B. South 1

Special teams made a huge difference for North Penn Wednesday night. The Knights scored two shorthanded goals not quite three minutes apart in the second period, and added a power-play three-and-a-half minutes after that to break open a tight game and go on to an 8-1 win over Central Bucks South in the annual County Line Cup encounter at Hatfield Ice.

The win kept the reigning Class AA Flyers Cup and state champions unbeaten at 6-0 and 5-0 in SHSHL National.

Ironically, the Knights had to play from behind; it was the Titans (4-3, 3-2 in conference) who scored the first goal of the evening. Owen Frey beat Aidan Quigley in the North Penn net 6:20 into the first frame

Declan Leahy responded for the Knights with 24.7 seconds left in the opening period, a period that saw North Penn build a 14-6 edge in shots.

The flow of play was interrupted by five minor penalties. The Knights’ Sam Norton drew concurrent penalties for cross checking and unsportsmanlike conduct, a circumstance that saw the Titans with a three-and-a-half-minute power play. South failed to capitalize however, an inkling of what was to come.

The Knights drew their fifth penalty of the game when James Boyle was sent off for cross checking 7:04 into the middle period. But his teammates did not sit back.

Chris Silvotti’s shorthanded goal put North Penn in front for the first time with 9:01 left in the period and Norton, once having escaped from the penalty box, added another shorthanded goal with 6:05 remaining. It became a 4-1 game when Daniel Cabrales scored a power-play goal with 2:37 left and Norton added an even-strength goal before the period ended.

“Special teams is always a big factor in these games,” Norton said. “When there are a lot of {penalties} you’ve got to score goals on the power play and not let goals in on the penalty kill.”

On this occasion, the Knights were particularly dangerous while shorthanded and still played up-tempo hockey.

“Sometimes those stretch play work,” Norton said.

Boyle, Leahy, and Tyler Evans all scored for North Penn in the third period, leaving South coach Josh Sklar to wonder what became of his team’s early momentum.

“The first 10 minutes of the game our foot was on the gas,” he said. “We had the momentum we took it off, they took it, and we never got it back.”

Norton led the barrage for North Penn with two goals and two assists. Ismael Cabrales also had a four-point night with a goal and three assists. Boyle finished with a goal and two assists. He notes that team chemistry has been a big factor in North Penn’s success on this night, and over the past two seasons.

“We have lots of chemistry,” going on,” he said. “We know exactly what we want to do when we go out there.

“It’s huge to be able to get momentum off the kill and on the power play. I think overall, the chemistry helps us.”

North Penn 1 4 —8

C.B. South 1 0 0—1

First period goals: Owen Frey (CBS) from Grant Boyne, 6:20; Declan Leahy (NP) from Chris Silvotti and Chase Kelly Del Ricci, 16:36

Second-period goals: Kelly Del Ricci (NP) from Sam Norton, 7:59 (sh); Norton (NP) from James Boyle, 10:55 (sh); Daniel Cabrales (NP) from Boyle and Nolan Shingle 14:23 (pp); Norton (NP) fro9mm Ismael Cabrales and moon Hostetter, 16:15

Third-period goals: Boyle (NP) from Cabrales and Norton, 8:24; Leahy (NP) from Hostetter and Tyler Evans, 10:04; Cabrales (NP) from Norton, 16:02

Shots: North Penn 46, C.B. South 27; Saves: Aidan Qugley (NP) 26, Nathan Napoitano (CBS) 38

North Penn 5 Council Rock South 2

By Karen Sangillo

It was an early season matchup that could become a harbinger for the post-season. 

Council Rock South hosted the defending National Division, Flyers Cup and state champion North Penn and fell to the Knights, 5-2, on Wednesday night at Grundy Ice Arena. 

Both teams entered the game undefeated at 3-0. 

CR South got on the board first with a goal by Jake Weiner, midway through the first period. 

“Scoring first definitely gave us a lift, but we have to learn to keep our heads up and keep moving when the other team scores,” said CR South goaltender Trey Prozzillo, a senior. 

Late in the first period the Golden Hawks (5-1 overall) got into some trouble when they were issued a bench minor, served by Xavier Prozorov. He joined Jordan Sarne, already in the penalty box for cross checking. 

The five-on-three power play was too good of an opportunity for the Knights to miss, and they didn’t. Samuel Norton stuffed it in with an assist from goaltender Andrew Norton and the period ended tied, 1-1.

“We knew they were going to come out strong right away, so it wasn’t too surprising when they scored first, but we bounced back pretty fast,” said Norton, a junior forward. “We thought this was going to be one of the toughest games of the year for us and we came out of it pretty well.

“We did a good job of moving the puck into the neutral zone and we played pretty good defense. Our offense needs a little work but it’s still early in the season so I think we’ll get it down by the time the playoffs come around.” 

North Penn’s Chris Silvotti IV made it 2-1 three minutes into the second period, but CR South tied it up on a goal by Keegan Spence. 

North Penn (5-0 overall) took control in the third period, with Samuel Norton netting the game winner two minutes into play and Declan Leahy and Silvotti providing a pair of insurance goals. 

“Being the defending state champions hasn’t changed anything for us,” said North Penn senior Danial Cabrales, a defenseman. “We aren’t doing anything different, but I do feel like we’re more of a target this year. Everyone knows we’re the defending state champion so everyone wants to beat us. 

“But we pretty much have the same team back again so I feel like we definitely can do it again.”

There are quite a few new faces on the CR South squad, which graduated nine from last year. 

“This was a good early test for us,” Prozzillo said. “Next time we see them we’re going to work harder and not take our foot off the gas.

“We hung in there for a while but we have kids who have to fill new roles and they’re still learning. We’re definitely going to go to practice on Monday and work on the things we need to work on. 

“I think they’ll figure out their assignments and know what they need to do next game. This was the toughest game we’ve had all year against probably the toughest team we’ll see all year, and we’ve got to learn from it.”

North Penn 1 1 3—5

Council Rock South 1 1 0—2

First-period goals: Jake Weiner (CRS) from Allen Pronin, 8:44; Samuel Norton (NP) from Andrew Norton, 16:16 (pp)

Second-period goals: Christopher Silvotti IV (NP) from James Boyle and Declan Willison, 14:00; Keegan Spence (CRS) from Brendan Rooney, 14:24

Third-period goals: S. Norton (NP) from Danial Cabrales, 1:48; Declan Leahy (NP) from Luke Haftel and Chase Kelly Del Ricci, 10:29; Silvotti (NP) from Del Ricci, 12:47

Shots: North Penn 38, Council Rock South 24; Saves: A. Norton (NP) 22, Trey Prozzillo (CRS) 33 

Malvern Prep 5 North Penn 2

Logan Logan Love scored two goals and three other players added one goal each as the Friars bested the Class AA Flyers Cup and state champion Knights Wednesday evening at Ice Line.

It was the first win of the season for Malvern Prep (1-1-1).

Love’s first goal came with one minute remaining in the opening period and tied the game after Sam Norton had given North Penn the early lead.

Rocco Corrado gave the hosts the lead for good 4:38 into the second period and Love’s second goal extended that lead five-and-a-half minutes later.

Logan Singles brought North Penn closer 1:26 into the third period before Staton Luke Johnson and Lawrence Ayers scored goals 63 seconds apart to secure the win.

Malvern Prep will open APAC play November 19 at Holy Ghost Prep.

 North Penn 1 0 1—2

Malvern Prep 1 2 2—5

First-period goals: Sam Norton (NP) unassisted, 12:19; Logan Love (MP) unassisted, 16:00

Second-period goals: Rocco Corrado (MP) from Charles Ingersol and Cole Wray, 4:38; Love (MP) unassisted, 10:07

Third-period goals: Logan Shingles (NP) from Sam Norton and Chris Silvotti, 1:26; Staton Luke Johnson (MP)  from James Young, 11:12; Lawrence Ayers (MP) from Corrado and  Nick Troiano, 12:15

Shots: North Penn 28, Malvern Prep 28; Saves: Aidan Quigley (NP) 23, Isaac Maloney (MP) 26

North Penn Looks Back on 50 Years

The high-school hockey landscape has changed considerably over the past half century. When North Penn founded its ice hockey club for the 1975-76 season the sport was in the midst of a growth spurt, thanks in no small measure to the Philadelphia Flyers, who had just won their second consecutive Stanley Cup. In 1976 they reached the finals once more but were swept by the Montreal Canadians.

In that era, a lot of high-school players were less concerned about playing for a championship than they were happy to be playing on an enclosed rink with lies painted on the ice.

Pete Hendricks was North Penn’ first coach. For six seasons, he dealt with the challenges that are part and parcel to getting a program off the ground.

Dave Culp played for North Penn as a senior before graduating 1980. He went on to coach the Knights from 1986-94, a time when the team was at first unable to field a pure roster (consisting entirely of players from North Penn).

“When we first started, we had Lansdale Catholic and North Penn working together,” he said. “When {He started coaching}, North Penn was going downhill we couldn’t get anybody.

I was grabbing guys from North Penn Lansdale Catholic Souderton and one from a (private) Christian school.”

Culp recalls an early North Penn team being barred from the SHSHL playoffs over the purity issue.

“It took us about two years but we became pure,” he said. “We had all North Penn guys.”

Culp recalls North Penn teams playing games outdoors.

“There was a skating rink at Whites Road Park,” he said. “I remember having practices and games there when I was playing. We were playing a game there outside and snow was coming through your cage. It was the most incredible thing we’d ever done.”

Dan Vaitis has never coached North Penn, but he has been involved in the program for some 25 years and is today the club’s president, a role he has filled for a decade. His son Kevin is the longest-tenured head coach in the club’s history.

Dan Vaitis commented on the growth of amateur/scholastic hockey during his involvement with the sport.

“Ice hockey overall has become much more popular,” he said, “Not only club hockey but high school hockey and middle school hockey. I think that North Penn has set the standard over the years for being a first-class organization.

“It’s great to see all these kids participate in ice hockey. We’re extremely proud that many of our coaches are alumni of North Penn Ice Hockey in terms of love of the game, we have a lot of coaches that really love the game.”

The Knights have won three SHSHL titles in their history and claimed their first Class AA Flyers Cup and state championships last season.

Senior Chase Kelly Del Ricci carries the program’s legacy forward as this year’s captain.

“It feels pretty hood,” he said. “I’ve been here since I was a freshman and it feels pretty good to be part of something that’s lasted this long.”

North Penn 3 C.B. East 1

The Suburban High School Hockey League’s 53rd season got off to a sizzling start Wednesday night. Reigning Class AA Flyers Cup and state champion North Penn picked up where it left off last March and celebrated the club’s 50th anniversary with a 3-1 win over Central Bucks East at Hatfield Ice’s Blue Rink which was filled with friends, supporters, and former Knights.

The final score was not indicative of the flow of the game. All the scoring came in the first period. Luke Haftel, Derek Laguna and Nolan Shingle found the back of the net for the Knights while Ethan Cenci scored for the Patriots, who were outshot 58-10.

Cameron Young, East’s sophomore goaltender, made a strong case for being the best players on the ice; he finished with 55 saves.

“Fifty-nine shots and three goals,” said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis. He really kept them in it.

“A two-goal lead is the worst lead in hockey. One goal either way can really turn the game.”

Young was at his best in the opening frame when he stopped 21 of 24 shots.

“I know this is going in the loss column,” said East coach Jeff Mitchell, “but for as young a team as we have I was very impressed with my boys tonight  and most importantly, my goaltender.

“How can we give up {58} shots and there are only three goals up on that board? We’ve been very rich in high-end goaltenders in my tenure here. That was a performance that almost tops them all.”

Haftel’s opening goal came 5:16 into the game off a setup from Landon Hofstetter. Cenci answered for East at the 9:37 mark.

Laguna’s game winner came off a scramble in front with 2:17 left in the period. Shingle extended his team’s lead off a shorthanded breakaway that started via a deep carom off the wall on the Patriots’ offensive right wing.

For the Knights it was seemingly business as usual off of last year’s laurels. But Vaitis noted it was just a first step.

“We had a great season last year obviously,” he said. “But right now we’re 1-0 and it’s a long way to March.  We’ve got to take it one game at a time and get better each week.”

• Prior to the game there was a ceremony commemorating North Penn’s 50th anniversary as a club. Plaques were presented to longtime board Dan Vaitis (Kevin’s father) who is currently the club president and longtime assistant coach Frank Stumpo who also serves as the club’s treasurer.

Kevin Vaitis was glad to see the turnout of former Knights.

“There’s a lot of people that have been involved over the years,” he said. “Just to see some of the alumni here tonight coming out to cheer the guys on, it really goes a long way.”

C.B. East 1 0 0—1

North Penn 3 0 0—3

First-period goals: Luke Haftel (NP) from Landon Hofstetter, 5:16; Ethan Cenci (CBE) from Evan Asimakopoulos and Colen Kleindienst, 9:37; Derek Lugara (NP) from Sam Norton, 14:43; Nolan Shingle (NP) from Chase Boyle and Chase Kelly Del Ricci, 16:38 (sh)

Shots: C.B. East 10, North Penn 58; Saves: Cameron Young (CBE) 55, Aidan Quigley (NP) 9

North Penn Celebrates Silver Anniversay

The 1974-75 season was a great time to be a hockey fan. The Philadelphia Flyers were the defending Stanley Cup champions and would go on to win a second consecutive Cup that season.

Their success triggered the growth of the game in the Philadelphia area, including at the high-school level.

That same season the North Penn Knights took the ice for the first time, finishing with a 9-9-1 record against Intercounty League opposition.

Wednesday night, the Knights, who are the defending Class AA and Flyers Cup state champions, will commemorate that occasion when the open their 2025-26 season against Central Bucks East. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:20 at Hatfield Ice as the Suburban High School Hockey League begins its 53rd season; North Penn made its debut in the SHSHL in 1975-76.

The Knights have won three SHSHL titles in 2002, ’09 and ’14

Students, alumni, and friends are encouraged to be on hand. North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis is looking forward to be a new season.

“We’re looking forward to another great season,” he said, “having graduated only three (3) seniors from last year’s squad, we expect good things to happen again this year, and our team is excited to raise to the challenge.”

Ice chips—Five games are listed on the SHSHL’s Opening Night schedule

7:20 North Penn vs. C.B. East       Hatfield Blue

8:30 Wissahickon vs. Abington    Hatfield Gray

9:00 Springfield vs, PW       Hatfield Blue

7:20 Pennsbury vs C.B. South       Grundy

9:00 Council Rock South vs. C.B. West Grundy