American Conference
The new year hasn't been particularly kind to Hatboro-Horsham. With injuries, illnesses and absences, the Hatters have found themselves undermanned and outgunned in more than a few recent games. Since returning from the winter break, the Hatters are 2-4 overall, 1-4 in American Division action.
"We've lost three players, and it hurt us," said H-H coach Mike Shiels. "We're a full line short. That hurt us while we're playing better teams. Friday night (a 5-4 loss to Wissahickon), we were basically down to two lines because we had a couple of kids away for the weekend. We've had our struggles. The kids are working really hard, but you get to the third period, and they're tired from playing pretty much every other shift."
Still, the news isn't all doom and gloom for the Hatters, who sit in second place in the division at 4-4-1 for 9 points (9-7-1 overall), two points ahead of third-place Upper Dublin.
"We felt in the beginning of the season that we should win the division," Shiels said. "But stuff happens. It didn't work out. But it's good that we're in second place, we've got a couple games left to finish strong."
While the usual suspects are leading the pack for the Hatters -- Shiels points to scoring leaders Manny Billones (17 goals, 13 assists), Keith Eisenberg (18 g, 10a) and Brian Smith (10 g, 16a), younger players are also getting their chance to step in and make a contribution to the team.
Among the newcomers, Shiels noted Tim Boyle on offense (10 g, 6a), Pat Downing's defensive efforts, and the play of Eric Foster, who missed the first three months of the season with a broken ankle.
"The younger kids are getting thrown into the fire," Sheils said. "They're getting experience playing teams like Wissahickon and Upper Moreland. They're playing in pressure-packed games and that will help us hopefully in the playoffs and definitely for next season.
"But we never look ahead of the game at hand. Upper Moreland (on Feb. 18) is going to be tough game for us. We should finish second or third in the division, and we're most likely going to end up going against Upper Dublin. We were even with them this season (a 4-3 win in October and a 4-3 loss in January) and we'll see what happens."
Continental Conference
Central Bucks South may not have gotten off to the strongest start this season -- injuries have a way of doing that to a team -- but as the season winds down and the playoffs loom on the horizon, the Titans are firing on all cylinders.
Since returning from the winter break, Central Bucks South has posted a 5-1-2 record and has rolled to the top of the Continental Division at 10-6-4 for 24 points, three points ahead of Central Bucks East and Souderton.
"This is what we hoped for once we got going, got everyone stepping up and getting contributions from everyone," said South coach Tom Coyne. "Our biggest problem was team defense. We're doing a better job getting the puck out of our own zone. We had to clean it up.
"There's always a tendency for the forwards to say, 'Devon Dundore is going to make a big play.' 'Ed Siger is going to make a big play.' 'Matt Schultz is going to make a big play.' That puts extra pressure on the defense. The forwards are backchecking much better now. It's not as glamorous as scoring goals, but it's paying off."
And the forwards are still lighting the lamp.
Kevin Carter leads the Titans with 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists). And the absence of Nick Gibson, who missed several games due to injury, may have proven to be a turning point in Carter's development as a leader on the squad.
"When Gibson went down, they were the bookends of the offense," Coyne said. "It put more pressure on Kevin, and could have made our offense one-dimensional. Kevin matured as a player. He knew if other teams were focusing their defense on him, the other guys were going to get a lot of looks. The great players make the guys around him great.
"Vince Vona (6g, 10a) is one of the guys who jumped out. Justin Mariner stepped up his game. Matt Gross has made a big contribution. A guy we pulled up from JV, Jimmy Milanesi, has done a great job."
The Titans end the season with powerhouse Council Rock North on Feb. 17 and a dangerous Pennridge team two days later. A close call against William Tennent on Feb. 12 may have reinforced the Titans' desire and drive down the stretch, and quite possibly to a long playoff run.
"We made the mistake where I think we were overlooking William Tennent,” Coyne said. “We won, but we outshot them, 50-17, and we only won 3-2. We have to be on the ball. We're a good team, but we're not where we can take games off."
National Conference
Quick quiz: Which National Division team has allowed the fewest goals this season?
If you're thinking it's undefeated Council Rock South ... you'd be wrong. If you guessed it's the Golden Hawks' neighbors to the North ... wrong as well.
In fact, Pennsbury has allowed just 32 goals through 20 games this season, better than North (36 goals in 20 games) and South (37 goals in 21 games).
"Our defense has done a phenomenal job," said Pennsbury coach John Bria, whose team sits in third place in the division with 33 points (16-3-1), behind South's 39 points and North with 37. "That starts with Corey Chapin and Tim Wunder in goal. The defense as a whole unit really takes pride in their play. We have one of the best defenses in the area, one of the best in the league, and they believe it."
Seniors Colin Gannon, Erik Reinhold and Alex Dobzanski lead the group, with underclassmen Phillip Herring and Nick Burkhart stepping up their games as well. Bria also credits assistant coach Jim Gannon, who works with the defense in practice.
Of course, the Falcons aren't too shabby on the other end of the rink, either. Ken McCormick (48 points) and Matt Mager (47) are within striking distance of 50 points for the season. Four other players have more than 20 points (Mike Hlatky has 27, Sean Harlow 25, Matt Topley 23, and Reinhold 21), and seven others have double-digit point totals.
"To me, that's a huge accomplishment," Bria said. "In years past, you have one or two lines that carry you. But to have such balanced scoring is really an accomplishment. Matt Mager is doing a heck of a job leading the team. McCormick is doing a terrific job. And we're getting contributions from our second and third lines."
And for the Falcons, who are 5-1-1 (including a 1-1 tie against Rock South) since returning from the winter break, it could add up to a long run into the playoffs and a return to the Flyers Cup.
"Our goal was to win out after Christmas," Bria said. "After we tied Council Rock South, we thought we could win out the rest of our games. We stumbled against Central Bucks South, but it looks like we're solidified in third place. We've got two games coming up, then playoffs.
"We want to finish strong, stay healthy, and then ratchet it up. We're looking to get back to the finals. We lost to North Penn last year, and our goal all year has been to get back there. The two Council Rocks are going to be tough. Central Bucks South will be tough. We've got to be ready and prepare."
- Log in to post comments
0
