North Penn, PW and Neshaminy are featured in this week’s notebook.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on…
SHSHL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
North Penn Knights
North Penn is more than happy to be in the SHSHL Continental Conference where a [5-2-0, 10 points] record places the Knights in fourth place in a conference that features three outstanding Central Bucks schools hovering ahead of them in the standings – CB West (5-1-3, 13), CB East (4-2-4, 12), and defending state champion CB South (5-0-1, 11).
“Playing those schools twice a year in the regular season really helps you get ready for the playoffs,” said North Penn head coach Kevin Vaitis. “We want to be tested all season in order to be prepared for the league playoffs, the Flyers Cup, and a state playoff game.
“Right now we are 5-2 against some great competition,” added Vaitis. “And you really can’t complain about the way we started the season.”
North Penn showcases a brilliant top scoring line consisting of junior Alex Peterson, sophomore Jake Heckenberger, and junior Derek Heckler.
“Alex not only has speed, but speed with the puck,” said Vaitis. “He has a really quick release – and sometimes the goalie doesn’t see it until it is in the back of the net.
“Jake is a smart player that always seems to be in the right place at the right time,” added Vaitis. “And Derek gives that line some size and wins the battles along the boards.”
The Knights have a terrific trio of senior defensemen that consists of Ryan Nowicki, Austin Redilla, and Matthew Fox.
“It is great to have three veteran leaders playing defense,” said Vaitis. “They have been really holding down the fort.”
North Penn also has the luxury of having two top-notch goaltenders in Jake Snyder and John Roberts.
“I feel that both of them are in the top four or five goaltenders in the league,” said Vaitis. “They both work very hard on and off the ice – and we feel confident playing either one of them against any team we play. We don’t worry about who starts.”
SHSHL Continental Conference Standings
1. Central Bucks West Bucks 5 1 3 * 13
2. Central Bucks East Patriots 4 2 4 * 12
3. Central Bucks South Titans 5 0 1 * 11
4. North Penn Knights 5 2 0 * 10
5. Pennridge Rams 2 6 0 * 4
6. Souderton Indians 0 9 0 * 0
‘On Ice’ this week in the SHSHL Continental Conference
Wednesday (1/07/15)
Neshaminy vs. CB West @ Hatfield – 7:20
Thursday (1/08/15)
North Penn vs. Pennridge @ Hatfield – 7:20
CB South vs. Abington @ Wintersport – 7:20
Friday (1/09/15)
Pennsbury vs. CB East @ Warwick – 7:00
North Penn vs. William Tennent @ Bucks County Ice – 7:15
CR South vs. Souderton @ Hatfield – 7:20
SHSHL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-6-0, 6) is hoping to make a climb up the SOL American Conference standings as the calendar year begins.
“We have a huge game with Hatboro-Horsham (5-3-3, 13) this week,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Victor Novelli. “Hatboro (along with Truman (7-1-1, 15) and Wissahickon (6-1-1, 13) is one of the top three teams in the league, and a win over them could set the tone for the rest of the season.
“If we could finish the season around .500 – that would be amazing,” added Novelli. “The top three teams are tough – but we should be competitive with the rest of the teams.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh showcases one of the elite scorers in the SOL American Conference in sophomore Christopher Zawislak. Zawislak in just nine conference games has scored 16 goals with 9 assists for 25 points.
“Christopher is a special player who has worked extremely hard to become a better player,” said Novelli. “We gave him a workout schedule over the summer – and his shot has shown tremendous improvement. He took around 100 shots a day over the summer, and now he is a terrific goal scorer.”
Zawislak joins junior Chris Rinaldi and senior Jonathan Isley on the # 1 Colonial line.
“Chris is another goal scorer and works very well together with Christopher,” said Novelli. “And Jonathan gives us leadership being the team captain, and is a workhorse on the ice.”
The blue line is anchored by senior Joe Jordan and freshman Chris Ward.
Senior goaltender Jacob Magill has earned the majority of the time between the pipes – while sophomore Cole Shula is the understudy.
“Both Jacob and Cole work very hard and have great attitudes,” said Novelli. “Both are solid goaltenders who always give their best effort.”
SHSHL American Conference Standings
1. Harry S Truman Tigers 7 1 1 * 15
2. Wissahickon Trojans 6 1 1 * 13
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 5 3 3 * 13
4. Upper Dublin Cardinals 3 6 1 * 7
5. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 3 6 0 * 6
Lower Moreland Lions 1 3 4 * 6
7. Upper Moreland Bears 2 7 0 * 4
‘On Ice’ this week in the SHSHL American Conference
Thursday (1/08/15)
Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Hatboro-Horsham @ Warwick – 7:00
Upper Dublin vs. Truman @ Grundy – 7:20
Lower Moreland vs. Wissahickon @ Hatfield – 9:00
Friday (1/09/15)
Wissahickon vs. Upper Moreland @ Warwick – 8:45
SHSHL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Neshaminy Redskins
Neshaminy (3-6)won its last SOL National Conference game against second place William Tennent (5-2) – 5-4. And head coach Dan VanBuskirk is sure that more victories will follow as the season rushes to a close.
“To be honest, I expect us to win a majority of our games for the rest of the season,” said VanBuskirk. “We have the ability – we have a lot of talent in the locker room. We have to continue to learn how to play together.”
Scoring goals has not been a major problem for the Redskins. The #1 line of senior Nick Foster, junior Ian Dixon, and senior Blaze Gerenda can put the puck in the net.
“We made an adjustment putting Blaze on that line,” said VanBuskirk. “We feel that the three of them playing together is going to give us more scoring opportunities.”
Neshaminy is very young along the blue line with three promising sophomores playing fine hockey. Antonio Alicea, Anthony Sabatini, and Tommy Edwards are mixed and matched during even strength, power plays, and penalty kills. And seniors Matt Sheley and Matt Lucas have been solid in goal.
“It is good to have the young defensemen gaining that experience,” said VanBuskirk. “And it is nice to have some veteran goaltending.
“We have a very big game this week with CB West – they are a strong team that is one of the best teams in the league,” continued VanBuskirk. “And then we know we are going to have to play well against (SHSHL National Conference leader) Pennsbury.
“Our goal for the rest of the year is to get better each and every game,” added VanBuskirk. “And if we can do that - the result should be more wins.”
SHSHL National Conference Standings
1. Pennsbury Falcons 6 3 0 * 12
2. William Tennent Panthers 5 2 0 * 10
3. Council Rock South Hawks 4 3 1 * 9
4. Council Rock North Indians 3 4 1 * 7
5. Abington Ghosts 3 6 0 * 6
Neshaminy Redskins 3 6 0 * 6
‘On Ice’ this week in the SHSHL National Conference
Wednesday (1/07/15)
Council Rock North vs. William Tennent @ Bucks County Ice – 6:30
Neshaminy vs. Central Bucks West @ Hatfield – 7:20
Thursday (1/08/15)
Central Bucks South vs. Abington @ Wintersport – 7:20
Friday (1/09/15)
Pennsbury vs. Central Bucks East @ Warwick – 7:00
North Penn vs. William Tennent @ Bucks County Ice – 7:15
CR South vs. Souderton @ Hatfield – 7:20
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