Plymouth Whitemarsh 14, Wissahickon 12

HATFIELD—An abundance of fireworks were discharged at Hatfield Ice Thursday night. Wissahickon and Plymouth Whitemarsh celebrated a joint senior night by combining to score 26 goals in the scheduled 48-minute game with the Colonials prevailing 14-12.

The win kept Plymouth Whitemarsh unbeaten in SHSHL American Division play at 11-0 (15-1 overall). It was also the Colonials’ 12th straight win. The Trojans slipped to 8-7 overall and 6-5 in the division.

The contest was terminated with 6.9 seconds remaining in the third period after an altercation near the Plymouth Whitemarsh net that resulted in a total of 13 penalties being accessed to six players. Wissahickon’s Daniel Glazier was accessed a double game misconduct while his teammate Nicholas Hussa received a single game misconduct. Three Colonials, Devin Reilly, Thomas Corcoran, and Logan Westerfer received game misconducts.

Prior to the truncated finish, the evening featured an abundance of racehorse hockey. Plymouth Whitemarsh jumped to a 3-0 lead by the 4:35 mark of the first period before Wissahickon scored four straight goals to take the lead with 6:33 left in the period; it would turn out to be the Trojans’ only lead of the night and at period’s end the teams were deadlocked at 5-5.

The Colonials pulled away from their foes by scoring the first five goals of the second period before the Trojans scored the last two before adding two more at the start of the third frame to move within a goal at 10-9 with 12;54 still left in regulation. Jack Mishkin and Colin Franzoni added goals for the Colonials at that point and the lead was never less than two the rest of the way.

“Both teams came out with a lot of energy,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Josh Aiello. Both teams have offensive power and I think people were on the edge of their seats, it being Senior Night and really trying t get going offensively.”

Jake Weikel scored five goals for the Colonials and added an assist. Luke Weikel added three goals. Brian Gary paced Wissahickon with four goals and five assists, A.J. Pounds scored three goals for the Trojans and added four assists.

“It was kind of a run-and-gun game,” said Wissahickon coach Ken Harrington. “Some games, they kick off like that and they remain that way the whole game and defense sort of goes to the side sometimes a little bit.”

Ice Chips—The two teams combined for 84 shots.

Plymouth Whitemarsh 5 5 4—14
Wissahickon 5 2 5—12
First-period goals: Jake Weikel (PW) from Dean Keller and Luke Weikel, 3:25; Aidan Keogh (PW) from Luke Weikel, 3:53; Jake Weikel (PW) from Luke Weikel, 4:35; Bryan Gary from A.J. Pounds, 5:30 (pp); Gary from Nicholas Hussa, 8:56 (pp); Alex Carrozza unassisted, 9:08; Pounds from Gary, 9:27; Jake Weikel (PW) from Colin Franzoni, 11:05; Ben Lukas (PW) from Keller, 13:45; Pounds from Gary, 14:40.
Second-period goals: Luke Weikel (PW) from Keogh and Jack Mishkin, 1:39 (sh); Luke Weikel (PW) from Jake Weikel, 4:55 (pp): Mishkin (PW) from Logan Westerfer, 5:49; Jake Weikel (PW) from Lucas, 7:55; Luke Weikel (PW) from THomas Corcoran and Keogh; Gary unassisted, 12:13; Pounds from Gary, 12:55.
Third-period goals: Hussa from Matt Winkowski and Pounds, 1:09; Gary from Pounds, 3:06; Mishkin (PW) from Franzoni, 4:17; Franzoni (PW) from Spencer Reilly, 6:41; Hussa from Pounds and Gary, 7:04; Jake Weikel (PW) from Keller, 9:06; Keller (PW) unassisted, 9:41; Daniel Glazer from Carrozza, 13:14; Carrozza from Hussa and Gary, 14:00.
Shots: Plymouth Whitemarsh 41, Wissahickon 43; Saves: Ben Yuter (PW) 31, Chris Shea 27.

SHSHL Update

Class AA W L T OTL Pts

C.B. South 9-0-0-1) 7 0 0 0 14

Neshaminy (8-3-0-0) 6 2 0 0 12

North Penn (6-2-0-0) 5 0 0 0 10

C.R. South (5-4-0-0) 5 1 0 0 10

C.B. East (7-2-1-1) 4 2 1 1 10

Pennsbury (8-2-1-0) 4 2 1 0 9

C.B. West (6-2-2-1)) 3 2 2 0 8

Souderton (3-8-1-1) 3 4 1 1 8

William Tennent (4-6-0-1) 2 5 1 0 5

Pennridge (5-5-0-0) 2 4 0 0 4

Abington (2-8-0-0) 1 5 0 0 2

Quakertown (1-8-1-0) 0 5 1 0 1

Council Rock North (1-10-0-0) 0 7 0 0 0

Class A W L T OTL Pts

Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-1-0-0) 7 0 0 0 14

Wissahickon (7-6-0-0) 5 4 0 0 10

Hatboro-Horsham (9-2-0-1) 4 1 0 1 9

Lower Moreland (1-9-0-0) 1 4 0 0 2

Truman (0-11-0-0) 0 6 0 0 0

Standings are calculated as follows

2 points for a win whether in regulation or OT

1 point for a tie or overtime loss

If a game is tied at the end of regulation there will be five minutes of three-on-three overtime. If the game is still tied it will be recorded as a tie game. The shootout will not be used

Check out the latest edition of the Hockey Happenings podcast. Rick Woelfel and Eric Tye count down to the 2020 Flyer Cup.

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Scoring

Class AA G A Pts

Jake Lang (CBW) 23 17 40

Robert Seewagon(Nesh) 20 13 33

Chris Trefz (CBW) 10 21 31

Michael Roby (CRS) 18 8 26

Tyler Greenstein (NP) 8 17 25

Antii Autere (CRS) 7 18 25

Beau Brusius-Yedman (Pb) 11 13 24

Dominic Patrone (CBS) 11 13 24

Reece Millman (Pb) 14 9 23

Josh Kaufhold (NP) 11 11 22

Sean Gorman (CBE) 20 1 21

Erik Eisler (Pb) 8 13 21

Justin Carrelli (WT) 14 7 21

Colin Abbonizio (CBS) 13 8 21

Class A G A Pts

Aidan Keogh (PW) 15 24 39

Jake Weikel (PW) 21 14 35

Alex Howieson (HH) 19 14 33

Dean Keller (PW) 17 13 30

Luke Weikel (PW) 14 14 28

Seth Lerner (HH) 15 11 26

Aidan Esack (HH) 10 13 23

Nichols Hussa 17 5 22

Tarek Elsabbagh (HH) 10 10 20

Goals Against

Class AA MP GA GAA

Jimmy Sweeney (CRS)36112 1.60

Mason Moyer (CBS) 48016 1.60

Brian Nelson (Nesh) 42820 2.24

Chris McIntyre (CBE) 53425 2.25

Ryan Pico (Pr) 43231 3.44

Class A MP GA GAA

Ben Yuter (PW 41024 2.81

Joe Gambimo (HH)388 32 3.96

Save Percentage

Class AA MP Shots Saves Sv Pct.

Mason Moyer (CBS) 480 230 214 .930

Chris McIntyre (CBE) 534 339 314 .926

Jimmy Sweeney (CRS) 361 151 139 .921

Ryan Pico (Pr) 432 271 240 .886

Brian Nelson (Nesh) 428 168 148 .881

Class A MP Shots Saves Save Pct

Joe Gambino (HH) 388 291 259 .890

Ben Yuter (PW) 410 182 158 .868

Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, Hatboro-Horsham 3

WARWICK— It has been said by some observers that a hockey goaltender plays the most demanding position in any team sport. Playing the position well, in fact, at all, requires a unique mindset.

Friday’s Suburban High School Hockey League matchup between Hatboro-Horsham and Plymouth Whitemarsh offered a strong thesis to support that argument.

Aidan Keogh gave the Colonials a 4-3 win with 1:09 left in overtime when he stole the puck at the Hatter blue line and went in alone to score the winning goal.

It was the Colonials’ second win over the Hatters in eight days; thy were victorious 13-3 last Friday.

The storyline at Revolution Ice Gardens revolved around the two goaltenders, the Colonials’ Ben Yuter and Hatboro-Horsham’s Joe Gambino. Between them they faced 65 shots and made 58 saves. Gambino stopped 35 shots, Yuter 23. Both made some truly remarkable saves.

Plymouth Whitemarsh assistant coach Chris Zawislak was in charge behind the bench, filling in for the absent Josh Aiello.

“I thought both goaltenders played a great game today,” he said. “I saw their goaltender make at least three or four saves that kept them in the game as we made one of our big pushes in the second period, and especially in the third period … our goaltender came up huge.”

Each team scored a goal in each regulation period. The Hatters (6-2, 1-2 in the American Division) took a 3-2 lead 1:37 into the third frame when Alex Howieson beat Yuter from just inside the right faceoff circle. But with 2:23 left in regulation, the Colonials (6-1, 3-0) answered. Keogh took the puck behind the Hatboro-Horsham net and found Dean Keller in front who in turn deposited the puck behind Gambino to draw his team even.

Yuter had to come up big once more when his teammate Colin Franzoni drew a high sticking penalty with 1:17 left in regulation. The abbreviated power play was constricted further when the Hatters’ Nick Long was sent to the box himself with 11 seconds of regulation time remaining. As a result of all this, the Colonials spent some early portions of the overtime with four skaters to three advantage. Franzoni came close to ending the game he hit a post some 100 seconds into the five-minute session.

Both teams went three on three with 2:11 remaining before Keogh’s solo effort brought down the curtain on an entertaining evening of hockey.

Yuter enjoyed being tested by a quality opponent in the Hatters and facing a quality opposing goaltender in Gambino. “I’m always on my A game,” he said, “It’s just a reason to want it even more. We all just feed off of each other’s energy. When we’re able to score off a goaltender like that, it really just pumps us up. He’s an amazing goaltender, he had some really quality saves out there.”

Hatboro-Horsham coach Gianni Lafratta summed up the evening. “Both goalies stood on their heads,” he said. “At times they had support of all five teammates, at times they had to call their own shots.

“ It’s definitely not a game you want to lose, but definitely a tight battle and a better response to last week’s loss

Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 1 1 1—4

Hatboro-Horsham 1 1 1 0—3

First-period goals: Seth Lerner (HH) from Marcus Soucy, 4:23; Aidan Keogh (PW) from Jake Weikel, 13:46.

Second-period goals: Aidan Esack (HH) from Tarek Elsabbagh and Ziyad Elsabbagh, 6:49; Dean Keller (PW) from Logan Westerfer and Ben Lubas, 9:36.

Third-period goals: Alex Howieson (HH from Esack and Ziyad Elsabbagh, 1:34; Keller (PW) from Keogh, 13:37.

Overtime goal: Keogh (PW) unassisted, 3:51.

Shots: Plymouth Whitemarsh 39, Hatboro-Horsham 26; Saves: Joe Gambino (HH) 35, Ben Yuter (PW) 23.

Other scores: Pennsbury 9, Council Rock North 1

St. Joseph’s Prep 4, Father Judge 2

Plymouth Whitemarsh 13, Hatboro-Horsham 3

HATFIELD—Plymouth Whitemarsh took the ice Friday night immersed in a cauldron of emotion. Senior Colin Franzoni was in uniform in the wake of the recent death of his mother from. On this night, the rink was his sanctuary, his teammates his support system.

It was somehow fitting that Franzoni scored the first goal of the game just 18 seconds after the opening faceoff. The Colonials went on to score seven goals in the first period and went on to a 13-3 win in a game that was halted via the 10-goal mercy rule with 3:40 remaining in the third period.

The win lofted Plymouth Whitemarsh to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Suburban High School Hockey League’s American Division. The loss was the first after five wins for the Hatters, who were opening their conference schedule.

There were some impressive numbers on the scoresheet. Aidan Keogh scored three goals for the Colonials and added five assists. He has now compiled 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in six games. Jake Weikel also had a had trick and three assists. Luke Weikel provided two goals and two assists. Dean Keller scored twice.

Franzoni added a second goal himself but what was most memorable about the evening was how his teammates supported him.

Keller is the Colonials’ captain. “It was obviously a tough week,” he said. “We lost someone who was really close to us and we put it all out on the ice for them and I’m proud of every one of (his teammates). It was just a great overall team win.”

Keller describes the Colonials as a close-knit group. “This is one of the closest hockey teams I’ve ever played on,” he said. I’m happy to say that; this is one of the best years of my life.”

It was an emotional evening for Colonial coach Josh Aiello. Prior to the game the Colonials’ middle-school team practiced and visited the varsity dressing room and the Plymouth Whitemarsh junior varsity team took the ice following the varsity contest.

“It’s pretty cool being involved with this team,” Aiello said. “Because they’re really young men, it’s not like they’re children. I guess technically by age they are, but they’re very nature for their age. They’re very goal oriented and if anything happens, they have each other’s backs. It’s a great group and I’m privileged to be involved.”

Seth Lerner, Tarek Elsbbagh, and Ben Lerner scored the Hatboro-Horsham goals.

Hatboro-Horsham 1 2 0—3

Plymouth Whitemarsh 7 3 3—13

First-period goals: Colin Franzoni (PW) from Zach Spera, :18; Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh, 1:29; Seth Lerner (HH) from Alex Howieson and Nick Maslij, 2:13; Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh and Luke Weikel, 2:37; Dean Keller (PW) from Conor Keogh, 4:58 (pp) Aidan Keogh (PW) from Jake Weikel, 10:50; Luke Weikel (PW) from Jake Weikel and Keogh, 12:21; Keller (PW) unassisted, 12:32.

Second-period goals: Tarek Elsabbah (HH) from Seth Lerner, 1:19; Jake Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh and Conlan Carpenter, 2:21; Ben Lerner (HH) unassisted, 8:29 (sh); Franzoni (PW) from Keller, 14:03 (pp); Spera (PW) from Dean, 14:21.

Third-period goals: Aidan Keogh, from Luke Weikel and Spencer Reilly, 3:48 (pp); Aidan Keogh (PW) from Jake Weikel, 10:49; Luke Weikel (PW) from Aidan Keogh, 12:20.

Game called at 12:20 of the third period.

Additional Score

Holy Ghost Prep 7, Glenbrook South, Illinois 3—Byron Hartley scored two goals as the Firebirds prevailed in the opening round of the National Scholastic Invitational in Jamestown, N.Y.

Wissahickon 3, Plymouth Whtemarsh 2 OT

By Rick Woelfel

The result left the victors ecstatic and their defeated foes in agony. Two teams played a quality hockey game and left Hatfield Ice Wednesday night separated by the slimmest of margins.

It took Bryan Garry’s power-play goal 26 seconds into overtime to give the Wissahickon a 3-2 win over Plymouth Whitemarsh in a Suburban High School Hockey League Class A semifinal.

The win moves the second-seeded Trojans (12-3-2) into Thursday’s final against top-seeded Lower Moreland (8:40 at Hatfield Ice).

The winning goal came during a four-on three situation that got its start when minor penalties 20 seconds apart late in the third period left each team a man down heading into the 15-minute sudden death (five skaters against five) overtime period.

When John Cubbin was whistled for tripping just 11 seconds into the extra session, the third-seeded Colonials were two men short and the second-seeded Trojans had a lot of open ice to work in.

Gary’s goal came on a wrister from around the left circle and put a damper on a brilliant performance in goal by the Colonials’ Ben Yuter, who made 42 saves and was challenged repeatedly.

“Three goals in 45 shots on net,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Josh Aiello.

Wissahickon coach ken Harrington was impressed Yuter’s effort, as was everyone else in the building. “We got a lot of shots on goal,” he said. “We just couldn’t get the rebounds. He did a superb job, hats off to him.”

The teams have now split four meetings this season. Gary said he was not surprised that Wednesday’s game was close.

Garry said he was expecting the fourth meeting of the year between the two teams to be a tightly contested affair

“We’ve played them before and they’ve been close games” he said, “so I just expected it be another close game.”

The Trojans’ Dan Glazer started the scoring just 1:25 into the first frame. Gavin Mulligan tied the game for Plymouth Whitemarsh at the 15:16 mark off a Wissahickon turnover in the neutral zone.

Aidan Keogh scored on a wraparound move from behind the goal 6:05 into the third period to give Plymouth Whitemarsh a 2-1 lead. Sean Gary tied the game for Wissahickon with 3:40 left in regulation but Yuter made some big saves down the stretch to force overtime.

Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 0 1 0—2

Wissahickon 1 0 1 1—2

First-period goals: Dan Glazer from Sean Garry, 1:25; Gavin Mulligan (PW) from Peter Troy, 15:16.

Third-period goals: Aidan Keogh (PW) from Jake Weikel, 6:05; Sean Garry from Bryan Garry, 13:20.

Overtime goal: Bryan Garry from Sean Garry, :26 (pp).
Shots: Plymouth Whitemarsh 21, Wissahickon 45; Saves: Ben Yuter (PW) 42, Michael Henderson 19

Plymouth Whitemarsh 7, Wissahickon 4

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—On some nights, a single occurrence can turn a hockey game on its axis and send it in an entirely new direction. So it was at Hatfield Ice Wednesday night.

Leading by a goal in the waning moments of the second period but facing a two-man disadvantage, Plymouth Whitemarsh not only successfully killed both penalties but scored a shorthanded goal to boot and went on to a 7-4 win over previously unbeaten Wissahickon in a Suburban High School Hockey League American Division encounter.

Colin Franzoni and Dean Keller scored two goals each and Ben Yuter made 33 saves in goal but the win was made possible in large part by what happened late in the middle period and early in the third.

Keller had just scored a goal to put the Colonials up 4-3 when, with 2:08 left in the middle period, Franzoni was sent to the box for high sticking. With 51 seconds left in the period Desmond Brock was corralled for a hooking infraction, leaving Plymouth Whitemarsh two men short for 46 seconds.

As the clock wound down inside the final half minute of the period the Colonials iced the puck. Two Trojans headed back to retrieve it but the Colonials’ Jake Weikel got to the puck first behind the Wissahickon net and spotted Franzoni waiting in front. The junior proceeded to put the puck past Trojan netminder Michael Henderson with nine seconds left in the period.

“I just busted all the way (down the ice) Franzoni said. “(Weikel) got the open pass, I shot it and it went in.”

Franzoni’s second goal of the game didn’t mean the Colonials (7-3, 4-3 SHSHL American) could rest easy. Dan Glazer scored for Wissahickon (6-1-2, 4-1-2) 56 seconds into the third period to bring the Trojans within a goal at 5-4. But Gavin Mulligan and Keller scored goals at 6:14 and 12:26, respectively, to give the Colonials some insurance.

The winners were outshot 37-24 but Yuter, a junior, was on top of his game. He said the key was maintaining his concentration. “Just staying intense the whole time and just watching every shot in,” he said,”and just seeing where everyone is, and just playing every shift like it’s my last.”

After losing a 13-8 shootout to Lower Moreland last Thursday, Yuter said it was important for he and his mates to step up Wednesday night.

“It was very important,” he said, “because we’ve always had a big rivalry against Wissahickon. They’re undefeated (prior to Wednesday) and we just need to show them what’s up and who is boss in this league.”

That issue won’t be settled until season’s end but Wissahickon coach Ken Harrington acknowledged Plymouth Whitemarsh was the superior team on this occasion.

“They were outworking us over and over,” he said. “We weren’t adjusting; they were collapsing on us and we weren’t adjusting.”

Harrington acknowledged his team still has some work to do. “We looked real sluggish,” he said. “A couple guys were under the weather, they were game time decisions, but no excuses. They’re were outworking us and the one-on-one battles, they won a lot of them.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh 2 3 2—7
Wissahickon 2 1 1—4
First-period goals: Colin Franzoni (PW) from Ben Lucas, 9:10; Bryan Gary from Sean Gary, 9:31; Peter Troy (PW) from Dean Keller, 15:06; Sean Gary from Bryan Gary and Nick Hussa, 15:36 (pp).
Second-period goals: Aidan Keith (PW) from Troy, 5:43; Bryan Gary from Sean Gary, 11:55; Keller (PW) unassisted, 12:29; Franzoni (PW) from Jake Weikel, 15:49 (sh).
Third-period goals: Dan Glazer from Ty Schaffer, :56; Gavin Mulligan from Desmond Brock, 6:14; Keller (PW) from Franzoni, 12:26.
Shots: Plymouth Whitemarsh 24, Wissahickon 37; Saves: Ben Yuter (PW) 33, Michael Henderson 17

By Rick Woelfel