Ben Reese recaps Souderton’s dramatic come-from-behind win over Council Rock South. Check out the recaps of Wednesday’s action. Photos provided courtesy of Dara N. King Photography.
By Ben Reese
WARWICK -- Things have not always been bright for the Souderton ice hockey team.
Especially since 2014 when the Indians – led by Daniel Rock and Alex Politsky - advanced to the Flyers Cup final before falling to eventual state champion Central Bucks South.
Since that 2013-14 season, the Indians went through a season with no wins followed by a season with only five wins. This year, they won eight games, lost six and tied two.
In Wednesday’s second round Flyers Cup game, Souderton took another step in the right direction, beating Council Rock South 4-3 at the Revolution Ice Gardens. The Golden Hawks were seeded seventh and Souderton was seeded 10th.
"It's been a long, hard road for these kids," said Souderton coach Matt Montagna. "No matter what happens, this one is one they can remember and I'm happy for them."
Council Rock South held a 3-0 lead entering the third period. The Indians bounced back, scoring four times including the game-winner with 1:33 left in the game.
Two Souderton seniors, who had suffered through the winless season, combined to win it. Gabe Evans scored the game-winner with an assist from Tyler Johnson.
"It was a beautiful setup by Tyler Johnson," Evans said. "I couldn't have asked for a better pass.
"It was a nice pass, right to my stick, and I just tapped it and it went five hole (between the goalie's legs). Their goalie played well so we had to shoot and score at every opportunity."
There was something more than just a win going for Souderton in the third period.
"I begged them not to go out like that," said Montagna. "(I told them) I don't care if you want to lose, just fight back - come back, and they did it. I'm proud of them."
For Johnson, who scored the tying goal on a short-handed breakaway, it was a matter of pride.
"The thing we wanted to focus on in the third period was to win your shift," Johnson said. "Play with pride.
"We have enough seniors on this team that we want to go as far as we can. We didn't want this to be our last game.
"Our freshman year, we had the Danny Rock team that was just like the perfect team. It was hard to compare with them. After that we lost a lot of seniors, and we didn't have a single win the next year. Then we kept progressing, getting better and better.
"We had five wins last year and made the Flyers Cup (but) didn't win the first game. Now we're getting an even higher seed and winning the first game. It feels good."
Through the first two periods, it didn't look good for Souderton. After all, Rock South scored twice in the first period and once in the second for a 3-0 lead. Jake Houk scored with assists from Dylan Feoli and Matthew Owens 13:26 in the first period, and a goal by Owens in the final minute of the period put the Hawks on top 2-0. A short-handed goal by Owens in the second period gave the Hawks their three-goal advantage.
Whatever Montagna said to the team between the second and third periods, it must have worked.
The Big Red came out and scored two goals within the first four minutes of the stanza. Josh Reeves netted the first one with only 1:17 gone and Jordan Engelhart notched the second at the 3:54 mark to cut the Golden Hawks' lead to 3-2.
With slightly less than seven minutes remaining in the third period, Johnson stole the puck at center ice and skated in alone, beating Rock South goalie Mason Procz for a short-handed goal.
Then, with only 1:33 left in regulation, Johnson and Evans combined on their power play goal. And the Souderton bench went nuts.
But that wasn't the end of it. The Indians were called for two penalties in the final minute of play and finished the game with a four-skaters-to-three deficit.
It was not a pretty game. There were a multitude of turnovers, several of them leading to goals.
"Every turnover was a big key to this game," Evans said. "We work off turnovers every single game.
"From going 0-15 sophomore year, being able to win our first game in Flyers Cup was amazing. All I know is that it's not over. We've got three games to play and I can't wait to play."
Souderton will face Central Bucks South in Thursday’s quarterfinal game at Warwick at 8:15 p.m.
Souderton 4, Council Rock South 3
Souderton 0 0 4 -- 4
Council Rock South 2 1 0 -- 3
First period: 1, Jake Houk CRS (Dylan Feoli, Matt Owens) 13:26; 2, Owens CRS (unassisted) 15:13.
Second period: 3, Owens CRS (unassisted) 13:04 SH.
Third period: 4, Josh Reeves S (unassisted) 1:17; 5, Jordan Engelhart S (Gabe Evans) 3:54; 6, Tyler Johnson S (unassisted) 9:19 SH; 7, Evans S (Johnson) 14:127 PP.
Shots: S 34, CRS 45. Saves: Joshua Smith (S) 42; Mason Procz (CRS) 30
#1 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 5, #17 PARKLAND 1
“Fundamental defense.”
Sean Philipps’ explanation sounded easy enough when asked the key to the Bucks’ stellar defensive effort against a Parkland squad that had not lost this season.
“It was just playing how we know how to play,” the Bucks’ senior captain said. “When you’re doing that kind of stuff, it just comes easy playing good team defense.”
Philipps, Brandon Savona, Matt McCarthy and Luke McCleerey played the kind of lockdown defense coach Dave Baun has come to expect from his defensemen.
“They do a good job,” the Bucks’ coach said. “We teach our guys to play a tandem and always cover the middle lane, pick up for your partner, and we do a good job of that most times.”
When the puck did get through, Jonah Brous was once again brilliant between the pipes, turning away 30 of 31 shots he faced. Parkland’s only goal came when the Bucks were down a pair of players.
“He’s so consistently good all the time, and we come to rely on him a lot, maybe too much,” Baun said of Brous. “He made a lot of great stops tonight. He was the difference in the game.”
Brous, meanwhile, was quick to credit his defense.
“My defense is unreal every night,” the Bucks’ senior goalie said. “They give me so much help. I can’t thank them enough. They make my job so much easier.
“They work their butts off in practice, and it’s super important to have a good relationship with the guys and communicate. It’s the little things that count, and they do them right. They played very well tonight.”
The Bucks were coming off their first loss of the season, falling in overtime to Council Rock South in the semifinals of last week’s SHSHL playoffs. They showed no ill effects from that loss.
“It was a disappointing loss in overtime, but we came back to practice Monday – we really wanted to get back to the basics and focus on taking the next steps forward,” Brous said. “It was just back to work, working hard and getting back to what we were doing.”
The Bucks led Wednesday’s second round game at Hatfield Ice from wire to wire.
“I was very pleased,” Baun said. “I thought we were fragile, I thought we were a little unsettled by that loss.
“Who wants to go 18 games before you lose and not be able to lose for another five to win states. I think it relieved a little pressure for us.”
Dalton Karl’s power play goal with assists from Joe Anton and Tucker Forte put the Bucks on the board 6:39 into the opening period. When Karl found the net with 28 seconds remaining – this time with assists from Anton and Philipps, the Bucks led 2-0.
“That goal was a momentum changer, but I also think a couple of stops Jonah made before that made a big difference as well,” Baun said.
Seven minutes into the second period, Anton (Tucker Forte/Karl assists) found the net with a goal that put the Bucks on top 3-0.
“When you’re playing in front in these types of games, it gives you a little more confidence,” Philipps said.
“It definitely helps,” Brous added. “It’s definitely a momentum booster, but you can get an early lead and lose it just as easily.
Late in the second period, Brous twice withstood a flurry of Parkland shots with some dazzling saves, but with two West players in the penalty box, Parkland’s Koby Staivecki (Jake Nimeh assist) scored on a power play to make it a 3-1 game heading into the final period.
A goal by Forte with an assist from Savona just over a minute into the third period put the Bucks on top 4-1, and with just over five minutes remaining, Philipps put the finishing touches on a strong outing with an unassisted power play goal.
“Coach before the game was telling us we had to do what we’ve been doing all season – which is teamwork,” Philipps said. “I think we stuck to our game plan pretty much, and it worked out well for us. I really don’t think it mattered who we played tonight. I think we still would have come out on top.”
Parkland, the champion of the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League, defeated Avon Grove 5-1 in an opening round game.
“We went to scout them on Monday night, so we had an idea what we were in for,” Baun said. “They work hard, and they don’t quit, so I give them a lot of credit.”
For Brous, the opponent was secondary.
“Especially in Flyers Cup, you don’t know everyone, you don’t know the players as well,” the Bucks’ goalie said. “I personally don’t try to focus on that. It doesn’t mean anything to me.
“I don’t care if I’m playing the first place team or the worst team. I just come to the rink preparing like any other game.”
Central Bucks West will face eighth-seeded Ridley in Thursday’s quarterfinal game at Hatfield ice (8:40 p.m.).
Parkland 0-1-0 1
Central Bucks West 2-1-2 5
Shots: CBW 37, Parkland 31.
Saves: Matthew Yankanich (P) 32, Jonah Brous (CBW) 30.
Period 1
CBW: Dalton Karl (power play) (Joe Anton, Tucker Forte) 6:39
CBW: Dalton Karl (Joe Anton, Shawn Philipps) 15:32
Period 2
CBW: Joe Anton (Tucker Forte,, Dalton Karl) 6:51
P: Koby Staivecki (power play) (Jake Nimeh) 11:41
Period 3
CBW: Tucker Forte (Brandon Savona) 1:21
CBW: Shawn Philipps (power play) unassisted) 10:40
#2 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, #15 SPRING-FORD 1
The Titans advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinal round, but this one was anything but easy.
“We weren't prepared – (we) came out flat,” coach Shaun McGinty said. “We didn't strike right away and we never found a groove.
“We battled the whole time. Good teams find a way to win, and the bottom line is we snuck that one out.”
Neither team got on the scoreboard until Reis Braccio turned a Matt Stoll pass into a power play goal 11:13 into the second period to give the Titans a 1-0 lead.
Early in the third period, Stoll scored with an assist from Joe DeLaurentis, but Spring-Ford cut that 2-0 lead in half when Carson Porkka connected on an unassisted goal just over a minute later.
That 2-1 score stood until 12:26 had elapsed in the final period when Tyler Boylan (Braccio assist) found the net with an insurance goal for the 3-1 final.
The Titans held a 37-22 advantage in shots, but Rams’ goalie Matthew Magee turned away 34 shots. Kevin Dorozinsky was credited with 20 saves in the win but was lost to a game misconduct penalty in the closing minute and will not be able to play in South’s quarterfinal game against Souderton
“We lost our cool,” McGinty said. “We didn't capitalize on our chances. It wasn't a good game for CB South.
“Those guys deserve the accolades - they got to hold us as much as they did. Seeding doesn't matter. Everyone gets invited to the dance - you've got to show up, and we didn't show up.”
The Titans will face Souderton at Warwick on Thursday at 8:15 p.m.
Spring-Ford 0-0-1 1
Central Bucks South 0-1-2 3
Shots: CBS 37, SF 22.
Saves: Kevin Dorozinsky (CBS) 20, Tim White (CBS) 1, Matthew Magee (SF) 34.
Period 1
No Scoring
Period 2
CBS: Reis Braccio (power play) (Matt Stoll) 11:13
Period 3
CBS: Matt Stoll (Joe DeLaurentis) 2:18
SF: Carson Porkka (unassisted) 3:47
CBS: Tyler Boylan (Reis Braccio) 12:26
#5 HAVERFORD 7, #12 PENNRIDGE 2
Haverford erupted for four unanswered goals in the first period and added a fifth just over a minute into the second period to go on top 5-0. The Rams never threatened.
Michael Padgeon broke the Fords’ 5-0 run with an unassisted goal 3:30 into the second period, and with the Fords on top 6-1 after two periods, Michael Ferello scored just over a minute into the final period, using assists from Hunter Ditty and Evan Kehoe.
The Rams held a 34-26 advantage in shots, but Tyler Cassidy negated that advantage with 32 saves in a winning effort in goal for the Fords. Luke Stranick was credited with 19 saves.
Haverford will face William Tennent at Bucks County Ice on Thursday at 7:10 p.m.
Pennridge 0-1-1 2
Haverford 4-2-1 7
Shots: Pennridge 34, Haverford 26.
Saves: Tyler Cassidy (H) 32, Luke Stranick (P) 19.
Period 1
H: Henry DeVoe (Shane Moran) 6:44
H: Dante Gattone (unassisted) 9:54
H: Dominic Pantalone (Shane Moran) 13:45
H: Shane Moran (unassisted) 14:58
Period 2
H: Henry DeVoe (power play) (Daniel Morris) 1:39
P: Michael Padgeon (unassisted) 3:30
H: Henry DeVoe (unassisted) 15:52
Period 3
P: Michael Ferello (Hunter Ditty, Evan Kehoe) 1:11
H: Henry DeVoe (Daniel Morris) 14:39
#4 WILLIAM TENNENT 5, #13 NORTH PENN 1
Jack McKeever scored a pair of goals and assisted on another to lead a balanced Panther attack, and Eric Lineman was just about perfect in goal, turning away 23 of the 24 shots he faced.
McKeever scored back-to-back goals in a four-minute span in the opening period – the first with a Sean Ovington assist and the second with an assist from Christopher Kreider. Stephen Skiba turned an Eric George pass into a goal late in the period to put the Panthers on top 3-0.
Neither team scored in the second period, and after Corey Stouffer (Andrew Galetta/Nathan Oh assists) found the net 6:25 into the final period, the Panthers closed it out with goals by Ovington (McKeever assist) and Jared George.
William Tennent will face Haverford at Bucks County Ice in a quarterfinal game Thursday at 7:10 p.m.
North Penn 0-0-1 1
William Tennent 3-0-2 5
Shots: NP 24, WT 38.
Saves: Eric Lineman (WT) 23, Caleb Floyd (NP) 30.
Period 1
WT: Jack McKeever (Sean Ovington) 4:11
WT: Jack McKeever (Christopher Kreider) 7:49
WT: Stephen Skiba (Eric George) 13:44
Period 2
No Scoring
Period 3
NP: Corey Stouffer (Andrew Galetta, Nathan Oh) 6:25
WT: Sean Ovington (Jack McKeever) 14:33
WT: Jared George (unassisted) 15:19
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