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By GORDON GLANTZ
It may be a strange technicality, but Plymouth Whitemarsh entered this week’s action atop the American Division of the SHSHL despite losing head-to-head to Bensalem.
It was not a matter of A.I. determining that PW was missing key players due to injuries and illness in that game.
The league rule is more goals scored breaks the tie, and PW had 49 to Bensalem’s 36.
Still, a third of the way through the 2023-24 SHSHL season, it seems clear that the two will go down to the wire and it will be decided on the ice.
“Bensalem does pack some punch,” said PW coach Dave Cox. They have a lot of high-end kids, so it’s good competition. It’s a good test of skill and a good test of character.”
Despite losing some key seniors, PW boasts depth. When all are healthy, there will be three full lines of forwards and three defensive pairings, Cox said.
“Absolutely,” said the coach. “We knew we had a strong pipeline, coming up from the middle school and JV. We are kind of flourishing within our roots right now. We have some the best depth I’ve ever seen in my career with PW hockey, even playing-wise. We have three full lines of varsity players, and we’re not even healthy right now. That’s the crazy part.
“We’re having a lot of fun, and we’re continuing to get stronger every week.”
Turning heads so far has been freshman defenseman Jason Segal, who has put up forward-type numbers (8 goals, 6 assists) in five games.
“He is a truly a special kid, with his hockey talent,” said Cox. “He has a great heart as well. He plays at 110 percent every shift and every practice.
“He has stepped up. He is loving playing varsity. It’s really a different dynamic to his life. He definitely has a bright future in hockey.”
Although he is around 5-8, a normal height for a freshman, Cox added that Segal is “stronger than most seniors.”
It did not happen by accident.
“He has a tremendous work ethic,” said Cox. “I see him in the gym. He is playing for a AAA travel team. He’s living for hockey. He has great parents. I’m very honored to coach him, but I’m very honored to coach all of these kids. It’s going to be a really special year.
“There really isn’t one standout star. That’s the best thing about coaching this team.”
The PW skaters who keep coming at opponents includes David Branigan (10 goals, 6 assists), recent military boot camp graduate Tim Murphy (4 goals, 12 assists), captain Dylan Novitski (6 goals, 4 assists), Daniel Molony (4 goals, 3 assists) and Jason Yoder (3 goals, 2 assists).
“Jason Yoder has definitely stepped up,” said Cox. “He has grown into his role. He’s a grinder. His maturity level and discipline is really fun to watch this year.”
Isaac Mishkin boasts 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) but that’s in only 4 games due to a broken wrist that will sideline him for up to a month.
However, Chris London (9 goals, 3 assists last season) has yet to even suit up this season due to to injury.
And then there is Danny Guller, who pairs with Segal on the point on the power play.
“Danny Guller is one of our smaller kids, but he plays with the biggest heart,” said Cox. “He will never back down from anyone. He’s an amazing and thoughtful teammate. He really wears his heart on his sleeve, and backs it up with his work ethic. I wish I had a 100 Danny Gullers.”
Despite its overall depth, PW has just one goalie, junior Julian Lucks (2.99 goals against, .891 save percentage).
“His game has stepped up a lot,” said Cox. “He has started to really come into his own. He continues to work hard. There is a lot on his plate. The players and the coaching staff are happy with how he has answered the call.”
On a team with several volunteer firefighters among its ranks, there is an extra vibe of character built in for dealing with inevitable adversity.
“That brings a different dynamic,” said Cox. “It brings a lot more maturity. A little more than a third of the way through the season, it’s great to see how these kids have adapted to being leaders, whether they are wearing a letter on their chest or not.”
The early success breeds expectations. That’s good, to a point, according to Cox.
“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” he said. “When you are playing fundamental and strong hockey, you start to broaden your horizons on goals. Last year’s loss in the championship to Abington, that will never go away. We want to get back and finish the job this year. If we’re successful in the Flyers Cup, that’s an added bonus. Right now, what we control is our league play. We need to be healthy and get back to the championship and finish our business.”
Not Going Away
Speaking of which, Abington (2-2 after four games) is planning to defend its league title despite getting decimated by graduation.
“We’ve got a super young team here,” said longtime coach Ken Brzozowski. “Any ice time that we get that doesn’t count toward that regular season just helps my freshmen to get acquainted with the game and with the speed of the game.
“We are eyeing the end of year. It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”
To be specific, Abington graduated 11 seniors and now have 10 freshmen in their place.
“To be 2-2, I’m ecstatic right now,” said Brzozowski, who will lose a more moderate five seniors this season. “In the next year or two years, we are going to be back to where we were the last few years.”
Senior Captain Seamus Donofry leads the team with 3 goals and 10 assists.
“Seamus has really stepped up this year,” said the coach. “It was tough for him, the last few years, to crack into some of those top lines. Seamus was one of those who was more on the periphery looking in, but was a solid player.
“He has really stepped up. He is the captain of our team. He has the C on his jersey, and he has done everything I would expect of him, as a leader, both on the ice and off the ice. As you can tell, he’s unselfish. He has 10 assists.”
A welcome addition has been forward Mike Romano (7 goals, 4 assists), who is a first-year senior.
“He has been playing high-level club hockey,” said Brzozowski. “It’s his first year with us. He has been driving the offense for us and has 7 goals. He is a strong two-way player for us.”
“With an AAA hockey schedule, he could never commit to high school before. We were trying to get him in last year, but we couldn’t get him in. We were a strong team the last couple of years, and he would have been a strong addition. We are excited to have him with us this year.”
Brzowoski could not say enough good things about Shane Meltzer, a freshman.
“Shane is one of those players that I am super excited about having the next couple of years,” said the coach. “He is one of our top-line players. He plays on our power play and penalty kill. He is going to continue to grow and be a big contributor to our team over the next couple of years.”
Meanwhile, senior Sam Abramson, a former forward, is anchoring the defense. He has 2 goals and 3 assists.
“I lean on him,” said the coach. “Next to Seamus, he is maybe the heart and soul of our team this year.
“He is putting in monstrous minutes for us on the ice. I needed to make a decision, early on. We lost key defensive players. I’m really leaning on Sam. We put an A on his jersey. He has been a strong leader, preseason and into the season as well.
“We had a player a couple years ago, where we did the same thing. I could put Sam up on offense right now, and he’d probably get two goals a game. We’re giving him a green light to carry the puck up the ice.”
Jude Large (3 goals) is a freshman with high-end potential.
“I’m excited to see him develop,” said Brzowowski. “He is going to be a great contributor for us over the course of the next couple of years.
And there is senior Devin Bates, who has 2 goals and 3 assists but also a team-high 12 penalty minutes.
“We need to keep him out of penalty box,” said the coach. “When he’s on the ice, he can be a difference maker for us. I think he is learning that he needs to control his temper. I think goes to the whole team, under the leadership of our captains and our assistants, that it is better to be on the ice than in the penalty box.”
In net, junior Devin Brown inherited the gig from Sam Nemac but is getting a healthy challenge from freshman Matt Evangelist.
Each has played two league games thus far, posting a 1-1 record.
Brzozowski says it is too soon to say whether he is planning a time-share.
“To be determined,” he said. “I’m going to play the goalie that give us the best chance to win. I’ve had the luxury, the last couple of years, to have two really good goalies who were off by a year, like a senior and a junior and the junior sat and waited for his turn.
“I’m kind of looking for the same thing from Devin. He sat and waited and watched behind our starting goalie last year. I’m planning on him following in those same footsteps. The same goes with Matt. He can play himself into a lot of ice time.”
As for having dominated the league recently, the coach is aware that Abington has a target on its back, and that’s fine with him.
The aspirations remain high.
“To get into the postseason, in this division, that’s our No. 1 goal,” he said. “We definitely think that’s an achievable goal. From there, I think we can play with anybody.
“All of our energies right now are focused on the second half of the season and getting into the American Division playoffs.”
Ram Tough
In the National Division, Pennridge entered the week with an unblemished record (10-0) but little room for error. Council Rock South was 8-1.
Pennridge has the top three scorers in the division – Kevin Pico (15 goals, 28 assists), Andrew Savona (22 goals, 21 assists) and Shane Dachowski (17 goals, 20 assists).
They are followed by a trio of Council Rock South skaters – Kevin Koles (13 goals, 17 assists), Jake Weiner (14 goals, 11 assists), Blaise Pepe (9 goals, 15 goals).
Last week, the Rams picked up a pair of huge wins, downing Rock South 7-3 and following that 24 hours later with a 6-5 overtime win over a Central Bucks South squad that came into the game with just one league loss.
Torrid Pace
Bensalem’s Alex Hood continues to tear it up in the American, posting 21 goals and 6 assists through 6 games.
He is followed by Branigan and Murphy (16 points each) and Wissahickon’s Danny Hussa (12 goals, 2 assists) and Segal (14 points each).
A Fun Night
While it won’t count as a league game, per se, Abington will be holding its senior night in a scenic setting, the Bryn Athyn Ice Rink (3003 Cairnwood Drive, Bryn Athyn, Pa., 19009) on Friday, Dec. 22.
There will be a middle school game against Springfield at 6:30 and a varsity game at 8:30.
Brzozowski said there will be food trucks.
“It’s going to be a fun night,” he said.
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