By Scott Huff
Council Rock South (11-0-0 SHSHL, 13-1-0 overall) has its sights set on Wednesday when the Golden Hawks play ‘up’ against powerful Holy Ghost Prep (9-2-1). HGP is a Class AAA team, while Rock South is a Class AA squad.
“It is great to play the really good teams – win or lose,” said Council Rock South head coach Joe Houk. “We want to get these kids ready for a run at the Flyers Cup, and to get them prepared we have to be willing to go out and play the good teams around.
“We lost 3-1 to Washington Township (8-1-1) last week, and they are one of the best AA teams in South Jersey,” added Houk. “It was some really good competition.”
Rock South did not face that caliber of competition last week as the Golden Hawks gouged North Penn (4-4-3, 5-4-3) – 8-2.
“I was a little surprised by that score,” said Houk. “We are playing teams for the second time in our league now, and sometimes teams play us better the second time around.
“But Pat Grilli is on fire,” added Houk of the SHSHL leading scorer. “We took control of the game early, and we had a comfortable win.”
Grilli scored three goals and had two assists in the win. Steve Junod and Nick Keck each added two goals for the Hawks, while Kyle Walker scored a single goal.
Goaltender Steve Jastow was strong in goal with 23 saves.
“It seems like we haven’t missed a beat since last year,” said Houk in reference to the Golden Hawk appearance in the Class AA Flyers Cup finals a year ago.
Around the SHSHL National Division
William Tennent (6-4-1 SHSHL, 7-5-1 overall) battled to a 2-2 deadlock with Souderton (2-7-2, 2-8-2).
Goaltender Eric HorroX was again at the top of his game with 31 saves. The goal scorers for the Panthers were Cameron Goodell and AJ Carbone.
Pennsbury (5-4-1, 6-5-1) fired 33 shots on goal by suffered a surprising 8-1 loss to North Penn (4-4-3, 5-4-3).
The Falcons had 19 first period shots on goal, however the lone scorer for Pennsbury was Luke Matthews.
Pennsbury also dropped a 5-2 contest to Central Bucks East (10-2-0, 10-3-2) last week.
The goal scorers for the Falcons in the loss were Ken McCormick and Phillip Herring. Benjamin Herring came up with 21 saves in goal.
Neshaminy (3-5-3, 4-5-3) earned a point last week when the Skins tied Souderton (2-7-2, 2-8-2). Neshaminy also lost last week to Central Bucks South – 6-3.
In the deadlock with Souderton, Colin Mazer came up with 26 saves, while Nick LaPalombara and Jake Kitchenman scored goals. In the loss to South, the Skins had solo goals by Justin Santoro, Jordan Ducko, and Eric Graham.
Council Rock North (3-6-2, 3-7-2) came up with a nice win as the Indians defeated Pennridge (3-7-1, 3-8-1) – 3-2.
Mark Macdonald sparked the Rock North offense with a pair of goals, while Michael Shandler scored what proved to be the game winner. Hayden Richards had 14 saves for the Indians.
**Flying Cardinals top Hatters**
Upper Dublin (5-3-0 SHSHL, 7-4-1 overall) took a giant step toward the top of the SHSHL American Division standings with a convincing 10-5 victory over first place Hatboro-Horsham (5-2-0, 8-3-0).
“We can play with anyone if we skate,” said Upper Dublin head coach Dave Japchen. “The league is very tight with us, Hatboro-Horsham, and Lansdale Catholic. Plus Wissahickon is a sleeper and can really beat anyone.
“We were short on numbers early in the season, and we lost a couple of games that maybe we shouldn’t have,” added Japchen. “Now we are back healthy, and our best games are ahead of us.”
The Cardinals have also watched the progression of goaltender Jack Deragon. Deragon – a goalie for the lacrosse team – is still gaining experience at the varsity ice hockey level.
“Jack has dramatically improved the last few games,” said Japchen. “He has been working hard, and should continue to improve with game experience.”
Upper Dublin exploded for four unanswered goals in the last five minutes of the first period against Hatboro-Horsham to secure the win.
Brian Markman – the leading scorer in the SHSHL American Division with 33 points – scored four goals to lead the Cardinals. Tyler Peskin scored a hat trick for UD, while Samuel Etskovitz, Robbie DiGregorio, and Ben Hoffman each scored solo goals for the Cardinals.
Hatboro-Horsham had a two-goal effort by Kelsey Koelzer to lead the offensive scoring attack. Patrick Durkin, Manny Billones, and Evan Wrenn scored single goals for the Hatters.
Around the SHSHL American Division
Lansdale Catholic (9-4-0 SHSHL, 5-2-0 overall) won a pair of non-league games last week as the Crusaders crushed Plymouth Whitemarsh by a 10-0 tally and edged Central Bucks West (1-10-0, 1-11-0) – 6-4.
In the victory over PW Doug Becker scored a hat trick to trigger the LC offense. Anthony Valerio had a pair of goals, while Joe Magarity, Anthony Didonato, Kevin Quinn, Andrew Hart, and John Volpe all scored single goals.
In the win over CBW, Valerio led the attack with a couple of goals. Nick Sette, Hart, Volpe, and Becker each scored single goals for the winners.
Crusader goalie Ben Mills totaled 32 saves in the twin victories.
Wissahickon (4-4-0, 7-7-0) fought its way back to .500 with a 6-1 division victory over Upper Moreland (0-8-0, 1-10-0).
Adam Solomon came up with 17 saves for the Trojans. Joey Sutkow scored two goals to lead the offense, while Pat Wilson, Mark Isaac, Dustin Rabinowitz, and Brian Kaissi each scored single goals for Wissy.
Jared Burch was wonderful in goal for UM despite the loss as he came up with 38 saves. The lone scorer for the Golden Bears came off the stick of Matt Baumgardner.
***Souderton Fit ToBe Tied***
Souderton (2-7-2 SHSHL, 2-8-2 overall) picked up a pair of points last week as the Big Red tied both William Tennent and Neshaminy. The score in both games was 2-2.
“We had lost to both William Tennnet (4-2) and Neshaminy (6-3) in the first half of the season,” said first year Souderton head coach Matt Montagna. “And for us to tie them the second time around, with an opportunity to win both of those games, shows the improvement we have made this year.
“We really expect a lot out of the second half of the season,” added Montagna. “We have a lot of players on this team that play more than hockey, and right about now I can say that we are in true hockey shape.”
Souderton ran into the hottest of hot goalies in Tennent’s Eric HorroX. HorroX – who came up with a remarkable 56 saves against the Big Red in their first meeting of the season – came up with 31 saves in the 2-2 deadlock.
“Eric is just an excellent goaltender,” said Montagna. “In that first game, we had 58 legitimate shots. He was incredible. And he was just as good in the second game.”
The goal scorers against Tennent were Tyler DiPietro and Dylan Manto. Big Red goaltender Peter Clarke registered 26 saves.
Souderton received goals from Kyle Dusellier and DiPietro in the stalemate with Neshaminy. Zach Hecht was in the net for the Indians and recorded 21 saves.
“This is our first year coaching at Souderton, and it has been a lot of fun,” said Montagna. “Being at the high school, I have recruited a lot of kids that might not have played ice hockey here. I think I have turned over every rock.
“The big picture is a good one for this program,” added Montagna. “We will lose three really good seniors in James Tierney, Kyle Dusellier, and Travis McKay, but we have everyone else back.”
Around the SHSHL Continental Division
Central Bucks East (10-2-0 SHSHL, 10-3-2 overall) remained on top of the division standings as the Patriots came up with a 5-2 victory over Pennsbury (5-4-1, 6-5-1).
CB East featured a balanced scoring attack as five players found the back of the net. Mike Palmer, Nick Patullo, Alex Piccione, Tom Schloedorn, and Joe Ridolfi all scored solo goals for the Patriots. Justin Golia had 16 saves for CBE.
North Penn (4-4-3, 5-4-3) played crazy eights last week as the Knights won an 8-1 contest with Pennsbury (5-4-1, 6-5-1) and then turned around and lost an 8-2 contest to unbeaten Council Rock South (11-0-0, 13-0-0).
In the win over Pennsbury, Dave Heggan scored a hat trick for the Knights, while Jim McKelvie added a pair of goals. Caleb Witzaney, Don Corrado, and Richard Feher all scored single goals.
In the loss to CR South, McKelvie and Heggan were the goal scorers for North Penn.
Central Bucks South (5-4-1, 5-6-1) came up with a nice win over Neshaminy (3-5-3, 4-5-3) – 6-3.
Tom Dougherty and Nick Lelaurentis each scored a pair of goals for the Titans. Connor Bechtel and Jimmy Milanesi each scored single goals for the winners. Matt Magarvey had 19 saves.
Pennridge (3-7-1, 3-8-1) lost a tough 3-2 contest to Council Rock North (3-6-2, 3-7-2).
Eric Mccroie had a terrific outing in goal for the Rams with 30 saves. The goal scorers for PHS were Tyler Shagen and Justin Roberts.
Central Bucks West (1-10-0, 1-11-0) lost a non-league contest to Lansdale Catholic (9-4)- 6-4.
The Bucks led 2-0 early but could not hold the lead. Single goal scorers for CBW were David Parkinson, Johnny Taylor, Avni Berisha, and Danny Wilson.
SHSHL ‘Fab Four’ Divisional Scorers
American Division G A Pts
Brian Markman [UD] 21 12 33
Nick Sette [LC] 15 14 29
Tyler Peskin [UD] 13 15 28
Sam Etskovitz [UD] 13 13 26
Continental Division G A Pts
Jim McKelvie [NP] 15 16 31
Tom Schloedorn [CBE] 9 16 25
Austin Cinalli [CBE] 14 8 22
Matt Brown [PR] 10 9 19
Mike Palmer [CBE] 5 14 19
National Division G A Pts
Pat Grilli [CRS] 28 22 50
DJ Bell [NESH] 19 16 35
Ken McCormick [PENS] 19 12 31
Steve Junod [CRS] 14 15 29
Suburban One Sports.com ***Great Eight***
1. Council Rock South Golden Hawks
2. Central Bucks East Patriots
3. William Tennent Panthers
4. North Penn Knights
5. Pennsbury Falcons
6. Central Bucks South Titans
7. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
8. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
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