Tag: Ryan Ferry

La Salle 4, Holy Ghost Prep 1

BRISTOL—Few things are more impressive or imposing than a goaltender standing tall. Aidan McCabe did just that for La Salle Wednesday afternoon to help the Explorers successfully defend its Founders Cup title. The senior netminder stopped 30 of the 31 shots he saw as La Salle bested Holy Ghost Prep 4-1 at Grundy Arena to retain the championship of the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference.

The Explorers (15-13), who have won six of their last seven games will carry an abundance of momentum with then into next Thursday’s opening round of the Class AAA Flyers Cup where they are seeded second behind the Firebirds (15-5-1).

lasalle_holyghost-1.jpg

LaSalle captains Nathan Benner (L) and Ryan Ferry accept the Founders Cup from APAC Commissioner Jim Britt (photo by Liz Diretto)

Holy Ghost Prep, the top seed in the APAC playoffs, had the better of the play in the early going; at one time they had an 8-1 edge in shots, but McCabe kept them at bay and the second-seeded Explorers broke through at the 5:15 mark when David Kimmel took a shot from the left point, a single stride inside the blue line that beat Firebird netminder Sean Joyce. Keenan Schneider made it 2-0 with 56 seconds left in a period that saw McCabe make 13 saves.

“We had a good warmup,” McCabe said, “and we were doing a good job of keeping the shots to the outside so I could see the puck and track it in.”

Senior forward Ryan Ferry, one of La Salle’s captains, said McCabe’s early efforts energized his teammates. “McCabe has been good all year,” he said. “I expect nothing less.”

The Firebirds took advantage of an extended power play to score the only goal of the second period after the Explorers’ Chris Wnek and Kimmel drew back-back-penalties. Byron Hartley took a shot from the right circle that Dan Behr tipped past McCabe at the 11:15 mark.

But that was all the offense the hosts could generate. No one was more impressed with McCabe’s performance than Holy Ghost Prep assistant coach John Seravalli, who took charge behind the bench in the absence of Gump Whiteside, who missed the game because of illness.

“He made every good save,” Seravalli said. “He kept his rebounds intact. They blocked shots when we got shots off and he made great saves.”

David Brunner extended LaSalle’s lead with a goal at the 8:28 mark of the third period. Schneider scored his second goal of the game into an empty net with 25 seconds remaining.

Ferry noted that it took time for this year’s team to meld. “We just got closer as a team,” he said. “We had a lot of young kids on our team this year, a loot of seniors that were on JV last year so we didn’t know each other that well. We got a lot closer, started understanding how to play with reach other, and got s lot more chemistry.”

Ice Chips—La Salle will face Roman Catholic next Thursday in its Flyers Cup opener while the Firebirds will go against Bishop Shanahan. The Firebirds had a 31-25 edge in shots.

La Salle 2 0 2—4
Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 0—1
First-period goals: Collin Keiser (L) unassisted, 5:15 (sh); Keenan Schneider (L) from David Kimmel, 15:04.
Second-period goal: Dan Behr (HGP) from Byron Hartley and Evan Mudrick, 11;15 (pp)
Third-period goals: David Bruner (L) from Collin Keiser, 8:28; Schneider (L) unassisted, 15:35 (en).
Shots: La Salle 25, Holy Ghost Prep 31; Saves: Aidan McCabe (L) 30, Sean Joyce (HGP)) 21

 

 

LaSalle 2, Central Bucks South 1 OT

By Rick Woelfel

HATFIELD— The start of a new hockey season always brings changes with it. Rosters change and even returning players assume new roles. But attention to detail matters.
A number of players who played key roles for the LaSalle team that won the Class AAA Flyers Cup and state titles last year are gone. But the program’s commitment to excellence remains as was demonstrated Monday night

Ryan Ferry scored 28 seconds into three-on-three overtime (a new feature of USA Hockey varsity competition this season) to give the Explorers a 2-1 non-league win over Central Bucks South at Hatfield Ice. Ferry collected a feed from Nate Benner out of the deep left-wing corner and beat Titan keeper Mason Moyer inside the left-wing corner. The puck hit the back of the net as Ferry was being checked to the ice.

It was the second non-league win of the season for the Explorers, who begin Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference play next week. But Ferry says he and his teammates still have some work to do. “I doin’t think we played up to our potential today,” he said. “But it was good just to get a win.”

Ferry, a senior, noted that this year’s LaSalle team is still taking shape. “We lost a lot of kids last year,” he said. “We have a long way to go. We’re not where we need to be right now. But I think if we all put in the hard work, we’re going to get there.”

LaSalle had the better of the opening period but South goaltender Mason Moyer kept the game scoreless most of the way by making 13 saves. His task was complicated by his teammates having to kill three minor penalties in front of him.

“Mason obviously played outstanding,” said South coach Shaun McGinty. “He does that game in and game out, he’s the vital piece in our puzzle. Every team needs a good goaltender; he played stellar tonight.”

Moyer finally yielded when junior Nate Benner scored off a turnover with 13 seconds left in the period while the Explorers themselves were shorthanded.

The Titans drew even with 12:18 gone in the second frame when Colin Abbonizio, their captain, beat William Gross off an offensive right circle faceoff.

LaSalle enjoyed a 29-18 advantage in shots. Aidan McCabe William Gross split the evening in the Explorer net with Gross taking over midway through the second session.

LaSalle coach Wally Muehlbronner said his team has to do the little things well to be successful. “We don’t have the ability to put a lot of pucks in the net right now,” he said. “We’ve got to play a simple game and be strong defensively. And the compete levels has got to get higher.”
C.B. South 0 1 0 0—1
LaSalle 1 0 0 1—2
First-period goals: Nate Benner (L) unassisted, 15:47 (sh)
Second-period goals: Colin Abbonizio (CBS) from David Kvecher, 12:18
Overtime goal: Ryan Ferry (L) from Benner, :28
Shots: C.B.South 18, LaSalle 29; Saves: Mason Moyer (CBS) 27, Aidan McCabe (L) 7 and William Gross 10
Records: Central Bucks South 0-1, LaSalle 2-0