By GORDON GLANTZ
And they are off and skating. The puck has dropped on the 2023-24 SHSHL (Suburban High School Hockey League) season.
And, if the American Division is any indication, nothing definitive is etched in the neutral zone.
Down is up, and in is out.
As of press time, for example, Bensalem had 7 points (3 wins and an overtime loss) in 4 games while PW, the generally accepted “team to beat,” sat at an unbeaten 3-0.
Next were Wissahickon (2-2), Abington 1-1 and Springfield (0-5).
Setting Up Shop
In just its third year of existence, there are clear goals for Bensalem, which was bumped down to the American division this season after two years of moral victories while fighting the good fight in the larger National.
“I’m not exactly sure why,” said first-year coach Bill Hood, whose son, senior Alex Hood, is lighting the lamp at a torrid pace (20 goals, 7 assists) and intends to play at a higher level after this season. “This is the third year for the program. The first year, these kids were all freshmen and sophomores. They were going against kids much older and were taking their lumps.
“Last year, they were more competitive, and won some games. They even beat Pennridge, which was the defending state champion. This year, when the kids are seniors and juniors, they move us down.”
As such, the goals are pretty clear. Contend for the title in the American and make the field for Flyers Cup for the first time.
Said Hood: “That’s something that these kids have yet to experience in high school hockey. Our two captains are my son, Alex, and Ricky Gonzalez, our goalie. They are both seniors and they made it known that they want the opportunity to try and go to the Flyers Cup. They have been stressing that to the rest of the team. That’s the goal they have in mind, and they want everybody to get on board with trying to achieve that. It would definitely be an accomplishment.”
Young and Hungry
It’s a new coaching staff at Wissahickon, with both James Rumsey and assistant Jady Jaisle moving up from the middle school level.
The culture, according to Rumsey, has shifted a bit. There are new faces, whether up from middle school (like Jaisle’s son, Dryden Jaisle) or returning to the ice after not playing (Jaxson Shandler, Joey Gambino).
“There are a couple who are back that didn’t play last year,” he explained. “I think a lot of the kids know each other. They play club together, which I think is great.
“When we have a full squad, we can be the best team in the league.”
It is a roster with some noteworthy anomalies. There are a grand total of zero seniors, a goalie (junior Fletcher Lynch) who didn’t tend the twine until 8th grade and a pair of female skaters (one of whom, Sabrina Honeycutt, is an assistant captain).
“We really hope to build this year,” said Rumsey, who added that Jaisle is also working hard to cultivate better numbers at the middle school level to develop a pipeline. “We hope to be even better next year.”
The team features two standouts in Danny Hussa (9 goals, 2 assists in 3 games) and Jack Raebiger (3 goals, 1 assist in 3 games).
While natural forwards, Rumsey has been playing both a great deal on defense to get them more ice time and control the game.
“They are very skilled top-tier players,” said the coach. “They are the type of guys that make the whole team better.
“In the grand scheme of things, they are both supportive of the other players. That’s why we named them both captains.”
Still, Rumsey stressed the importance of the other skaters who he believes can and will step up and fill key roles.
One of them is Ben Raebiger, the younger brother of Jack. Through 4 games, the freshman pocketed 4 goals and had an assist.
“Ben played for Jason and me in middle school,” said Rumsey. “We have a few players who played for us in middle school who are in high school now. It has been a change for them, but they have really embraced it.
“Ben plays really well out there with his brother.”
There’s Logan Honeycutt (1 goal, two assists), who is Sabrina’s brother, and assistant captain Aiden Brooks (3 assists).
Among the others is Rumsey’s daughter, Brielle Rumsey, who plays for the Lady Patriots (Sabrina Honeycutt plays for the Junior Flyers).
“It’s really good to see both of them playing this year,” said Rumsey of the two girls. “They gain a little bit more confidence each time out from their teammates. It has been awesome to see.
“It’s a super physical game at the varsity level. Just to see them both playing is awesome.”
Separating the coach from the father, there are times when Rumsey can’t help but cringe a bit.
“Yeah, absolutely,” he admitted. “And, it’s probably me more than her. She played in Bantom and Spring leagues where they can check, and she has held her own.
“It doesn’t seem to bother her or Sabrina.”
In Shandler, who learned the game while spending his formative years in Florida, Rumsey sees a player who can become a force.
“A guy, like Jaxson, didn’t play last year,” said Rumsey. “He has really made strides this year. He is coming to practice and asking questions. He is hustling, which is something we love to see.”
Others in the same mold are Andrew Wisnowski (1 assist), John Kuffner and Nolan Pounds (1 assist).
Pounds is just rounding to hockey shape after playing quarterback for the football team.
“He came pretty late this year because he had to wait for the football season to be over,” said Rumsey. “He has been a great fit. He is like the missing link. He comes in and kind of gets the huddle going. He is very well-known by the other kids. He is an overall great athlete. He can play any sport, if he wanted to.
“He brings a bit of a football mentality into it.”
Steady Improvement
While the standings may not yet show it, first-year Springfield coach Don Quinn is pleased with what he is seeing.
The program is in just its second year of existence, and the scores are not as lopsided as a season ago.
“We were brand new last year,” said Quinn, who has two sons (Owen Quinn, a junior, and Grayson Quinn, a sophomore) on the team. “We are on the young side last year. We had one senior, but we were just getting our feet wet. While we have some club players, we have non-club players who are new to the game other than playing roller hockey and stuff like that.
“There was definitely stuff to work on and to improve upon.”
And the improvement is evident.
“From where we were last year, to where we are this year, we are getting close,” said Quinn. “We barely made it to a lot of third periods last year.
“Knock on wood, but we are playing full games this year.”
The goal for most teams is to win the division, make the playoffs and get on the invite list for the Flyers Cup.
For Springfield, the expectations are more modest.
“We are 0-5, but we have competed in most of those games,” said Quinn, who has 16 skaters and two goalies (Liam Baskin and Jack Sarsfield) who were new to the position a year ago. “The kids are competing and learning, and we’re getting better every game.”
Owen Quinn is leading the way with 9 goals and 1 assist and Grayson has 4 assists.
Marcel Camper (1 goal, 1 assist), Kenny Granderson and Tyler Defreitas (1 assist) are senior leaders.
Aside from his sons and the goalies, some key travel-level players for the Spartans include forwards Gabe Wells (3 goals), Chris Cahill (3 goals, 2 assits) and Gavin McManus (1 goal, 3 assists).
“I try to balance it all out,” said Quinn, in terms of ice time. “But, at the same time, I’d like to get these guys their first league win, too.”
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