Bergey's Inc. SOL SHSHL Player of Week: Matt Stella

Bergey’s Inc.
SOL SHSHL Player of the Week

This recognition is sponsored by Bergey’s Inc. Athletes are chosen based on nomination of coaches, and the recipient must be a positive presence on the ice and a credit to the game. Consideration also is given to the student-athlete’sstanding in the school and community.

Matt Stella – Senior at North Penn High School
The senior captain is the point leader for the SHSHL AA champion Knights with 15 goals and 29 assists for a total of 44 points. Stella, a forward, is part of North Penn’s top power play and top penalty kill unit. In addition to serving as a positive leader on and off the ice, Stella has been active in community service, volunteering his time at the team’s leaf pickup last fall and organizing the team’s local toy drive for the North Penn Boys and Girls Club. Stella also volunteered his time to work with North Penn’s middle school team.

Note from the coach:
“Matt is a huge part of our team and the success we’ve had,” coach Kevin Vaitis said. “He plays in all situations for us, so he plays five-on-five, sometimes against the other team’s best players. He plays on our power play and penalty kill, so he sees a lot of minutes. I think he helps drive how successful our team is. He goes out there and leads by example for others, and they follow along in his footsteps.

“He has a knowledge of the game, and he’s always in good situations when he’s on the ice. He’s a talented hockey player, but when you put together his hockey sense and knowledge of the game, it just helps him so much more. He’s able to anticipate plays even before they happen, which often leads to great scoring chances, and he and his two linemates are able to capitalize on those chances.
“Matt leads by example and never gets involved in any of the extra stuff after the whistle. He very rarely finds himself in the penalty box, which is a key for us because he’s a huge part of our team. He always goes out there and works hard every shift he’s on the ice. You watch him play, and he plays every shift like it could be his last. Being a senior and being here for three years, other kids look at him not only as a captain but as the leader of the team. If your captain is out there working that hard and giving everything he’s got, it’s pretty tough for other players on the team not to follow in his footsteps.”