SHSHL Tournament Preview (2-22-23)

02/21/23 7:59pm Posted by editor

By GORDON GLANTZ

If we can just make the playoffs …

That has been the battle cry of almost every SHSHL coach during the just-completed regular season, as each had reasons – whether it be the leadership, the grit, the ability to roll three lines and/or 5-6 defensemen or being in a good health after battling injury or having the necessary goaltending – to believe his team was built for the postseason grind.

Not every team with such aspirations got there, as the final spots in both divisions were not decided until the end of the regular season. Those that did make it will have a chance to prove it when the puck hits the ice – at both Grundy and Hatfield rinks – Wednesday night.

Here is a closer look at the first-round matchups (with Abington, Council Rock South and Pennridge waiting in the wings with byes):

American Conference

Quakertown (2) vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh (3), Hatfield Ice, 8:45

Quakertown

  • 10-4-1-1 overall
  • 6-4-1 American
  • Scored 88 goals and allowed 45
  • A balanced attack with seven players in double-digits in points is led by Branden McNally who, in 16 games, notched 17 goals and 15 assists.
  • The supporting cast on a team that skated to a 2-2 tie with Abington earlier in the season includes Will Shaw (12 goals, 12 assists), Cole Slemmer (15 goals, 6 assists), Lucas Cunnane (8 goals, 11 assists) and Connor Ellmore (11 goals, 6 assists).
  • Goalie Matthew Krem (the son of coach Keith Krem) boasts a 2.79 goals against average and a .900 save percentage behind a stingy neutral zone trap designed to frustrate opponents and keep scores low. Krem has played every minute of every game so far.
  • All the games have been close as the average margin of victory has been 1.67 goals. PW posted a 7-5 win on Dec. 7. Quakertown responded with a 5-3 win on Dec. 16, only to have PW answer back with a 3-2 win in last meeting between them on Jan. 2.

Plymouth Whitemarsh

  • 10-6-0 overall
  • 6-5-0 American
  • Scored 84 goals and allowed 50
  • The Colonials are led by Matthew Flynn, who finished the regular season with 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points in 16 games. The supporting cast includes David Branigan (11 goals, 21 assists) and Dylan Novitsky (15 goals, 12 assists).
  • Timothy Murphy has 8 goals and 7 assists from the blue line.
  • Goalie Christopher Maslij has turned in an outstanding season with a 2.86 goals against average and .893 save percentage.

National Conference

(3) Pennsbury vs. (6) C.B. East, Grundy, 7:30

Pennsbury

  • 12-5-0 overall
  • 8-2-0 National
  • Scored 60 goals and allowed 38
  • The Falcons are led by the lethal Brendan Macainsh, who scored a league-high 31 goals and added 17 assists in 17 games. Andrew Falkenstein added 6 goals and 22 assists from the blue line. Support came from the likes of Justin Martin (14 goals, 13 assists) and Logan Doyle (11 goals, 12 assists).
  • Primary goalie Aaron McDaniel posted a 3.52 goals against average and a .853 save percentage.
  • On Dec. 1, the Falcons topped the Patriots, 6-3. On Dec. 21, they upended them, 6-1.

C.B. East

  • 8-8-1 overall
  • 4-5-1 National
  • Scored 58 goals and allowed 56
  • Corey Kosick is the focal point of the offense with 18 goals and 10 assists. Stephen DiRugeris, who was limited to 12 games, added 7 goals and 6 assists.
  • The defense is led by DJ Brown and Carter Keiser, each of whom has 2 goals and 4 assists.
  • Head coach Jeff Mitchell considers goalie Matt Mangiacapre among the best in the circuit. For season, he is allowing 3.40 goals per game and boasts an impressive .910 save percentage.

(4) Neshaminy vs. (5) CB South, Grundy, 9:00

Neshaminy

  • 11-5-1 overall
  • 6-3-1 National
  • Scored 70 goals and allowed 43
  • Max Gallagher is the only skater with double-digit goals (23) and account for just under 33 percent of his team’s overall tallies. Others include Nolan Geria (9 goals, 15 assists) and Daniel McColgan (7 goals, 14 assists).
  • The defense is sound with Geria, Michael Knipple (2 goals, 8 assists), A.J. Dougherty (3 goals, 4 assists) and J.J. Hathaway (4 goals, 1 assist).
  • Holding the fort in goal has been the duo of Cory Hemberger (2.82 goals against, .909 save percentage) and Aidan Hullings (1.99 goals against average, .924 save percentage).
  • Neshaminy is 2-1 against the Titans on the season, posting a 6-4 win on Dec. 1 and 2-1 win on Dec. 22 before falling, 7-2, on Feb. 15.

C.B. South

  • 9-7-0-1 overall
  • 6-4-0 National
  • Scored 70 goals and allowed 65
  • Aydin Thierolf is the only double-digit goal-scorer with 15. He also leads the team with 14 helpers. The balanced supporting casts includes D.J. Lindemuth (9 goals, 11 assists), Colin Mendham (8 goals, 10 assists), Sean Cutter (6 goals, 6 assists), Adam Linso (5 goals, 6 assists), Keith Waldron (3 goals, 8 assists) and Ryan Frey (6 goals, 4 assists).
  • Linso, Matt Crouch (3 goals, 6 assists) and Jake Stepp (2 goals, 2 assists) anchor the defense.
  • Goalie Dominic Varacallo is allowing 3.79 goals per game and has an .852 save percentage.
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