To view photos of the Pennsbury/North Penn game, visit the photo gallery and click on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Nick DeLorenzo
In recent years, the Flyers Cup has become high school hockey’s own version of March Madness.Unfortunately for North Penn, however, its Cinderella story ended on Tuesday night with a 6-1 loss to Pennsbury.
North Penn was able to keep the game close early on, holding the high-scoring Falcon offense to just one goal in the first period with goalie Jon Ford stopping 12 of 13 shots.
But Pennsbury was able to pull away in the second period, tallying three goals - including a pair by Mike Hlatky - to make the game 4-0.
“The big thing coming into tonight’s game was that we wanted to skate with them and hang with them early,” North Penn Head Coach Kevin Vaitis said. “After the first period we were right with them. Things started to fall apart for us a little bit (in the second). We couldn’t get our puck out of the zone and they kept on peppering us with shots.”
Hlatky notched a power play goal early in the third period to complete the hat trick. Allan Fenton finally lit the lamp for North Penn mid-way through the third, but it was too little too late. Colin Healy added a final goal for Pennsbury to make the final 6-1.
Pennsbury head coach John Bria wanted to make sure his team was ready to play after having more than two weeks off after its semi-final loss to Council Rock North in the SHSHL playoffs. “We were fortunate enough to schedule a non-league game last week against Father Judge,” Bria said. “And I don’t think we played our best, so it was important that we had a game before tonight.”
His team also had plenty of built in motivation, having been knocked out of this tournament in the first round the past two years.
“They knew that we had to get this monkey off our back, and we finally did,” Bria continued. “I’m glad for the kids that we’re moving on to the next round.”
Despite winning handily on the scoreboard, Bria would like see his team improve its performance for the tougher competition in the coming rounds.
“I want to work on our forecheck,” the Falcons’ coach said. “We got a couple of goals (off our power play), but we still need to improve there, and always on our team defense.”
“We need to do a little cycling down low,” Hlatky added, who led the Falcons with four points on the night. “[If we] get the puck down low, we should be fine. “
North Penn, the 20th and lowest seed in the AA bracket, advanced to play #4 Pennsbury after upsetting 13th-seeded Parkland in the opening round. Despite a disappointing ending, the Knights are proud to hang their hats on a 3-1-2 finish to their season, including a tie to #1 seed Council Rock South.
“We finished our season real strong,” Vaitis said. “We just missed the playoffs for the Suburban League, so we thought our season was over, but then we got that call that Sunday when the Flyers cup came out.”
Vaitis is also optimistic for his team’s prospects for the 2010-11 season and beyond.
“We lose four seniors, but other tha
n that we’ve got everybody coming back,” he continued. “We’re one of the younger teams in the league. We’ll be right back here next year and hopefully a lot of the guys learn from it. It’s a great experience. I’m definitely proud of the boys for the way they finished their season.”
n that we’ve got everybody coming back,” he continued. “We’re one of the younger teams in the league. We’ll be right back here next year and hopefully a lot of the guys learn from it. It’s a great experience. I’m definitely proud of the boys for the way they finished their season.”Pennsbury advances to play the winner of Cherokee and Washington Township, a team that has had the Falcons’ number the last few years.
“I just know that Washington Township has beaten us the last three, four years,” Bria said. “So I’d like to see them.”
By Scott Huff
The extraordinary second round Flyers Cup Class AA game played at the Face-Off Circle will be placed in the memory bank for Pennridge head coach Frank Reago – forever.
Reago – who had coached the Rams into the Flyers Cup finals – was behind the bench for the very last time for the Green and White.
And Pennridge (7-11-6) did everything but win the game as the Rams dropped a 5-4 overtime contest to unbeaten Council Rock South (20-0-3).
The Golden Hawks – the #1 seed in the Flyers Cup Class AA tournament – will now meet the #8 seed - Central Bucks South - in a quarterfinal game to be played at the Face-Off Circle this Friday at 7:20 pm.
The Titans (11-7-5) edged Boyertown – 2-1 – in its second round contest. That game was played at the Warwick Ice Rink in Warwick.
“The hockey gods have to smile on you to win overtime games,” said Reago – who is retiring as Pennridge head coach. “I’ve been on the winning end of these games and the losing end of these games.
“If (CR) South goes on to win the Flyers Cup title, the kids can look back and know they gave them a great game,” added Reago. “We had them 4-2, but we gave up a couple of power plays goals in the third period.
“At that time of the game it should be ‘no blood – no foul’, but that is all part of the game,” continued Reago. “We really had our chances to win that game.”
Council Rock South head coach Joe Houk agreed.
“Pennridge played a great game, played a great trap,” said Houk. “That was a team that had 10 seniors, and they wanted very much to win.
“But to our credit, we dug deep and played our toughest when we were down,” added Houk. “I thought we dominated the second half of the third period, and the overtime.”
Pennridge head coach Frank Reago agreed.
“We spent so much energy that we ran out of gas late in the game,” said Reago. “I believe in the trap, but that team has three great players and it takes a lot out of you.”
Pennridge had constructed the 4-2 lead on the strength of a hat trick by Chris Brown and a solo goal by Tyler Vanderslice.
The Golden Hawks received a pair of regulation goals by Stephen Junod and single goals by Pat Grilli and Colin Craige.
Jake Domsky scored the game winner for Rock South in the overtime.
“I thought that both goalies played great games,” said Houk. “Sean Boyd stopped at least six breakaways, and we had 44 shots on their goaltender (Michael White), and he made tough saves.
“It’s funny, but when we were down 4-2 there was no talk about our undefeated season,” added Houk. “We knew that one loss, and we were done for the season.”
And that same loss not only spelled out the end of a season for Reago – but the end of a scholastic ice hockey coaching career.
Flyers Cup Exit Door
Central Bucks East (11-11-1) let a 3-1 third period lead slip through its fingers as the Patriots dropped a 4-3 contest to Avon Grove in its first round Flyers Cup Class AA contest played at the Ice Line in West Chester.
“Any loss is tough, but this was tougher than most,” said Central Bucks East head coach Ken Latchum. “We were all over them for the first two periods, and part of the third. But we let it get away from us.”
The Patriots took the lead on goals by Ryan Joyce, John Young, and Alex Piccione.
“John Young played a great game for us, and he is only a junior,” said Latchum. “In fact, we only lose three seniors from this team, and the younger players got a real taste of what it is like to play in the playoffs.
“I’m proud of the way the kids played this season,” continued Latchum. “We should have a very strong team next season.”
Abington (8-13-3) also made the trek to the Ice Line in West Chester to meet highly touted Downingtown East in a second round Flyers Cup Class AA game.
The Ghosts found out why the Whippets were the #3 seed as East whitewashed Abington, 7-0.
“I have to give my players credit, they worked hard and played a clean game until the end,” said Abington head coach Andrew Ducko. “We had a great attitude all season, and we continued to get better as the season went on.
“Downingtown East should go far into the playoffs,” added Ducko. “They might not be as good as either of the Council Rock teams, but they are very good.
“Last year we were 0-20, and this year we won a Flyers Cup game,” continued Ducko in reference to the Ghosts 3-1 win over Conestoga in a first round game. “We had a great season.”
Pennsbury vs. North Penn game summary
Pennsbury 6 North Penn 1
Pennsbury 1 3 2 6
North Penn 0 0 1 1
1st Period -- Matt Topley (PB) from Mike Hlatky and Colin Healy, 5:52.
2nd Period -- PP Hlatky (PB) from Ken Mccormick and Matt Mager,1:08. Mccormick (PB) from Sean Harlow and Phillip Herring, 5:15. Hlatky (PB) from Topley and Herring, 8:05.
3rd Period -- PP Hlatky (PB) from Alex Dobzanski and Mager, 3:52. Allan Fenton (NP) from Jim McKelvie and Eric Himmel, 6:30. Colin Healy (PB) from Mccormick and Mager, 9:53.
Shots
Pennsbury -- 13 17 10 40
North Penn -- 7 4 4 15
- Log in to post comments
0
