This week’s notebook features Truman, CB West and Archbishop Wood and includes the scoring leaders for both conference.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on…
SHSHL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Truman Tigers
Harry S Truman head coach Bill Keyser and his talented Tigers are unbeaten in the Varsity ‘A’ SHSHL American Conference – no surprise there.
The fact that HST was playing in the SHSHL American Conference, though, was a surprise to Keyser at the outset of the season.
“I thought we were going to play in the ‘AA’ division this year,” said Keyser. “I really don’t know what happened. I even told the kids that we were playing ‘up’ this year – and when we got the schedule, we were still playing in the ‘A’ division.
“The bottom line of that is there was a lack of communication between myself and the league,” added Keyser. “We moved ‘down’ last year – but I thought it was only for the one year. We have a really good team coming back next year – I only have one senior on the team – and our hope is to return.”
Truman has dominated the conference – with the exception of Council Rock North – in its journey toward a conference championship. In fact, the last three games the Tigers won by ‘mercy-rule’ victories over Hatboro-Horsham (10-0), Wissahickon (10-0), and Lower Moreland (11-1).
“You really don’t enjoy games like that,” said Keyser. “I would like the players to have more competitive games – but with the exception of Council Rock (North) it hasn’t happened.”
Truman (10-0-0, 20) – who will face-off with CR North (9-1-1, 19) on Friday with first place on the line.
“Council Rock has a good core of kids,” said Keyser. “The last time we played them was early in the season (7-4 HST win) and their goaltender was brand new. I anticipate a much better game this time.”
Truman boasts the most prolific scorer in the SHSHL American Conference in junior sniper Michael Roarty. Roarty leads all scorers with 23 goals and 38 points.
“Michael has played with me since he was a little boy,” said Keyser. “He is a tremendous team player and really tries hard not to do it all and involve his teammates.
“He attracts so much attention it opens the ice up for the other players,” added Keyser. “Kyle Bennett is an excellent player – but it helps that he plays with Michael. We have some good goal scorers.”
Truman will depend on sophomore Kyle Huth in goal down the stretch.
“Kyle is a great kid that has worked extremely hard to become a very good goalie,” said Keyser. “He has gotten bigger – cuts down the angles – and continues to improve.”
SHSHL American Conference Standings
1. Harry S Truman Tigers 10 0 0 * 20
2. Council Rock North Indians 9 1 1 * 19
3. Wissahickon Trojans 5 5 0 * 10
4. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 3 7 0 * 6
5. PW Colonials 3 7 0 * 6
6. Lower Moreland Lions 0 10 1 * 1
SHSHL American Conference Top Scorers
1. Michael Roarty Truman 23 15 * 38
2. Mark Tosti CR North 21 13 * 34
3. Kyle Bennett Truman 22 11 * 33
4. John Vanni CR North 12 14 * 26
5. Steven Avellino Truman 11 12 * 23
6. Cavan Tully CR North 9 13 * 22
7. Chris Rinaldi PW 15 7 * 22
8. Ross Koenig Truman 7 14 * 21
9. Kyle Wolf Wissahickon 6 13 * 19
10. Brandon Rossoff Wissahickon 13 4 * 17
This Week in the SHSHL American Conference
Wednesday (1/20/16)
Lower Moreland Lions vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Hatfield – 7:20
Thursday (1/21/16)
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters vs. Wissahickon Trojans @ Revolutions Ice Garden – 8:50
Friday (1/22/16)
Truman Tigers vs. Council Rock North Indians @ Revolutions Ice Garden – 8:50
SHSHL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Central Bucks West head coach Dave Baun watched his talented Bucks suffer their first SHSHL 
Continental Conference game of the year last week. CB West (8-1-0, 16) fell to defending state champion – and (conference) unbeaten – Central Bucks South (9-0-0, 18) by a 5-2 score.
“I know that CB South had some players missing, but we really missed our two of our best defensemen in Shawn Phillips and Eddie Shields,” said Baun. “We didn’t expect anything less from CB South than a great game – but we played well, too.”
The score was tied 2-2 before the Titans took control of the game – and CB South outshot CB West 39-14 over the course of the game.
“Jonah Brous played a great game in goal for us,” said Baun. “They put a lot of pressure on him the entire game. They scored three unusual goals – but they played very well.”
CB West has still another huge test this Thursday as the Bucks face-off with North Penn (5-5-0, 10). The Knights have lost just a single game on the ice – by a 3-0 score to CB South. North Penn had to forfeit four games due to having an ineligible player on its roster.
“The schedule was put together so that we would play our conference games at the end of the season,” said Baun as his Bucks must play North Penn (twice), William Tennent (8-1-0, 16), Pennridge (7-3-1, 15), and CB South (9-0-0, 18) to close out the season. “The second half of the season is like a new season. And then we get ready for the playoffs.”
CB West will count heavily on its first scoring line. That experienced line includes seniors John McCreadie, Eric Schwass, and Michael D’Argenio.
“John is a natural goal scorer – and Eric has incredible ice awareness,” said Baun. “And Michael makes that line a line that the team looks to for leadership.
“We have had seven players go through concussion protocol this year,” added Baun. “I think that last Monday at practice was the first time all year we had our entire team on the ice together.
“Hopefully we will have that entire team on the ice against North Penn,” continued Baun. “But you never know.”
SHSHL Continental Conference Standings
1. Central Bucks South Titans 9 0 0 * 18
2. Central Bucks West Bucks 8 1 0 * 16
3. Pennridge Rams 7 3 1 * 15
4. North Penn Knights 5 5 0 * 10
5. Souderton Indians 3 7 0 * 6
6. Central Bucks East Patriots 2 8 0 * 4
SHSHL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Archbishop Wood Vikings
Archbishop Wood head coach Sam Gallen and his Vikings have won three of their last four games – including their first SHSHL National Conference victory. Wood – which defeated Lansdale Catholic (twice) and Upper Moreland in non-league contests – defeated Neshaminy 5-4 to capture its first conference win.
“The win over Neshaminy was a real good win for our kids,” said Gallen. “We have seen improvement all through the season – we have gotten better with some great practices – and it was nice to get a win to demonstrate that effort.
“We have struggled with the big boys on the block – CB South, CB West, North Penn, and Pennridge – but we talked to the players about the rest of the schedule,” added Gallen. “We have some games that we should be competitive in, and we want to continue to play hard and get the results that we want.”
Included in the final portion of the season for the Vikings (1-9-0, 2) are two games with Abington (0-9-1, 1) and a rematch with Neshaminy (3-7-1, 7).
“We close out the season with our crosstown rivals in William Tennent,” said Gallen in reference to the first place Panthers (8-1-0, 16). “The players always took forward to playing them.”
Wood seems to have found some offensive firepower in the construction of a new first line that consists of juniors Timothy Cordero, Pat Sheehan, and Brendan Cullera.
“Tim is an excellent hockey player who sees the ice well and makes great decisions,” said Gallen. “Pat is a good playmaker, and Brendan has moved onto the line and made it a very cohesive unit.”
Archbishop Wood has played a trio of underclassmen in goal this season – junior Joseph Danig, sophomore David Casper, and freshman Emmett Shanks.
“Right now I would say that they are all at the same skill level,” said Gallen. “We want to be able to give them equal time to develop and see what happens.
“We play a lot of underclassmen,” added Gallen. “We are looking toward the future.”
SHSHL National Conference Standings
1. William Tennent Panthers 8 1 0 * 16
2. Pennsbury Falcons 6 5 0 * 12
3. Council Rock South Hawks 5 3 1 * 11
4. Neshaminy Redskins 3 6 1 * 7
5. Archbishop Wood Vikings 1 9 0 * 2
6. Abington Ghosts 0 9 1 * 1
SHSHL Varsity ‘AA’ Top Scorers
1. Alex Peterson North Penn 28 23 * 51
2. Jack Kelly Pennsbury 19 14 * 33
3. Alec Dugan William Tennent 18 7 * 25
4. Jason Bechtel CB South 10 14 * 24
5. Spencer Silver North Penn 12 11 * 23
6. Michael Padgeon Pennridge 14 9 * 23
7. Damon DeLaurentis CB South 12 10 * 22
Matt Stoll CB South 10 12 * 22
Troy Crossen Pennridge 18 4 * 22
10. Joseph DeLaurentis CB South 8 13 * 21
This Week in the SHSHL Varsity ‘AA’
Wednesday (1/20/16)
Abington vs. William Tennent @ Grundy – 7:20
Thursday (1/21/16)
Neshaminy vs. Council Rock South @ Revolutions Ice Garden – 7:10
Central Bucks West vs. North Penn @ Hatfield – 7:20
Pennsbury vs. Archbishop Wood @ Wintersport – 7:20
Friday (1/22/16)
Pennsbury vs. Council Rock South @ Bucks County Ice – 6:50
Souderton vs. Central Bucks East @ Revolutions Ice Garden – 7:10
Pennridge vs. Central Bucks South @ Hatfield – 7:20
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