Check out the results for SOL SHSHL ice hockey teams in action Wednesday. To view photos of the CB West/North Penn game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Ben Reese
HATFIELD -- North Penn was coming off a difficult loss last week to Central Bucks South 8-0. The win for South pretty much sealed the Continental Conference title for the Titans.
But the season wasn't over for the Knights. They still had an opportunity to finish off the season in style by taking second place.
The Knights knew it wouldn't be easy. They had to beat rival Central Bucks West for the second spot and then face CB South in the league regular-season finale on Friday.
North Penn took second place Wednesday night at Hatfield Ice, beating CB West 4-2, and it was the Knights' No. 1 line that took care of the scoring.
"This was a big one for us," said NP coach Kevin Vaitis. "After the way we played last week against CB South, this was a big game for us to come out and bounce back from that.
"The last thing we wanted to do was head into Friday's game with a two-game losing streak."
The North Penn players understood the importance of the game as well.
"It was real big," NP forward Alex Peterson said. "They were in second before (the game) and I think we moved up into second place."
If the Bucks had any hopes of finishing second, they had to beat North Penn. It was the first period that proved to be West’s undoing. North Penn scored three times in the period and held the Bucks scoreless.
"We tried our best to win the game," West coach Dave Baun said. "Unfortunately, I think we played our weakest period in the first period.
"This game was for second place; we finished in third. We're a little disappointed about that.
"But I was happy with the way we finished the game. It meant something to us because I thought we deserved to be a second place team, but you've got to prove it on the ice and we didn't do that."
North Penn's first line of Peterson, Jake Heckenberger and Derek Heckler took care of all the scoring for the Knights. Heckenberger had two goals and two assists, Peterson had one goal and three assists and Heckler had a goal and two assists.
"It's been great all year," Peterson said. "We have good chemistry, move the puck well and score a lot of goals."
How about carrying the North Penn offense?
"In a way, it's not been really a burden," said Peterson. "We look at it as leaders."
Wednesday’s goal for Peterson was his 27th. Heckenberger scored his 20th and 21st and Heckler his 11th. That's 59 goals in 15 games for the trio.
"They've been critical to the success we've had," Vaitis said of his top line. "They've kind of carried us throughout the year.
"The thing I'd like to see us do is get some other guys chipping in because if you get into a game and somebody is able to contain those guys, we could be in a little bit of trouble. There really hasn't been anybody that's slowed them down."
Baun knows what it is like trying to defend the three Knights.
"The first time we played them it wasn't difficult," Baun said of a 3-3 tie in January. "Tonight, it was considerably more difficult."
The trio certainly led the North Penn offense against West.
Peterson got things going in the first period when he knocked the puck past West goalie Jonah Brous with 8:43 gone in the opening stanza.
Heckenberger followed that with his first goal only 14 seconds later. Heckler assisted on both goals and Peterson and Heckenberger each picked up assists on the other's goal.
Heckenberger finished out the period with his second tally. He took a pass from Peterson and scored at the 13:08 mark to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.
Neither team could score in the second period. The defenses and Brous and NP goalie Jake Snyder dominated the play.
But in the third, the Bucks got back into the game. Patrick Smith scored an unassisted goal to cut the deficit to 3-1.
However, Heckler got that one back a bit later in the period to give the Knights’ their three-goal lead. Scotty Cappuccio scored on the power play with only 38 seconds left in the game for West for the final margin.
The two teams face a common opponent in the final two days of the regular season. West faces CB South on Thursday and North Penn meets the Titans on Friday.
North Penn 4, Central Bucks West 2
North Penn 3 0 1 – 4
Central Bucks West 0 0 2 – 2
First period: Alex Peterson NP (Derek Heckler, Jake Heckenberger) 8:43; Heckenberger NP (Peterson, Heckler) 8:57; Heckenberger NP (Peterson) 13:08.
Second period: No scoring.
Third period: Patrick Smith CBW (unassisted) 6:09; Heckler NP (Heckenberger, Peterson) 11:08; Scotty Cappuccio CBW (Smith, John McCreadie) 15:22 PP.
Shots: NP 37, CBW 36. Saves: Jake Snyder (NP) 35; Jonah Brous (CBW) 32.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 4, NESHAMINY 3
The Golden Hawks dominated play in Wednesday’s SHSHL National Conference showdown, finishing the game with a 41-11 advantage in shots, but sparked by the 37-save effort of goalie Matt Sheley, the Redskins were in the game until the final horn.
The Hawks led 2-0 after one period, thanks to goals by Jay Jenkins (Nick Meli/Darren Barder assists) and Matt Owens, but a shorthanded goal by Nick Foster (Ian Dixon assist) in the second period made it a 2-1 game heading into the final period.
Dixon scored using a Foster assist just 2:13 into the final period, and the two teams were deadlocked 2-2, but back-to-back goals within a 30-second span by Barder (Owens assist) and Kyle Bradley (Justin Adams assist) gave the Golden Hawks a 4-2 lead. That lead held until Foster (Mike Maher/Dixon assists) scored for the ‘Skins in the game’s closing minutes.
Dixon and Foster both had three-point nights to lead the Redskins, who will face Pennsbury on Thursday night in a must-win game.
GAME DETAILS
SCORING
Neshaminy 0 1 2 3
Council Rock South 2 0 2 4
SHOTS
Neshaminy 5 2 4 11
Council Rock South 14 10 17 41
POWERPLAYS
Neshaminy 0 for 3 : Council Rock South 0 for 2
SCORING SUMMARY
Period 1
Council Rock South - JAY JENKINS (NICK MELI, DARREN BARDER) 0:00
Council Rock South - MATT OWENS (unassisted) 10:31
Period 2
Neshaminy - Nick Foster (shorthanded) (Ian Dixon) 0:44
Period 3
Neshaminy - Ian Dixon (Nick Foster) 2:13
Council Rock South - DARREN BARDER (MATT OWENS) 5:51
Council Rock South - KYLE BRADLEY (JUSTIN ADAMS) 6:19
Neshaminy - Nick Foster (Mike Maher, Ian Dixon) 12:02
GOALIES
30 Matt Sheley LOSS 48:00 41 37
40 Matt Lucas (b)
30 MASON PROCZ WIN 48:00 11 8
PENALTY TOTALS
Neshaminy 8 minutes on 4 infraction(s) Council Rock South 10 minutes on 5 infraction(s)
PENNSBURY 5, WILLIAM TENNENT 3
Jack Kelly (two goals, one assist) and Luke Ledes (one goal, two assists) both had three-point nights to lead the Falcons to the impressive win in a battle of National Conference playoff-bound squads.
It was the Ledes-Kelly combination putting the Falcons on the scoreboard 6:18 into the opening period when Ledes scored. A Kelly power play goal (Kevin Koerner assist) put the Falcons on top 2-0, but Jack McKeever answered with a power play goal for the Panthers, using assists from Andrew Bean and Chris Kreider.
The Falcons used a power play goal by Koener (Ledes/Kyle Wilkins assists) midway through the second period to go on top 3-1, but a shorthanded goal by Kreider (Bean assist) made it a 3-2 game. Anthony Bench (Nathan Raccago/Tommy Hynes assists) scored late in the period to send the Falcons into the final period with a 4-2 lead.
Sean Ovington’s power play goal, McKeever and Kreider assists, at the 4:09 mark of the third period made it a 4-3 game, but Kelly (Ledes assist) scored an insurance goal for the Falcons.
The Falcons held a 24-21 edge in shots. Trevor Schadler turned away 18 shots in the win while CJ Lineman was credited with 19 saves.
GAME DETAILS
SCORING
Pennsbury 2 2 1 5
William Tennent 1 1 1 3
SHOTS
Pennsbury 10 13 1 24
William Tennent 5 11 5 21
POWERPLAYS
Pennsbury 2 for 5 : William Tennent 2 for 7
SCORING SUMMARY
Period 1
Pennsbury - Luke Ledes (Jack Kelly) 6:18
Pennsbury - Jack Kelly (powerplay) (Kevin Koerner) 8:28
William Tennent - Jack McKeever (powerplay) (Andrew Bean, Chris Kreider) 15:50
Period 2
Pennsbury - Kevin Koerner (powerplay) (Luke Ledes, Kyle Wilkins) 8:20
William Tennent - Chris Kreider (shorthanded) (Andrew Bean) 8:20
Pennsbury - Anthony Bench (Nathan Raccagno, Tommy Hynes) 15:19
Period 3
William Tennent - Sean Ovington (powerplay) (Jack McKeever, Chris Kreider) 4:09
Pennsbury - Jack Kelly (Luke Ledes) 14:41
GOALIES
48 Trevor Schadler WIN 48:00 21 18
43 C.J. Lineman LOSS 48:00 24 19
PENALTY TOTALS
Pennsbury 26 minutes on 9 infraction(s) William Tennent 18 minutes on 9 infraction(s)
HARRY S TRUMAN 8, HATBORO-HORSHAM 4
Zachary Bennett continued his torrid offensive production, exploding for four goals and three assists (seven points) to lead the Tigers to the win on Wednesday. Contributing four-point nights for the Tigers were Kyle Bennett (two goals/two assists) and Codey Gordon (one goal/two assists).
The Hatters struck first with an early goal by Max Thalheimer, but a minute later, Gordon got that goal back, using a Zachary Bennett assist. Kyle Bennett scored the go-ahead goal with assists from Zachary Bennett and Gordon, and then Zachary Bennett went to work, reeling off three straight goals. For good measure, Kyle Bennett tacked on a goal, and the Tigers led 6-1 after one period.
That lead grew to 7-1 after another Zachary Bennett goal before Thalheimer and Ryan Sharp scored for the Hatters to make it a 7-3 game. The two teams exchanged goals in the third period.
The Tigers held a 36-25 advantage in shots. Goalie Kyle Huth (21 saves) was credited with the win.
GAME DETAILS
SCORING
Truman 6 1 1 8
Hatboro Horsham 1 2 1 4
SHOTS
Truman 18 6 12 36
Hatboro Horsham 9 12 4 25
POWERPLAYS
Truman 0 for 2 : Hatboro Horsham 0 for 1
SCORING SUMMARY
Period 1
Hatboro Horsham - Max Thalheimer (unassisted) 1:15
Truman - Codey Gordon (Zachary Bennett) 2:14
Truman - Kyle Bennett (Zachary Bennett, Codey Gordon) 8:28
Truman - Zachary Bennett (Kyle Bennett, Codey Gordon) 8:38
Truman - Zachary Bennett (Christian Morlando) 11:07
Truman - Zachary Bennett (Codey Gordon) 14:34
Truman - Kyle Bennett (Zachary Bennett) 15:50
Period 2
Truman - Zachary Bennett (Kyle Bennett, Michael Cox) 7:25
Hatboro Horsham - Max Thalheimer (Jordan Brenner, Eric Wrenn) 7:58
Hatboro Horsham - Ryan Sharp (Max Thalheimer, Jordan Brenner) 15:11
Period 3
Hatboro Horsham - Jacob Mueller (John Aleksiejczyk) 9:35
Truman - Michael Roarty (unassisted) 14:31
GOALIES
35 Kyle Huth WIN 48:00 25 21
30 Ryan McElroy LOSS 48:00 36 28
PENALTY TOTALS
Truman 4 minutes on 2 infraction(s) Hatboro Horsham 6 minutes on 3 infraction(s)
HOLY GHOST PREP 7, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3
The Firebirds opened up a 3-0 lead after one period only to watch the Titans respond with three unanswered goals of their own in the second. Leo Flick connected for a pair of goals, the first on a power play with assists from Brian Uzelac and Jake Wetherbee and the second with a Nick Tripodi assist. Tyler Dunn also had a power play goal, using a Jared Conroy assist.
That 3-3 tie was shortlived as the Firebirds scored 3:15 into the third period, thanks to a goal by Nicholas Bohatiuk that opened the floodgates for a four-goal barrage and the 7-3 final in the non-league contest.
GAME DETAILS
SCORING
Central Bucks South 0 3 0 3
Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 4 7
SHOTS
Central Bucks South 0 3 0
Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 4
POWERPLAYS
Central Bucks South 2 for 10 : Holy Ghost Prep 2 for 8
SCORING SUMMARY
Period 1
Holy Ghost Prep - Nicholas Bohatiuk (Michael Major, Brian Marion) 0:39
Holy Ghost Prep - Kyle Massari (Marko Bohatiuk, Brian Marion) 3:53
Holy Ghost Prep - Joseph Fiorino (Nicholas Bohatiuk, Michael Major) 9:58
Period 2
Central Bucks South - Tyler Dunn (powerplay) (Jared Conroy) 9:58
Central Bucks South - Leo Flick (powerplay) (Brian Uzelac, Jake Wetherbee) 9:58
Central Bucks South - Leo Flick (Nick Tripodi) 12:20
Period 3
Holy Ghost Prep - Nicholas Bohatiuk (powerplay) (Marko Bohatiuk, Brian Marion) 3:15
Holy Ghost Prep - Nicholas Bohatiuk (shorthanded) (Kyle Massari) 4:24
Holy Ghost Prep - Kyle Peters (shorthanded) (Marko Bohatiuk) 7:56
Holy Ghost Prep - Chris Bracco (powerplay) (Brian Marion, Craig Campagnolio) 15:21
GOALIES
30 Aaron King LOSS 48:00 7 0
36 Alex Taylor WIN 48:00 3 0
PENALTY TOTALS
Central Bucks South 36 minutes on 10 infraction(s) Holy Ghost Prep 34 minutes on 13 infraction(s)
NORTH PENN 4, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2
GAME DETAILS
SCORING
North Penn 3 0 1 4
Central Bucks West 0 0 2 2
SHOTS
North Penn 3 0 33 36
Central Bucks West 0 0 37 37
POWERPLAYS
North Penn 0 for 4 : Central Bucks West 1 for 6
SCORING SUMMARY
Period 1
North Penn - Alex Peterson (Derek Heckler, Jake Heckenberger) 8:43
North Penn - Jake Heckenberger (Alex Peterson, Derek Heckler) 8:57
North Penn - Jake Heckenberger (Alex Peterson) 13:08
Period 2
(no scoring)
Period 3
Central Bucks West - Patrick Smith (unassisted) 6:09
North Penn - Derek Heckler (Jake Heckenberger, Alex Peterson) 11:08
Central Bucks West - Scotty Cappuccio (powerplay) (Patrick Smith, John McCreadie) 15:22
GOALIES
35 Jake Snyder WIN 48:00 37 35
29 John Roberts (b)
31 Jonah Brous LOSS 48:00 36 32
30 Quinn Poirier (b)
PENALTY TOTALS
North Penn 22 minutes on 7 infraction(s) Central Bucks West 14 minutes on 3 infraction(s)
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