Pennridge 6 Boyertown 3

HATFIELD—A fast start paid big dividends for Pennridge Wednesday night. The Rams jumped in front with two early goals and went on to a 6-3 win over Boyertown at Hatfield Ice Arena as a part of the SHSHL-ICSHL series.

James Rush scored twice for the defending Class AA Flyers Cup and state champions. Shane Dachowski added two goals and two assists as Pennridge improved to 2-1 on the season.

The Rams got off to a fast start. Rush scored off a turnover at center ice, beating Boyertown netminder Tyler Griffith to give his team a 1-0 lead 3:01 into the first frame. He made it a 2-0 game just 18 seconds later.

Logan Brown answered for the Bears (3-2) 8:59 into the period but Dachowski made it a 3-1 game with 1:53 remaining.

“It’s always great to get those early goals,” Rush said. “It gives your team the momentum for the rest of the game and you just try to maintain the lead from that point on.”

The Rams had just 12 skaters a available because of injuries and their coach Jeff Montagna was pleased with how his team stepped up in one of the most anticipated matchups of the interconference challenge series, against an opponent that reached the Flyers Cup semifinals last spring. The Bears were limited to just six shots in the opening period

“I thought we played a tremendous game,” Montagna said. I thought we did a great job in the slot area.

“I told [his team] Thais is a a blueprint for us. The starters scored, everyone else keep the puck out of our net and do the dirty work, the dirty things that not every team wants to do.”

Dachowski and Rush scored goals not quite six minutes apart to increase the Pennridge lead to 5-1 with 7:45 left in the middle period. Joseph Bilotta scored for Boyertown with 5:24 left in the second session and added his second goal of the night with exactly two minutes remaining in the game, Ladan Bishop brought down the curtain when he added a goal with 56 seconds remaining,

Boyertown coach Joe Slowik praised the way his team competed.

“I thought our team competed very well,” he said. “They’re the defending state champs so you’ve got to give them some credit.

“But I thought we competed really well and I thought we had a lot of self-inflicted wounds. We turned a lot of pucks over, we didn’t get exits when we should have and definitely weren’t very good in front of either net.”

Rush said the win against a top-tier opponent told the Rams a lot about themselves.

“You get to see what our team is going to look like this year,” he said, “what kind of opponents you can really handle. I think we got a good understanding of how good we will be this year.”

• The win was the first for the SHSHL in the three games that were played through Wednesday night; ICSHL teams won the first two.

Slowik commented on what the crossover games do to promote high-school hockey.

“I love it,” he said. “I think it’s great. When they put this on our schedule, the crossover game, I thought it was great because the only time we play each other is in the Flyers Cup and that’s in March.

“I would like to see maybe even a little more of these crossover games. I think it’s great for high-school hockey here in Pennsylvania.”

Boyertown 1 1 1—3

Pennridge 3 3 1—6

First-period goals: James Rush (P) unassisted, 3:01; Rush (P) Shane Dachowski and Ladan Bishop, 3:19; Logan Brown (B) from Lucas Remick, 8:01; Dachowski (P) from Jared Garber, 15:07

Second-period goals: Dachowski (P) unassisted, 3:28; Ruah (P) from Garber and Dachowski, 9:15; Joseph Bilotta (B) from Evan Kurtas and Riley Berger, 11:36

Third-period goals: Bilotta (B) from Weston Bieber and Jax Drost,15:00 Logan Biahop (P) from Dachowski, 16:06 (pp)

Shots: Boyertown 29, Pennridge 32; Saves: Tyler Griffith (B) 26, Jacob Winston (P) 26

C.B. South 5 Pennridge 4 OT

HATFIELD—For drama, this one was hard to top. J.D. Crouch scored on a shorthanded breakaway just before the overtime-ending buzzer to give Central Bucks South a stunning 5-4 win over Pennridge Thursday night in a SHSHL National Division meeting at Hatfield Ice Arena.

The Titans overcame a 3-0 second-period deficit to post their second consecutive win of the young season. The Rams (1-1) saw a four-point effort from Shane Dachowski go unrewarded; the senior delivered three goals and an assist. And Pennridge goaltender Jacob Winton was credited with 57 saves in the losing effort.

Dachowski was at the forefront of the game’s penultimate sequence; he had a clear path to the net when he was taken down by the Titans’ Sean Cutter, who was called for tripping with 9.6 seconds remaining in the five-minute overtime. allowing the Rams to put an extra skater on the ice. Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna’s lobbying effort for a penalty shot was unsuccessful.

Crouch got control of the puck off the ensuing offensive right-circle faceoff and headed for the other end of the ice, hoping to win the race against time.

“It was kind of just a lucky bounce,” he said. “I chipped it of the wall and the [defensemen] stepped and gave me all the time. There was not much time on the clock so I just had to shoot it. I heard my teammates on the bench yelling to shoot it, so I just ripped it.”

After a scoreless first period, it was the Rams, who took command in the second frame with a goal from Shane Venner followed by a pair from Dachowski to build a three-goal advantage. But Dominic Gibson and Joey Slobodrian scored goals for the Titans 51 seconds apart to make it a one-goal game with 3:41 left in the period.

Dachowski and Slobodrian traded goals before the second period ended; Gibson tied the game with 6:19 left in regulation.

Pennridge started the overtime with a four-skaters-to-three advantage after the Titans’ Logan Hood was flagged for interference with 42 seconds left in regulation but the Rams couldn’t take advantage.

South coach Shaun McGinty celebrated his team’s comeback.

“That’s a never-give-up attitude,” said. “That’s a team effort. [62] shots to 36, obviously, we’re getting the shots and controlling that end of the game. But [Winton] is an unbelievable goaltender. They obviously have guys that are going to do damage when they have the puck.

“Dachowski is a phenomenal player and he’s just going to do what he does.”

Montagna credited his team for its effort, Winton in particular.

“Jacob was obviously unbelievable in net,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about our team tonight. They played a phenomenal game. I’m proud of them, I really am.

C.B. South 0 3 1 1—5

Pennridge 0 4 0 0—4

Second-period goals: Shane Venner (P) from Kaden Gunning, 2:00; Shane Dachowski (P) unassisted, 4:42; Dachowski (P) from James Rush, 11:02; Dominic Gibson (CBS) from Jeff Kvecher and Sean Cutter, 12:28 (pp); Joey Slobodrian (CBS) from Cutter, 13:19; Dachowski (P) from Rush, 14:43; Slobodrian (CBS) from Logan Hood and Jake Stepp, 16:02

Third-period goal: Gibson (CBS) from Slobodrian, 10:41

Overtime goal: J.D. Crouch (CBS) unassisted, 0:00

Shots: C.B. South 62, Pennridge 36; Saves: Nate Neapolitan (CBS) 32, Jacob Winton (P) 57

Pennridge 7 Thomas Jefferson 5

HAVERFORD TMomentum TOWNSHIP—Momentum in a hockey game is often fleeting, and can shift at a moment’s notice. There are occasions however, when momentum shits can prove decisive. So it was for Pennridge on Saturday afternoon.

On two occasions, the flow of the game shifted in the Rams’ favor, allowing them to prevail 7-5 over Thomas Jefferson in the Pennsylvania Cup Class AA championship game at the Skatium.

It’s the second time in three seasons the Rams (23-2-2) have claimed a state title. They bested the Jaguars in overtime two years ago.

Kevin Pico finished his final high-school game with a goal and three assists.

“I’m happy now,” he said. “I’m sad it’s my last high-school game, but I’m happy we got it done, especially with this group and how much we had to fight through to get here, everything we had to play through, and all the adversity we had to go through to get here. It feels great right now.”

Saturday’s Rams-Jaguars rematch required that Pennridge play from behind at the start. Jake Strock beat Jacob Winston with the first shot of the game 27 seconds in. Scotty Allan made it a 2-0 game with a power-play goal at the 6:03 mark and Pennridge goaltender Jacob Winton seemed off his game.

At that point, Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna used his timeout. He said he was confident his team would rebound.
“We knew with the firepower we throw out there, we were going to be fine,” he said. “Jacob was off the first couple shots and we knew he would settle down.

The Ram were looking for a momentum shift. It got one when Colin Dachowki scored his team’s first goal 10:59 into the period.

“The goal Colin scored changed the whole game,” Montagna said.

Andrew Savona and Pico scored goals to give Pennridge a 3-2 lead 4:32 into the second period. But the Jaguars responded with goals from Lucas Blose and Nathan Weiss to take a 4-3 lead at the 7:26 mark.

Just over a minute later there was another momentum shift in Pennridge’s favor, with repercussions that reverberated the rest of the afternoon.

With 8:26 left in the period, Winton collected a centering pass from Thomas Jefferson’s Andrew Oliver and froze the puck. Strock, arriving late to the scene, took a poke at Winton with his stick and was accessed a five-minute major penalty for spearing plus a game misconduct, leaving the Jaguars to go the rest of the way minus their leading regular-season scorer.

It took Savona just 12 seconds to tie the game. James Rush put Pennridge in front for good with 5:29 left in the period and scored his second goal of the game 4:09 into the third frame, Pennridge’s third goal in a span of 12:23 of playing time.

Liam Mahoney made it a one-goal game once more with 10:24 still remaining, but Shane Dachowski scored his second goal of the game with 8:04 left.

Savona noted the impact the spearing call on Strock had on the game.

“It was difficult,” he said, “but it was just huge for us. It gave us a lot of momentum. We were able to get two goals.

Thomas Jefferson 2 2 1—5

Pennridge 1 4 2—7

First-period goals: Jake Strock (TJ) from Ryder McGuirk and Andrew Oliver, :27; Scotty Allan (TJ) unassisted, 6:03 (pp); Colin Dachowski (P) from Andrew Savona and Kevin Pico, 10:59

Second-period goals: Shane Dachowski (P) from Kevin Pico and James Rush, 1:45 (pp); Pico (P) from Nick Young, 4:32; Lucas Blose (TJ) from Nathan Weiss, 5:39; Weiss (TJ) from Allan, 7:26; Savona (P) from Colin Dachowski, 8:46 (pp); Rush (P) from Savona, 11:31(pp)

Third-period goals: James Rush (P) from Josh Kelly 4:09; Liam Mahoney (TJ) 6:36; Shane Dachowski (P) from Pico, 8:56

Shots: Thomas Jefferson 48, Pennridge 33 Saves: Ronald Porupsky (P) 26, Jacob Winton (P 43

State Championship Preview

This marks the 48^th year that Pennsylvania has crowned a scholastic ice hockey champion. In 1975 the first state tournament brought together six teams from across the Commonwealth. Baldwin defeated Churchill in the first state championship game. Richland, Erie McDowell, Springfield-Delco and Bishop Neumann were also in the field.

The Flyers Cup tournament was launched in 1980; a year later, Archbishop Carroll became the first Flyers Cup champion to win a Pennsylvania Class AAA state title. While the Flyers Cup was a single-class tournament at the time, the state tournament crowned Class AAA and Class AA champions from 1976-88 (There was no state tournament in 1978, nor in 2020).

In 1989, the state tournament added a third classification (Class A).

Two years later, the Flyers Cup adopted a three-class format and the state championship became a matchup of the Flyers Cup and Penguins Cup champions in each classification.

Saturday’s schedule at the Skatium in Haverford Township is as follows:

All three games will be streamed on the Flyers Cup YouTube Channel

Class A

11:00 Hershey (20-3-1) vs. Chartiers Valley (23-0)

The Trojans, who are competing in their first final. are paced by Blake Umberger who has scored 17 goals and added 25 assists for 42 points. Kyle Kloss has scored 17 goals if his own and added 19 assists for 36 points.

Chartiers Valley is trying for its second state title. The first came in 1986 as a Class AA team. Noah Callander leads the Colts in scoring with 30 regular-season goals and 14 assists for 44 points. Brady Narin has contributed 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points

Class AA

2:00 Pennridge (22-2-2) vs. Thomas Jefferson (20-2)

This game is a rematch of the 2022 title game, which saw the Rams prevail 4-3 in overtime.

Kevin Pico has scored 40 goals for the Rams this season under the SHSHL umbrella and added 56 assists for 96 points. Andrew Savona has collected 42 goals and added 41 assists for 83 points. Shane Dachowski has provided 37 goal and 42 assists for 79 points.

The Jaguars, who won three consecutive state titles from 1998-2000 are paced by Jake Stock who scored 19 regular-season goals and added 26 assists for 45 points. Andrew Oliver added 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points.

Class AAA

5:00 La Salle (23-3) vs. Pine-Richland 18-5

The Explorers are trying to become the first team to successfully defend a Class AAA state title since they themselves did so in 2009. They’ve won eight state title, seven of them at the AAA level. Dean Caravalho has scored 20 goals and added 11 assists for 31 points. Patrick Brace has added 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points.

Pine-Richland won back-to-back AA state titles in 2006-07. The Rams are led by Zachary Howard who scored 17 regular-season goals and added 14 assists for 31 points. Cullin Campbell is next with 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points.

The Skatium itself is celebrating its history. One of the oldest high-school hockey facilities in Pennsylvania, it is marking its 50th anniversary this year.

Pennridge 7 C.R. South 3

Some are of the opinion that a hockey goaltender occupies the most important position in any team sport. Those who hold that view had it reinforced Wednesday night over the course of the Class AA Flyers Cup final.

At evening’s end, the scoreboard at Hatfield Ice indicated that top-seeded Pennridge had defeated second-seeded Council Rock South 7-3 to win its second Cup title in three years. It also indicated that the Golden Hawks had outshot the Rams 52-29 over the course of the 51-minute game.

All this is indicative of the performance Jacob Winton in the Pennridge net. When the Hawks were surrounding him like birds targeting their prey, Winton held firm, even as his team was being outshot 9-1 in the early going.

When the Rams (22-2-2) finally broke through at the other end, on Shane Dachowski’s goal 9:14 into the first period and not incidentally the first goal of the game, the tone of the evening shifted dramatically.

Even after the Golden Hawks’ Chase Tovsky tied the game with 6:43 left in the period the Rams were not deterred. Kevin Pico put Pennridge back in front with 90 seconds left in the opening session and his team never trailed again.

Ilya Kudzinau tied the game for South (24-2) 23 seconds into the second frame but momentum continued to flow in the Rams’ direction. Dachowski and Pico scored goals to give their side a 4-2 advantage.

At that point South coach Joe Houk used his timeout and pulled goaltender Trevor Rakszawski, who had surrendered the four goals on 13 shots. Trey Prozzillo took his place.

At the other end of the ice, Winton remained resolute. He allowed a single goal over the final 33:37 of regulation.

“Making some of those [early] saves kind of set the tone for later in the game,” he said. “I think it just kind of put us in the right mindset going into the second and third periods.”

Houk felt a number of his players’ shots misfired. “We shot just as many pucks over the net as at him,” he said. “We pressured the goalie with less shots last game (in a semifinal win over Boyertown) than we did this game.

“We beat ourselves. I think we’re a better team than them but they got all the bounces tonight, they got the opportunities, and my goaltender was not very strong.”

Winton spoke to the momentum shift that occurred after Dachowski scored the game’ first goal.

“As soon as you score a goal momentum shifts,” he said. “We just kind of kept going from there.”

The Rams did just that. Colin Dachowski’s goal made it a 5-2 game 3:35 into the third period. Ilya Muhkin answered for South and it was a 5-3 game with 8:20 still remaining but Shane Dachowski and Pico closed the door on the Hawks and opened another for themselves; Pennridge will face Penguins Cup champion Thomas Jefferson Saturday at the Skatium in the state championship game (2:00 start).

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna said Wednesday’s win should eliminate any doubt about the credibility of his program.

“We graduated eight really important guys two year ago,” he said. “The team had to listen, for two years, about us being a one-line hockey team. To win again tonight is a complete and total validation of this program.”

Ice chips—Winton was named the Bobby Clarke Award winner as the tournament’ Most Valuable Player. The rest of the All-Tournament team included Shane Dachowki (the tournament’s leading scorer), Colin Dachowski, Pico, and Blaise Pepe and Kevin Coles from Council Rock South.

Council Rock South 1 1 1—3

Pennridge 2 2 3—7

First-period goals: Shane Dachowski (P) from Andrew Savona, 9:14; Chase Tovsky (CRS) from Blaize Pepe, 10:17; Kevin Pico (P) from Tyler Manto and Savona, 15:30

Second-period goals: Gavin Nisenzon (CRS) from Ilya Kudzinau :23; Shane Dachowski (P) unassisted, 4:18 (pp); Pico (P) from Shane Dachowski, 13:38

Third-period goals: Colin Dachowski (P) from Ryan Mikulich, 3:35; Ilya Muhkin from Nikita Volbuiev and Kevin Koles, 8:40; Shane Dachowski (P) from Pico and Nick Young, 9:20; Savona (P) from Colin Dachowski, 14:30

Shots: Council Rock South 52, Pennridge 29; Saves: Trevor Rakszawski (CRS) 9 and Trey Prozzillo (CRS) 13, Jacob Winston (P) 49

Flyers Cup Class AAA/AA Finals Preview

Wednesday, March 20

Class AAA Final

La Salle vs. 2. Malvern Prep

6:00 at Hatfield Ice

La Salle (22-3)—The defending champion Explorers are trying for their 13^th Flyers Cup title, an achievement that would expand on their all-time record of 12 , the most of any school in any classification.

Head coach Wally Muehlbronner has been on the winning side in a final on 10 occasions.

This year’s team bested Perkiomen Valley 5-1 and Holy Ghost Prep 5-2 to reach the finals.

Seven different players have scored goals in the two Flyers Cup games. Grant Lagreca has two goals and two assists. Dean Carvalho has scored three goals while James Carpenter has provided two goal and an assist.

Malvern Prep (11-8)

The Friars have claimed 10 Flyers Cup titles, second only to La Salle on the all-time list. Victories over Devon Prep 8-0 and St. Joseph’s Prep 3-1 put them in the finals.
Ten different Malvern Prep players have scored goals in the tournament. Jeremy Jacobs leads the way with a goal and three assists. Aidan Kelly has added a goal and two assists.

This marks the third meeting of the season between the two teams. La Salle won the two regular-season meetings.

11-22 La Salle 4 Malvern Prep 1

1-17 La Salle 3 Malvern Prep 0

Class AA Final

Pennridge vs. 2 Council Rock South

8:45 at Hatfield Ice

Pennridge 21-2-2

The top-seeded Rams claimed the Class AA Flyers Cup and state titles in 2022 and reached the Cup finals last season.

This year’s team reached the finals with wins over Bensalem 10-2, Downingtown East 5-1 and Downingtown West 10-1

The Rams feature one of the most explosive lines that has ever skated for any area high-school team. Shane Dachowski has six goals and five assists for 11 points in three Cup games. Kevin Pico has five goals and five assists for 10 points, while Andrew Savona has provided four goals and four assists for eight points.

Council Rock South 24-1

The second-seeded Golden Hawks are seeking their fourth Flyers Cup. The previous three came in 2009, ’11, and ’12.

This year’s squad reached the finals with wins over Spring-Ford 12-0, Cherokee 7-1, and Boyertown 3-1. Kevin Koles is the team’s top tournament scorer with three goal and nine assists for 12 points. Blaise Pepe has accumulated three goal and five assists for eight points, while Jake Weiner has provided five goals and two assists for seven points.

This marks the fourth time the Ram and Golden Hawks have faced one another this season.

12-13 Pennridge 7 Council Rock South 3

2-7 Council Rock South 8 Pennridge 7

2-29 Council Rock South 7 Pennridge 2*

*For the SHSHL National Division championship

Pennridge 10 C.B. East 0

Pennridge overwhelmed shorthanded Central Bucks East Wednesday night and rolled to the win in a SHSHL National Division semifinal at Hatfield Ice that was halted with 5:48 remaining in the third period.

Kevin Pico had a five-point night for the top-seeded Rams (18-1-2) with three goals and two assists. Andrew Savona contributed two goals and two assists.

Shane Dachowski, Ian Brouse, Josh Kelly, James Rush, and James Embert also scored goals.

The fourth-seeded Patriots (12-6-2) were without several players and coach Jeff Mitchell because of suspensions and injuries.

“We knew they were going to be down,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna, “but we knew we could not look past them. We played very well and got scoring from all four lines.

Pennridge will face Council Rock South for the National Division title Thursday night at Hatfield Ice. Game time is 7:45.

C.B. East 0 0 0—0

Pennridge 4 4 2—10

First-period goals: Andrew Savona (P) unassisted, 5:22; Savona from Kevin Pico, 8:46 (pp); Pico from Savona and Shane Dachowski, 12:24; James Rush (P) from Jared Garber and Pico, 14:28

Second-period goals: Dachowski (P) from John Mikulich and Savona, 1:04; Ian Brouse (P) from Dhilan Howard and Ryan Mikhulich, 4:08; Josh Kelly (P) gtom Dachowski and John Mikulich, 5:50; Pico from Dachowski and Tyler Manto, 10:14

Third-period goals: James Embert (P) from Nathan McKean and Kelly, 8:16; Pico (P) unassisted, 11:12

Game terminated with 5:48 remaining in the third period

Shots: C.B. Est 11, Pennridge 67 Saves: Cole Breen (CBE) 57, Jacob Winton (P) 11

Playoff Ponderings SHSHL 2-27-24

Wednesday, February 28

National Division Semifinals

Pennridge vs. 4. Central Bucks East

8:45 at Hatfield Ice

Pennridge (17-1-2)

The Rams will put one of the most potent lines in SHSHL history on ice. Kevin Pico has scored 28 goals and added 47 assists for 75 points. Andrew Savona has added 40 goals and 31 assists for 71 points while Shane Dachowski has provided 27 goals and 33 assists for 60 points. The trio finished first, third, and fifth respectively in the SHSHL in regular-season scoring.

Goaltender Jacob Winton carries an .897 save percentage and a 2.64 GAA.

Pennridge went 1-0-1 against East this season.

Central Bucks East 12-5-2

The Patriots will be without three players and Head Coach Jeff Mitchell Wednesday night due to suspensions but they will have the services of Corey Kosick who has scored 27 goals and added 12 assists for 39 points. Jaden Young has provided 10 goals and added 16 assists.

Goaltender Cole Breen carries an .895 save percentage and a 3.43 GAA.

The Patriots are hoping to get a chance to play for their first SHSHL title since 2011.

2. Council Rock South vs. 3. Central Bucks South

7:20 at Grundy Arena

Council Rock South (18-1)

The Golden Hawks are hoping for a chance to successfully defend their division title, something no National Division team has done since Central Bucks South won four straight division crowns from 2015-18.

Kevin Koles leads his team in scoring with 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points. Jake Weiner is next with 28 goals and 20 assists for 48 points while Blaize Pepe has contributed 16 goals and 27 assists for 43 points.

Trevor Rakszawski is the probable starter in goal. He’s maintaining a 2.34 GAA with an .876 save percentage.

The Golden Hawks own two wins over the Titans this season.

Central Bucks South (13-7-1)

It’s been six years since the Titans last won an SHSHL title; they’re looking for a chance to play for another.

D.J. Lindenmuth paces the team in scoring with 22 goals and 15 assists for 37 points. Sean Cutter has added nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points. Nathan Napolitano carries an .883 save percentage and a 2.75 GAA in goal.

Dom Varacallo maintains an .880 save percentage and a 3.08 GAA.

The two semifinal winners will play for the National Division title Thursday night at a site and at a time TBD.

All four semifinalists will move on to the Class AA Flyers Cup on March 5

1.Pennridge will play 16. Bensalem

2. Council Rock South will play 15. Spring Ford

6. Central Bucks South will play 11. Avon Grove

8. Central Bucks East will play 9. Downingtown East

American Division Final

Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. 3. Bensalem

6:50 at Hatfield Ice

Plymouth Whitemarsh (13-3)

The Colonials will be trying for their first American Division title since 2020. David Branigan leads the team in scoring with 23 goals and 16 assists for 39 points. Dylan Novitski is next with 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points. Jason Segal has contributed 14 goal and 16 assists for 30 points.

Goaltender Julian Lucks carries an .882 save percentage and a 3.21 GAA into the final.

The Colonials won two of three meetings with Bensalem during the regular season.

Bensalem (13-3)

The Owls will try and make history Wednesday night as they seek their first SHSHL title. Alex Hood was second in scoring in the entire SHSHL during the regular season; he’s scored 53 goals and added 20 assists for 73 points. Bensalem will be without second-leading scorer Alex Bazylevich who is serving a suspension but Lucas Gonzales has contributed 12 goal and 19 assists for 31 points.

Goaltender Ricky Gonzalez maintains a .907 save percentage and a 2.87 GAA.

Both teams are assured of moving on to the Flyers Cup. The Colonials are seeded eighth in the Class A field and will face Unionville on March 4. The Owls are seeded 16^th in the Class AA field and will go against Pennridge on March 5.

Flyers Cup Schedule

A total of 41 teams in four divisions will skate in the 45^th annual Flyers Cup tournament.

Eight teams will comprise the Class AAA bracket, 16 more will compete in Class AA, 12 in Class A and five in the Girls Division.

The Delaware/South Jersey bracket has been eliminated this season.

First-round games are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, March 4 – 6; the tournament is expected to conclude March 19 or 20.

Nine SHSHL teams made the tournament field as did four APAC teams.

Here is an overview of the tournament schedule

All sites and times beyond the first round are tentative and subject to change.

Class AAA Quarterfinals

Monday, March 1. La Salle vs. 8. Perkiomen Valley 8:30/Hatfield Ice

Tuesday, March 5 4. Holy Ghost Prep vs. 5. Father Judge 8:30/Grundy

Monday, March 4 2. Malvern Prep vs. 7. Devon Prep 6:15/Ice Line

Monday, Match 4 3. St. Joseph’s Prep vs. 6. Salesianum 7:00 Skatium

Semifinals March 18 (tentative)

Finals March 19 or 20

Class AA First Round

Tuesday, March 5

1.Pennridge vs. 16. Bensalem 8:30/Hatfield

8. Central Bucks East vs. 9. Downingtown East 6:00/ Hatfield

4. Downingtown West vs. 13. Souderton 6:15/Ice Line

5. Haverford High vs. 12. North Penn 7:00/Skatium

2. Council Rock South vs. 15. Spring Ford 6:00/Grundy

7. Lower Merion vs. 10 Cherokee 9:00/Skatium

3. Boyertown vs. 14. Pennsbury 8:30/Ice Line

6. Central Bucks South vs. 11 Avon Grove 6:30 at Hatfield

Thursday, March 7

Quarterfinals

Pennridge/Bensalem vs. C.B. East/Downingtown East

Downingtown West/Souderton vs. Haverford/North Penn

C.R. South/Spring Ford vs. Lower Merion/Cherokee

Boyertown/Pennsbury vs. C.B. South/Avon Grove

Semifinals

TBD The week of 3-11

Finals

March 19, 20, or 21 Site TBD

Class A First Round

Monday, March 4

8. Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. 9. Unionville 6:00/Hatfield

5. Lower Dauphin vs. 12. Radnor 7:45 Ice Line

7. Palmyra vs. 10. Penncrest 8:30 Ice Line

6. Springfield-Delco vs. 11 West Chester Henderson 9:00/Skatium

Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 7

PW/Unionville vs. 1. West Chester East TBD/Ice Line

Lower Dauphin/Radnor vs. 4. Marple Newtown TBD

Palmyra/Penncrest vs. 2. Garnet Valley TBD

Springfield/WC Henderson vs. 3 Hershey TBD

Semifinals TBD

Finals March 19 or 20 Site TBD

Girls

Wednesday, March 6

Quarterfinal

4. Conestoga vs. 5. Lower Merion 7:45/PNY

Semifinals

Wednesday Match 13 tentative

Avon Grove vs. Conestoga/Lower Merion 6:45/PNY
Downingtown West vs. 3. West Chester Henderson 5:00/PNY

Monday March 18 tentative

Championship 6:00/PNY

The Flyers Cup selection show aited air on the Flyers Cup YouTube Channel

it can be accessed HERE.

Pennridge 7 C.B. South 1

The last pieces of the SHSHL playoff puzzle are now in place.

Pennridge turned in a solid, workmanlike, effort Wednesday night, en route to a 7-1 win over Central Bucks South at Hatfield Ice.

The Rams closed the SHSHL regular season at 16-1-1 in divisional play (17-1-2 overall) and will be seeded first when the National Division playoffs commence next week.

Andrew Savona once more occupied center stage, scoring four goals and assisting on another.

His linemate, Kevin Pico, assisted on three goals while Shane Dachowski, the third member of the trio, scored two goals and assisted on another.

Pico spoke to the significance of the win with the playoffs at hand.

“It was huge,” he said. “Our last game of the season. To put up that many goals and get that first seed locked in.

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna noted his team’s effort over the full 51 minutes.

“Tonight was probably our best game of the year,” he said. “One thing this team does really well is, when the goal is in front of them and they know what they’re playing for, they take it to a different level. They’ve done that for three years, they did that tonight. It was a great game all around.”

Dachowski gave the Rams the lead with 2:26 left in the opening period. In the second session, the floodgates opened when Savona, James Rush, and Savona again, scored three unanswered goals in a span of 11 minutes, 21 seconds. The first two were shorthanded, the third, Savona’s second coming just as a South penalty expired. For all intents and purposes it was game, set, and match Pennridge at that point.

The Titans (12-5-1 in the division, 12-7-1 overall), who will be seeded third for the playoffs never really got things started. Their only goal came off the stick of Ryan Montagna with 6:36 left in the third period.

“You’ve got to show up,” said South coach Shaun McGinty. “We lost three periods in a row. Defensively, we weren’t there. We gave up two shorthanded goals on four power plays. I said to the boys, ’There’s no mathematical equation that’s going to issue a W.

“You lose three periods in a row, you can’t win a game; you’ve got to take it one period at a time.”

The Rams, who were Class AA Flyers Cup finalists a year ago, and Flyers Cup and state champions the tear before, will now have a week-long break before beginning another postseason challenge.

“I think it will be a good week to have off,” Pico said, “resting up and then get going again.

“Some of our guys’ club seasons are over so now that we have [only] high school, it’s definitely a nice time that we can rest. Looking forward to playoffs, definitely.”

Ice chips: Pico leads the entire SHSHL in scoring with 28 goals and 47 assists for 75 points. Savona is next with 40 goals and 31 assists for 71 points, followed by Shane Dachowski (27-33-60).

“You can watch high-school hockey for a long time,” Montagna said. “You’re not going to find a better line than those three. It’s amazing, some of the things they do on the ice.”

C.B. South 0 0 1—1

Pennridge 1 4 2—7

First-period goal: Shane Dachowski (P) from Kevin Pico, 14:34

Second-period goals: Andrew Savona (P) from Pico, 1:47 (sh); James Rush, unassisted, 2:04; Savona (P) from Pico and Colin Dachowki, 13:08; Savona (P) from Nick Young, 16:05

Third-period goals: Savona (P) unassisted, 8:18; Ryan Montagna (CBS) from Colin Mendham and Sean Cutter, 10:24; Shane Dachowski (P) from Savona, 15:08

Shots: C.B. South 31, Pennridge 37; Saves: Nathan Neapolitan (CBS) 30, Jacob Winston (P) 30

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