Pennsbury 8 Pennridge 4

If you’re a hockey fan who likes to see lots of goals, Grundy Arena was the place be Monday night. Pennridge and Pennsbury put on a fireworks display that featured seven first-period goals before the Falcons, who overcame an early 2-0 deficit, pulled away to an 8-4 win in the opening round of the SHSHL National Division playoffs.

Fourth-seeded Pennsbury (13-5-1) will face top-seeded North Penn in a Wednesday semifinal. The fifth-seeded Rams (6-11-1) will be off until they face Downingtown West in the opening round of the Flyers Cup.

The barrage of goals started early on. James Rush scored a pair of goals four-and-a-half minutes apart to put Pennridge up 2-0 7:33 into the opening period.

Shane Hicks woke up the Falcons when he scored two goals in a span of to tie the game. Jacob Sarver put Pennsbury in front with 5:09 remaining before Ryan Burke tied the game for the last time.

Hicks completed a hat trick with a power-play goal with 1:07 left in the period and Shane Gleisner extended the lead 54 seconds into the second period.

Rush completed his own hat Trick with a power-play goal of his own 3:24 into the second period but Pennridge would not score again.

Connor Gray and Sarver added goals for Pennsbury in the second period and Hicks scored his fourth goal of the game late in the third.

“I love the way we played tonight,” said Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley. “We got off to a little bit of a slow start nut we responded really well and never looked ack.

“After getting the goal support, we committed to our systems, particularly in the {defensive} zone.”

Pennridge 3 1 0—4

Pennsbury 4 3 1—8

First-period goals: James Rush (Pr) from Kaden Gunning and Landon Bishop, 3:01; James Rush (Pr) unassisted, 7:33; Shane Hicks (Pb) from Jacob Sarver, 9:03; Hicks (Pb) from Shane Gleisner and Sarver, 10:56; Sarver (Pb) from Jaxon Pinto. 11:51; Ryan Burke (Pr) from Dean Venner, 13:36; Hicks (Pb) from Gavin Schlotter and Sarver, 15:53 (pp);

Second-period goals: Gleisner (Pb) unassisted, :54;  Rush (Pr) from Bishop and Venner, 3:24 (pp); Connor Gray (Pb) from Schlotter and Francis DeLucia, 9:59; DeLucia (Pb) from Hicks, 13:39

Third-period goals: Hicks (Pb) unassisted, 15:48

Shots: Pennridge 28, Pennsbury 29; Saves: Andrew Slutsky (Pr) 21, Brendan Milliken (Pb) 24

APAC Founders Cup Playoff Preview

The APAC’s Founders Cup semifinals are set for Wednesday at Ice Line. Second seed Hun School will face third seed St. Joseph’s Prep in the 3:30 opener. Top seed and defending champion Holy Ghost Prep will go against fifth seed Malvern Prep at approximately 5:45.

The Founders Cup championship game is set for next Wednesday, February 25 and will be hosted by the highest-seeded finalist.

Here’s how the teams match up. The statistics listed below are for APAC games only.

Hun School (2)

Coach: N.G. Welsh

Record: 13-12, 4-4 in APAC

Key Players: Jr. Zachary Vallee 8 goals, 2 assists, 10 points; Sr. Luca Jean 3-3-6; Elliot Trottier .917 save %, 2.45 GAA; Blake Echternacht .915 save &, 2.71 GAA

St. Joseph’s Prep (3)

Coach: Charlie Van Kuna

Record: 15-6, 4-4 in APAC

Key Players: Jake Ely 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points; Jr. Cole Gargon 4-1-5; Sr. Bradan Fisher 1-4-5;.  Jr. Declan Geary .908 save &, 2.31 GAA

This season:

12-10 Hun School 2 St. Joseph’s Prep 1

12-29 St. Joseph’s Prep 3 Hun School 2 (Purple Puck final)

1-13 Hun School 4 St. Joseph’s Prep 3

Holy Ghost Prep (1)

Coach: John Ritchie

Record: 16-4, 8-0 in APAC

Key Players: Sr.  Lucas Gonalez 4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points; Jr. Chase Logue 9-1-10; Sr. Anthony Valeriote 1-7-8; Jr. Matt Salita .971 save &, 0.67 GAA

Malvern Prep (5)

Coach: Bill Keenan

Record: 5-10-2, 2-6 in APAC

Key Players: Sr. Pax Hoishik 5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points: So. Jake Weingartner 4-7-11; Sr. Ryan Caterino .921 Save %, 2.34 GAA

This season

11-19 Holy Ghost Prep 4 Malvern Prep 1

12-3 Holy Ghost Prep 2 Malvern Prep 0

Past APAC Champions

2025 Holy Ghost Prep 6 La Salle 4

2024  La Salle 7  St. Joseph’s Prep 0

2023 La Salle  7 Holy Ghost Prep 3

2022  Malvern Prep 4 La Salle 1

2021 La Salle and Malvern Prep declared co-champions

2020 La Salle 4 HGP 1

2019 La Salle 6 Holy Ghost Prep 3

SHSHL Update 2-16-26

National Division                W    L   T  OTW OTL Pts

@North Penn (19-1)               15    0   0   –       –          –            –       60

#Council Rock South (15-3)  12     3   0    –        –         –           –     48

#Central Bucks South (12-4)      11      3    0      –         –          –       44

#Pennsbury (11-5-1)               9     5   1   –    –            –            –       38

Central Bucks East (6-9-1)   6    8     1      1    –            –            –  25 

Souderton (6-11)                   6    9   0   1    1          –           –        24

Pennridge   (5-10-1)               5    10  0      –      2           –          –  22

Neshaminy (2-14)                  2  13   0    1    –           –            –       7

Central Bucks West (0-16)  0   15   0    –     –           –           –        0                                 

American Division          W    L    T  OTW     OTL    PTS  

#Plym. Whitemarsh (13-2)   13    2     0     –           –         52

#Hatboro-Horsham (14-3)  12    3     0     –              1       49

Springfield (6-10)               6    9     0           1                     23

Wissahickon (5-9-1)          5   8      1          2       –            20

Abington (1-14-1)                0    14  1   –                2          4

@ clinched regular-season title

Scoring   All League Scheduled Games                        

 National Division                      GP    G     A      Pts

Shane Gleisner   Pb                   17    42   21     63

Jake Weiner CRS                        15    38  18      56

Samuel Norton NP                     17   24  29      53

Chris Silvotti NP                          20   23  26      49

Max Ryon Sou.                            11   29   16     45

Nolan Shingle                              19    23   20    43

Ismael Cabrales   NP                   18   14   27     41

Ryan Frey     C.B. South              16    17  21    38

Shane Hicks Pb                            16     16   21   37

Jordan Sarne   CRS                      15    17   17    34

Landan  Bishop Pr                      13     20   13    33

 American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

 Vincent Graziani HH      17      32   26   58

 Daniel Guller       PW      14     17    31   48

Nate Nemchinov HH      15     23    20    43

Grayson Quinn Spr.       16      24    14   38

Cooper Kanze   PW         11     17    18    35

Luca Staffieri HH            14      15    16    31

Mack Risnychok Wiss    14       19   11    30

Bill Moffa   HH                14      11   16      27

Blake Ambler PW            12     10    17    27

Logan Dicus  Wiss           14     12    13    25

APAC Update 2-10-26

                                                Won    Lost    Otw    Otl       Shw  Sol    Pts

Holy Ghost Prep (16-4)          8          0           1            0        0         0     23

St. Joseph’s Prep (14-6)         4           4          0           1         1        0      12

Hun School (13-10)                 4          4          2            2        0         0      12

La Salle (6-12)                          3          5          0            1        0         0       7

Malvern Prep (4-10-2)            2         6           1            0        1         0     6

Scoring  APAC Game Only                 GP   G  A Pts     

Chase Logue HGP                                   8     9   1   10

Zachary Vallee HS                                  8      8 2    10

Pax Hoishik  MP                                       8     4  6   10

Lucas Gonalez  HGP                                8     4  6   10

Jake Weingartner MP                             8     3  6      9

Anthony Valeriote GFP                           8    1   7     8

William Harmar HGP                              8    4   2     6

Jake Ely SJP                                            8    3   3     6

Luca Jean  HS                                          8    3   3     6

Goaltending Min. 153 Minutes         GP   Min   Shots GA  GAA Save %

Matt Salita HGP                                   6       306   136     4     0.67   .971

Ryan Caterino MP                               8       414     241    19   2.34   .921

Anthony Foster L                                 4       187    124     10  2.73   .919

Blake Echternacht HS                         5       226     142    12   2.71   .915

Declan Geary HGP                               8       375   184     17    2.31  .908

SHSHL Update 2-10-26

National Division                W    L   T  OTW OTL    SOW    SOL    Pts

North Penn (18-1)               14    0   0   –       –          –            –       56

Council Rock South (15-2)  12     2   0    –        –         –           –     48

Central Bucks South (11-4)      10      3    0      –         –          –         40

Pennsbury (10-5-1)               8     5   1   –    –            –            –        34

Central Bucks East (6-8-1)   6    7   1      1    –            –            –      25

 Pennridge   (5-9-1)               5     9  0      –      2           –          –       22

Souderton (3-11)                   4    9   0   1    1          –           –           16

Neshaminy (2-13)                  2  12   0    1    –           –            –          7

Central Bucks West (0-15)  0   14   0    –     –           –           –           0                                 

American Division         
W    L    T    OTW     OTL   SHW   SOL PTS  

Hatboro-Horsham (14-2)  12    2     0     –       1         –          –   49

Plym. Whitemarsh (12-2)   12    2     0     –           –         –          48

Wissahickon (5-9-1)            5   8      1  2          –        –          –       20

Springfield (5-10)               5    8     0     1      –           –                 19

Abington (0-13-1)                0    13  1   –         2       –          –          4

Scoring   All League Scheduled Games                        

 National Division                      GP    G     A      Pts

Shane Gleisner   Pb                   16    40   20     60

Jake Weiner CRS                        16    37  17      54

Samuel Norton NP                     17   24  29      53

Chris Silvotti NP                          19   21  25      46

Nolan Shingle                              18   21   20     41

Ismael Cabrales   NP                   17   14   23     37

Ryan Frey     C.B. South              15     16  20    36

Max Ryon Sou.                            9      20    15    35

  American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

 Vincent Graziani HH      16      30   25   55

 Daniel Guller       PW      13     13    31   44

Nate Nemchinov HH      14     21    20    41

Grayson Quinn Sp.         15      21     15   34

Cooper Kanze   PW         10     17    14    31

Mack Risnychok Wiss    14       19   11    30

Luca Staffieri HH            13      15    15    30

Bill Moffa   HH                14      11   16      27

Blake Ambler PW            12     10    17    27

Logan Dicus  Wiss           14     12    13    25

APAC Standings 2-3-26

                                                Won    Lost    Otw    Otl       Shw  Shl    Pts

Holy Ghost Prep (15-4)          7          0           1            0        0         0     20

St. Joseph’s Prep (14-5)         4           3          0           1         1        0      12

Hun School (12-9)                   3          4          2            3        0         0       9

La Salle (5-12)                          2          5         0            1        0         0     7

Malvern Prep (4-10-2)            2       5             1             0        1         0     6

Remaining Conference Games

Tuesday: Malvern Prep at Hun School 4:00 at Ice Land

Wednesday: St. Joseph’s Prep at Holy Ghost Prep 4:00 at Grundy

SHSHL Update 2-2-26

National Division                W    L   T  OTW OTL    SOW SOL Pts

North Penn (16-1)              13    0   0   –       –          –            –       52

Council Rock South (14-2) 11     2   0    –        –         –           –     44

Central Bucks South (10-4)    9      3    0      –         –          –     36

Pennsbury (10-4-1)               8     4   1   –    –             –            –   34

Pennridge   (5-8-1)               5     8  –     –       2           –            –      22

Central Bucks East (5-8-1)   5    7   1   1                –            –      21`

Souderton (3-10)                   3    9   0   1    1          –           –        12

Neshaminy (2-11)                  2  10   0    1    –           –            –      7

Central Bucks West (0-14)  0   13   0    –     –           –           –       0                                 

American Division          W    L    T    OTW     OTL   SHW  SOL PTS  

Hatboro-Horsham (13-2)  11    2     0       1         –          –      45

Plym. Whitemarsh (11-1)   11    1     0     –           –         –          44

Wissahickon (5-8)            5   7      0    2          –        –          –       18  

Springfield (4-9)               4    8     0     1      –           –                 15

Abington (0-13)                0    13    0      –         2       –          –       1

Scoring   All League Scheduled Games                        

 National Division                      GP    G     A      Pts

Shane Gleisner   Pb                    15    39   19     58

Jake Weiner CRS                        13     34  17      51

Samuel Norton NP                     15     19  25     44

Chris Silvotti NP                          17     20  20     40

Nolan Shingle                              16     19    14   33

Jordan Sarne   CRS                      13    17   15    32

Ryan Frey     C.B. South              14      13    19   32

Ismael Cabrales   NP                   15     10    22   32

 

American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

  Vincent Graziani HH      15      29   23   52

 Daniel Guller       PW       12    12    29    41

 Nate Nemchinov HH      13     20    20    40

 Bill Moffa   HH                14      11   16    27

Mack Risnychok Wiss    12      18     8     26

Luca Staffieri HH            12      13    13   26

Blake Ambler PW            10     10     16   26

Cooper Kanze   PW         8       13     11   24

Grayson Quinn Sp.         13      16     7    23

Reid Rochestie     HH     14       7     15   22

Wissahickon’s Dicus Has Picked Up a Whistle

When Logan Dicus isn’t on the ice with a stick in his hands he might be found on the ice blowing a whistle. The Wissahickon senior is a USA Hockey referee and spends his Saturday and Sunday mornings officiating youth games.

Dicus started thinking about officiating last summer.

“I didn’t really have much going on so I thought I’d just look into it. A couple of my friends did it so I thought ‘Why not?’ So, I signed up and have been doing the early morning games and slowly making my way up.

I have a lot of fun doing it as well. And it’s a good time.”

As a Level 1 official, Dicus is certified to work games including players as old as age 10. But hockey, like all sports, is dealing with a shortage of officials and it’s theoretically possible he could be assigned at a high level.

USA Hockey’s requirements for new referees include paying an application fee ($55), completing on-line and classroom training sessions, a rules test, and a background check. Those 18 and older (birth year 2008, as Dicus is, or prior) must also complete a SafeSport training protocol.

Dicus says officiating has him seeing the game differently than he does as a player.

“When you’re reffing, you see a different perspective from when you’re playing the game,” he said. “You’re not even paying attention to the score, honestly.

“You’re staring at the puck. You’re staring at the players around the puck. You’re barely paying attention to the game, honestly. You’re just kind of watching in areas. It’s definitely a different perspective than playing the game.”

Dicus has gotten an abundance of support from his more experienced officiating partners.

“All the refs that I have {officiated} with have been very nice,” he said, “very respectful, and that makes it an easier environment to learn in.”

Dicus will head to college next fall but plans to take his striped shirt and whistle with him. He says being on the ice as a referee brings back memories of when he was getting started in the game himself.

“Watching younger kids playing the game and knowing that I was once on that position,” he said. “I didn’t really understand hockey at that point and how much it was going to have to do with my life. And I just get to see my life all over again.”

SHSHL Update 1-26-26

National Division              W    L   T  OTW OTL    SOW    SOL    Pts

North Penn (14-1)              11    0   0   –       –          –            –       44

Council Rock South (12-2)   9     2   0    –        –         –           –     36

Central Bucks South (9-4)          8      3    0      –         –          –      32

Pennsbury (9-3-1)                 7     3   1   –    –            –            –     30

Pennridge   (5-5-1)               5     5  –     –      2           –            –     22

Central Bucks East (5-7-1)   5    6   1   1    –            –            –       21`

Souderton (3-9)                     3    7   0   1    1          –           –       12

Neshaminy (2-10)                  2  9   0    1    –           –            –     7

Central Bucks West (0-13)  0   12   0    –     –           –           –       0                                 

American Division          W    L    T    OTW     OTL   SHW   SOL PTS  

Hatboro-Horsham (11-1)  11    1     0     –            –         –          – 44

Plym. Whitemarsh (8-1)  10    1     0     –           –         –          –    40

Wissahickon (3-6)            4   7      0    1          –        –          –          15  

Springfield (3-7)               3    7     0          –      –           –                  12

Abington (0-10)                0    11    0      –       1       –          –          1

Scoring   All League Scheduled Games                        

 National Division                      GP    G     A      Pts

Shane Gleisner   Pb                    13    35   18     53

Jake Weiner CRS                        13     34  17      51

Samuel Norton NP                     14     17  23    40

Chris Silvotti NP                          15     16   16   32

Landon  Bishop Pr                      10     17   12   29

Jordan Sarne   CRS                      12    14   15    29

Shane Hicks Pb                            12     12   17   29

Max Ryon Sou.                            8      16    13    29

James Rush Pr                             12     17    11   28

Nolan Shingle                              14     14    13   27

Ryan Frey     C.B. South             12      9     16   25

Jackson Kelly Soud                      8      11    10   21    

Dominic Gibson                           9     10      10  20

  American Division         GP      G     A    Pts

  Vincent Graziani HH      13      23   23   46

 Daniel Guller       PW        11    12    26  38

 Nate Nemchinov HH      11     19   18   37

 Bill Moffa   HH                13      11   16    27

Luca Staffieri HH            12      13    13   26

Cooper Kanze   PW         8       13     11   24

Mack Risnychok Wiss    11      16     7     23

Grayson Quinn Sp.         11      15     7     22

Blake Ambler PW            9        8      13   21

Reid Rochestie     HH     13       7     14   21

Blake Ambler      PW       8       7      12   19

Aiden North  HH             12      5      12   19

Grayson Quinn Spr.       9       13    3       16

Julia Kaminsky Soud                   6      9      4       13

Jackson Kelly Soud                       5      6      7      13

Nolan Shingle NP                        7       6      7      13

Ryan Burke       Pr                          5      4     7     11

Cameron  Fairweather  Sou.        5      3     8      11   

James Boyle NP                            6       2      9    11

Shawn Mooney  Nesh                  4       3     4      7

Joseph Mangin    HH      3        5      2      7

Cooper Kamze     PW     2         5     1      6

Dominic Gibson CBS                      3       3      3     6  

Goaltenders-Min.200 minutes

National Division         GP     MP  Shots  GA  Save %     GAA

Andrew Norton NP      7       357    134     8    .940         1.14

Cameron Young CBE    6      306     279    24   .914         4.00

Aidan Quigley NP         8       408     179     17  .905         2.13

Brendan Milliken Pb   13     662      395    41   .896        3.16

Trey Prozzillo    CRS     11       560    269    28   .896        2.55

American Division         GP     MP  Shots  GA  Save %     GAA

Max Youder   PW           5        255   148     12  .919        2.40

Dominic Sestito HH        5       236    80       8     .900       1.73

Lucas Bennett    PW        5      254    125     13   .896       2.61

Matthew Evangelist Ab  11    565    482     63   .869      5.69 

Eric Miller HH                   7      357  144       19   .868       2.71

Pennridge 7 C.R. South 5

It was a game that featured a little bit of everything. In the end, it was one of the SHSHL’s biggest upsets of recent years.

Pennridge overcame two-goal deficits on three occasions and used five third-period goals to stun Council Rock South 7-5 Wednesday night at Hatfield Ice. The Rams, who started the season by losing five of their first six games, are 4-2-1 in their last seven starts. Wednesday’s win, which was achieved with just 11 skaters and a goaltender lifted them to 5-7-1 overall (5-7 in SHSHL National).

“They deserved that tonight,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna,” because of how much better they’ve gotten this year.

“To be down 2-0, 4-2, and 5-3 and keep coming back, with a short bench and everything. I’m glad they could finish this one, because they’ve come so close against good teams. They deserve this one. I’m just so happy for them right now.”

There was little indication early on that the Rams would prevail. The Golden Hawks (12-2, 9-2) took a 2-0 first-period lead on goals from Jordan Sane and Allen Pruning. Sarne’s goal, just 52 seconds into the game, came on an assist from Jake Weiner that made Weiner the all-time leading scorer in school history.

Landon Bishop scored for Pennridge 6:40 into the second frame and Hames Rush tied the game seven minutes later.

By that point, tempers were flaring and the officials were busy; Rush’s goal came on a power play.

Sarne scored twice in the final 2:08 to give his team a two-goal advantage heading into the final period.

Bishop made it 4-3 on a partial breakaway 4:03 into the third period, bowling over South goaltender Troy Prozzillo in the process. Sarne made it a 5-3 game 74 seconds later but South would not score again.  Rush scored his second goal of the game exactly two minutes later and Colby Booth tied the game 8:08 left on a play to that featured considerable traffic in the crease. The scuffle that followed saw Weiner banished after receiving his fourth penalty of the game.

Bishop’s game winner came with 3:40 left in regulation. The junior finished with three goals and five points. Ryan Burke scored into an empty net with three seconds remaining.

“It feels amazing,” Bishop said. “Coming out and beating the second-place team in the league, knowing that only North Penn has beaten them? It’s amazing.”

Bishop said the coaching staff’s encouragement fueled his team’s resurgence.

“Our coaches believe in us,” he said. “We don’t quit when the challenge is real. We just keep pushing through. And get the win.”

Weiner called the loss “Just one of those nights.

“It stings,” he said. “But I was glad it happened right now before playoffs come up.

“But it stings. It definitely was a shock. They played harder today. We didn’t play as hard and that’s what it comes down to.”

• The game included 22 minor penalties, 13 against the Hawks, nine against the Rams. Weiner cane into the game with 214 points. He finished the evening with three assists.

C.R. South 2 2 1—5

Pennridge 0 2 5—7

First period goals: Jordan Sarne (CRS) from Jake Weiner, :52; Allen Pronin (CRS) from Xavier Prozorov, 5:35

Second-period goals: Landon Bishop (P) from Kaden Gunning, 6:40; James Rush (P) from Justin Dinsmore and Bishop, 13:46; Sarne (CRS) from Chase Stratton and Wes Mallon, 14:52; Sarne (CRS) frim Aidan Judge and Weiner, 16:46;

Third-period goals: Bishop (P) unassisted, 4:03; Saene (CRS) from Weiner, 5:17; Rush (P) unassisted, 6:52; Colby Booth (P) from Rush and Dinsmore, 8:52; Bishop (P) from Eush and Dinsmore, 13:20; Ryan Burke (P) from Dean Venner, 16:57 (en)

Shots: Council Rock South 41, Pennridge 30; Saves: Troy Prozzillo (CRS) 23, Andrew Slutsky (P) 36