By Scott Huff
With one third of the Suburban High School Hockey League’s regular season complete, the race for a berth in the Flyers Cup is intense.
The SHSHL is divided into a pair of Class AA divisions – the National Conference and the Continental Conference – and a Class A division, which makes up the American Conference.
Let’s take a look at the Weeks That Were ….
SHSHL American Conference
Upper Moreland (7-2) is without question the best team that will not make the SHSHL postseason. The Golden Bears play the same schedule as the remaining teams in the conference, but Upper Moreland is not eligible for the either a SHSHL championship or a berth in the Flyers Cup.
Why?
“(Senior) Bobby Cervone has played with us ever since the 8th grade,” said Upper Moreland head coach Doug Burman. “He has transferred to Calvary Christian, and the league decided that he was not an eligible player.
“We took a vote at the beginning of the season to see whether the team would play with Bobby and as a result not play for a league title or a chance to compete in the Flyers Cup tournament,” added Burman. “The players wanted Bobby to keep playing with us – and I think that was the right decision.”Cervone has led the Golden Bears – and the entire SHSHL for that matter – in scoring this season with 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points. Jordan Storz had added 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points, while Brian Callahan has tallied 16 goals and 5 assists for 21 points.
“We had some growing pains, but we have really been coming together recently,” said Burman as the Bears have won four straight games. “It has been a team effort.”
Other double-digit scorers thus far this season for Upper Moreland are Anthony Sher (4-10-14), Brandon Arizini (3-10-13), and Anthony Moore (3-9-12).
Hatboro-Horsham (3-0-1 SHSHL, 5-2-1 overall) is currently the front-runner in the American Conference. The Hatters have beaten Plymouth Whitemarsh twice in conference play and have a win and a tie against Upper Dublin.
Hatboro-Horsham has been led in scoring thus far this season by Brian Smith (8-10-18). Other point producers are Keith Eisenberg (9-5-14), Manny Billiones (6-6-12), and Chris Giuliani (2-9-11).
Wissahickon (2-0 SHSHL, 5-2 overall) has gotten out of the starting gate well. The Trojans are unbeaten in conference play with wins over Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-1) and Upper Dublin (10-2).
Wissy has featured a balanced scoring attack with six players in double figures. Joey Sutkow (10-7-17) leads the Trojans in scoring, while Pat Delaney (8-5-13), Brian Kaissi (4-9-13), Sean Delaney (5-6-11), David Ko (4-6-10), and Zach Weiss (0-10-10) have also chipped in.
Upper Dublin (2-2-1 SHSHL, 4-3-1 overall) is unbeaten in its last four games with victories over PW (9-4), Lansdale Catholic (6-3), and PW (12-2) and a tie with Hatboro-Horsham (2-2).
The Flying Cardinals have been led in scoring by Brandon Markman who has scored 15 goals and added nine assists for 24 points. Jacob King has added 15 points in five goals and 10 assists.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-5 SHSHL, 1-7 overall) has struggled in games against the SHSHL American Conference. The lone win for the Colonials came in a non-league victory over Bishop McDevitt, 3-1.
The lone point producer over 10 points thus far this season has been Kenny Yanni. Yanni has tallied four goals and six assists for 10 points.
SHSHL Continental Conference
Central Bucks South (4-4-1 SHSHL and overall) remains in the chase for the conference title as the season moves along.
“It has been tough on us recently,” said Central Bucks South coach Tom Coyne. “We have lost our two best players and we are going to have to fight through it. We are going to go where they take us.”
Gone from the Titan lineup are leaders Nick Gibson and Kevin Carter. Gibson – who still leads CBS in scoring with 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points – has an injured hip and has missed three weeks. Carter – with eight goals and eight assists for 16 points – may be suspended from the league for a total of 30 days.
“The league is really starting to take shape,” said Coyne. “It doesn’t appear that North Penn is what they were last year, but we have some good goaltending in our league.”
A spark for the Titans has been defenseman Devon Dundore.
“Devon is our quarterback on the power play, and he has done a terrific job so far this year,” said Coyne. “We should be a much better team when Nick and Kevin come back.”
Central Bucks East (5-3 SHSHL and overall) is currently in first place in the conference and has won the last two games – against CB West (5-2) and William Tennent (4-2).
The Patriots have played low scoring games all season. The only double figure scorer for East is Bobby Destefano who has scored four goals with six assists for 10 points.
Pennridge (3-4-2 SHSHL and overall) lost its first three games of the season but is 3-1-2 in its last six games. The Rams are coming off a 4-2 loss to North Penn.
Pennridge has a pair of scorers in double figures so far this season. Chris Brown leads the team in scoring with seven goals and six assists for 13 points, while Richard Thorton has scored one goal and added 10 assists for 11 points.
Souderton (3-4-0 SHSHL and overall) has been on a roller coaster ride. The Indians have lost two in a row to Pennsbury (7-0) and Council Rock South (9-1). Souderton had won the two previous games to CB East (5-4) and CB West (7-3).
The Indians have a pair of players scoring in twin digits – Michael McCarthy (9-7-16) and Collin Montgomery (6-4-10).
North Penn (2-6-1 SHSHL and overall) has struggled thus far this season with wins over CB West (4-3) and Pennridge (4-2).
The top point producers for the Knights have been Jim McKelvie with six goals and eight assists for 14 points, and Shane Kerwick with three goals and seven assists for 10 points.
Central Bucks West (1-6-2 SHSHL and overall) won its opening game against Pennridge (4-3), and has tied both Neshaminy (1-1) and William Tennent (3-3).
The Bucks have been led in scoring by Nathan Routier who has scored six goals with seven assists for 13 points and TJ Sak who has scored six goals with six assists for 12 points.
SHSHL National Conference
Pennsbury (7-2-0 SHSHL & overall) has gotten off to a terrific start with its only losses coming to Rock South (3-1) and Rock North (4-1).
“Both of those Council Rock teams are on fire,” said Pennsbury head coach John Bria. “Our goal is to be competitive with them, and hopefully we can get back to the SHSHL finals like we did last year against North Penn.”
The key to the Pennsbury success – which includes wins over Neshaminy (6-1), CB East (3-0), William Tennent (9-2), Abington (7-1), CB South (5-2), North Penn (6-4) and Souderton (7-0) – has been the performance of the power play.
“We have been very fortunate of the power play this season,” said Bria. “Alex Dotzanski has been great at the point, and both Ken McCormick and Matt Mager have been extremely effective.
“If we can stay out of the penalty box, we can force the other team into mistakes,” added Bria. “A lot of our success might just come from the power play.”
The Falcons have five players in double digit scoring. That list includes Mager (6-11-17), McCormick (9-6-15), Mike Hlatky (8-6-14), Matt Topley (5-7-12), and Erik Rinehold (3-9-12).
Council Rock North (7-0-1 SHSHL & overall) has been unbeaten thus far this season and is coming off a thrilling 2-2 tie with archrival Council Rock South.
The Indians have showcased four players with double digit scoring. Kyle Weitz leads Rock North with 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points. Brad Chieboski has scored eight goals with eight assists for 16 points, while Scott Titus has scored six goals with eight assists for 14 points, and Thomas Elmer has scored six goals with seven assists for 13 points.
Council Rock South (7-0-1 SHSHL & overall) is also unbeaten thus far this season with its only blemish a 2-2 tie with archrival Council Rock North.
The Golden Hawks have been the most explosive team in the SHSHL. Patrick Grilli (16-15-31), Tyler Deitrick (10-21-31), Peter Malamud (6-24-30), Jonathan Houck (10-5-15), and Zack Goodman (3-7-10) are the leading point producers.
Abington (2-4-2 SHSHL, 3-4-2 overall) started the season with four consecutive losses, but the Ghosts have rebounded and have been unbeaten in their last five games. Included in that streak were wins over CB East (3-1), North Penn (9-0), and Bishop McDevitt (10-1) – and ties with William Tennent (2-2) and Pennridge (4-4).
The point leaders for Abington are Jimmy McKee (9-10-19), Tyler Moll (6-9-15), and Keith Richardson (9-3-12).
Neshaminy (2-4-2 SHSHL & overall) has claimed wins over both CB South (10-4) and Abington (5-3). The Skins had tied both William Tennent (2-2) and CB West (1-1).
The scoring leaders for Neshaminy are Shane Thomas with eight goals and five assists, while James Rambo scored seven goals with five assists – and DJ Bell has scored three goals with nine assists.
William Tennent (0-6-4 SHSHL & overall) has more ties than any team in the league; however, the Panthers are winless. Tennent has tied the knot with Neshaminy (2-2), North Penn (3-3), Abington (2-2), and CB West (3-3).
William Tennent has a pair of goal scorers in double figures. Carmen Goodell leads the Panthers with six goals and 10 assists for 16 points, while Jeff Fischer has scored four goals with nine assists for 13 points.
SHSHL Schedule
December 2, 2009
CR South vs. CB West @ Face-Off Circle – 6:50pm
Hatboro-Horsham vs Lansdale Cath @ Face-Off – 8:30
December 3, 2009
Neshaminy vs. Souderton @ Grundy – 7:15 pm
Abington vs. CB South @ Old York Road – 9:00 pm
CB East @ CR North @ Warwick Ice – 6:50 pm
U. Moreland vs. Bishp McDevitt@Old York –7:20 pm
December 4, 2009
Pennridge vs Pennsbury @ Hatfield Ice – 7:20 pm
William Tennent vs. North Penn @ Face-Off – 7:20
CB East vs. CR South @ Warwick – 8:30 pm
U. Moreland vs. LansCath @ Warwick – 6:50 pm
Wissahickon vs. PW @ Face-Off Circle – 9:00 pm
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