Central Bucks South defeated Pennridge in a key SHSHL game. Ben Reese recaps the action. Photos provided courtesy of Dara N. King Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
By Ben Reese
WARWICK -- In Matt Stoll's own words, "It was pretty weird. I'm not going to lie."
It was the first time that Stoll's Central Bucks South ice hockey team had played against a team coached by former CB South coach Tom Coyne, who has taken over behind the bench for Pennridge.
It must not have been too weird for Stoll. He scored three goals to lead the Titans to an 8-6 win over the Rams to remain unbeaten in the Continental Conference of the Suburban High School Hockey League. It was the first league loss for Pennridge.
Coyne was the coach for CB South through two Flyers Cup victories and two PIAA Championships. So he knows most of the players for the Titans.
"I've known Matt Stoll since he was five years old," Coyne said, "and had a big part in teaching him how to play hockey. For me, there was a little emotion.
"But I'm on the wrong bench now so it was all about winning. We came up on the wrong end of that."
With Coyne on the other bench, it had to be emotional for Stoll.
"It was pretty different," the South captain said. "The first time on the ice against Tom Coyne, certainly a lot of emotions. I'm just glad we got the win."
Behind the bench for the Titans was Shaun McGinty, who was an assistant coach for Coyne during his tenure with South.
"Tom and I talk," McGinty said. "I've known Tom since I was 15 years old.
"We both wanted a good game. We wanted both teams to show up."
There might have been some confusion for the players on the ice. Both coaches whistle when they want to make line changes to alert the players to the change.
"We were actually talking about that in the locker room before (the game)," said Stoll. "We knew both coaches whistle.
"The one thing we accomplished tonight was trying to change without the whistle - get that 25-second shift and get right off and make us not have to whistle.
"It helps a lot when all of our teammates are on the same page. We all get off at a decent time, get the fresh legs on the ice."
"Tom usually whistles once - I whistle until the guys get off," McGinty said. "By this time of the year, if they're not getting off after 35 seconds as a forward, they're not doing their job.
"Either they're in really good shape or they're trying to lag ice. Whistling is just there for a reminder."
Whatever the case, it worked in the first period for the Rams and for the rest of the game for the Titans.
Pennridge got off quickly, scoring in the first 1:24 of the game. Eric Slater scored the unassisted goal.
From that point until the end of the period, Luke Stranick took over. Stranick, the Rams' goalie, kicked out 12 shots, keeping South off the scoreboard.
Michael Walker added to the Pennridge lead at the 6:23 mark of the second period, scoring an unassisted goal.
At that point, McGinty called a time out.
"I'm not a big timeout fan," he said. "But it was needed and I just challenged the boys.
"The momentum started to come back a bit our way. (Pennridge) came out hard. They punched us in the face.
"Tom did what he wanted to do and it was working. We had to turn it around.
"It's all about winning periods. We were able to do that halfway through."
After Walker's score, goals started coming fast and furious. In all, six goals were scored in the second period alone.
Frank Carter netted South's first goal on the power play at 8:13. But Dylan Lowery got that goal back for Pennridge at 9:15.
Twenty-nine seconds later, D.J. LoVerdi scored to again cut the Ram lead to one goal. And, 15 seconds later, Stoll tied the game at 3-3. His second goal of the game, at the 12:17 mark of the second period, gave the Titans a lead they never relinquished.
The third period was just more of the same. Seven goals were scored including one by Stoll and two by Walker, the last of which came with two seconds remaining in the game.
"We got a little bit away from what we started out doing," Coyne said of the second period. "I thought we were productive in the first period.
"I just thought we could give them our best punch. (It was a) good first period and it was their second period. We got caught running around.
"I just grounded 10 guys into the ground tonight. We need that third line that can go out and check or whatever."
After his team's performance, Stoll is optimistic about South chances for the rest of the season.
"We really just try to pay attention to what is in front of us," he said. "Of course, we're looking on the calendar. We just have one idea in mind, to be the last team standing."
CB South 8, Pennridge 6
Pennridge 1 2 3 – 6
CB South 0 4 4 – 8
First period: 1, Eric Slater P (unassisted) 1:24.
Second period: 2, Michael Walker P (unassisted) 6:23; 3, Frank Carter CBS (Joe DeLaurentis, Matt Stoll) 8:13 PP; 4, Dylan Lowery P (unassisted) 9:15; 5, D.J. LoVerdi CBS (Jake Parlow) 9:44; 6, Stoll CBS (Reis Braccio, DeLaurentis) 9:59; 7, Stoll CBS (DeLaurentis) 12:17.
Third period: 8, Ryan Gingras CBS (Braccio, Parlow) 1:47; 9, Alex Glushek CBS (DeLaurentis) 4:12 SH; 10, Slater P (unassisted) 5:23; 11, Drew Kiriloff CBS (Colin Abbonizio, James Schuler) 6:10; 12, Matt Milanesi CBS (Dom Patrone, Abbonizio) 11:06; 13, Walker P (Pat McGinley) 14:28; 14, Walker P (Slater) 15:58.
Shots: P 29, CBS 41. Saves: Luke Stranick (P) 33; Tim White (CBS) 21.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, NESHAMINY 0
Andy Stoychev had a hand in both goals, scoring one and assisting on another, to lead the Golden Hawks to the win.
Stoychev’s goal 1:03 into the final period with an assist from Collin Kleiser broke up the shutout and proved to the be the game winner. When Bill Harrelson scored midway through the period with a Stoychev assist, the Golden Hawks had a 2-0 lead that held until the final whistle.
Rock South goalie Mason Procz turned away all 19 shots he faced. Steve Glik had a big night in goal for the Redskins recording 47 saves.
Neshaminy 0-0-0 0
Council Rock South 0-0-2 2
Shots: CR South 49, Neshaminy 19.
Saves: Steve Glik (N) 47, Mason Procz (CRS) 19
First Period
No Score
Second Period
No Score
Third Period
CRS – Andy Stoychev (Collin Keiser)
CRS – Bill Harrelson (Andy Stoychev)
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