There were several classic battles in SHSHL action on Wednesday. Ben Reese recaps all the action in Wissahickon’s 2-1 win over Hatboro-Horsham. Pennridge & CB South were also winners.
WISSAHICKON 2, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
By Ben Reese
HATFIELD -- Let's set the stage.
Wissahickon and Hatboro-Horsham, two teams at or near the top of the American Conference of the Suburban High School Hockey League, are facing off at Hatfield Ice on Wednesday night.
The Hatters lead entering the third period. But the Trojans score with 9:09 gone to tie the score at 1-1.
At the 13:52 mark, Hatboro-Horsham appears to score its second goal. But it is waved off by the officials because the goal net was off its moorings, meaning the game is still tied.
However, with 1:07 remaining in regulation, Wissahickon's Sean Garry steals the puck and takes off down the ice toward the goal. He is out in front of everyone but is pulled down from behind before getting a shot off.
A penalty shot is called. And Garry, picking up the puck at center ice, breaks the tie, flicking the puck into the net, giving the Trojans the dramatic 2-1 win.
For Garry, who scored 37 goals last season, it was just another night at the office.
"I knew what I was going to do before I even went down (the ice)," he said. "I came down, looked at the spot, saw it was open and just put it past him.
"It was lucky to get that penalty shot. That really turned the tide of the game."
Prior to that third period, it looked like Hatboro-Horsham was going to earn a hard-fought 1-0 victory. The Hatters had bottled up both Sean Garry and his brother Bryan, keeping them from scoring. The brothers had combined for 15 goals this season in only three games before Wednesday night.
The Hatters had a simple plan against the Garry brothers. And it worked almost to perfection.
"Just make sure we're taking away our slot, making sure that we do the things that we do right," said HH coach Gianni LaFratta. "Making them move around us. They're skilled players."
Trojan coach Ken Harrington saw it a bit differently.
"They were attacking everybody," Harrington said. "We kept telling our boys that we needed to move the puck.
"We kept trying to move the puck on the strong side. Their strong side was where all five of their players were.
"They weren't giving us time and we weren't responding quick enough. They were pushing us hard and doing a good job of it. We weren't moving our feet quick enough. That's what kept getting us in trouble."
Sean was of a similar mind.
"They were just stacking up the middle," he said. "They were just trying to keep us to the outside.
"They did a good job cutting off most of the passing lanes. I felt that once we got the puck in the middle we could do what we wanted. The first goal was one of the only times we got it in front."
After a scoreless first period, the Hatters finally broke the ice in the second stanza. Tarek Elsabbagh put them on the board at the 11:26 mark on the power play with an assist to Ben Heywood.
That stood up until the 9:09 mark of the third. Matt Cade, with assists from Bryan Garry and Alex Carrozza, knotted the score at 1-1. Then the excitement started.
As the score can attest, the goalies on both teams played an excellent game. The Trojans' Michael Henderson stopped 30 of 31 shots and Joey Gambino kicked out 28 for the Haters.
"Their goalie was on point, moving out, taking all the angles," said Harrington of Gambino. "Michael was good again. In this early season, he's made up for a lot of our mistakes."
"I don't think anyone expected a 2-1 game," said LaFratta. "With these two teams going, you expected a barn-burner."
"I thought, if anything, it was going to be like a 5-3 game," Harrington said. "It was a little frustrating."
Until the end for the Trojans.
Wissahickon 2, Hatboto-Horsham 1
Hatboro-Horsham 0 1 0 -- 1
Wissahickon 0 0 2 -- 2
First period: No scoring.
Second period: 1, Tarek Elsabbagh HH (Ben Heywood) 11:26 PP.
Third period: 2, Matt Cade W (Bryan Garry, Alex Carrozza) 9:09; 3, Sean Garry W (unassisted -- penalty shot) 14:53.
Shots; HH 31, W 30. Saves: Joey Gambino (HH) 28, Michael Henderson (W) 30.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, NESHAMINY 2
In a thriller at Grundy on Wednesday, neither team could find the net in the first two periods as the respective defenses dominated play. In a wild third period, the teams combined for five goals with CB South’s Reis Braccio breaking a 2-2 tie and scoring a goal that turned out to be the game-winner at the 10:54 mark, using a Matt Milanesi assist.
Keeping the Redskins in the game until the final horn was goalie Steve Glik, who turned away 50 of 53 shots in a brilliant performance.
Earlier, 11 seconds into the final period, South’s Ryan Gingras (Colin Abbonizio assist) broke a scoreless tie when he found the net. The Titans led 2-0 when Braccio connected on a short-handed goal two minutes later, but the Redskins came roaring back. Thomas Gallagher’s goal with assists from Josh Haines and Joey DeMatteo pulled the Redskins to within one, and the teams were deadlocked 2-2 after Robert Seewagen scored an unassisted goal 9:17 into the period.
Oscar Levin earned the win in goal for the Titans, turning away 19 of 21 shots he faced.
Central Bucks South0-0-3 3
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0-2 2
First period: No score
Second period: No score
Third period: 1, Ryan Gingras CBS (Colin Abbonizio) 0:11; 2, Reis Braccio (CBS) 2:24; 3, Thomas Gallagher N (Josh Haines/Joey DeMatteo) 5:52, 4, Robert Seewagen (N) 9:17; 5, Reis Braccio CBS (Matt Milanesi) 10:54.
Shots: CBS 53, Neshaminy 21. Saves: Oscar Levin (CBS) 19, Steve Glik (N) 50.
PENNRIDGE 5, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
The Rams opened up a 2-0 lead in the opening period and never looked back on their way to the conference win.
Michael White turned a Tommy Pichardo pass into a goal at the 6:46 mark of the opening period.. The Rams led 2-0 when Eric Slater scored a short-handed goal, using assists from Andrew David and Frankie Rota.
In the opening minute of the second period Michael Walker scored with assists from Conrad Fritsch and Blake Stewart. Slater’s second goal of the night – this one with assists from Walker and Rota – sent the Rams into the final period with a 4-0 lead.
Fritsch scored with assists from Michael Eissler and Nick Eissler before the Bucks broke up the Rams’ shutout bid with a late power play goal by Pavel Serhiayenka.
Pennridge goalie Luke Stranick turned away 20 of 21 shots he faced in a winning effort. For the Bucks, Jeremy Kennard recorded 19 saves on 22 shots, and Jake Coddington turned away eight of nine shots.
Central Bucks West 0-0-1 1
Pennridge 2-2-1 5
First period: 1, Michael White P (Tommy Pichardo) 6:46; 2, Eric Slater P (Andrew David/Frankie Rota) 12:05.
Second period: 3, Michael Walker P (Conrad Frisch/Blake Stewart) 0:44; 4, Eric Slater P (Michael Walker/Frankie Rota) 6:21.
Third period: 5, Conrad Frisch P (Michael Eissler/Nick Eissler); 6, Pavel Serhiayenka (CBW).
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