La Salle 2 St. Joseph’s Prep 1

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP—Despite the winter chill outside, the air inside the Skatium was crackling with intensity Friday. That’s a common occurrence when La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep square off, whatever the sport.

Keenan Schneider’s power-play goal 6:12 into the first period proved decisive as the Explorers prevailed 2-1 in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference matchup.

The win lifted La Salle to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in APAC play. The Hawks fell to 4-5-1 and 1-2-0-2.

La Salle, which has won four of its last five games, jumped in front when the Hawks coughed up the puck in front of and just to the left of their own net. Patrick Brace was one hand to coral the puck and put it behind Hawk netminder Rocco Bruno just 93 seconds after the opening faceoff.

Schneider’s goal came off a faceoff in the circle to Bruno’s right.

Keenan Schneider scores the game-winning goal

St. Joseph’s Prep countered when Nick Storti beat La Salle goaltender Aries Carangi from the left side of the slot 6:12 into the second session.

That was the last goal of the night but both teams maintained a high level of intensity and physicality the rest of the way. Through the first two-and-a-half periods the referees called 11 minor penalties, six against the Explorers, five against the Hawks, but passed on incidents that might have been whistled down on another occasion.

Emotions boiled over with 1:28 remaining in the third period and La Salle trying to protect its one-goal lead.

Eight players, four from each team, were accessed a total of 72 penalty minutes. Two La Salle players Carangi and forward Tim Whittock, were given game misconducts for receiving four penalties during the game and will serve one-game suspensions as a result.

Muehlbronner also faces a suspension; his team was accessed 16 penalties.

When all the penalties were sorted out, St. Joseph’s Prep had a power play. Coach David Giacomin pulled Bruno at that point, giving his team a six-skaters-to-four advantage for the duration of the game but the Hawks couldn’t score.

Will Braun took over for Carangi in the La Salle goal. His only warmup came while the officials were sorting out the penalties but he made two saves over the final 88 seconds of playing time.

“I was happy that we hung on,” Muehlbronner said. “We had a lot to overcome in the third period.”

Muehlbronner made his thoughts clear regarding the late-game incident. “In my eyes, that’s very preventable, what took place,” he said. “It’s not what I expect.

“I don’t think the lack of discipline came on our part. It was a disgrace, what happened at the end. I expect my guys to play hard, play the game the right way. “Thankfully we did that in the first period and that’s what got us through.”

Giacomin noted the teams took turns dictating the flow of the game.

“It was up and down,” he said. “They had a really good first period, I think we played really good in the third period, and that made for an interesting third period, at least the first part of it.”

Giacomin indicated the rivalry between the two schools contributed to the altercation.

“You don’t like to see it,” he said, “but you understand why it happens You’ve just got to hopefully teach the kids from this point on that that’s not the way we play, period. Both teams.”

La Salle 2 0 0—2

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 1 0—1

First-period goals: Patrick Brace (L) unassisted, 1:33; Keenan Schneider (L) from Charlie Kennedy, 6:12 (pp)

Second-period goals: Nick Storti (SJP) from Joey Samango and Dante Passio, :49

Shots: La Salle 38, St. Joseph’s Prep 34; Saves: Aries Carangi (L) 31 and Will Braun (L) 2, Rocco Bruno (SJP) 36

For more information about La Salle College High School CLICK HERE

For information about St. Joseph’s Prep CLICK HERE

St. Joseph’s Prep 5 Holy Ghost Prep 1

BRISTOL—St. Joseph’s Prep arrived at Grundy Arena Monday afternoon eager to get on the ice. Because of Covid-cancellations, the Hawks hadn’t played a game December 21. Upon their arrival, they spent 51 minutes of pent up energy.

The result was a 5-1 Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference win over host Holy Ghost Prep. The win was the first for the Hawks (4-4-1 overall, 1-1-0-2 in the APAC) in four conference starts and an ideal start to the six-week stretch that serves as a prelude to the Founders Cup playoffs and the Flyers Cup tournament.

“I think this is really going to set the tone for the rest of our year,” said sophomore Joey Samango.

Samango scored two goals for the Hawks and assisted on two others, giving him seven goals and two assists in conference play.

Junior Jeffrey Hammond contributed a goal and two assists. “We knew what we had to do,” he said. “Last time we played Ghost (a 5-4 overtime loss on November 12) we were winning 4-1 and then we let up with penalties. We came in knowing what we had to do.

Freshman Jake Schultz scored the game’s first goal 9:26 into the first period. Samango made it a 2-0 game at the 12:59 mark.

Nick Storti made it a 3-0 game to finish off a play that Hammond started 63 seconds into the second session.

Jake Schultz starts the scoring

At that point, Holy Ghost Prep coach Gup Whiteside made a goaltender change, inserting Colin Mudrick for starter Jason Soule (Soule returned for the third period).

Sean Marshall answered for Holy Ghost Prep (9-6, 1-3-1-0 in conference) just 26 seconds later but Hammond extended the Hawks’ lead with 1:44 left in the period.

Samango added his second goal of the game 11:22 into the third period.

Dante Passio (33 in red) wins a battle in the corner

Hammond is pleased with how this year’s edition of the Hawks has evolved through the first half of the season.

“Everyone knows their role,” he said, “and when everyone knows their role, and when everyone plays their role, we win a game. In a 5-1 win, everyone played their role.

St. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin says his team is a more focused group than the team that struggled much of last year.

“This senior class, that’s all they talked about,” he said, “saying ‘We’re a good enough team to compete with everybody, but we’ve got to be ready every game and not just show up.

“So, having a full lineup definitely helps but also having the attitude that you want to be there and you want to compete hard.”

Jason Soule makes a save in the Firebirds’ net

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 2 1—5

Holy Ghost Prep 0 1 0—1

First-period goals: Jacob Schultz (SJP) from Michael Ahearn. 9:26; Joey Samango (SJP) from Dante Passio and Jeffrey Hammond, 12:59

Second-period goals: Nick Storti (SJP) from Liam Mooney, 1:03: Sean Marshall (HGP) from Ciaran Chambers, 1:29; Hammond (SJP) from Mooney and Samango, 15:16

Third-period goals: Samango (SJP) from Hammond and Storti, 11:22

Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 32, Holy Ghost Prep 30; Saves: Rocco Bruno (SJP) 29, Jason Soule (HGP) 23 and Colin Mudrick (HGP) 4

For more about St. Joseph’s Prep Click Here

For more about Holy Ghost Prep Click Here

Video provided by Nur B. Adam

O’Neill Reflects on His Time at St. Joseph’s Prep

Shane O’Neill

The past year-and-a-half has been a time of growth for Shane O’ Neill, in the classroom and on the ice.

O’Neill is a sophomore at St. Joseph’s Prep and in the midst of his first season with the varsity as an old school, stay-at-home defenseman.

“I’m a pretty big guy (6-0, 175),” he said, “so, I try to do my role to the best of my ability which is kind of locking it down in the defensive zone and making sure no one pushes the goalie. What I’ve found helps most is always playing a physical game, always keeping your head up.”
O’Neill also plays club hockey at the U16 AA level but he has adapted his game to fit the tempo of high-school hockey and the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference. He’s comfortable in his role as his team’s sixth defenseman.

“I love it,” he said. “I feel like I’ve learned so much from my teammates just in the past year and watching those guys; all of them are incredible players. I really learn a lot from them and not only does it help the guys around them get better, it helps me get better just watching them and competing against them, and seeing what they do.”

O Neill’s coach, David Giacomin, appreciates his approach to the game.

“Shane is a hard-working defenseman,” Giacomin said. “He takes direction well and wants to get better. He is our sixth defenseman but continues to work and get better. We reward his efforts by putting him on the penalty kill and power play from time to time.”

Giacomin notes that O’Neill came to the Hawks without expectations or a sense of entitlement.

“Regularly, young players have struggled with playing time on the varsity because they are used to being top in their club teams,” he said. “It takes a bit to understand. Shane has never been that way. As a sophomore, he has come in with a mindset to fit in and get better every day. I think our team has made him better for his club team. He is a great young man to have on our team and makes us better.”

As much as O’Neill had to modify his game on the ice, his most significant adjustments came elsewhere. He was familiar with the history and traditions of St. Joseph’s Prep; his uncles and grandparents had gone to school there as well as some older friends. But there was the inevitable adjustment to a vigorous academic workload.

“It was pretty difficult,” O’Neill said, “going from a workload of back in Catholic school or middle school of probably 20 minutes a night to having sometimes multiple hours a night, upwards of three hours. It was a lot of work; it took some adjustments to get used to it. Now that I’m used to it I feel like I have an edge. I know how to get things done efficiently and well.”

Like many of his peers, O’Neill had to develop time-management skills.

“It was a big challenge at first,” he said, “especially putting down the cell phone and getting homework done. I was playing for two clubs, practicing just about every night of the week and having multiple games on the weekend. It can get pretty difficult but once I got used to it was manageable.”

O’Neill appreciates the support of the St. Joseph’s Prep faculty.

“They’re always willing to meet before school or after school to talk to you and help you out,” he said. “They always are engaging and they do a really good job getting the information into your head.”

O’Neill is most proud of how he has grown as a student and as an athlete over the last year.

“When first came to the Prep I saw some of those guys play and my draw dropped,” he said. “Some of these guys were ridiculously fast and I thought, looking at these guys play that I could never get to the level that they are.

“But, now, in playing with them and seeing what they do and learning from them, having them support you and teach you, it really helped my game out. I’m not quite at the level that they’re at, in terms of skill, but it’s fun to compete with them, it’s a lot of challenge.

“I feel the same way academically; there’s tons of really smart guys at the Prep and they’re all really nice and supportive and they’ll always help you out. And it’s really paid off, putting in the effort and watching myself improve.”

For more about St. Joseph’s Prep CLICK HERE

Purple Puck, Mount St. Charles Tournaments Cancelled

Two holiday hockey tournaments that are traditional destinations for La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep have been cancelled because of Covid concerns.

Mount St. Charles (RI) Academy announced Sunday afternoon that it’s 25th annual Holiday Faceoff tournament has been called off. La Salle was to be part of the eight team field; the tournament to Woonsocket, RI is an annual trip for the Explorers.

The 28th annual National Capital Hockey Tournament, more familiarly known as the Purple Puck Tournament, has also been cancelled. The tournament was scheduled to be played in Washington, D.C. beginning this coming Tuesday and continuing through Thursday.

St. Joseph’s Prep was scheduled to be part of the eight-team Prep Division. The tournament was also to include four teams competing in a separate High School Division.

It’s the second straight year the tournament has been cancelled.

St. Joseph’s Prep 4 Haverford 2

Joe Samango exploded for four goals as the Hawks downed the Fords Tuesday night in the 10^th annual Pink The Rink Game at the Skatium.

Samango, a sophomore, scored twice in the first period to help his team overcome an early 1-0 deficit before adding two additional goals in the second.

Jagur McClelland Nate Rabadam scored for Haverford, the reigning Flyers Cup Class AA champion.

The Hawks will compete in the National Capital Tournament aka the Purple Puck Tournament beginning next Tuesday.

Haverford 1 1 0—2

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 2 0—4

First-period goals: Jagur McClelland (H) from Gus Scuderi, 2:12 (sh); Joe Samango (SJP) from Shane O’Neill, 4:20; Samango (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond and Michael Ahearn, 6:50 (pp)

Second-period goals: Samango (SJP) from Declan Pierce and Christian Short, 2:16; Nate Rabadam (H) from McClelland Owen Rabadam, 2:49 (pp); Samango (SJP) from Nick Storti, 11:35 (sh)

Shots: Haverford 30, St. Joseph’s Prep 39; Saves: Ajay White (SJP) 15 and Rocco Bruno (SJP) 13; Jai Jani (H) 35

A Night That’s About More Than Hockey

The Skatium in Haverford Township will host a special evening of hockey Tuesday night. The occasion is the 10^th annual Pink The Rink Game, which will feature St. Joseph’s Prep from the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference and Haverford High, the reigning Class AA Flyers Cup champion, the in a varsity/junior varsity doubleheader.

The varsity game is set for a 7:30 start with the junior varsity game to follow at 9:45.
Proceeds from the game will benefit the Living Beyond Breast Cancerorganization which provides support to breast cancer patients.

Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door.

Shane O Neill is in his first varsity season with the Hawks. The sophomore defenseman is looking forward to being on the ice Tuesday night.

“There’s a lot of excitement going into it,” he said, “knowing that we’re going to have good competition with Haverford and obviously a lot of excitement knowing we’re playing for a cause, a cause that will help a lot of people. It feels good.”

O’ Neill says he and his teammates embrace giving back to their community by being part of this game.

“It helps a lot,” he said. “I know a lot of people personally who are struggling with cancer, and form of cancer. (The Pink The Rink Game) means a lot, not only to the people who have cancer, but the people who are praying for them. [It feels good] to be able to represent them and help them out.”

Malvern Prep 6 St. Joseph’s Prep 5

Jeremy Jacobs scored his third goal of the game with 6.6 seconds remaining in regulation as the Friars bested the Hawks Friday night at the Skatium. The Friars scored four goals in the third period to record their third APAC win without defeat.

Joseph Samango recorded a hat trick for the Hawks who are now 0-1-0-2 in conference play

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 2 3—5

Malvern Prep 1 1 4—6

First-period goal: Jimmy Jacobs (MP) from Matt Harris and Jeremy Jacobs, 5:01 (pp)

Second-period goals: Garrett McDonald (SJP) from Declan Pierce and Tristan Wanata, 4:47; Harris (MP) from Pierre Larocque, 11:01; Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) from Liam Mooney, 11:34

Third-period goals: Joseph Samanago (SJP) from Mooney, 1:25; Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Travis Buckley and Jonathan Holt, 7:49; Samango (SJP) from Hammond and Dante Passio, 8:34; Jeremy Jacobs (MP) from Jack Sharer, 9:19; Larocque (MP) from Jeremy Jacobs, 10:52; Samango (SJP) unassisted, 15:34; Jeremy Jacobs (MP) unassisted. 16:54.

Shots: Malvern Prep 45, St. Joseph’s Prep 35; Saves: Anthony Perti 30 (MP) Rocco Bruno (SJP) 39

Jimmy Jacobs delivers the game’s first goal

Jeremy Jacobs delivers the game winner

Video provided by Gracie Cleveland

APAC Standings 12-11-21

APAC Standings As of 9 p.m. on Wednesday 12-15

W L OTW OTL Pts

Malvern Prep (7-2) 4 0 0 0 12

Hun School (5-5) 1 2 1 0 5

Holy Ghost Prep (9-2) 1 2 1 0 5

La Salle (3-4) 1 2 0 0 3

St. Joseph’s Prep (2-4-1) 0 1 0 2 2

This Week

Tuesday: Lawrenceville 5, Hun School 4

Wednesday: Malvern Prep 7, Hun School 2

A New Era is Unfolding at The Hun School

A new day is dawning at The Hun School. Come Thursday afternoon at the stroke of 4, at the Ice Land Skating Center in Hamilton Township, N.J, the Raiders will embark on their first season of conference play in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference. St. Joseph’s Prep will provide the opposition.

The Raiders started their season this past weekend in Western Pennsylvania at the Shady Side Academy tournament where they won three of four games.

Hun School is no stranger to the schools in the APAC, it has competed regularly against conference members in non-league games in seasons past. They are also members, along with La Salle, in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League.

Ian McNally, Hun School’s veteran coach, is familiar with the APAC’s history. “When they started this league, I kind of knew what it was,” he said, “but I caught up last year with (La Salle coach Wally Muhelbronner) more about it.”

McNally, who played college hockey at Princeton, says that membership in the APAC makes the regular season more meaningful.

“Previous to the Mid-Atlantic League, we were just playing a selection of games,” he said. “Just schedule 20 games and you play them. It’s great, but it’s hard to get up for everything for the kids. Sometimes there wasn’t the same amount of emphasis put on playing well and getting the win each time.

“I think that was the goal, to try to have our schedule be all meaningful games. We’d go play Malvern on a Wednesday afternoon but for either team, it wasn’t necessarily the biggest game of the year. So, we’ll have those same games and they’ll all be more meaningful and impactful. I think for the kids, it’s a big benefit to feel like there’s (three) points on the line each game.”

The Hun School is unique among the APAC membership. It is the first coeducational school in the conference and has boarding students. Also, the school starts its hockey season later than the other conference members to avoid having it overlap with fall sports. But it is committed to putting a quality hockey team on the ice while remaining committed to academic excellence.

“We’re not looking to be a hockey factory,” McNally said, “but we do have strong hockey kids and have a competitive hockey team, so having likeminded schools to play against, it means something. It was a pretty easy ‘Yes’ for us (to joining the APAC) and I hope it was an easy ‘Yes’ for them to want us in the league as well.”

A number of Hun School players are presently playing club hockey but some played other sports for their school this fall.

“Half our team has been here but not been playing hockey,” McNally said. Some of them played football or soccer for Hun or ran cross country.

So, not only are we catching up that way but there’s kids that haven’t played since whenever they last played at their home. Maybe when they left in August or whatever so we’ll see.

“I think we’ll be fine and the difference I think for us is once we start, we skate every day so we’ll probably catch up, in terms of hours on the ice, pretty quick.”

Learn more about The Hun School

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St. Joseph’s Prep 2, Gonzaga Prep 2

Michael Ahearn and Christian Short scored goals as the Hawks and Gonzaga skated to a tie at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Rink on Friday afternoon.

Roman Villegas and Hamilton Norwind scored on second-period power plays to draw Gonzaga Prep even.

The Hawks (2-2-1 against high-school competition) will travel to The Hun School on Wednesday.

Gonzaga 0 2 0 0—2

St. Joseph’s Prep 2 0 0 0—2

First-period goals: Michael Ahearn (SJP) from Christian Short, 4:19; Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) from Quinn Egan and Luca Palachick, 5:57

Second-period goals: T.J. Kouba (G) from Roman Villegas and Hamilton Norwind, 5:36 (pp); Villegas (G) from Norwind, 15:35 (pp)

Shots: Gonzaga 41, St. Joseph’s Prep 39