By Scott Huff
Council Rock North (2-6-2 SHSHL, 2-7-2 overall) played with the big boys last season and contended for a Flyers Cup Class AA title with the likes of CR South and Downingtown East.
That was the reality of the 2009-2010 season – and the reality of the 2010-2011 season is quite different.
“If we are going to beat the best teams in our league this season – the CR South’s and the CB East’s – we are going to have to play a perfect game,” said Council Rock North head coach Eric Tye. “And they are going to have to play just an average game.
“The players are getting better each and every game,” added Tye. “They play hard, they listen to the coaching staff, and regardless of the wins and losses they have been a great group. Our best hockey is ahead of us.”
Rock North lost to graduation the premier goaltender in the area last season – Jesse Goldberg. Those very huge shoes have had to be filled by a sophomore – Hayden Richards.
“Hayden has had to take his time making the big adjustment of playing hockey at a varsity level,” said Tye. “The speed and pace of the game at this level can only be learned by experience.
“Our improvement as a team will come at the same rate of Hayden’s experience,” added Tye. “He has gotten better as the season has gone along, and we have also gotten better.”
Council Rock North was more than competitive with CB East (9-2-0, 9-3-2) in its last SHSHL contest. The Indians led 1-0 after the first period, trailed 4-2 after two periods, and finally lost to the Patriots 7-3.
“We did some things in the first and second period that kept us in the game,” said Tye. “And then I got us away from that in the third period, and I cost us a chance to win that game.”
Rock North had taken a 1-0 first period lead on the strength of a goal by Tim Kroh on an assist from Bobby Dumont. A John Humes second period goal – on assists from Griffen Healy and Harrison Pitts – kept the Indians close at 4-2. The final CRN goal came late off the stick of Alec Greenhaigh on an assist from Michael Shander.
Richards was peppered with 49 CB East shots and came up with 42 saves.
Rock North had a come-from-behind 4-3 win against Central Bucks West (1-10-0, 1-10-0) last week.
Healy and Pitts got the Indians off to a 2-0 lead, but West answered with three goals to take a 3-2 lead into the final period.
Dumont tied the score with his first goal, and Dumont untied the score with his second goal with just one minute, 43 seconds left in the game. Both third period goals were power play goals for the Indians.
“We are going to play better, and we are going to win more games,” said Tye. “We just have to be a little patient.”
Around the SHSHL National Division –
Council Rock South (10-0-0 SHSHL, 12-0-0 overall) remained unbeaten with a 5-2 victory over CB South (4-4-1, 4-6-1).
Patrick Grilli scored a hat trick for the Golden Hawks, while Colin Criage and Dan Ufberg scored single goals. Grilli leads the SHSHL in scoring with 25 goals and 20 assists. Steve Jastrow had 28 saves for Rock South.
William Tennent (6-4-0, 7-5-0) had another spectacular performance turned in by goaltender Eric HorroX as the Panthers clawed Souderton (2-7-0, 2-8-0) – 4-2.
HorroX had 56 saves for WT – 56 as in 5-6. A.J. Carbone scored a pair of goals for the Panthers, while Cameron Goodell and Tom Rook each scored single goals for the winners.
Pennsbury (5-2-1, 5-3-1) flew to a 5-3 win over Pennridge (3-6-1, 3-7-1) in its last SHSHL contest.
Ken McCormick and Mike Hlatky each scored a pair of goals for the Falcons, while Luke Matthews scored a single goal for Pennsbury. Goaltender Kevin Kandetzke did not allow a goal in the final period to secure the win. Kandetzke finished the game with 22 saves.
Neshaminy (3-4-2, 4-4-2) took a knockout punch from Central Bucks East (9-2-0, 9-3-2) as the Redskins suffered a 10-3 loss.
DJ Bell scored a pair of goals for Neshaminy and is the second leading scorer in the National Division with 19 goals and 15 assists. Steven Lee was the other goal scorer for the Skins.
SHSHL Continental Division
Central Bucks West (1-10-0 SHSHL, 1-10-0 overall) held a 3-2 lead over Council Rock North (2-6-2, 2-7-2), but gave up two power play goals in the third period and lost 4-3.
“We will be playing winning hockey before too long,” said Central Bucks West head coach Dave Baun. “We have five freshmen and four sophomores, and we are very young.”
One of the youngest has been freshman goaltender Justin Angelo. Angelo has none – as in zero – ice hockey experience.
“I am thrilled with the development of Justin,” said Baun. “He has not really given up a weak goal yet, and the team has developed a fair measure of confidence in him.”
Baun attributes his quick development to Buck goaltender coach Eddie Kallatch. Kallatch – who began as goalie coach at West in 2004 – missed the last two seasons behind the West bench due to business commitments.
“After just a few hours, Justin showed tremendous improvement,” said Baun. “Experience and continued good coaching from Eddie is going to make him an outstanding goaltender.”
The Bucks have had an outstanding season this year from junior Johnny Taylor. Taylor – who scored all three goals for West in the loss to Rock North – has scored seven goals in just eight games.
“You have to like Johnny as both a player and a person,” said Baun. “In the near future, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
And the same might be said of the young Bucks.
Around the SHSHL Continental Division
Central Bucks East (9-2-0 SHSHL, 9-3-2 overall) remained the best of the division as the Patriots captured a 7-3 win over Council Rock North (2-6-2, 2-7-2).
CB East had a pair goals scored by Vince Esposito to lead the scorers. Nick Patullo, Mike Palmer, Dean Albertini, Tom Schloendorn, and Austin Cinalli each scored single goals for the Patriots. CBE outshot North by a staggering 49-16 margin and earned a win for goaltender Justin Golia.
Central Bucks South (4-4-1, 4-6-1) outshot unbeaten Council Rock South (9-0-0, 12-0-0) – 30-22. But the Golden Hawks pumped in five goals to beat CB South – 5-2.
The Titans scored a pair of third period goals. Matt Schultz scored on assists from Connor Bechtel and Nick Delauarentis, while Tom Dougherty scored a goal with assists from Bechtel and Brett Roberts. Dennis Ruff had 18 saves for CB South.
North Penn (3-3-3, 4-3-3) was fit to be tied in its 6-6 deadlock with Pennridge (3-6-1, 3-7-1) in a SHSHL Continental Division contest.
Caleb Witzaney – who led the Knights with two goals - scored the game-tying goal with just 2:17 left in the game. Single goals were scored by Doug Barber, Jim McKelvie, Dave Heggan, and Eric Himmel. Goalie Jake Wolff had 26 saves.
Pennridge (3-6-1, 3-7-1) was fit to be tied in its 6-6 deadlock with North Penn (3-3-3, 4-3-3) in a SHSHL Continental Division contest.
Matt Brown – who leads the Rams in scoring this season with 10 goals in 11 games – scored a hat trick for Pennridge. Justin Roberts added a pair of goals for the Rams, while Colin Murphy scored a single goal. Goaltender Dustin Wexler came up with 41 saves.
Souderton (2-7-0, 2-8-0) fired 58 shots on goal but could not solve the mystery of goalie Eric HorroX as the Indians lost a 4-2 decision to William Tennent (6-4, 7-5).
The Big Red took a 2-1 lead in the second period on power play goals by James Tierney and Travis McKay. Zach Hecht had 19 saves in goal for Souderton.
SHSHL American Division
Upper Moreland (0-7-0, 1-9-0) won its first game of the season when the Golden Bears broke open a 4-4 deadlock to defeat Plymouth Whitemarsh in a non-league contest – 6-4.
“The players have been working hard, but they are still learning what it takes to win,” said Upper Moreland head coach Jim Stampler. “We have a young team, and the wins will come.”
Fortunately for the Bears, the best player on the ice is often Upper Moreland goaltender Jared Burch. And Burch was ‘that guy’ in the win over Plymouth Whitemarsh.
“Jared has the ability to keep us close in almost every game,” said Stampler as Burch came up with 31 saves for the winners.
Early it appeared that the win might just be an easy one as Upper Moreland scored four goals in the first period to take a 4-0 lead.
Matthew Beck, Tawny Buelow, Brandon Arizini, and Matt Baumgarder all found the back of the net for the Bears.
However, the Colonials scored the next four goals to knot the score in the third period.
Upper Moreland, though, scored the final two goals of the game in the final period to seal the win. The goal scorers for the Bears were Pat Morrisey and Matthew Hoagland.
Around the SHSHL American Division
Hatboro-Horsham (5-1-0 SHSHL, 8-2-0 overall) kept its top spot in the SHSHL American Division standings. The lone Hatters game this week was an 8-0 non-league shutout of Plymouth Whitemarsh.
The offensive scoring load was carried by Chris Giullani and Tim Boyle with a pair of goals each. Harry Nesbitt, Kelsey Koelzer, Alex Rabbe, and Evan Wrenn scored solo goals for the Hatters. Jimmy Salfiti had 15 saves in goal for Hatboro-Horsham.
Upper Dublin (4-3-0, 6-4-1) avenged an early season loss to Wissahickon (3-4-0, 6-7-0) by besting the Trojans – 6-4.
Samuel Etskovitz scored the hat trick for the Flying Cardinals in the win, while Brian Markman added a pair of goals for UD. Jonathan Bebey scored a single goal for the Cards. Goalie Jack Deragan stopped 13 shots for the winners.
Wissahickon (3-4-0, 6-7-0) lost its last SHSHL contest to Upper Dublin (4-3-0, 6-4-1) – 6-4.
The Trojans had four goal scorers. Luke Honorowski, David Pataki, Sean Dickson, and Joey Sutkow each scored single goals for Wissy. Adam Solomon had 16 saves for the Trojans.
Suburban One Sports.com * Super Seven*
1. Council Rock South Golden Hawks
2. Central Bucks East Patriots
3. William Tennent Panthers
4. Pennsbury Falcons
5. North Penn Knights
6. Central Bucks South Titans
7. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
- Log in to post comments
0
