North Penn edged Neshaminy in a key SOL SHSHL contest Thursday. Check the recaps from Wednesday’s games as well. Photos of Truman/Hatboro-Horsham by Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
North Penn 4, Neshaminy 3
By Ben Reese
HATFIELD -- Tommy Boyle is a defenseman for the North Penn ice hockey team.
As such, he is better known for his defensive ability against the scorers for opposing teams than he is for his own goal scoring. But he seems to come up with a big goal when it’s needed.
That held true on Thursday night when Boyle scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 victory over Neshaminy at Hatfield Ice. The goal, which came on the power play, put an end to an up-and-down game where neither team could break away from the other.
With the score tied 3-3 and time running out in the third period, Luke Van Why fired a slap shot from the point toward the Neshaminy net. Tyler Greenstein and Joshua Kaufhold both touched the puck before it landed on Boyle's stick, who knocked it past 'Skins goalie Brian Nelson with only 58 seconds left in regulation.
"I didn’t think it was going to go in but it did," Boyle said. "I was just trying to get something up at the end of the game. I was frustrated when they scored their last goal and did what I had to do to put my team back on top."
North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis appreciates what he has in Boyle.
"He goes out there and he gives everything he has every shift," Vaitis said. "From game to game, Tommy's approach is a little different.
"Some games he goes out to shut other teams down and play D. We had a game earlier in the year against (Council) Rock South and Tommy scored two goals. He gets his goals from time to time."
That Boyle scored his goal on the power play wasn't a rarity. Of the seven goals scored in the game, five came on the man advantage.
"We take a lot of pride in our power play," said Vaitis. "In tonight's game, we had four power play goals.
"It goes to show that the work we put in on the power play can be the difference in a game and it was. For us, it was a point of making sure we capitalized on the right chances. I think obviously we did that."
A total of nineteen penalties were called in the game. It made what was an excellent hockey game a bit disjointed.
"All the penalties took a bit of the flow out of the game," Vaitis said. "A number of our guys stepped up when we needed them."
Boyle agreed.
"We didn't want to take a lot of penalties, but with that kind of game, you have to take advantage of your opportunities on the power play," he said. "There were a lot of penalties in that game but I think we handled it well. From now on, we just have to learn to be more disciplined."
Neshaminy coach Matt DeMatteo singled out one particular power play opportunity that he felt was vital.
"I thought the power play played well except the five-on-three," he said. "We just couldn't get our rhythm for one reason or another.
"We weren't moving the puck well on that and it came back to bite us. I think it was kind of a turning point."
There were a lot of turning points in the game. Every time North Penn would go ahead by one goal, Neshaminy would come back to tie the game.
The first one came in the opening period. Kaufhold scored an unassisted goal at the 2:39 mark on the power play only to have Robert Seewagen come right back for the 'Skins with an unassisted goal at 7:24 on the power play.
Following a scoreless second period, the Knights scored three goals in the third to offset the two scored by Neshaminy. Greenstein tallied two of them and Boyle the third. Thomas Gallagher and Nolan Geria scored for the 'Skins.
Throughout the game, the Knights had Jeromy Porubski shadowing Seewagen all over the ice. Porubski was trying to keep Seewagen away from the puck.
"Seewagen is probably one of the top players in the league," Vaitis said. "We knew coming into the game that we had to do everything we could to shut him down.
"We had a plan coming in. He had 19 goals coming in so he's an extremely talented player.
"In a situation like that, you've got to look to shut those guys down. He got a power play goal in the first period but I think we did a pretty good job neutralizing him.
"That was a great game. That's what you want.
"It was 1-1 after two periods, back and forth. It was a one-goal game. Nobody got up by two."
And the Knights and Tommy Boyle got the last one.
Neshaminy 1 0 2 -- 3
North Penn 1 0 3 -- 4
First period: 1, Joshua Kaufhold NP (unassisted) 2:39 PP; 2, Robert Seewagen N (unassisted) 7:24 PP.
Second period: No scoring.
Third period: 3, Tyler Greenstein NP (unassisted) 3:04 PP; 4, Thomas Gallagher N (Daniel McColgan) 3:51; 5, Greenstein NP (Tommy Boyle) 5:45 PP; 6, Nolan Geria N (Matt Buchinski) 9:04; 7, Boyle NP (Greenstein, Kaufhold) 15:02 PP.
Shots: N 26, NP 15. Saves: Brian Nelson (N) 11, Nick Ebbinghaus (NP) 23.
Souderton 4, Quakertown 0
Sparked by shutout effort of Jonathan Pritchard in goal, the Indians earned a win over Quakertown.
Souderton scored all the goals it needed in the first period. Braydon Clemens connected on a power play goal 7:57 into the game, a goal that turned out to be the game-winner. Timothy Alexander (Thomas Harris/Jaden Garrick assists) and Chris Lindsay (Kyle Anderson assist) scored back-to-back goals late in the period to spot the Indians a 3-0 lead that was more than enough for Pritchard.
Jaden Garrick’s unassisted goal in the third period closed out the scoring.
Pritchard recorded 21 saves in the win, and Quakertown goalie Austin Stoudt had 35.
Souderton 3-0-1 4
Quakertown 0-0-0 0
Shots: S 39, Q 21. Saves: Jonathan Pritchard (S) 21, Austin Stoudt (Q) 35.
First period: 1, Braydon Clemens S, 7:57; 2, Timothy Alexander S (Thomas Harris/Jaden Garrick); 3, Chris Lindsay S (Kyle Anderson) 15:13.
Second period: No score
Third period: 4, Jaden Garrick S, 11:28.
Pennsbury 12, Council Rock North 2
Reece Millman scored six goals and assisted on another for a seven-point night that led the Falcons. Erik Eisler also had a big night, scoring once and assisting on five others for six points. Justin Marlin added four assists.
For the Indians, freshman Zachary Bordon turned away 47 shots in a solid outing in goal.
Bordon turned away 16 of 17 shots in the first period, allowing only a goal to Colin Michalak (Jake Machlovitz assist) 5:40 into the game.
In the second period, a goal by Reece Millman (Eisler/Ben Dous assists) ignited the Falcons. Brendan Macainsh (Beau Brusius-Yedman/Connor Coyne assists) and Brusius-Yedman (Macainsh/Coyne assists) scored back-to-back goals in a 30-second span. Andrew Falkenstein followed with an unassisted goal before Colin Kiefer (Noah Epstein assist) put the Indians on the scoreboard. Millman and Jack Boyle (Michalak assist) connected on back-to-back goals to give the Falcons a 7-1 lead heading into the final period.
Millman opened the period with back-to-back goals. William Sohn (Vlad Litvinov) connected on a power play goal for the Indians before Millman added a pair and Eisler had a single goal to close out the scoring.
Council Rock North 0-1-1 2
Pennsbury 1-6-5 12
Shots: CRN 17, Pennsbury 59. Saves: Zachary Borden (CRN) 47, Marek Jorgenson (P) 15.
First period: 1, Colin Michalak P (Jake Machlovitz) 5:40.
Second period: 2, Reece Millman P (Erik Eisler/Ben Dous) 1:25; 3, Brendan Macainsh P (Beau Brusius-Yedman/Connor Coyne) 1:34; 4, Beau Brusius-Yedman P (Brendan Macainsh/Connor Coyne) 2:03; 5, Andrew Falkenstein P, 5:19; 6, Colin Kiefer CRN (Noah Epstein) 6:16; 7, Reece Millman P, 11:29; 8, Jack Boyle P (Colin Michalak) 15:23.
Third period: 9, Reece Millman P (Erik Eisler/Justin Marlin) 0:31; 10, Reece Millman P (Erik Eisler/Ben Dous) 1:23; 11, William Sohn CRN (Vlad Litvinov) 4:44; 12, Reece Millman P (Erik Eisler/Justin Marlin) 5:43; 13, Reece Millman P (Erik Eisler/Justin Marlin) 10:18; 14, Erik Eisler P (Reece Millman/Justin Marlin) 14:12.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
Central Bucks South 4, Central Bucks East 3
The Titans – ranked number one in the latest Flyers Cup rankings - opened up a 4-1 lead and then held off a late charge by the Patriots to earn the hard fought win.
Stephen McMillan (Daniel Kvecher assist) scored with four seconds remaining in the opening period, giving the Titans an early 1-0 edge.
Dominic Patrone found the back of the net with a power play goal 10:25 into the second period, using a Ryan Gingras assist. Less than a minute later, Sean Gorman cut that lead in half with an unassisted goal.
Daniel Kvecher scored early in the third period with assists from Stephen McMillan and Colin Abbonizio, and Colin Abbonizio (Stephen McMillan assist) connected on a goal that put the Titans on top 4-1 at the 9:39 mark of the period. The Patriots came roaring back with goals by Phil McIntyre and Aiden Schmidt – on the power play with a Phil McIntyre assist. Neither team scored in the final three-and-a-half minutes.
The Titans held a 46-28 advantage in shots, an advantage that was negated by the 43-save effort of East goalie Chris McIntyre. Mason Moyer earned the win in goal for the Titans, turning away 25 shots.
Central Bucks East 0-1-2 3
Central Bucks South 1-1-2 4
Shots: CBE 28, CBS 46. Saves: Chris McIntyre (CBE) 43, Mason Moyer (CBS) 25.
First period: 1, Stephen McMillan CBS (Daniel Kvecher) 15:56.
Second period: 2, Dominic Pattrone CBS (Ryan Gingras) 10:25; 3, Sean Gorman CBE, 11:06.
Third period: 4, Daniel Kvecher CBS (Stephen McMillan/Colin Abbonizio) 2:38; 5, Colin Abbonizio CBS (Stephen McMillan) 9:39; 6, Phil McIntyre CBE, 11:15; 7, Aiden Schmidt CBE (Phil McIntyre) 12:28.
William Tennent 7, Abington 6
The Panthers rallied from a 3-1 first-period deficit, outscoring the Ghosts 4-1 in the second quarter to open up a 5-4 lead. They upped that advantage to 7-4 before the Ghosts scored a pair of late goals.
The Ghosts reeled off three straight goals by Ian Heydt (Ethan Weilheimer assist), Griffin Carpenter (Tom Rourke assist) and Sean Faye (Ethan Weilheimer assist) to open up an early 3-0 advantage. Matthew Castan (Zach Devor assist) put the Panthers on the board with a goal in the final minute of the period.
Goals by Justin Carrelli (Walt Wolaniuk/Stephen Skiba assists) and Joe Stelacio (Colin Bruton assist) knotted the score early in the second period. Tennent answered with a goal by Zach Devot and back-to-back goals by Castan – the first on the power play with assists from Carrelli and Skiba and the second with assists from Devor and Carrelli.
Skiba (Castan assists) and Carrelli (Castan/David Gray assists) scored back-to-back goals in the opening 3:19 of the third period to go on top 7-4. Goals by Faye (Sam Paulik assist) and Ian Heydt (Faye assist) made it a 7-6 game with five minutes remaining. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Castan’s five-point night led the Panthers. Carrelli had a four-point game.
Trey Smith was credited with 12 saves in a winning effort in goal. Abington’s Ben Panella recorded 31 saves, keeping the Ghosts in it until the final horn.
William Tennent 1-4-2 7
Abington 3-1-2 6
Shots: WT 38, Abington 8. Saves: Trey Smith (WT) 12, Ben Panella (A) 31.
First period: 1, Ian Heydt A (Ethan Weilheimer) 10:10; 2, Griffin Carpenter A (Tom Rourke) 12:00; 3, Sean Faye A (Ethan Weilheimer) 13:37; 4, Matthew Castan WT (Zach Devor) 15:27.
Second period: 5, Justin Carrelli WT (Walt Wolaniuk/Stephen Skiba) 2:11; 6, Joe Stelacio A (Colin Bruton) 3:27; 7, Zach Devor WT, 5:56; 8, Matthew Castan WT (Justin Carrelli/Stephen Skiba) 11:47; 9, Matthew Castan (Zach Devor/Justin Carrelli) 14:26.
Third period: 10, Stephen Skiba WT (Matthew Castan) 0:56; 11, Justin Carrelli WT (Matthew Castan/David Gray) 3:19; 12, Sean Faye A (Sam Paulik) 4:22; 13, Ian Heydt A (Sean Faye) 10:50.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 8, Wissahickon 3
Jake Weikel scored five goals and teammate Aidan Keogh had four assists to lead the Colonials to the win over their neighboring rival.
Weikel turned a Keogh pass into a goal that broke a scoreless tie 9:44 into the opening period. Ty Schiff answered with a goal for the Trojans. Weikel (Keogh/Luke Weikel assists) connected to put the Colonials on top 2-1, but a shorthanded goal by Nicholas Hussa in the closing seconds of the period knotted the score.
Back-to-back goals by Weikel to open the second period – the first on a power play – gave the Colonials a lead they would not lose. Devin Reilly’s unassisted goal put the Colonials on top 5-2, and Weikel’s fifth goal – this one with a Luke Weikel assist – made it a 6-2 game. Hussa scored a goal in the final minutes of the period to pull the Trojans within three.
Back-to-back goals by Dean Keller in the third period gave the Colonials their final margin of victory. Colin Franzoni assisted on the first, and the second was assisted by Logan Westerfer and Thomas Corcoran.
Ben Yuter turned away 24 of 27 shots to earn the win in goal for the Colonials.
Wissahickon 2-1-0 3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-4-2 8
Shots: Wissahickon 27, PW 27. Saves: Chris Shea (W) 16, Ben Yuter (PW) 24.
First period: 1, Jake Weikel PW (Aidan Keogh) 9:44, 2, Ty Schiff W, 10:43; 3, Jake Weikel PW (Aidan Keogh/Luke Weikel) 14:42; 4, Nicholas Hussa W, 15:47.
Second period: 5, Jake Weikel PW (Aidan Keogh) 1:04; 6, Jake Weikel PW (Luke Weikel/Aiddan Keogh) 3:20; 7, Devin Reilly PW, 4:22; 8, Jake Weikel PW (Luke Weikel) 11:37; 9, Nicholas Hussa W, 15:01.
Third period: 10, Dean Keller PW (Colin Franzoni) 1:40; 11, Dean Keller PW (Logan Westerfer/Thomas Corcoran) 5:44.
Council Rock South 11, Central Bucks West 1
Antil Autere (two goals, three assists) and Michael Roby Jr (four goals, one assist) both had five-point nights to lead the Golden Hawks to the decisive win.
Bill Harrelson put the Golden Hawks on the board with an unassisted goal 1:25 into the contest. That 1-0 score stood for 10 minutes until Roby scored with assists from Autere and David Vergules. Derek Steudler and Roby each added a goal in a 45-second span to give Rock South 4-0 lead after one period.
Roby and Kyle Schneider (Sam Cherkassky assist) each scored a goal to up the Golden Hawks’ advantage to 6-0 before Billy Loughnane found the net to put the Bucks on the scoreboard 11 minutes into the period. Roby’s goal with a Brennen Wright assist made it a 7-1 game heading into the final period.
In the third period, Autere connected on a pair of goals – the second a shorthanded goal. Harrelson and Kenny Duffield each added a goal.
Jimmy Sweeney was strong in goal for the Golden Hawks, turning away 33 of 34 shots.
Central Bucks West 0-1-0 1
Council Rock South 4-3-4 11
Shots: CBW 34, CRS 41. Saves: Jake Coddington CBW 29, CRS 33.
First period: 1, Bill Harrelson CRS, 1:25; 2, Michael Roby Jr (Antil Autere/David Vergules) 11:05; 3, Derek Steudler CRS (Matthew Constantini/Michael Roby Jr) 14:11; 4, Michael Roby Jr (Antil Autere/Brennen Wright) 14:54.
Second period: 5, Michael Roby Jr CRS, 1:31; 6, Kyle Schneider CRS (Sam Cherkasskky) 2:16; 7, Billy Loughnane CBW, 11:02; 8, Michael Roby Jr (Brennen Wright) 14:26.
Third Period: 9, Kenny Duffield CRS (Antil Autere) 2:26; 10, Bill Harrelson CRS, 3:58; 11, Antil Autere CRS (Brennen Wright/David Vergules) 11:41; 12, Antil Autere CRS, 13:15.
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