SHSHL American Division Semifinal: P-W 7 Quakertown 2

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—The moment came with dramatic suddenness, like a bolt of lightning across a clear sky. Isaac Mishkin’ s goal was just the first of the night. But it proved to be a jumping off point as Mishkin and his Plymouth Whitemarsh teammates went on to a 7-2 win over Quakertown Wednesday night in the SHSHL American Division semifinal at Hatfield Ice.

The result puts the second-seeded Colonials (12-6) into next Wednesday’s division final against Abington (7:10 at Hatfield Ice). The Colonials will learn Sunday of they have been selected for the Class A Flyers Cup tournament, which begins the week of March 6.

Quakertown (10-5-1-1) remains eligible for the Class AA Flyers Cup.

Mishkin’s goal came on a shot from center ice that eluded Quakertown goaltender Matt Krem just before the buzzer that ended the first period.

From that moment on, the Colonials had the upper hand.

“Playoffs, you just throw the puck at the net,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Dave Cox. “You never know what can happen.

“I couldn’t be prouder of everyone on that team. They’re resilient. We’ve struggled in practices and at other games. But this is a special group of boys.”

Dylan Novitsky and Matt Flynn scored goals to give the Colonials a 3-0 with 6:44 left in the middle period. Will Shaw got the Panthers on the board seven seconds before the period ended but the Colonials broke the game open in the third frame with goals from their big guns.

Flynn (26 goals 46 points coming into Wednesday), David Branigan (12 goals, 37 points, and Dylan Novitsky (15 goals, 27 points) all found the back of the net before Will Shaw beat Chris Maslij in the Quakertown net.
Maslij stopped 35 of the 37 shots he saw.

“We just wanted to go in and work hard and play our game,” he said. “We really just wanted to get to the net, get as many shots as possible, and just really outwork them if we could.”

Quakertown 0 1 1—2

Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 2 4—7

First-period goal: Isaac Mishkin (PW) unassisted, 16:59

Second-period goals: Dylan Novitski (PW) from David Branigan and Charlie Spause, 6:43; Matt Flynn (PW) from Timothy Murphy, 10:16 (sh); Will Shaw (Q) from Keira Shaw and Jack Dilliberto, 16:53

Third-period goals: Flynn (PW) unassisted, :50; Branigan (PW) from Flynn and Sprouse, 8:41; Novitsky (PW) from Flynn, 10:38 (pp); Will Shaw (Q) unassisted, 11:33; Conlan Carpenter (PW) from Branigan, 15:32

Shots: Quakertown 37, Plymouth Whitemarsh 41; Saves: Matt Krem (Q) 34, Chris Maslij (PW) 35

SHSHL Playoff Preview

Wednesday, February 22

National Division at Grundy Arena

Central Bucks East vs. Pennsbury 7:20

Pennsbury

Coach Ryan Daley

Record: 12-5, 8-2 in divisional play seed 3

Key players:

Brendan Macainsh 31 goals, 17 assists 48 points

Andrew Falkenstein 6 goals, 22 assists, 28 points

Justin Marlin 14 goals, 13 assists, 27 points

Central Bucks East

Coach: Jeff Mitchell

Record: 8-8-1-0, 4-5-1-0 in the division seed 6

Key players

Corey Kosick 18 goals, 10 assists, 28 points

Stephen DiRugueris 7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points

Matt Mangiacapre .910 save percentage, 3.40 GAA

This season

12-1 Pennsbury 6 C.B. East 3

12-21 Pennsbury 6 C.B. East 1

Neshaminy vs. Central Bucks South 9:00

Neshaminy

Coach: Matt DeMatteo

Record: 11-5-1-0,6-3-1-0 in the division; seed 4

Key players:

Max Gallagher 23 goals, 11 assists, 34 points

Nolan Geria 9 goals, 15 assists, 24 points

J.J. Hathaway 4 goals, 1 assist, 5 points

Central Bucks South

Coach: Shaun McGinty

Record: 9-7-0-1, 6-4 in the division; seed 5

Key players:

Aydin Thierolf 15 goals, 14 assists, 29 points

D.J.Lindenmuth 9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points

Colin Mendham 8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points

This season

12-1 Neshaminy 6 C.B. South 4

12-21 Neshaminy 2 C.B. South 1

Winners advance to semifinals on February 1 vs. # 1 Council Rock South and #2 Pennridge

American Division at Hatfield Ice

Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Quakertown 8:45

Plymouth Whitemarsh

Coach : Dave Cox

Record: 11-6, 7-5 in divisional play seed 2

Key players:

Matt Flynn 26 goals, 20 assists 46 points

David Branigan 12 goals, 25 assists, 37 points

Chris Maslij 2.86 GAA

Quakertown

Coach: Keith Krem

Record: 10-4-1-1, 6-4-1-1 in divisional play seed 3

Key players:

Branden McNally 17 goals, 15 assists, 32 points

Will Shaw 12 goals, 12 assists, 24 points

Matt Krem 2.79 GAA

This season

12-7 PW 7 Quakertown 5

12-16 Quakertown 5 PW 2

1-25 PW 3 Quakertown 2

Winner advances to championship game on March 1 vs. #1 Abington

Quakertown Primed for SHSHL Postseason

Four years encompasses the span of a high-school hockey player’s career. The past four years also encompass the history of the Quakertown hockey program.

The current edition of the Panthers first took the ice for the 2019-20 season. On Wednesday night, they will face off against Plymouth Whitemarsh in a SHSHL (8:45 at Hatfield Ice). The winner will face defending champion Abington for the division title next Wednesday, March 1.
The upcoming playoff game is a milestone for the program, but coach Keith Krem is happiest for the players.

“There’s guys on this team that have gotten to play four years, Including Krem’s son Matt),” he said. “They got to experience the rougher side of it, now they’re getting to see the success side of it.

“It’s cool. In the high-school game, the kids transition through some really key years. You get to see them both as hockey players and human beings. That’s cool more than anything.”

Krem spoke to the goals he had when he launched the program.

“I think I wanted the kids to have success and be confident in the team they were on,” he said, “and more than anything, to be able to have fun representing the community.

“We’re checking off all those boxes. The winning is a cool thing, but more than anything I wanted these guys to be able to represent the school and be proud of it That’s always been the goal and I think obviously, they’re doing that pretty well.”

Abington 7 Quakertown 2

WARWICK TOWNSHIP—It’s the nature of hockey that teams will skate a portion of each game shorthanded. Abington and Quakertown were shorthanded before Friday’s SHSHL American Division game even began.
Abington was down five players because of injuries and illness while the Panthers had just nine skaters dressed.

The Galloping Ghosts made the most of what they had, rolling to a 7-2 win at the Bucks County Ice Sports Center.

Ian Heydt and Sam Paulik each scored two goals in the winning effort, which pushed Abington to 11-0-1 overall and 10-0-1 in divisional play;

Quakertown dropped to 7-4-1 overall and 6-4-1 in the division.

The Panthers sit in second place in the division, eight points behind the Galloping Ghosts.

The win was Abington’s second in three tries against Quakertown this season. The third, a 2-2 tie on December 23 is the only blemish on Abington’s record. The Galloping Ghosts scored a 5-4 win over the Panthers on December 9.

Abington got off to a fast start. Owen Adamski and Paulik scored goals to give their team a 2-0 lead 4:56 into the opening period.

“It’s always good to get a good first step in the game,” Paulik said, “and try to get one in the net quick to set the momentum of the game.”

Quakertown answered when Jack Diliberto beat Abington netminder Sam Nemec at the 9:16 mark. Lucas Cunnane tied the game 2:58 into the second session. But that was all the Panthers could manage as the lack of numbers caught up to them. Abington scored the last seven goals of the evening.

“I don’t think we gave up a ton of big plays in terms of breakaways and things like that,” Quakertown coach Keith Krem said. “But, there’s a lot in front of the paint, right in front of the net, that’s where they scored. They didn’t score from the outside, they scored from right in front of the net.”

Back-to-back goals from Heydt plus a tally from Matt Kramer gave Abington a 5-2 lead after the second period. Paulik and Griffin Carpenter added goals in the third.

Abington came into the season with high expectations and Carpenter, the Galloping Ghosts’ captain says for the most part, those expectations have been met.

“I’d say we came up to expectations,” he said. “We started off hot, and we keep going.”

Abington hasn’t lost a game since the first round of last year’s Class AA Flyers Cup tournament. Carpenter doesn’t consider the 12-game unbeaten streak to be a burden.

“I don’t feel like it,” he said. “I feel like we can just keep going and keep winning.”

Quakertown 1 1 0—2

Abington 2 3 2—7

First-period goals: Owen Adamski (A) from Brian Murdoch, 3:41; Sam Paulik (A) from Griffin Carpenter, 4:56; Jack Diliberto (Q) from Josh Tolchin, 9:16

Second-period goals: Lucas Cunnane (Q) from Cole Slemmer, 2:58; Ian Heydt (A) from Sam Abramson and Matt Kramer, 4:56 (pp); Heydt (A) from Kramer, 8:53; Kramer (A) from Abramson, 15:10

Third-period goals: Paulik (A) from Seamus Donofry, 2:49; Carpenter (A) from Heydt, 111:58 (pp)

Shots:Quakertown 39, Abington 46; Saves: Matt Krem (Q) 39, Sam Nemec (A) 37

SHSHL Returnee Springfield Laying a Foundation

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—For Springfield (Montco), the 2022-23 hockey season is the beginning of a new era. Springfield has fielded teams in the past, but this season marks the first time in an estimated 17 years that the Spartans have a team on the ice.

The road has been arduous at times. Springfield has lost its first seven games in the Suburban High School Hockey League’s American Division, including an 8-0 setback at the hands of Quakertown Wednesday night at Hatfield Ice. The Spartans have been outscored 79-10.

But they made a vivid impression when they took the ice Wednesday night in their Navy blue and silver uniforms.

Despite the team’s won-loss record, defenseman Lucas Davidson, Springfield’s captain and the only senior on the 13-player roster, sees the big picture.

“It’s always more fun to win,” he said, “but this season isn’t necessarily about winning. It’s about starting up a new team, staring a new program and trying to carry this on, so that future years can play hockey.”

Davidson says the process of putting a team on the ice this season was fueled by interest within the Springfield student body.

“There’s a lot of interest in the sport,” he said. “There was just never really enough money or financial support to pour into it. And then one day, we got an e-mail, there were a couple of parents that really wanted to put one together. (And) one of the coaches from my club team, he was all about it. So, they put a team together and here we are.’

Davidson says there was enthusiasm mixed with some trepidation as word got around that the Spartans would be part of the SHSHL this season.

“A lot of people were really excited,” he said. “(But) we were also really nervous. It’s been a good while since we’ve had a team and we’re staring one up.

“It was a double-edged sword. It was really awesome on one end but a little nerve wracking on the other.”

Davidson embraces his role in launching the program and laying a foundation for future seasons.

“I love it,” he said. “I always wanted a high-school hockey team. I reached out to a couple of other high schools but because (of SHSHL rules) I couldn’t.”

• Brandon McNally scored three goals for the Panthers Wednesday night and assisted on three others. Connor Elmore, Brandon Bishop, Randy Rhodomeyer, Cole Stemmer, and Lucas Cunnane also scored goals while Keira Shaw provided four assists.

Matt Krem got the shutout on goal as Quakertown improved to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in divisional play.

Springfield 0 0 0—0

Quakertown 2 3 3—8

First-period goals: Connor Elmore (Q) from Keira Shaw and Brandon McNally, 3:22; Brandon Bishop (Q) from McNally, 15:21.

Second-period goals: Randy Rhodomeyer (Q) from Lucas Cunnane, 6:17; McNally (Q) from Keira Shaw, 10:42; McNally (Q) from Will Shaw and Keira Shaw, 12:22 (pp).

Third-period goals: McNally from Keira Shaw, 5:14; Cole Stemmer (Q) from McNally, 11:48; Cunnane (Q) from Stemmer, 12:59.

Shots: Springfield 22, Quakertown 41. Saves: Liam Baskin (Q) 33, Matt Krem (Q) 22

Abington 6 Quakertown 2

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP— Abington took its first steps on its postseason journey Thursday night. Matt Kramer and Jordan Heydt scored two goals each as the Galloping Ghosts downed Quakertown 6-2 in a SHSHL American Division semifinal at Hatfield Ice.

Top-seeded Abington (14-1) will learn Sunday if it qualifies for the Class AA Flyers Cup field before taking the ice against Wissahickon for the American Division title Thursday.

Fourth-seeded Quakertown, playing its first playoff game in its three-year tenure in the SHSHL, finishes at 7-9.

Abington coach Ken Brzozowski noted his team turned in a workmanlike effort. “It’s kind of what we’ve been doing all year,” he said, “working hard. Our philosophy is ‘Carry the puck wide, get it deep, and and then go to work. We’ve got got some skilled guy that have got some pretty good hands and can find a little hole there through open space.”

Kramer and Heydt scored first-period goals to stake their team to a 2-0 lead.

Heydt extended his team’s lead with a backhander from the low slot midway through the second session. Ryan Porter made it a 4-0 game with 56 seconds left in the period.

The Panthers however did not back down. Anthony Pagliei and Lucas Cunnane scored goals 45 seconds apart to make it a 3-2 game 3:01 into the third period.

But Quakertown couldn’t get closer. Kramer scored his second goal of the game midway through the period before Sam Paulik added a goal of his own down the stretch.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the boys,” said Quakertown coach Keith Krem. “They came out and they played hard. It didn’t go where we want it to go but we were happy to be in a playoff game and taking our season to a new step.”

Quakertown 0 0 2—2

Abington 2 2 2—6

First—period goals: Matt Kramer (A) from Joe Stelacio, 9:48; Jordan Heydt (A) unassisted, 13:33

Second-period goals: Heydt (A) 8:13; Ryan Portner (A) from Stelacio, 16:04

Third-period goals: Anthony Pagliei (Q) unassisted, 2:16; Lucas (Q) from Wilham Shaw, 3:01; Kramer (A) from Heydt and Brian Murdoch, 8:32; Sam Paulik from Pat Stelacio,15:50

Shots: Abington 29, Quakertown 20;

Quakertown 8, Hatboro-Horsham 3

WARWICK TOWNSHIP— A season’s worth of toil, sweat, and hard work paid off for Quakertown Friday night. Eric Orzehoski scored four goals and Austin Stoudt turned in a stellar effort in net as the Panthers bested Hatboro-Horsham 8-3 in a SHSHL American Division encounter at Revolution Ice Gardens.
The win was Quakertown’s first of the season after seven losses one of them in overtime.

“It feels great to get a win, finally,” Orzehoski said. “We’ve been improving throughout the entire year. To finally come out and win a game feels great.”

The Panthers took command from the start. Orzehoski scored a power-play goal just 1:49 into the first period. He added a second goal at 14:10 before Melanie Pezzano gave her side a 3-0 lead with 55 seconds left in the period.

Meantime, Stoudt, with the help of his defense corps, was keeping the Hatters (3-3-1-1) at bay at the other end of the ice.

“We’ve been taking about being better defensively,” said Quakertown coach Keith Krem. I think we were for a lot of the night and when we weren’t, Austin was pretty big in net and helped us out a couple times.”

Hatboro-Horsham coach Gianni Lafratta was impressed with Stoudt’s work.

“Goaltending was huge,” he said. “Give credit to their team and their entire coaching staff but the kid was on fire back there.”

Orzehoski completed his hat trick 5:50 into the second stanza and Jack Diliberto made it a 5-0 game with 21 second left in the period.

The Panthers were up 6-0 when Alex Howieson got the Hatters on the scoreboard 4:37 into the third period. Howieson later scored a second goal, sandwiched around an effort by Dominic Tarsi.

Orzehoski scored his fourth goal of the game in the final period, Diliberto his second, and John Connell added his first to complete the scoring for Quakertown.

Orzehoski had two assists, giving him a six-point night. Anthony Pagliei contributed three assists.

Krem said his team has been taking a back-to-basics approach of late and that mindset factored into Friday’s win. “We’ve had some talks these last few weeks about just simplifying our game,” he said, “and sticking to some good, basic, simple rules for ourselves. We did that, and we got rewarded with it.”

Krem pointed out that Orzehoski provides leadership for his team in addition to his skills. “When he playing well he’s consistent,” he said. “It’s a steadiness that takes over the entire team.”

Ice Chips—The Panthers outshot the Hatters 39-32 … No spectators were permitted at Friday’s game.

Quakertown 3 2 3—8

Hatboro-Horsham 0 0 3—3

First-period goals: Eric Orzehoski (Q) unassisted, 1:49 (pp); Orzehoski (Q) from Anthony Pagliei, 14:10; Melanie Pezzano (Q) from Orzehoski and Pagliei, 15:05.

Second-period goals: Orzehoski (Q) unassisted, 5:50; Jack Diliberto (Q) from Pagliei and Orzehoski, 15:39.

Third-period goals: Diliberto (Q) unassisted, 1:57; Alex Howieson (HH) from Aidan Esack, 4:37; Dominic Tarsi (HH) from Vince Tarsi, 5:41; Orzehoski (Q) unassisted, 9:04; Jack Connell (Q) unassisted, 13:18; Howieson (HH) from Jimmy Cortez and Vince Tarsi, 15:26.

Shots; Quakertown 39, Hatboro-Horsham 32; Saves Austin Stoudt (Q) 29, Mason Rash (HH) 31

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. Please visit our Facebook page or stop in and check us out!

William Tennent 11, Quakertown 2

WARMINSTER—William Tennent is skating in new surroundings this season. The Panthers have shifted from the Continental to the American Division of the Suburban High School Hockey League for 2021.

On Wednesday night, they looked very much at home in their new enviornment. Frank Rosenberry scored four goals and assisted on another as the Panthers sped past Quakertown 11-2 at the Bucks County Ice Sports Center.

Like Tennent (1-1), Quakertown (0-1-0-1) switched divisions this season.

Tennent coach Nick D’Aurizio was impressed with the way his troops responded after a season-opening 10-goal loss to Wissahickon one week ago.

“I think the jitters were there last week,” he said, “playing a new team last week. It’s a different season, a different situation.

“We didn’t come ready to play last week. When the puck dropped tonight, we looked like we were ready to go.”

The game stayed close well into the second period. Tennent’s Matthew Castan and Quakertown’s Jack Dilberto traded goals in the first frame before Rosenberry gave Tennent the lead when he scored off a scramble in front of the net with 45 seconds left in the period.

Rosenberry scored his second goal of the game 2:08 into the middle period. That was a prelude to his team breaking the game open with three additional goals in a span of two minutes, 30 seconds. Bryan Mesaro scored the first goal of the flurry before Rosenberry added his third and fourth goals of the evening.

Quakertown coach Keith Krem noted that turnovers caused his team difficulties. “Turnovers and pinches,” he said. “We’ve got to be more defensively sound and more conservative on the back end.

Krem said some of his team’s miscues were the result of poor decision making. “Especially when we got down a couple goals,” he said. “We tended to start forcing some things and just made some risker decisions. (Tennent) was pretty sound in just getting pucks in behind us.”

Castan joined Rosenberry as a multiple-goal scorer for Tennent. He contributed two, along with two assists.

D’Aurizio shuffled his lines after the loss to Wissahickon and his formula produced some impressive results.

“We mixed the lines up a lot since last week,” he said, “Monday we worked on two new line combinations and I think these combinations actually clicked. That’s what it’s all about, tweaking the lineup to find what’s going to fit.”

Notes: Tennent had a 43-24 edge in shots. Thomas Lomas got the win between the pipes. His best work came on back-to-back shots from close range not quite midway through the third period.

Quakertown 1 0 1—2

William Tennent 2 5 4—11

First-period goals: Matthew Castan (WT) from Nate Silberman and Gavin Loughlin, 8:09; Jack Dilberto (Q) from William Wilson, 10:27; Frank Rosenberry (WT) from Silberman, 15:15.

Second-period goals: Rosenberry (WT) from Castan, 2:08; Bryan Mesaro (WT) unassisted, 7:17; Rosenberry (WT) from Justin Carrelli, 9:05 (pp); Rosenberry from Casran and David Parkinson, 9:47; Casrfan (WT) from Jagger Azvolinski, 12:37.

Third-period goals: Carelli (WT) unassisted, 5:39; Azvolinski (WT) from Zach Devor and Walt Wolaniuk, 6:49; Devor (WT) unassisted, 11:33; Maxwell Jallboot (Q) from Anthony Pagliei, 14:29; Carelli (WT) from Rosenberry, 15:48.

Shots: Quakertown 24, William Tennent 43; Saves: Austin Sroudt (Q) 32, Thomas Lomas (WT) 22

Central Bucks East 5, Quakertown 1

WARWICK— Central Bucks East spent much of Friday night shaking off the holiday rust. The Patriots were shorthanded when they took the ice against Quakertown at Revolution Ice Gardens; three players were absent for various reasons. But they had talent available to score a 5-1 win in a SHSHL Class AA matchup.

Sean Gorman delivered a hat trick for East, which improved to 6-1-0-1 overall and 3-1-0-1 in the SHSHL.

The best player on the ice however was wearing a Quakertown uniform. Austin Stoudt’s work in goal kept the Panthers (1-6, 0-3) in the game for two periods plus. The junior finished with 36 saves.

Among the people Stoudt impressed was veteran East coach Ken Latchum, who was impressed with Stoudt’s agility

“He’s a very good goalie,” Latchum said. “Until we started shooting low, you could tell how he spread eagles and moves side to side. He’s a very good goalie.”

Though the Panthers have won just once in seven starts, Stoudt has kept his team competitive many nights, despite facing an average of 48 shots a game.

“He was a rock tonight,” said Quakertown assistant coach Mark Pezzano. “He came up with several big saves that definitely kept us in the game.

Pezzano says that Stoudt’s experience and skill in goal has benefitted a young team that is building a foundation. “Like a franchise quarterback, the goaltender can be the position on which you build a team,” he said. “If you’re goaltender’s not doing well your generally doesn’t do well and Austin has been, like I said, a rock back there. Even in the games we’ve lost, he’s been a solid goaltender.:

The game was scoreless for nearly 12 minutes before Gorman beat Stoudt for the game’s first goal at the 11:45 mark of the opening period. It took the sophomore him just 58 seconds to make it a 2-0 game when he scored off a rebound of Jason Cuckey’s original shot. Aidan Schmidt gave the Patriots a three-goal lead with 1:39 left in a period that saw Stoudt make 21 saves.

Cluckey and Quakertown’s Eric Orzehoski traded goals in the second stanza before Gorman scored his 15^th goal of the season with 5:06 left in the game.

With some vital pieces missing from the lineup, Latchum had to do some mixing and matching.

“It was ‘Next man up,’” he said. Sometimes you’re going to play wing, sometimes you’re going to play center. So, it was just whoever was able to go and wasn’t tired.”

Quakertown 0 1 0

C.B. East 3 1 1—5

First-period goals: Sean Gorman (CBE) unassisted, 11:45; Gorman (CBE) from Jasen Cluckey, 12:43; Aidan Schmidt (CBE) from Cluckey, 14:21.

Second-period goals: Cluckey (CBE) from Ian Tregor, 5:13 (pp); Eric Orzehoski (Q) unassisted, 8:44 (sh).

Third-period goal: Goman (CBE) unassisted, 10:54

Shots: Quakertown 20, C.B. East 41; Saves: Austin Stoudt (Q) 36, Chris McIntyre (CBE) 19.

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!

Hockey Happenings sat down with Eric Tye, the President of the Flyers Cup Committee, to discuss the 2020 Flyers Cup. The countdown is underway to the 41st edition of the tournament, which is scheduled to begin March 2.

Check out our podcast at www.buzzsprout.com/213400.