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By Craig Ostroff
Gaffney, seniors have Titans ready to rise
Few teams in any sport can claim the tradition of success enjoyed by the Central Bucks South ice hockey team. Flyers Cup appearances are expected goals at the beginning of each season, as are league titles. And the Titans tend to live up to those lofty expectations—they’ve captured 6 of the last 10 SHSHL Class AA titles.
The 2021-22 version of the Titans found themselves in very unfamiliar territory in the first half of the season. Following a season-opening 3-3 tie with Neshaminy, South dropped their next four games and suddenly found themselves looking up at the league leaders.
“Obviously, we were not used to this,” said South coach Shaun McGinty. “Some of the players have been here all four years and they are not used to it either. There was a lot of adversity early on that the boys have to overcome.”
So McGinty is looking to his veteran players to step up and help lead the way. Assistant captain Aidan Gaffney has been one to do just that.
“Aidan has really found a way this year to do some things he hasn’t done in the past,” McGinty said. “He’s putting the puck in the net for us … not that it’s not his role, but in the past, it’s not what we looked for from him. We look to Aidan for that intensity—he’s a kid who plays hard all the time. He plays the power play, penalty kill, he leads by example, he’s great in the locker room. He gives you 100 percent, 100 percent of the time.
“We graduated some scoring from last season, and with him being an upperclassman where you’re one of the bigger and stronger guys on the ice, you anticipate them putting the puck in the net more. He is doing it. He’s definitely taking that burden on, he’s found way to improve his game in that aspect.”
For Gaffney, a self-described quiet guy who leads by example with his focus and hard work, that improvement is the result of a year-round effort. Putting in the hours over the spring and summer months often pay off when it’s time to lace up the skates.
“I did a lot of work in the offseason, working on my game and trying to improve every day,” Gaffney said. “I knew I’d need to step up as a senior. I really love being in this position. I’m proud to wear the A. I want the younger guys to see that and see the work I put in, and I hope they’re ready to take that role of being the leaders when it’s their turn.”
On the scoresheet, Gaffney has already surpassed last year’s scoring totals. Through nine games coming into this week, Gaffney was second on the team with 11 points and 5 goals, and tied for team lead with 6 assists (he totaled 7 points in 11 games last season).
“Aidan is the guy who is going to do everything you ask him to do, everything he can do to help the team,” McGinty said. “The scoring is the icing on the cake for him.”
“I always feel like there’s something I can do to step up and help the team, no matter what,” Gaffney said. “The previous seniors have always passed down the tradition of winning, so I always want to do more so that me and the other seniors can continue that tradition. We’re going to keep working hard.”
McGinty also praised the efforts of junior forward Aydin Thierolf, whose 8 goals and 12 points lead the Titans.
“Aydin is a kid who knows the word ‘compete’ means. He comes each night to compete,” McGinty said. “He’ll do anything you ask of him. He’s very physical, chippy, he plays at a high level. He sometimes tries to do a little too much, but that’s because he’s trying to do whatever he can to help. With another year of maturity and working with his linemates, he’s going to be the kind of offensive threat that other teams worry about.”
But while the team’s fortunes appear to be turning around, it didn’t happen on its own. The unexpected losing streak forced the Titans to reassess what they were doing and how they needed to change things moving forward. A 90-plus-minute meeting last month with the varsity and swing players and all the coaches proved to be just what the team needed.
“We dug a hole for ourselves,” McGinty said. “We all came together and had this meeting, and it was probably the highlight of the year as far as the kids coming together. We talked about growth and understanding and what character means. And it’s not just about hockey, these things happen throughout life, and as coaches, we’re trying to build young men and women.
“Having the meeting showed a lot of maturity. The staff came together really well. I called on some coaches who have been around longer than me, talking to them about what their approach would be. And I told the kids, just because I’m the head coach, it’s OK to ask for help from others who have been there before and have more experience.”
In addition to a renewed attitude and commitment, the Titans came away from the meeting with a roadmap for the remainder of the season. With wins in three of their last four games, South has clawed its way right back into contention for the Continental Conference title and a Flyers Cup berth. The Titans now stand at 3-2 in the league for 6 points, tied for second place and looking up only at undefeated Pennridge.
“Holding that meeting helped a lot, it was a team-bonding activity,” Gaffney said. “We were able to sit down and talk to try to get everyone to understand their roles on the team. Not everyone can be a goal scorer, not everyone can be on the top line. We wanted all the guys to know what their role is, to know that everyone has a different role and that every role is important.”
“Despite our start, it’s been a good year for all of us to grow and learn more,” McGinty said. “We’re trying to set that path game by game, period by period. We know the road map. We got two straight wins under our belts, and now we turn to Bensalem (Thursday at 8:50 pm at Hatfield Gray). Once that game is over, we look to the next game. We’re looking to climb into the playoffs and get to the dance and anything can happen.”
Owls taking it slow and steady
Bensalem expects no miracles. The Owls know it’s going to take time and hard work to bring the team and the program to the level they’d like to reach.
And there will be setbacks along the way. Such as the recent 10-0 defeat to conference frontrunner Council Rock South.
But Owls coach Jordan Roth can see the day when Bensalem is on the other end of such scores.
“There are going to be bumps and bruises down the road,” Roth said. “But I told the kids, ‘You look at that game against Council Rock South. We’re going to be that team.’
“We’re instilling the importance of believing in your teammates, believing in each other, trusting the process, trusting me. It’s difficult to lose, but we have to win and lose as a team.”
And for a team with no seniors, there’s reason for optimism on the first-year program. Alex Hood (10G, 5A) and Alex Bazylevich (4G, 6A) are leading the offense as expected, and have also stepped up as positive forces in the locker room for the young Owls.
“Hood is doing a really nice job leading on and off the ice,” Roth said. “He’s one of my go-to guys, whether it’s on power play or penalty kill, he always wants to play and he can play in any situation. And he’s a great locker room guy. Alex Bazzy, he’s a very talented young player, and he’s finding ways to support his teammates and make them better as well. These are guys who continue to lead by example, show a positive mental attitude, and can face adversity and know what to do with it.”
While Hood and Bazylevich proved themselves to be leaders from the start, Roth is also seeing other players up and down the roster carving out their respective roles and stepping up to make significant contributions.
“Danny Mackley is a guy who is stepping up immensely,” Roth said of the junior forward, who had 9 points on 4 goals and 5 assists coming into the week. “Danny is finding the back of the net with the support of his line, he’s a guy that shows real grit and determination, he’s played through minor injuries, he’s always battling, showing how tough he is. He’s quiet in locker room and tough on the ice.
“We added in Colin Spear, who’s never played hockey. He hustles and works hard. Colin plays soccer, but he told me ‘I just like to play and I’ll get my butt in front of the net.’ The other kids see that. And he’s a great kid in the locker room and out of the locker room, he just loves to be a part of the team.”
Roth also had plenty of praise for his sophomore goalkeeper, Ricky Gonzalez.
“I really think Ricky is the best goalie in the league,” he said. “He faces 60 shots a game, he’s one of the main reasons why we’ve been in as many games as we’ve been in. He’s always positive, always mentally sound, loves the game, he’s just a wonderful young man. He and I talk before games--he knows the expectations, he knows what’s going to happen, and he tells me not to worry about it, that he’s got this. He’s an awesome kid.”
The Owls are off to a very respectable 3-5 start (1-3 in the highly competitive National Conference). They will lace up the skates again for a Thursday 8:50 pm puck drop at Hatfield Gray against host Central Bucks South. The Owls expects to see some backers in the stands as interest grows in the community regarding the new program.
If that interest translates to additional bodies, and they continue to work hard to lay the foundation, Roth can see the results coming sooner rather than later. The team is already seeing its hard work pay off, as the Owls were recently recognized as eligible for Flyers Cup play. While there’s still work to be done if the Owls want to qualify, for the school to have assembled a team qualified to play in the prestigious tournament is a worthy accomplishment.
“To see our name on the Flyers Cup list, to see Bensalem Owls, just as a qualifying team, to even be recognized, it’s very special,” Roth said. “That’s huge for this team and for us as a program. I tell the kids, ‘You’re representing the community, we have a hockey team for the first time in 15-20 years. You guys are the founding fathers of this next chapter.’
“People are getting pumped about the team, so it’s nice to see that. The fans and the community love it, we’re getting a lot of fans coming out to the games. The kids are buying into the program, buying into what I’m saying. I think they know what the end result is. Eventually, I want them to understand with hard work and positive attitude, we can and will experience success. When my Hoods and Bazyleviches are seniors, I think we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Hatters following three pillars
Shane Smith’s first season as head coach has coincided with a massive retooling year for the Hatboro-Horsham ice hockey team.
Young and inexperienced, the Hatters have taken their share of lumps thus far.
But the team is staying the course, and following the three pillars that Smith is preaching.
“The culture that I’m trying to instill is the three pillars of teamwork, sportsmanship, and accountability,” Smith said. “Everyone supports each other, everyone is positive. That bleeds into sportsmanship: Be a good sport, win properly, lose properly. That leads to accountability: Do it for your teammates. If you’re not skating hard, you’re letting the team down. You have to stand up and put your best foot forward. All of those things revolve around each other.
“That’s the culture I’m trying to implement. In the locker room, we’ve had some bad losses. We’ve been mercied. But we try to approach it as these were some positives we saw in the game. We’re trying to focus on positivity.”
Fortunately, the Hatters have another trio of pillars to rally around during this trying season. Captain Tarek Elsabbagh and assistant captains Nicholas Creneti and Jack Steinberg.
“They’ve been huge for us,” Smith said of the team’s leaders. “Half the team are rec players and we have a lot of young kids. I can build a line with those guys and Tarek can run with the younger, less-experienced players. He’s definitely helped out a lot.
“Tarek our silent leader. He leads by example. Jack is more of our vocal leader … at practice, he’ll handle the kids when things aren’t working well, always in a positive way and always encouraging to the new players. Jack and Nick hold down the defense side, they solidify things back there. When they’re not there, you can tell there’s a missing force back there.”
With the help of the captains and the senior class, Smith is working to instill the proper attitude and dedication among the team. Practices are becoming more organized and more productive as more and more players are buying into the system and the culture, and the coaching staff is working to find the most productive ways to work with the players, both in team drills and on the individual level.
In return, the Hatters are hoping to send out their seniors with a positive experience, and a few wins to show for it. The Hatters are winless since opening the season with a non-league 2-1 victory over Bensalem.
The Hatters (0-6 American Conference, 1-7 overall) return to the ice Friday at 9:30 pm at Revolution ice Gardens when they host league foe Quakertown. Moving forward, the Hatters have a couple winnable games down the stretch if everything comes together.
“We’re certainly trying to give those seniors a good experience their senior year,” Smith said. “It’s tough for them. But at the end of the day, we want everyone to come away with a good experience, especially the seniors—they’ve put their time in. They deserve it.”
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