SHSHL Realigning as New Season Approaches

The Suburban High School Hockey League will have a new look this season. The league will be comprised of 16 teams this season, divided into two divisions.

The Class AA Division will include defending champion Council Rock South, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South, Central Bucks West, Neshaminy, North Penn, Pennridge, Pennsbury, and Souderton.

The Class A Division will be comprised defending champion Plymouth Whitemarsh, Hatboro-Horsham, Wissahickon, Truman, Abington, Quakertown, and William Tennent. The latter three teams will play at the Class A level this coming season after competing in Class AA a year ago.

The SHSHL’s 48^thseason is expected to begin on Wednesday, November 25.

SHSHL Select Team

This team was selected as a supplement to the Suburban High School Hockey League divisional teams that were announced last week. Our thanks to the coaches who provided input.

F Colin Abbonizio Sr. Central Bucks South

F Antii Autere So. Council Rock South

F Bryan Garry Jr. Wissahickon

F Tyler Greenstein Sr. North Penn

F Aidan Keogh So Plymouth Whitemarsh

F Michael Roby Jr. Council Rock South

F Robbie Seewagen, Jr. Neshaminy

F Chris Trefz Sr. Central Bucks West

D Tom Boyle Sr. North Penn

D Matt Buchinski Jr. Neshaminy

D Ken Duffield So. Council Rock South

D Ryan Gingras Sr. Central Bucks South

G Chris McIntyre Jr. Central Bucks East

G Jimmy Sweeney So. Council Rock South

All-SHSHL Team Announced

The Hockey Happenings Suburban High School Hockey League All-League team was selected by hockeyhappenngs.com with input from league coaches.

A select team encompassing all three divisions is scheduled to be announced on March 29,

National Division

First Team

F Antii Autere So. Council Rock South

F Michael Roby Jr. Council Rock South

F Rob Seewagen Jr. Neshaminy

D Matt Buchinski Jr. Neshaminy

D Ken Duffield So. Council Rock South

G Jimmy Sweeney So. Council Rock South

Second Team

F Beau Brusius-Yedman Sr. Pennsbury

F Joey DeMatteo Sr. Neshaminy

F Erik Eisler Jr. Pennsbury

D Ben Dous Sr. Pennsbury

D David Mueller Sr. Council Rock South

G Brian Nelson So. Neshaminy

Continental Division

First Team

F Colin Abbonizio Sr. Central Bucks South

F Tyler Greenstein Sr. North Penn

F Chris Trefz Sr. Central Bucks West

D Tom Boyle Sr. North Penn

D Ryan Gingras Sr. Central Bucks South

G Chris McIntyre Jr. Central Bucks East

Second Team

F Sean Gorman So. Central Bucks East

F Jack Lowery So. Pennridge

F Dominic Patrone Sr. Central Bucks South

D Conrad Frisch Jr. Pennridge

D Luke Van Why Jr. North Penn

G Mason Moyer Jr. Central Bucks South

American Division

First Team

F Bryan Garry Jr. Wissahickon

F Aidan Keogh So. Plymouth Whitemarsh

F Jake Weikel Sr. Plymouth Whitemarsh

D Dean Keller Sr. Plymouth Whitemarsh

D Ben Lerner So. Hatboro-Horsham

G Ben Yuter Sr. Plymouth Whitemarsh

Second Team

F Alex Howieson Jr. Hatboro-Horsham

F Nick Hussa So. Wissahickon

F Luke Weikel So. Plymouth Whitemarsh

D Robert DiCrosta Sr. Truman

D Nolan Ryan Jr. Wissahickon

G Joey Gambino Sr. Hatboro-Horsham

Plymouth Whitemarsh 8, Wissahickon 3

HATFIELD— The celebration resembled ine that traditionally follows the presentation of the Stanley Cup. The Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials completed their climb to the summit Thursday night with an 8-3 win over Wissahickon in the Suburban High School Hockey League Class A championship game.

A large and enthusiastic audience at Hatfield Ice looked on as the top-seedbed Colonials won for the 18th time in 19th starts. Dean Keller and Luke Weikel each scored twice to help their teammates capture the second SHSHL title in school history; the first came in 2009.

“It feels fantastic,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Josh Aiello. “This has been not just a long season coming (but) a lot of years coming.

“These guys have trained day in and day out … I’m just so proud of our players.”
Wissahickon (10-9) built a 3-1 lead by the 2:19 mark of the second period on goals from Ty Schiff, Alex Carrozza, and Nicholas Hussa, but the Trojans never scored again.

Jack Mishkin, Keller, and Ben Lubas scored goals in a span of 2:59 to give the Colonials a 4-3 lead and additional goals from Aidan Keogh sand Jake Weikel made it a 6-3 game before the period ended. Luke Weikel added both his goals in the third period.

The Colonials were just as effective inside their own zone, keeping Bryan Garry, Wissahickon’s top offensive threat, off the scoresheet.

“They did a good job of that,” said Wissahickon coach Ken Harrington. “We made some mistakes like (allowing breakaway opportunities).”

Harrington said penalties took his team out of its rhythm. “When you’re killing or on the power play, it distrusts everything,” he said. “They kind of messes up your flow, We weren’t able to play our third line that much.”

Keller, the Plymouth Whitemarsh captain, reflected on winning a championship.”It means everything,” he said. “The last four years we’ve really been working hard. We’ve been starting in August, just getting ready for games like these and its great that it finally paid off.”

Wissahickon goaltender Chris Shea became was involved in an altercation after they final buzzer and received a major penalty and a game misconduct. That brings with it an automatic one-game suspension.
Ice chips—Both teams will begin Flyers Cup play on Monday night. The Colonials,, who are seeded eighth, will face Lower Dauphin in an 8:45 game at Ice Line. Wissahickon, the 11th seed, will take on Unionville at 6:45 at the same rink.
Wissahickon 2 1 0—3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 5 2—8
First-period goals: Ty Schiff from Nicholas Hussa, 3:25 (pp); Dean Keller (PW) from Conlan Carpenter, 6:06; Alex Carrozza unassisted, 6:46.
Second-period goals: Nicholas Hussa from Schiff and A.J. Pounds. 2:19 (pp); Jack Mishkin (PW) from Zach Spera, 6:16 (pp); Keller (PW) from Mishkin, 8:21; Ben Lukas (PW) from Aidan Keogh and Jake Weikel, 9:15; Keogh (Pw) from Keller, 13:53; Jake Weikel (Pe) from Keller, 15:26.
Third-period goals: Luke Weikel (PW) from Matt Flynn, 4:48; Luke Weikel from Jake Weikel, 13:56.

Council Rock South 3, Central Bucks South 1

HATFIELD— If one word were used to describe Council Rock South’s performance Thursday night it would be efficient. One shift at a time one period at a time, all the way to a 3-1 win over Central Bucks South to claim the Suburban High School Hockey League Class AA title in front of a full house at Hatfield Ice.

Jeremy Purcell scored twice for the third-seeded Golden Hawks (13-5-0-1) who did a lot of little things right up and down the lineup to claim the second SHSHL championship in school history. Its first came in 2010.

“You win championships, you win big games like this with you second and third lines,” said Joe Houk, Council Rick South’s veteran coach. “Our second and third lines won the game tonight.”

Purcell, who centers the Hawks’ second line, is a case in point. He had just four goals and six assists in 13 games prior to Thursday. His contributions were needed because two Council Rock defensemen were out of the lineup.

“It’s a team game,” Purcell said. “We’ve all got to work together. C.B. South is a very good team. We’ve got to put it all together to win in the end.”

The opening 17-minute period featured an abundance of physicality but just a single goal, a power-play effort from the Golden Hawks’ Antii Autere who made a rush from his own zone, all the way down the left wing and took the puck behind the Titans’ net before beating Mason Moyer at the 6:05 mark.

Purcell scored his first goal 1:54 into the second period off a left circle faceoff which set up a wraparound from behind the net with the junior tucking the puck inside the right post. At that point, the Golden Hawks had scored twice on just six shots.

A key moment in the game occurred 7:33 into the second period when the Titans’ Nathan Fievitz drew a five-minute major penalty plus a match penalty for butt ending that gave the Golden Hawks an extended power play and brought Fievitz an indefinite suspension pending a review by USA Hockey.

Purcell scored his second goal of the game during the ensuing power play with Bill Harrelson’s help at the 10:39 mark to give his team a three-goal lead.

The Titans, to their credit, kept battling and got on the board via a goal from Aidan Gaffney with 3:05 left in regulation and kept Golden Hawks’ goaltender Jimmy Sweeney busy down the stretch.

Titan assistant Tyler Skroski praised the Golden Hawks’ effort. “They came out buzzing,” he said. “They came out buzzing against North Penn (in the semifinals) and they carried it right over into this game. They’ve got some really dynamic scoters mixed in with solid goaltending and veterans on defense.”
Ice Chips—The Golden Hawks are the sixth seed in the upcoming Flyers Cup tournament and will face 11th-seeded Parkland Tuesday night at 8:45 at Grundy Arena. The top-seeded Titans will take on 16th seed Conestoga at 6:40 at Hatfield Ice the same evening.

C.R. South 1 2 0
C.B. South 0 0 1
First-period goals: Antii Autere (CRS) from Matt Constantini, 6:05 (pp)
Second-period goals: Jeremy Purcell (CRS) unassisted, 1:54; Purcell (CRS) from Bill Harrelson, 10:39 (pp)
Third-period goals: Aidan Gaffney (CBS) from Colin Abbonizio and Daniel Kvetcher, 13;55
Shots: C.R. South 19, C.B. South 30; Saves: Jimmy Sweeney (CRS) 29, Mason Moyer (CBS) 16

Wissahickon 10, Hatboro-Horsham 6

WARWICK—After spotting their opponent a significant head start, Wissahickon took control of its Suburban High School Hockey League Class A semifinal against Hatboro-Horsham Wednesday night.

Trailing 3-0 in the first period, the Trojan scored nine goals in the equivalent of one period of hockey and went on to a 10-6 win at Revolution Ice Gardens. The third-seeded Trojans (10-8 overall) will face top-seeded Plymouth Whitemarsh in Thursday’s final (8:30) at Hatfield Ice.

Prior to the opening faceoff, Wissahickon figured to be playing uphill. Leading scorer Nicholas Hussa and Daniel Glazier were serving suspensions while Ben Junker was sidelined with an injury. With next week’s Flyers Cup opener against Unionville already set, it would have been understandable had the Trojans struggled.

Alex Carrozza, their captain, admitted that focusing was a bit difficult. “A little bit,” he said. “Especially since we played them the last game of the regular season (a 9-1 win for the Hatters last Friday). They kind of put a couple goals in on us. It was tough for us to play. We were able to come back and actually put a good team together.”

The second-seeded Hatters (11-6-0-1) were in command at the start, thanks to a goal from Nick Long and two from Aidan Esack, which gave them a 3-0 lead just 6:07 into the first period.

The flow of the game changed however when Carrozza scored for the Trojans with 54 seconds left in the opening session.

“I thought it was important to score that goal.” said Wissahickon coach Ken Harrington.”

It wasn’t apparent immediately, but Carrozza’s effort was a preview of what was to come. Wissahickon’s Bryan Garry and the Hatters’ Seth Lerner traded girls early in the second period before the Trojans scored seven times in a span if 5 minutes, 49 seconds to take a 9-5 lead with 48 seconds left in the 17-minute period.

Garry scored three times in that span. A.J. Pounds added two goals during the spurt, while Carrozza and Nolan Ryan also scored.

Hatter coach Gianni Lafratta felt his team got away from what it defensively in the opening period. “We had guys in the slot, we kept everything outside,” he said.” Gary, I think, had three shots on net.

“We had that three-goal lead and the little things started to fall apart, the passing, the presence in the defensive zone.”

Garry added a fifth goal in the third period. He also had an assist.

Ice Chips—Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Truman 12-2 in the evening’s other semifinal. Aidan Keogh scored four goals for the Colonials before the game was called with 10:54 left in the third period. Luke Weikel, Colin Franzoni, and Dean Keller added two goals each.

Wissahickon 1 8 1—10

Hatboro-Horsham 3 2 1—6

First-period goals: Nick Long (HH) unassisted, 1:28; Aiden Esack (HH) from Alex Howieson and Jack Steinberg, 3:31; Esack (HH) from Marcus Soucy, 6:07; Alex Carrozza from Nolan Ryan, 16:06.

Second-period goals: Bryan Garry from Michael Bonanni, 3:23; Howieson (HH) from Tarek Eisabbagh, 4:38; A.J. Pounds from Ty Schiff, 10:23; Garry unassisted, 10:32; Carrozza unassisted, 11:27 (pp); Seth Lerner (HH) from James McCoy and Howieson, 12:19; Pounds from Garry, 13:17; Nolan Tyan uunassisted. 15:40; Garry from Pounds and Schiff 15:49; Garry from Pounds, 16:12

Third-period goals: McCoy (HH) unassisted, 4:13; Garry unassisted, 15:36

Shots: Wissahickon 47, Hatboro-Horsham 27; Saves: Chris Shea 20, Joe Gambino (HH) 37

Class AA Semifinals

Central Bucks South 5, Neshaminy 2

Council Rock South 4, North Penn 2

Thursday Schedule

6:30 Central Bucks South vs. Council Rock South

8:30 Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Wissahickon

Both games at Hatfield Ice

North Penn 7, Pennsbury 4

Josh Kaufhold scored two goals and five other players scored one goal each as North Penn downed Pennsbury 7-4 Wednesday night in a SHSHL Class AA quarterfinal game Monday night at Hatfield Ice. The second-seeded Knights will face third Council Rock South in Wednesday’s semifinals (8:30 at Hatfield Ice). Both the Knights and the Falcons will open play in the Flyers Cup tournament next Tuesday.

Goals came fast and furious Monday night. Before the first period ended the Knights had a 3-2 lead. Ryan Kaufhold, Luke Van Why and Zachary Cline scored for North Penn while Jake Machlovitz and Andrew Falkenstein scored for Pennsbury.
Tyler Greenstein and Josh Kaufhold added second-period goals to give the Knights a 5-2 advantage with 4:16 left in the middle period.

Erik Eisler brought Pennsbury closer with a goal with 9:09 left in regulation but Josh Kaufhold’s second goal, which came during a power play with 5:05 remaining, extended North Penn’s advantage. Eisler scored his a second goal of the night for the Falcons with 1:16 left before Thomas Boyle finished the scoring for the Knights with an empty-net goal.

“Pennsbury is a very good hockey team,” said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis. “They came out ready to play, great wanted it just as bad as we did. Not the cleanest of games for us but I think coming out of the C.B. South game last week there was a little bit of a letdown.

“We got out of here with a 7-4 win but we’ve got to come ready to play, we’ve got to play much better on Wednesday,”
Pennsbury 2 0 2—4
North Penn 3 2 2—7

Elsewhere

Neshaminy 5, Central Bucks East 3—Rob Seewagen and Joey DeMatteo scored two goals each as the fourth-seeded ‘Skins bested the Patriots Monday night in a quarterfinal game at Grundy Arena. Neshaminy will face top seed Central Bucks South in Wednesday’s semifinals.

Neshaniny 11, Abington 1

WARWICK—Neshaminy had things pretty much its own way Wednesday night. The ‘Skins scored four goals in just under six minutes and went on to an 11-1 win over Abington in a Suburban High School Hockey League Class AA game at Revolution Ice Gardens that was halted following the second period via the 10-goal mercy rule.

The result was not unexpected. Neshaminy (11-3, 9-2 in divisional play) is assured of a top-four seed at worst in next week’s SHSHL playoffs and is seemingly in line for a high seed in the upcoming Flyers Cup tournament. The Galloping Ghosts, who have 15 underclassmen on their roster, slipped to 3-13 overall and 2-9 in the division; each team has one regular-season game remaining.

Thursday’s meeting was something of a bridge between two eras of SHSHL history. Neshaminy knew its share of sorrows before taking giant strides forward this season and last. And while Abington has struggled in recent seasons, the Galloping Ghosts have a rich historical legacy that is tied to the origins of the league. Abington won the championship in the SHSHL’s inaugural reason in 1974 and went on to win the first three league titles and four of the first five. There was no Flyers Cup tournament in those days but the Galloping Ghosts claimed two state titles as well.

All told, Abington has won six SHSHL titles of one sort or another, the last of them the second of back-to-back Class AA crowns in 2004. That trails only Germantown Academy (11), Central Bucks South (8) and possibly Council Rock (six documented titles and a possible seventh) on the all-time list.

That a history that Abington coach Ken Brzozowski wants his team to embrace. “I shared that with the tonight,” he said, “and hopefully that will mean something to them.

“For us, we’ve got little goals. Next year, to improve our record, compete for a playoff spot. And then from there, maybe try to restore some of that glory that Abington had in the past.

“We’ve got a few kids that have some talent, we mix in some hard work, and maybe we can get back to that point.”

Jacob Helms scored two goals for Neshaminy while nine other players scored one goal each.

Neshaminy coach Matt DeMatteo urged his team to maintain its focus. “You start to get into a lack of team play,” he said, “where everybody wants to skate up and try and get on the scoresheet. That leads to bad habits, which (Thursday) night against Council Rock South could come back to hurt us.”

Griffin Carpenter scored the Abington goal with 1:12 left in the second period.

The ‘Skins outshot the Galloping Ghosts 35-3. Abington didn’t record its first shot on goal until 2:05 remained in what turned out to be the final period.

Neshaminy, which has won four straight and five of its last six, closes the regular season against Council Rock South on Thursday while Abington finishes against Quakertown on Friday.

Neshaminy 7 4 x—11

Abington 0 1 x—11

First-period goals: J.J. Hathaway (N) unassisted, 1:21; Joseph Hornung (N) from Joey DeMatteo, 2:25; Michael Knipple (N) from Nolan Geria, 5:14; Jacob Helms (N) from Hathaway, 5:59; DeMatteo (N) from Noah Seawagen, 8:23; Geria (N) from Hathaway, 12:32 (pp); Helms (N) from DeMatteo and Knipple, 14:15.

Second-period goals: Thomas Gallagher (N) from Ryan McColgan, 4:09; Matt Buchinski (N) from Gallagher, 4:50; Noah Seawagen (N unassisted, 7:38; Horning (N) unassisted, 7:38; Griffin Carpenter (A) from Joe Stelacio and Tom Rourke, 14:18.

Shots: Neshaminy 35, Abington 3; Saves; Brian Nelson (N) 0 and Andy Nau (N) 2; Sam Nemec (A) 24

By Rick Woelfel

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SHSHL Playoff Ponderings

The Suburban High School Hockey League has officially confirmed its playoff schedule. Four Class AA quarterfinal games will be played on Monday, February 24 with the top four seeds hosting games at their traditional home rinks.

The semifinals will be played on Wednesday, February 26 long with two Class A semifinal games.

The championship games in both classes will be played on Thursday, February 27.

Pennridge (Class AA) and Wissahickon (Class A) are the defending league champions. The SHSHL crowned its first champion, Abington, in 1973-74. Germantown Academy has the all-time record of 11 league titles, all of which occurred before the league began crowning separate Class AA and Class A champions c. 2002-03. Since then, Wisshkckon has won a confirmed five Class A titles.

Note: The SHSHL is still looking to fill in some blanks in its Roll Call of Champions. The league is still working to confirm who won the Class AA title during the 2006-07 season and the Class A title in 2003-04 and possibly 2002-03. Anyone with information about those two seasons is encouraged to contact Hockey Happenings here.

Pennridge 3, Pennsbury 2

HATFIELD— It took Pennsbury and Pennridge some time to hit their stride Thursday night. For two periods plus the Falcons and the Rams delivered a performance that seemed to offer little in the way of emotional energy.

The pace picked up down the stretch and it was Pennridge that came out on top. Aidan Boyle’s goal with 2:12 left in regulation gave the Rams a 3-2 win in a game that both teams needed strengthen their position the Suburban High School Hockey League’s Class AA standings and their credibility with the committee that will select sand seed the Flyers Cup field in a little over two week’s time.

“We just kept telling them ‘Get it to the third period with a chance to win,’” said Pernnridge coach Jeff Montagna,”

Just one goal was scored over the first two periods. It came off the stick of Pennsbury’s Brendan MacAinish 9:16 into the first frame. Ryan Schuler tied the game for the Rams (9-6, 6-5 in divisional play) 3:36 in to the finals period but Reece Millman’s shot from the edge of the right faceoff circle put the Falcons (8-5-1, 4-5-1) back in front at the 6:58 mark.

When Arek Lehrhaupt scored for the Rams at 10:06 it set the stage for a big finish. Boyle’s game winner came on a shot from the right circle that got past Falcon netminder Topher Seiler.

Seiler and Ryan Pico, his Pennridge counterpart, were both sharp, making 62 saves between them.

The Rams came into the game without Blake Stewart who was injured, and lost Richie Shanks in the second period. But they kept battling.

“They just kept fighting and scrapping,” Montagna said of his troops. “I’m just so proud of them, so proud of the way then did that down the stretch. We were down to seven forwards. It was a great win.”

The loss was the third straight for the Falcons. “Their goalie had an outstanding game,” said Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley. We could have had more goals, that’s for sure. I think that kind of got to us in the stretch there. You’re masking good plays and working hard and we weren’t getting rewarded for any of it.”

Daley was quick to point out the loss was no fault of Seiler’s who kept his team in the game in the third period. “It’s a shame our last three games have (losses) next to them,” he said. “He’s played outstanding in all three of them.”

Pennsbury 1 0 1—2
Pennridge 0 0 3—3
First-period goal: Brendan MacAinish (Pb) from Shane Siegmond and Beau
Third-period goal: Ryan Schuler (Pr) from Conrad Frisch, 3:36; Reece Millman (Pb) unassisted, 6:58; Arek Lehrhaupt (Pr) from Jeff Manto and Jack Lowery, 10:06; Aidan Boyle (Pr) from Cooper White, 13:48.
Shots: Pennsbury 35, Pennridge 32; Saves: Topher Seiler (Pb) 29, Ryan Pico (Pr) 33

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. Stop in an check us out or please visit our Facebook page