This week’s notebook highlights CB West, Hatboro-Horsham and Council Rock North and also recaps last week’s SHSHL action.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on…
SHSHL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Central Bucks West Bucks
Central Bucks West head coach Dave Baun didn’t know what to expect when the 2014-2015 SHSHL season began.
“We have been the doormat of the league for a few years,” said Baun who is now in his 10th year of running the West program. “I knew that we were going to be much better than we were last year, but I didn’t know how much better. I still don’t.
“I won’t get that answer until after the last six games of the year,” added Baun as the Bucks (6-1-3) face Abington (3-8), North Penn (8-2), William Tennent (7-3), Pennridge (2-9), North Penn (8-2) again, and close out the season with Central Bucks South (6-1-1). “We could be contending for first place or fall to fourth place.
“We still have a very young team with only four seniors and six freshmen,” continued Baun. “It is tough for us to compete with some of the bigger schools every year – things run in cycles. But there is no question that we are a better team.”
Two of the West seniors that have suffered through the lean years and now play a huge role in the success of this team are Patrick Smith and Tanner Ginn.
“Patrick has been with the program ever since the sixth grade,” said Baun. “And Tanner has stuck with the program through seasons where we didn’t win a game.
“We have good players with good attitudes,” added Baun. “We had a lot of players that started as freshmen that now have become impact players as sophomores.
“Jonah Brous started for us a freshman and has been great for us in goal,” continued Baun. “And both Scotty Cappuccio and Ryan Trefz has been starting as freshmen and both have had fantastic years. Shawn Germann and Eddie Shields have also stepped up and played well.
“We have done very well playing in what I feel is one of the best leagues around,” added Baun. “The end of the year is going to be a challenge – but this team likes to accept challenges.”
In the Rear View Mirror in the SHSHL Continental Conference
North Pennwon its only game of the week and took over sole possession of first place with an 8-1 victory over Pennridge. Jake Heckenberger, Spencer Silver, and Andrew Galetta each scored two goals for the Knights – Jake Snyder collected 32 saves in goal.
Central Bucks East won its only game of the week with a 7-0 victory over Souderton. Bryan McIntosh scored a hat trick and Austin Chase scored two goals to pace the Patriots. Evan Angotti recorded the win in net with 17 saves.
Central Bucks South lost its first game of the season as the Titans fell to William Tennent 5-3. Thomas Liberta, Leo Flick and Damon Delaurentis scored single goals – Tim White made 21 saves in goals for CB South.
Souderton lost its only game of the week as the Big Red was shut out 7-0 by Central Bucks East. Indian goaltender Joshua Smith was outstanding in defeat with 40 saves.
Pennridge lost both of its games last week as the Rams lost an 8-1 contest to North Penn and a 4-1 verdict to Council Rock North. Luke Slater scored the single goal in the loss to Rock North, while Joshua Finlayson scored a single goal in the loss to the Knights. Goaltender Mike Weaver collected 31 saves in the setback against NP and 22 saves in the loss to the Indians.
SHSHL Continental Conference Standings
1. North Penn Knights 8 2 0 * 16
2. Central Bucks West Bucks 6 1 3 * 15
3. Central Bucks East Patriots 5 3 4 * 14
4. Central Bucks South Titans 6 1 1 * 13
5. Pennridge Rams 2 9 0 * 4
6. Souderton Indians 0 11 0 * 0
This Week in the SHSHL Continental Conference
Wednesday (1/21/15)
Abington vs. Central Bucks West @ Hatfield – 7:20
Thursday (1/22/15)
Pennsbury vs. Souderton @ Hatfield – 7:20
North Penn vs. Central Bucks West @ Hatfield – 9:00
Friday (1/23/15)
Pennridge vs. Central Bucks South @ Hatfield – 7:20
SHSHL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Council Rock North Indians
Council Rock North is in playoff mode as the final weeks of the SHSHL season comes to a close.
“Our goal right now is to get in the (SHSHL) playoffs,” said veteran Indian head coach Eric Tye. “We know that if the season ended right now we would be in the playoffs, but we still have seven games left in our division and getting to the playoffs isn’t going to be easy.”
The SHSHL playoffs reward the top three finishers in the National and Continental Conference with a playoff invitation – plus the next two teams with the highest winning percentage. Right now Council Rock South (7-3-1), Pennsbury (7-3) and William Tennent (7-3) are locks for the top three National Conference slots, while North Penn (8-2), CB West (6-1-3), CB East (5-3-4), and CB South (6-1-1) are locks for the top three Continental Conference slots – plus the one ‘wild card’ slot.
The final ‘wild card’ slot will be contended between CR North (4-5-1), Abington (3-8), Neshaminy (3-8), and Pennridge (2-9).
“We have a big game with Neshaminy this week,” said Tye. “It’s one of those four point games – and if we can win, we can get some separation. Last time we played them we won 2-1 – it should be another good game.
“Our biggest problem the last few weeks is getting skaters on the ice,” said Tye. “There was a flu bug that hit us hard – and we have played some games with a short bench.”
Tye commended the play of several players as his Indians make their playoff run.
“Our young players are growing up and have played well,” said Tye in reference to sophomore Mark Tosti, freshman Cavin Tully, and freshman Johnny Vanni. “And (senior-captain) Colton Snow has played very well in the big games.”
And for Rock North – the rest of the season only has big games.
In the Rear View Mirror in the SHSHL National Conference
Council Rock South won a pair of games last week to take over the top spot in the SHSHL National Conference standings. The Golden Hawks soared to a 6-3 win over Neshaminy – Dylan Varian scored two goals and Mason Procz collected 26 saves. Rock South followed with a 6-2 victory over Abington – Kyle Bradley had two goals and an assist and Procz recorded 41 saves.
William Tennent won its lone game of the week with an impressive win over previously unbeaten Central Bucks South by a 5-3 margin. Jack McKeever and Alec Dugan each scored two goals and goaltender CJ Lineman captured 26 saves.
Council Rock North won its lone game of the week as the Indians defeated Pennridge 4-1. Colton Snow scored two goals for the winners, while goalie Andy Herman collected 30 saves.
Neshaminy lost its only game of the week as the Redskins fell to Council Rock South by a 6-3 final. Nick Foster scored two goals for Neshaminy, while goaltender Matt Sheley recorded 28 saves.
Abington lost its only game of the week as the Ghosts were defeated by Council Rock South by a 6-2 margin. Chris Shannon and Alex DeCristofano scored single goals for Abington, while Thomas Meehan stopped 38 shots on goal.
SHSHL National Conference Standings
1. Council Rock South Hawks 7 3 1 * 15
2. Pennsbury Falcons 7 3 0 * 14
William Tennent Panthers 7 3 0 * 14
4. Council Rock North Indians 4 5 1 * 9
5. Abington Ghosts 3 8 0 * 6
Neshaminy Redskins 3 8 0 * 6
This Week in the SHSHL National Conference
Wednesday (1/21/15)
Abington vs. Central Bucks West @ Hatfield – 7:20
Thursday (1/22/15)
Pennsbury vs. Souderton @ Hatfield – 7:20
Council Rock North vs. Neshaminy @ Grundy – 7:20
Council Rock South vs. Abington @ Wintersport – 7:20
SHSHL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
Hatboro-Horsham finds itself in a three-way battle for supremacy in the SHSHL American Conference. The 
Hatters (6-3-4, 16), Wissahickon (10-1-1, 21) and Truman (8-3-1, 17) are all in contention for a conference championship.
“We really got off to a great start this season, but then we became a little overconfident,” said Hatboro-Horsham head coach Gus Salfiti. “We needed to work harder and we played with too much bravado.
“But losing games and tying games that we should have won taught this team a lesson,” added Salfiti. “We have to get the mindset back that we had at the beginning of the season.”
The Hatboro-Horsham ice hockey program was not on the ice last year – but now the Hatters are back.
“We really had no clear expectations of what to expect this year,” said Salfiti. “The goal for the remainder of the year is to win every shift – every period – every game. We need to stay positive and give 100 percent.”
Salfiti is extremely happy with the play of some of his younger players.
“Our most consistent players have been some of the younger players,” said Salfiti in reference to freshman Nathan Reilly, junior Brian Conlan, and freshman Jacob Mueller. “And (junior) Ryan McElroy might just be the best goaltender in the league.”
Hatboro-Horsham plays Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-7-1) in its only game of the week.
“PW is a team that we should beat,” said Salfiti. “And those are the games we need to win if we want to challenge the teams at the top of the standings.”
In the Rear View Mirror in the SHSHL American Conference
Wissahickon won a pair of critical games as the Trojans marched to the top of the standings. Wissahickon opened the week with a 6-3 win over Plymouth Whitemarsh as Brandon Rosoff scored two goals and Jake Modelevsy collected 28 saves. The Trojans closed the week with a huge 9-7 victory over Truman. Dylan Alitoto scored four goals for Wissahickon, while Kyle Wolf and Jacob Segelbaum each scored two goals. Noah Katz stopped 23 shots in goals for the Trojans.
Hatboro-Horsham won its lone game of the week as the Hatters topped Lower Moreland 4-0. Ryan Sharp sparked the offense with three goals, while Ryan McElroy stopped 19 shots in goal for the winners.
Upper Moreland won its only game of the week as the Golden Bears clawed to an 8-6 win over Upper Dublin. Mykel Courduff had a terrific four-goal outing for the Purple & Gold, while Nick Park scored three goals for the Bears. Patrick Beissel had 25 saves for Upper Moreland.
Truman split its pair of games last week as the Tigers defeated Upper Dublin 10-7 and followed with a 9-7 loss to Wissahickon. In the win over the Cardinals – Kyle Bennett scored four goals, Michael Roarty and Colin Roberts scored two goals, and Kyle Huth had 19 saves. In the loss to the Trojans – Zach Bennett had three goals, Kyle Bennett had two goals, and Huth had 21 saves.
Plymouth Whitemarsh split its pair of games last week. The Colonials opened the week with a 6-3 loss to Wissahickon and closed the week with a 5-2 win over Lower Moreland. In the loss to the Trojans – Kevin Lawrence had two goals and an assist and goalie Jacob Magill had 28 saves. In the win over the Lions – Christopher Zawislak had three goals and Magill had 14 saves.
Lower Moreland lost both of its games last week as the Lions fell to Hatboro-Horsham 4-0 and followed with a 5-2 loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh. In the loss to the Hatters – Eric Sphar had 34 saves in net. In the loss to the Colonials – Cory Blumenthal scored two goals and Sphar had 43 saves.
SHSHL American Conference Standings
1. Wissahickon Trojans 10 1 1 * 21
2. Truman Tigers 8 3 1 * 17
3. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 6 3 4 * 16
4. Plymouth Whitemarsh 4 7 1 * 9
Upper Dublin Cardinals 4 7 1 * 9
6. Lower Moreland Lions 1 6 4 * 6
7. Upper Moreland Bears 2 8 0 * 4
This Week in the SHSHL American Conference
Thursday (1/22/15)
Hatboro-Horsham vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh @ Bucks County Ice – 8:10
Upper Moreland vs. Lower Moreland @ Warwick – 8:45
Friday (1/23/15)
Wissahickon vs. Upper Dublin @ Warwick – 7:00
Truman vs. Lower Moreland @ Warwick – 8:45
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