C.B. South 2, Pennridge 0

BRISTOL— A cohesive defensive effort plus a solid performance in goal formed a winning combination for Central Bucks South Wednesday night. The result was a 2-0 win over Pennridge in a Suburban High School Hockey League National/Continental matchup that brought the SHSHL’s playoff puzzle a step closer to being solved.

Dan Kvecher scored both goals for the Titans (6-4-1 overall, 5-2 in divisional play) who still have hopes of claiming the second seed in the upcoming SHSHL playoffs via a win over Neshaminy Friday night.

Pennridge, which was playing its first league since March 1 due to Covid issues, dropped to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in divisional play.

The Titans were outshot 40-26 but did all they could to support goaltender Mason Moyer, and many of the Rams’ shots came from outside the faceoff dots.

“Obviously, it’s not the amount of shots you want to give up,” said senior defenseman Owen Mendham, “but we have Moyer back there to help us out. We did a good job of tying people up and chipping pucks out into the corners and not giving up high-scoring chances.”

South coach Shaun McGinty praised Moyer’s effort between the pipes. “Giving up 40 shots, I would have hoped we would have had better defense,” he said, “but obviously, the back end of that defense is Moyer. I’ve been saying this game in and game out, he’s the cornerstone of the team. He did his job tonight.”

The Titans got on the scoreboard when Kvecher beat Ryan Pico from close range off a feed from Aidan Gaffney at the 12:55 mark of the opening period. At the other end of the ice, the Rams fired 11 shots at Moyer but came up empty, a pattern that repeated itself all night.

Moyer made his best save of the game on Richie Shanks with 10:15 left in the game during a Pennridge power play.

Kvecher added an empty-net goal with 21 second left in regulation.

“It was a very frustrating evening,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “I thought that in the third period, we generated a lot more chances.

“I thought in the first period we made it really on (Moyer). A lot of eye-level stuff that he could see.”

Despite the loss, Montagna took away some positives from the evening. “I thought that was our best game in a long time,” he said. “we played a great defensive game, we had a ton of offensive-zone time. We’ve got to find a way to break though on that and I thought we were a little soft in the offensive end getting around the net.”

C.B. South 1 0 1—2

Pennridge 0 0 0—0

First-period goal: Dan Kvecher (CBS) from Aidan Gaffney, 12:05

Third-period goal: Kvecher (CBS) unassisted, 15:39 (en)

Shots: C.B.South 26, Pennridge 40; Saves: Mason Moyer (CBS) 40, Ryan Pico (PR) 24

Pennridge 5, Central Bucks South 1

By Rick Woelfel

HATFIELD—It wasn’t a flashy performance. But it was a model of efficiency.

Blake Stewart and Arek Lehrhaupt each scored twice to lead Pennridge to a 5-1 win over Central Bucks South in a SHSHL National/Continental matchup Thursday night at Hatfield Ice.
It was the second win for the Rams (2-1 overall, 0-1 in league play) in two nights.

Rams coach Jeff Montagna was pleased his team stepped up after a subpar, albeit winning effort against Central Bucks West on Wednesday.

“It was boring in a good way,” he said. “I have not been happy at all the first two nights (including an opening night-loss to Pennsbury), especially defensively. They did a really nice job just keeping things simple, and once we got the lead, not giving (South) a whole lot of life.”

Aidan Boyle got things started for the Rams when he beat Madison Ambler with a forehander from midway between the two circles 9:13 into the first frame. Lehrhaupt made it 2-0 at 11:50 with a shot from the edge of the right circle on an odd-man situation.

The Titans got on the board when Garrett Sklar beat Ryan Pico in the Pennridge net 6:31 into the middle period but that was all they could manage.

“We were outworked and outplayed,” said South coach Shaun McGinty, “and only a few players showed up. We need to win the corner battles and the battles in the defensive zone.”

Stewart restored the Rams’ two goal lead at the 7:59 mark of the period., then widened the margin with his second goal of the game 8:10 into the third frame. Stewart, who is the Pennridge captain, was pleased to see his team bounce back after an off night 24 hours earlier, but still wasn’t satisfied

“(Wednesday night) was pretty sloppy,” he said, “but we went home, we thought about the game and came out here and forced things that we needed to do tonight. It was much better, but without being on the ice very much, all that’s a little tough.”

Lehrhaupt finished the scoring with 1:09 left in the game.

The Rams are one of the most experienced teams in the SHSHL Montagna is counting on leadership from his veterans to help them reach their potential. “I told them ‘It’s on you guys’” he said. “Guys that have played for me for three, four years, they have to lead this team and have to set the example … and I didn’t think the first nights they did that.”

Montagna cited Stewart’s leadership abilities but also the responsibility that comes with wearing the captain’s C.

“He has to lead us and a couple of the other guys have to lead us,” Montagna said, “And they did that tonight.”

Pico and Ambler made 21 saves apiece. Ambler was in goal in place of veteran Mason Moyer who has been unavailable for the Titans’ first two games.

Pennridge 2 1 2—5
C.B. South 0 1 0—1
First-period goals: Aidan Boyle (P) from Andrew David, 9:13; Arek Lehrhaupt (P) from Jeff Manto, 11:50.
Second-period goals: Garrett Sklar (CBS) from Aydin Thierolf, 6:31; Blake Stewart (P) from Andrew David, 7:59.
Third-period goals: Stewart (P) from Richie Shanks and Boyle, 8:10; Lehrhaupt (P) from Manto, 14:51.
Shots: Pennridge 26, C.B. South 22; Saves: Ryan Pico (P) 21, Madison Ambler (CBS) 21.

Pennridge 4, Neshaminy 3

BRISTOL—Since the calendar turned to 2020 Pennridge has been a hockey team in the rise. On Tuesday night the Rams took another step forward, a big one, by coming from behind in the third period for a 4-3 win over Neshaminy in a Class AA Flyers Cup first-round game at Grundy Arena.

The 10th-seeded Rams trailed 2-0 and 3-2 before Aeryk Lehrhaupt scored on a shot from the right faceoff circle with 55 seconds left in regulation to send he and his mates into the quarterfinals on Thursday against second seed Haverford (7:00 at the Skatium).

Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna praised his team’s effort after being eliminated in the opening round of the SHSHL playoffs by Council Rick South. “It says so much about them,” he said. “I don’t have words of how proud I am of them. That young, they shouldn’t be making all the plays they did.”

The seventh-seeded ‘Skins used a methodical approach to build a 2-0 first-period lead. David McColgan got his team on the scoreboard 4:46 into the opening period, beating Pennridge goaltender Ryan Pico from close range. Thomas Gallagher gave his team a two-goal lead at 10:07.

The Rams responded in the second frame. Andrew Lizak beat Brian Nelson from the deep right circle off a right corner dump to get the Rams on the board 3:18 mark before Richie Shanks tied the game at 9:51.

Neshaminy retook the lead when Joey DeMatteo scored with 6:10 left in the middle session and stayed in front when Nelson denied Lehrhaupt on a two-on-one with 14 seconds left in the period.

The Rams got their second power play chance of the third period at the 8:31 mark when Neshaminy drew a bench minor for having too many men on the ice. Blake Stewart, the Rams’ captain, scored the tying goal with 5:40 left in regulation as the prelude to the finish.

Stewart noted that Pennridge opened its season back in October with a loss to Neshaminy but had natured since then. “We came to this game a much stronger team,” he said. “We just wanted it more, we came out hungry, and we just wanted to move on. No one really wanted us here and no one thought we would be here.”

It was a frustrating evening for Neshaminy coach Matt DeMattteo. “They were the hungrier team today,” he said of the Rams. “They skated harder. They did the things you need to do to win the game and we just did not play a good game as a team.”

Pennridge 0 2 2—4
Neshaminy 2 1—3
First-period goals: David McColgan (N) from Rob Seewagen and J.J. Hathaway, 4:46; Thomas Gallagher (N) from Matt Buchinski and Joey DeMatteo, 10:07;
Second-period goals: Andrew Lizak (P) unassisted, 3:18; Richie Shanks (P) from Blake Stewart and Andrew David; DeMatteo (N) from Nolan Geria and Seewagen, 11:50.
Third-period goals: Stewart (P) from Shanks, 10:20 (pp); Aeryk Lehrhaupt from Jack Lowery and Conrad Frisch, 15:05.
Shots: Pennridge 32, Neshaminy 30; Saves: Ryan Pico (P) 27, Brian Nelson (N) 28

SHSHL Playoff Ponderings

The Suburban High School Hockey League has officially confirmed its playoff schedule. Four Class AA quarterfinal games will be played on Monday, February 24 with the top four seeds hosting games at their traditional home rinks.

The semifinals will be played on Wednesday, February 26 long with two Class A semifinal games.

The championship games in both classes will be played on Thursday, February 27.

Pennridge (Class AA) and Wissahickon (Class A) are the defending league champions. The SHSHL crowned its first champion, Abington, in 1973-74. Germantown Academy has the all-time record of 11 league titles, all of which occurred before the league began crowning separate Class AA and Class A champions c. 2002-03. Since then, Wisshkckon has won a confirmed five Class A titles.

Note: The SHSHL is still looking to fill in some blanks in its Roll Call of Champions. The league is still working to confirm who won the Class AA title during the 2006-07 season and the Class A title in 2003-04 and possibly 2002-03. Anyone with information about those two seasons is encouraged to contact Hockey Happenings here.

Pennridge 3, Pennsbury 2

HATFIELD— It took Pennsbury and Pennridge some time to hit their stride Thursday night. For two periods plus the Falcons and the Rams delivered a performance that seemed to offer little in the way of emotional energy.

The pace picked up down the stretch and it was Pennridge that came out on top. Aidan Boyle’s goal with 2:12 left in regulation gave the Rams a 3-2 win in a game that both teams needed strengthen their position the Suburban High School Hockey League’s Class AA standings and their credibility with the committee that will select sand seed the Flyers Cup field in a little over two week’s time.

“We just kept telling them ‘Get it to the third period with a chance to win,’” said Pernnridge coach Jeff Montagna,”

Just one goal was scored over the first two periods. It came off the stick of Pennsbury’s Brendan MacAinish 9:16 into the first frame. Ryan Schuler tied the game for the Rams (9-6, 6-5 in divisional play) 3:36 in to the finals period but Reece Millman’s shot from the edge of the right faceoff circle put the Falcons (8-5-1, 4-5-1) back in front at the 6:58 mark.

When Arek Lehrhaupt scored for the Rams at 10:06 it set the stage for a big finish. Boyle’s game winner came on a shot from the right circle that got past Falcon netminder Topher Seiler.

Seiler and Ryan Pico, his Pennridge counterpart, were both sharp, making 62 saves between them.

The Rams came into the game without Blake Stewart who was injured, and lost Richie Shanks in the second period. But they kept battling.

“They just kept fighting and scrapping,” Montagna said of his troops. “I’m just so proud of them, so proud of the way then did that down the stretch. We were down to seven forwards. It was a great win.”

The loss was the third straight for the Falcons. “Their goalie had an outstanding game,” said Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley. We could have had more goals, that’s for sure. I think that kind of got to us in the stretch there. You’re masking good plays and working hard and we weren’t getting rewarded for any of it.”

Daley was quick to point out the loss was no fault of Seiler’s who kept his team in the game in the third period. “It’s a shame our last three games have (losses) next to them,” he said. “He’s played outstanding in all three of them.”

Pennsbury 1 0 1—2
Pennridge 0 0 3—3
First-period goal: Brendan MacAinish (Pb) from Shane Siegmond and Beau
Third-period goal: Ryan Schuler (Pr) from Conrad Frisch, 3:36; Reece Millman (Pb) unassisted, 6:58; Arek Lehrhaupt (Pr) from Jeff Manto and Jack Lowery, 10:06; Aidan Boyle (Pr) from Cooper White, 13:48.
Shots: Pennsbury 35, Pennridge 32; Saves: Topher Seiler (Pb) 29, Ryan Pico (Pr) 33

The Grundy Skate Shop is a full-service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services. We do a full range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. Owner Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Stop in an check us out or please visit our Facebook page

Pennridge 12, C.B. West 2

HATFIELD—Pennridge got hot early Thursday night and stayed hot. Blake Stewart scored three goals and assisted on three others and Jeff Manto scored three goals of his own as the Rams blasted Central Bucks West 12-2 in a Suburban High School Hockey League Class AA game at Hatfield Ice.

Pennridge is just 2-4 in league play but has improved to 5-5 overall. With the start of the new year, a young team is beginning to blossom.

“I didn’t really see that coming,” said Ram coach Jeff Montagna. “We’ve just been preaching, ‘Do things the right way. And more times than not, it’s going to go your way. If it doesn’t, keep going at it.’

“They got some breaks tonight.You’re not going to beat that team 12-2 very often.”
The opening period featured five goals in a 10-and-a-half minute span. The Rams opened the scoring 2:30 into the period when Connor Frisch delivers a wrister from 10 feet inside the West blue line. Arek Lehrhaupt made it a 2-0 game at the 5:25 mark. Luke Tremmel scored for West at 7:33 to cut the margin in half but Pennridge took over from there. Jack Lowery extended his team’s lead at the 9:41 mark before Stewart ended the flurry with a goal at 10:58.

The Bucks (6-1-1-1, 3-1-1 in the league) were shorthanded because of injuries. They had just 13 skaters available including four freshmen. West coach Dave Baun felt his team was suffering the effects of the holiday layoff.

“That’s what a team that relies in structure looks like when they play without any,” he said. “We haven’t practiced for a month and a lot of the things that we work on a lot were clearly forgotten.”

The Rams kept coming in the second period when Stewart and Manto scored two goals apiece.

Kyle Fasolak replaced Jeff Coddington in the West net at the start of the final period. Tremmel scored a second goal for the Bucks but the Rams scored four times themselves before Manto completed his hat trick to send everyone home with 1:05 left in regulation.

“It was a great feeling to have it all click,” Manto said. “It felt real good as a a team.”

Manto is hoping Thursday’s win will give his team a jump start as the long match to the postseason begins. “Hopefully it will give us a confidence boost,” the junior said.

Stewart, who is also a junior, is optimistic about what lies ahead for Rams. “We’re a young team,” he said, and if we just connect like we have been all season we’ll get a lot of goals. And out a lot of pressure on these other teams.”

Notes— Thursday’s game was the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Rams suffered a 4-3 loss to the Bucks in a non-league encounter a week before Christmas.
C.B. West 1 0 1—2
Pennridge 4 4 4—12

First-period goals: Connor Frisch (P) unassisted, 2:30; Arek Lehrhaupt (P) from Blake Stewart, 5:25; Luke Tremmel (CBW) from Danny Poliak, 7:33; Jack Lowery (P) from Lehrhaupt, 9:41; Blake Stewart (P) unassisted, 10:58.
Second-period goals: Stewart (P) from Andrew David and Richie Shanks, :48; Jeff Manto (P) from Stewart, 7:11(sh); Stewart (P) from Shanks, 13:00; Manto (P) from Lowery, 14:34.
Third-period goals: Jacob Lizak from Sian Boyle and Cooper White; 53; David (P) from Stewart, 1:43; Tremmel (CBW) from Poliak, 8:38; Manto (P) from Frisch, 11:39; Shanks (P) from Frisch, 14:55.
Shots, C.B. West 27, Pennridge 42; Saves: Jake Coddington (CBW) 22 and Kyle Fasolak (CBW) 8, Ryan Pico (P) 25.

Central Bucks East 4, Pennridge 1

HATFIELD— Central Bucks East and Pennridge came into Friday night’s Suburban High School Hockey League matchup shorthanded. The Patriots were without leading scorer Sean Gorman who was serving a suspension. The Rams were minus goaltender Ryan Pico (3.43 GAA) who was absent.

It was East that earned the decision, 4-1 at Hatfield Ice to improve to 5-1-0-1 overall and 2-1-0-1 in SHSHL Class AA play. The Rams slipped to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in league play. It was their second loss in a 24-hour span; they dropped a 5-1 decision to Council Rock South on Wednesday.

Pennridge actually had a 36-31 edge in shots but junior Chris McIntyre was sharp in the East net.

“I think he’s the best in the league,” said Central Bucks East assistant coach Mike Capps. He works very hard at it. He keeps us in every game.”

The Patriots gave McIntyre some breathing room when Bogen Borodenko beat Pennridge netminder Jacob Gilbert at the 6:31 mark of the first period. Aiden Schmidt, Phil McIntryre, and Borodenko added goals in a span of 4:45 to give East a 4-0 lead with 6:17 left in the second session.

None of the goals were Gilbert’s fault. The freshman was making his first varsity appearance and more than acquitted himself well by stopping 27 shots.

“I thought he would play well,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna. “I didn’t know if (the setting) would be too big for him. They were legit goals, there were no softies.”

The Rams had two big opportunities to get back in the game. The first occurred with 1:18 left in the second period when the Patriots’ Connor Keiser drew a five-minute major penalty plus a game misconduct for a hit on Pennridge’s Dane Fichett. The Rams’ power play sputtered however and they never mounted a serious threat during the man advantage.

Pennridge got another chance at the 4:28 mark of the third period when the Patriots’ Max Ermigiotti received a major penalty for head contact plus a game misconduct. The Rams scored a goal during the subsequent power play when Jack Lowery found the net at the 6:25 mark but that was his team’s only serious chance during two extended power plays.

“With a lot of new guys, we really haven’t had a chance to work on that with a lot of the things we’ve had to do,” Montagna said, “I just told them, we’ve got to be better. For as well as we played, we just gave away opportunities there.”

C.B. East 1 3 0—4

Pennridge 0 0 1—1

First-period goal: Bogen Borodenko (CBE) from Matt Cipriano and Aiden Schmidt, 6:31.

Second-period goals: Schmidt (CBE) from Phil McIntyre (CBE) and Tyler Godown, 4:58; McIntyre (CBE) from Schmidt and Ian Treger, 7:37; Borodenko (CBE) from Schmidt and McIntyre, 9:43.

Third-period goal: Jack Lowery (P) from Conrad Frisch, 6:25 (pp).

Shots: Central Bucks East 31, Pennridge 36; Saves: Chris McIntyre (CBE) 35, Jacob Gilbert (P) 27

Elsewhere:

Holy Ghost Prep 2, St. Joseph’s Prep 1 OT—Brady Baesher scored in overtime to give the Firebirds the win over the Hawks at the Class of 1923 Arena. The two teams traded goals in the second period.

The Grundy Skate Shop is a full-service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services. We do a range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. Owner Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Please visit our Facebook page or stop in and check us out!

SHSHL Previews

The Suburban High School Hockey League season is officially underway. Here’s a look at the 1919-20 campaign.

If you’re interested in coverage of your hockey event or tournament, contact us at Hockey Happenings

Class AA

National Division

Abington

Coach: Ken Brzozowski (third season)

Last Year: 5-7-4

Key players: So. Ben Panella (G); Fr. Sam Nemac (G); Jr. Colin Bruton (F); Jr. Ethan Wielheimer (D); Jr. Holden Brooker (D); So. Tommy Rourke (D-F); So. Joe Stelacio (D-F)

Outlook: The Galloping Ghosts will put a young time on the ice this season; the roster features 15 underclassmen. But after barely missing the playoffs a year ago, Brzozowski is excited about the coming campaign.

“This team has been working hard since August,” he said, “and has developed great chemistry…I am very excited to coach this young team with our experienced juniors.”

Council Rock North

Coach: Chris Gallagher (fourth season)

Last year: 2-14

Key players: Jr. Rex Goldberg (G); Sr. Vlad Litnov (F); Sr. Colin Kiefer (F); Sr. Will Sohn (F)

Outlook: The Indians continue to strengthen their program. This year’s lineup will feature an infusion of young talent; there are 10 freshmen on the roster. Goldberg is an experienced netminder while Kiefer and Sohn will play key roles up front.

Council Rock South

Coach: Joe Houk (14^th season)

Last year: 6-9-3

Key players: Sr. Alex Patrizi (G); Jr. Jimmy Sweeney (G); Sr. David Mueller (D); Sr. Billy Harrelson (F)

Outlook: The Golden Hawks will look continue to build on last season, when a young team worked its way into the postseason.

The goaltending tandem of Patrizi and Sweeney is a foundation on which to build.

“We have a solid defensive core and three solid lines,” Houk said. Good teams are built from the goal line out & I think we’re in pretty good shape and we’ll be very competitive with the top teams this year. “

Neshaminy

Head Coach: Matthew DeMatteo (third season)
Key players: So. Brian Nelson (G); Jr. Matthew Buchinski (D); Sr. Ryan McColgan (D); Jr. Robbie Seewagen (F); Sr. Joseph DeMatteo (F); Sr. Charlie Potash (F); Jr. Thomas Gallagher (F); Fr. Nolan Geria (F)

Outlook: The ‘Skins return their three top scorers from a year ago in Seewagen, DeMatteo, and Gallagher. Geria heads up a talented freshman class. Nelson will be a new face between the pipes but has looked impressive.

Pennsbury

Coach: Ryan Daley (third season)

Last year: 8-8-3

Key players: So. Topher Seiler (G); Sr. Ben Dous (F-D); St. Jasper Millman (D); Sr. Jake Machlovitz (F); Sr. Beau Yedman (F); So, Shane Sigmund (F); Jr. Erik Eisler (F); Fr. Brendan Macainish (F)

Outlook: The Falcons took some big strides forward last season by qualifying for the Flyers Cup tournament for the first time in three years. This year’s group is a blend of youth and experience. Daley is counting on the four seniors on the roster to provide leadership.

William Tennent

Coach: Nick D’Auruzio (10^th season)

Last year: 3-11-2

Key players: Sr. Stephen Skiba (D); Jr. Zach Devor (D); Jr. Justin Carrelli (F); Sr. Tom Hartenstein (F)

Outlook: The Panthers will be young again this season and hoping to improve on last season’s mark. “Our goal is to improve every year,” D’Aurizio said, “and this team looks ready to take the next step.

Continental Division

Central Bucks East

Coach: Ken Latchum (third season in suucession, 12^th overall)

Last year: 5-8-3

Key players: Jr. Chris McIntyre (G); Jr. Connor Keiser (D); Jr. Shane West (D); So. Sean Gorman (F); Sr. Nick LoCastro (F); Sr. Dan Tori (F); Jr. Max Ermigiotti (F); So. Phil McIntyre (F)

Outlook: The Patriots are thin in terms of numbers but Latchum is impressed with his team’s work ethic.

“It’s a hardworking group,” he said. “Our talent will be tested. There will be chances for young players as well as seniors to step up.”

Central Bucks South

Coach: Shaun McGinty (fifth season)

Last year: 17-6-2
Key players: Jr. Mason Moyer (G); Sr. Ryan Gingras (D); Sr. Brian Keilman (D); Sr. Dom Patrone (F); Sr. Steve McMillan (F); Sr. Harry McLaughlin (F); Sr. Colin Abbonizio (F); Sr. Matt Milanesi (F)

Outlook: The eight-time SHSHL Class AA champions feature a roster with 10 seniors on it. This team may not have the offensive firepower of seasons past. But Moyer is a proven goaltender and the Titans generally find a way to make the pieces fit.

Central Bucks West

Coach: Dave Baun (16^th season)

Last year: 10-9

Key players: Sr. Jake Coddington (G); So. Grant Funseth (D); So. Evan Hee (D); Sr Christopher Trefz (F); Sr. Jake Lang (F); Sr. Danny Poliak (F); Jr. Keith Orlando (F); So. Billy Loughnane (F)

Outlook: The Bucks will have 10 new faces in this year’s lineup but have some experienced seniors as well in the likes of Trefz and Lang up front and Coddington in goal.

“As go your leaders, so goes your team,” Baun said, “and we feel very confident that we have the kind of group that can lead us to great things this year.”

North Penn

Coach: Kevin Vaitis (11th season)

Last year: 15-6-3

Key players: Sr. Tyler Greenstein (F); Sr. Josh Kaufhold (F); Sr. Tommy Boyle (F/D); Jr. Luke Van Why (D); Jr. Ryan Cunningham (D); So. Tony Tuozzo (F); So. Nicholas Ebbinghaus (G)

Outlook: The Knights will field one of the SHSHL’s most experienced teams. Twelve players return from the team that reached the Class AA Flyers Cup quarterfinals. The returnees include Greenstein, last year’s leading scorer, along with Boyle and Van Why on the blue line and Ebbinghause in goal. The pieces are in place for a promising season.

Pennridge

Coach: Jeff Montagna (second season)

Last year: 17-2-1; won SHSHL Class AA title

Key players: So. Ryan Pico (G); Jr. Conner Frisch (D); Sr. Michael White (F); Jr. Jeff Manto (F); Jr. Blake Stewart

Outlook: Much of last year’s championship team is gone but seven players are back who saw extensive varsity time last year including White up front. The defense will be new however, and Pico is a newcomer in goal.

“We will be much better than people think,” Montagna said, “depending on how new defensive core develops

Souderton

Coach: Ryan Uchniat (second season)

Last year: 2-13-1

Key players: Sr. Jonathan Prichard (G); Fr. Noah Connor (G) So. Carter Povazan (D) Sr. Jacob Bealer (D) Sr. Thomas Harris (F); Jr. Tyler MacPhee (F); So Kyle Anderson (F)

Outlook: Last year was a year of growth for a young team. Uchniat is hoping that experience will pay dividends this year.

“Last season was a year of growth for our younger players. A few freshmen saw significant ice time and look to take another big leap forward this year.”

Quakertown

Coach: Keith Krem

Last year: First-year team

Key players: Jr. Austin Stoudt (G); Jr. Eric Orezehoski (D); Sr. Jake p Dilger (F); So. Anthony Pagliei

Outlook: The Panthers are making their debut in the SHSHL this season. There has been hockey at Quakertown in the past, but not under the SHSHL banner.

“We are very excited for hockey to be in Quakertown,“ Krem said, “and for the season to begin.”

Class A

American Division

Hatboro-Horsham

Coach: Gianni Lafratta (second season)

Last year: 5-5-2

Key players: Sr. Joey Gambino (G), Sr. Ziyad Elsabbagh (D); So. Ben Lerner (D); Jr. Aidan Esack (F), Fr. Nick Long (F)

Outlook: The Hatters had trouble scoring goals at times last season but were stingy at the other end of the ice. They allowed just 49 goal in a division where high-scoring games were the norm. Long will be counted on to score goals.

Lower Moreland

Coach: Gus Salfiti (second season)

Last year 12-4-3

Key players: So. Jacob Lungin (G); Jr. Devin Green (D); Jr. Vincenzo DeMaio (F); Jr. Noah Gazzara (D-F); So. Tyler Scolnick (F).

Outlook: The Lions played for the American Division championship a year ago. It will be a young team; there are no seniors on the roster, and likely will be lacking in numbers. But the players on hand have a good amount of varsity experience.

Plymouth Whitemasrh

Coach: Josh Aiello (sixth season)

Last year: 10-5-1

Key players: Sr. Ben Yuter (G); Sr. Ben Lubas (D); Sr. Dean Keller (F); Sr. Colin Franzoni (F); Sr. Jake Weikel (F); So. Aidan Keogh (F)

Outlook: A young Colonial team reached the Class A Flyers Cup quarterfinals a year ago. This team is more experienced; there are nine seniors on hand; and features Yuter in goal along with Keller and Franzoni, two of the American Division’s premier offensive threats.

Also competing in the American Division: Truman, Wissahickon

SHSHL Reveals Divisional Alignments

The opening of the 2019-20 scholastic hockey season is drawing closer. With that fact in mind, the Suburban High School Hockey League has finalized its divisional alignments for the coming year. A total of 18 teams will skate under the SHSHL umbrella this season.

Thirteen teams will be classified as Class AA and divided into two divisions. The Continental Division will consist of defending Class AA Champion Pennridge, Central Bucks South, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks West, North Penn, Souderton, and newcomer Quakertown.

The National Division will include Abington, Council Rock South, Neshaminy, Pennsbury, William Tennent, and Council Rock North, which is returning to the SHSHL and Class AA this year after playing as an impure team last season because of a player shortage.

The 13 Class AA teams will all face each other once in league play. If the same playoff format is followed that was utilized last year, divisional alignments will be meaningless; the top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs regardless of division.

The Class A American Division will feature five teams, headed by defending champion Wissahickon. The Trojans will be joined by Hatboro-Horsham, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Lower Moreland, and Truman, which is moving down from Class AA. Upper Dublin will not be skating in the SHSHL this season.

The five American Division teams will play each other three times each, making for a 12-game league season. Four teams will qualify for the playoffs.

The official start date of the SHSHL campaign is still to be announced.

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Downingtown East 3, Pennridge 2

Michael Bolger’s goal with 6:15 left in the third period proved to be decisive as Downingtown East held off Pennridge 3-2 Thursday night in a Class AA Flyers Cup semifinal at Ice Line.

The two-defending Flyers Cup and state champion Cougars Downingtown West in Sunday’s championship game (4:30 at the Wells Fargo Center).

Top-seeded Downingtown East took a 1-0 lead on Ryan Johnston’s power-play goal with 2:48 left in the first period but the fourth-seeded Rams answered back when Blake Stewart scored with 36 seconds remaining in the opening session.

Nick Rosati gave the Cougars the lead for good when he scored with 3:56 remaining in the second period and Bolger’s tally gave Downingtown East a two-goal lead.

Eric Slater scored for Pennridge with 4:24 left in regulation to cut the lead in half and the Rams kept up the pressure, generating several chances in the final minutes and hitting a post with 30 seconds to play.

The Cougars had a 34-26 edge in shots.

Pennridge 1 0 1—2

Downingtown East 1 1 1—3

Three Flyers Cup finals will be available Sunday HERE beginning with the Class A final between Hershey and West Chester Rustin at 2:00. The Class AA final between Downingtown East and Downingtown West will follow at 4:30, followed by the Class AAA matchup between LaSalle and Holy Ghost Prep at 7:00.