PHILADELPHIA—One team was embarking on a new journey. The other was continuing an existing one. So, it was when Father Judge and The Haverford School crossed paths Monday night at the Flyers Skate Zone Northeast.
It was the Crusaders who prevailed, scoring three goals in the third period to pull away to a 6-1 win as both teams opened their ICSHL/Prep-Catholic campaigns.

Owen Myers had a major impact on the evening’s events, scoring the game’s first goal and later assisting on three others to help Judge improve its record to 5-1-1 overall.

“I thought we played really good,” the senior said. “I thought we did all the little stuff right.”

Myers says it’s important for he and his teammates to maintain good playing habits regardless of the score or opponent.

“Last year, we had a little bit of a problem with that,” he said. “We would play some teams, and then we would go into games where we were facing good teams and it would translate. I think recently, with this team, we’ve been doing things pretty good and I think it’s going to translate well.”

Myers’s goal with 3:21 left in the opening period was the only goal of the first frame thanks the efforts of Ike Matoney in the Haverford School (0-2) net. Fifteen of the freshman’s 36 saves came in the first period.

Myers picked up the primary assist on Jaden Golden’s goal 5:07 into the second period but Harry Neilly answered for the Fords just 20 seconds later.

Judge got control of the game when Gold scored off a shorthanded breakaway 8:26 into the middle period while his teammate Joseph Mullen was serving a cross-checking penalty. Myers went in alone on Matoney, who denied him, but Gold scored off the ensuing rebound.

The Crusaders added three additional goals in the third period; one each from Mullen, Jake Pound, and Matt McFadyen.

Judge coach Steve Meade encouraged his team to stay patient.

“If you have a goalie that’s made a lot of big saves,” that means you have a lot of big chances,” he said. “[Matoney] had to make the saves. You can’t get frustrated. Just continue to do what you’re doing and they’ll fall. You’ve just got to get the goalie to move side to side and the puck will go in.”

Meade has been impressed with the way his team has started the season.

“We weren’t too sure how we were going to be looking this year,” he said. “We had a lot of young guys coming on the team. So, to start off the way did, I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the way they’ve done it.”

 Haverford School, which is making its ICSHL debut this season, Monday’s game was a step in the maturation of a young hockey team. Ten of the 15 players who dressed for coach Thomas Lindberg were underclassmen.

“I think the biggest piece of this group is they’re young,” Lindberg said. “This is our first year at this level and they’ve got to learn, night in and night out, what it takes to compete and be relevant. And, that’s all part of the learning process.”

Haverford School 0 1 0—1

Father Judge 1 2 3—6

First-period goal: Owen Myers (FJ) from Jake Ruppert, 13:39

Second-period goals: Jaiden Golden (FJ) from Myers and Joseph Mullen, 5:07; Harry Neilly (HS) from Henry Cagiusio, 5:25; Golden (FJ) from Myers, 8:26 (sh)

Third-period goals: Mullen (FJ) from Golden and Myers, 4:11; Jake Proud (FJ) from Chris Ferrero and Gavin Culver, 11:07; Matt McFadyen (FJ) from Nolan Rauch, 11:37

Shots: Hav. School 20, Father Judge 42; Saves: Ike Matoney (HS) 36, Jonathan Dilliplane (FJ) 19

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