By Scott Huff
“Playoffs – we’re talking playoffs”
The Suburban One High School Hockey League is about to begin its league playoffs that will ultimately end up with Flyers Cup invitations.
The first and second rounds of the SHSHL are the critical ‘one and done’ matches in both the Class AA and Class A Divisions. The finals are a best-of-three series to be played next week.
The SHSHL first round dates for the Class AA Division will begin with an opening round contest between Souderton and Pennsbury on Tuesday, while the remaining three games – Council Rock North vs Pennridge, Council Rock South vs. Abington, and Central Bucks South vs. Central Bucks East – will be played on Wednesday.
The SHSHL first round dates for the Class A Division will be on Thursday when Hatboro-Horsham meets Upper Dublin and Wissahickon meets Plymouth Whitemarsh.
The tale of the tape for first round SHSHL playoff action.
SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE
CLASS AA PLAYOFFS
Pennsbury vs. Souderton
Tuesday – 2/23/10 @ Grundy 7:50 pm
Records:
Pennsbury (18-3-1, 37 points)
Souderton (10-11-1, 21 points)
Season Results:
Pennsbury 7 – Souderton 0 (11/19/09)
Pennsbury 8 – Souderton 0 (2/19/10)
Top Scorers:
Pennsbury:
Ken McCormick (25-28-53)
Matt Mager (24-26-50)
Mike Hlatky (12-17-29)
Souderton:
Michael McCarthy (26-23-49)
Collin Montgomery (16-11-27)
Corre Sommers (12-15-27)
Pennsbury Head Coach John Bria says -
“We have gotten out to good leads against Souderton and have dominated both games,” said Bria. “But we talked to the kids in practice and reminded them that we have to still come out and take it to them again.
“Our focus is to get to the Flyers Cup,” added Bria. “And to get there we have to get the results we want in every game.”
Souderton Head Coach Tom Coopersmith says –
“We have not matched up well with Pennsbury,” said Coopersmith. “We are going to have to play a much better team concept if we want to beat them.
“We do not have a lot of depth, and that is beginning to hurt us,” added Coopersmith. “We are going to have to play a complete hockey game.”
Council Rock South vs. Abington
Wednesday – 2/24/10 @ Face-Off Circle 6:50 pm
Records:
CR South (19-0-3, 41 points)
Abington (7-12-3, 17 points)
Season Results:
Council Rock South 8 - Abington 1 (10/14/09)
Council Rock South 4 – Abington 2 (1/14/10)
Top Scorers:
Rock South
Patrick Grilli (35-33-68)
Tyler Dietrick (22-42-64)
Peter Malamud (22-38-60)
Abington:
Jimmy McKee (20-21-41)
Tyler Moll (16-14-30)
Keith Richardson (15-8-23)
Council Rock South Head Coach Joe Houk says-
“We have prepared all season to get ready for the playoffs,” said Houk. “And with the one game elimination in the first and second round, anything can happen.
“Abington played us well the second time we played,” added Houk. “And if we come out flat, we’re in a lot of trouble.”
Abington Head Coach Andrew Ducko says –
“To be honest, I would rather be playing South because they haven’t lost a game and might take us lightly,” said Ducko. “The last time we played them, (goal tender) Joe Marshall stood on his head and we actually had a chance to beat them.
“Going into the game, they have everything to lose and we have nothing to lose,” added Ducko. “If we can play them a tight game, anything can happen.”
Council Rock North vs. Pennridge
Wednesday – 2/24/10 @ Face Off Circle 8:30 pm
Records:
Council Rock North (19-2-1, 39 points)
Pennridge (6-10-6, 18 points)
Season Results:
Council Rock North 4 – Pennridge 1 (12/17/09)
Council Rock North 6 – Pennridge 2 (1/7/10)
Top Scorers:
Council Rock North:
Scott Titus (22-34-56)
Kyle Weitz (35-16-51)
Thomas Elmer (16-24-40)
Pennridge:
Chris Brown (16-10-26)
Tyler Vanderslice (10-8-18)
Doug Beck (6-11-17)
Council Rock North Head Coach Eric Tye says-
“Right now we are not a happy ice hockey team,” said Tye. “We lost our last game, and every time we came out after a loss we have responded well.
“We need to have all three of our lines step up and play well in the playoffs,” added Tye. “Our top two lines have done a great job of scoring goals, and our third line may be our most important and plays a big role in our success.”
Pennridge Head Coach Frank Reago says –
“We have to pray that the hockey gods are on our side,” said Reago. “They have a great offense, run a disciplined system, and also have a great goal tender.
“To be honest, they probably should skate all over us,” said Reago. “But we only have to beat them once to move on. We’ll see what happens.”
Central Bucks South vs. Central Bucks East
Wednesday 2/24/10 @ Hatfied Ice – 7:20 pm
Records:
Central Bucks South (10-7-5, 25)
Central Bucks East (11-10-1, 23)
Season Results:
CB East 6 – CB South 2 (10/8/09)
CB South 3 – CB East 2 (1/8/10)
Top Scorers:
Central Bucks South:
Kevin Carter (17-28-45)
Nick Gibson (15-21-36)
Dan Pulse (19-14-33)
Central Bucks East:
Bobby Destefano (9-8-17)
Mike Palmer (3-12-15)
John Esposito (5-9-14)
Central Bucks South Head Coach Tom Coyne says -
“It is pretty obvious by looking at our records that we are pretty evenly matched,” said Coyne. “It should be a very good game.
“The fact that we are playing East makes it all the better,” added Coyne. “We have that rivalry anyway, and now there is a playoff game on the line.”
SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE
CLASS A PLAYOFFS
Wissahickon vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh
Thursday 2/25/10 @ Hatfield Ice 7:20 pm
Records:
Wissahickon (8-1-0, 16 points - SHSHL, 13-5-0 overall)
Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-8-0, 2 points – SHSHL, 2-13-2 overall)
Season Results:
Wissahickon 4 – PW 1 (10/22/09)
Wissahickon 12 – PW 3 (12/4/09)
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3 – Wissahickon 0 (1/14/10)
Top Scorers:
Wissahickon:
Joey Sutkow (21-17-38)
Pat Delaney (20-10-30)
Brian Kaissi (11-17-28)
Plymouth Whitemarsh:
Kenny Yanni (10-9-19)
Shawn Pester (9-8-17)
Matt Puglia (7-8-15)
Wissahickon Head Coach Ryan McLauglin says –
“We lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh in our last game with them, so we will go into the game confident – but not overconfident,” said McLaughlin. “The key for us in every game is to work together.
“We want to win the league, and if we can do that, we will get an invitation to the Flyers Cup,” added McLaughlin. “We want to accomplish that goal.”
Hatboro-Horsham vs. Upper Dublin
Thursday 12/25 @ Hatfield Ice 9 pm
Records:
Hatboro-Horsham (4-4-1, 9 SHSHL – 9-8-1 overall)
Upper Dublin (4-4-1, 9 SHSHL – 8-8-1 overall)
Season Results:
Hatboro-Horsham 4 – Upper Dublin 3 (10/15/09)
Upper Dublin 2 – Hatboro-Horsham 2 (11/19/09)
Upper Dublin 4 – Hatboro-Horsham 3 (1/14/10)
Top Scorers:
Hatboro-Horsham:
Manny Billones (27-19-46)
Keith Eisenberg (18-10-28)
Brian Smith (11-16-27)
Upper Dublin:
Brian Markman (27-19-46)
Jacob Long (7-15-22)
Steve Barbera (8-8-16)
Hatboro-Horsham Head Coach Mike Shiels says –
“We are both very competitive teams – both very good teams,” said Shiels. “We are going to have to play well and have some of our young players step up.
“We lost both Jacob Long and Alex Faust who are our captain and assistant captain,” added Shiels. “We are going to have to get good efforts if we want to get by Upper Dublin.”
Upper Dublin Head Coach Chris Seamens says –
“Our two teams really couldn’t be more even,” said Seamens. “The game should be a good game, anyone’s game to win.
“If we want to win this game we are going to have to execute on both ends of the ice,” added Seamens. “We would like our chance to play for a spot in the Flyers Cup, but we have to beat Hatboro first.”
SuburbanOneSports.com
Super ‘7’
1. Council Rock South Golden Hawks
2. Council Rock North Indians
3. Pennsbury Falcons
4. Central Bucks South Titans
5. Central Bucks East Patriots
6. Upper Moreland Golden Bears
7. Wissahickon Trojans
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