Wissahickon is off to a 5-0 start while Harry S Truman is back in the SHSHL after a year’s absence. To view photos of the two teams in action on Friday night, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Mary Jane Souder
Trojans on a tear…
There are fast starts and then there are fast starts.
Wissahickon has not only sprinted out of the gate to a 5-0 start, the Trojans have outscored their opponents 42-7 in that span.
“We didn’t expect this at first – we kept blowing all these teams out,” Jules Lever said. “As it started to happen, it was like, ‘Things are starting to work out pretty good.’”
The Trojans’ improved play this season, according to Dustin Rabinowitz, didn’t just happen.
“We put in time over the summer, individually and as a team,” he said. “Everyone did their part, which really contributes.”
On Friday night against Harry S Truman, the Trojans led just 3-2 at the end of one period but seized control in the second period and rolled to a 9-2 win.
“I think at the beginning of the game, we just weren’t clicking – we were playing a little bit selfish,” defenseman David Pataki said. “In the second period, we started passing and moving the puck well, and we were able to get going on offense.”
The Trojans’ solid passing was underscored in the closing moments of the second period when Rabinowitz, who had a hat trick in the first period, drew the defense and then fed Pataki in stride for an easy goal that put the Trojans on top 5-2. They never looked back.
Coach Dave Pataki pointed to the team’s experience and leadership as key this season.
“We have had players who have been here for three-four years,” he said. “They have come in with the expectation that we are going to win and we’re going to have a good start.”
The Trojans have had an influx of young talent as well.
“We had six freshmen come in, and they have all contributed, which has made us stronger,” coach Pataki said. “Now we have depth on the bench, which we haven’t had.
“Last year we skated with eight players. Our goalie (Jordan Fromm) is a sophomore this year. He’s a little more seasoned, focused and well prepared before games. Most of the players from last year are back, and they’re the core of this year’s team.”
The Trojans advanced to the playoffs last year, and they are building on that success.
“Last year with the small number of players we had, what we accomplished was pretty good,” Pataki said. “This year since we have some solid players and we’re pretty deep, we can accomplish even more.
“On the defensive side, last year we only had three deep for the whole season, so you got worn down. This year we have four primarily, so we can get a lot more rest and play consistently throughout the game.”
“If you need a break, you have good players that can come in and give us a rest, which will help us perform better,” Rabinowitz added. “If you’re tired in the third period, you won’t have your legs. We expect a lot more this season.”
Rabinowitz pointed to Lever.
“He came back to our school this year, so that was a big help to us,” he said. “We have three of our top scorers back.”
“Our freshmen coming up are definitely looking to be some of our top players when they’re seniors,” Lever said. “Wissahickon is looking pretty good for the next couple of years.”
The upcoming week is a big one for Wissahickon, which will take on SHSHL powers Lansdale Catholic on Thursday and Archbishop Wood on Friday. LC was on the minds of the players after Friday’s big win.
“They’re a good team, and we’re a good team,” Rabinowitz said. “That’s going to be our biggest test of the season so far.”
Stay tuned.
For the good of the team…
The decision was a simple one to make, according to Truman junior Christian Morlando – either go between the pipes and play goalie or risk not having a team this season.
“I have been playing hockey since I was three,” Morlando said. “I was always a player, but this year we needed a goalie because we didn’t have one, so I stepped in to do it so we could have a team.”
The Tigers are competing in the SHSHL after a year’s absence, and they wouldn’t be back if Morlando hadn’t sacrificed his game to man the net.
“He volunteered, and that was the only way we could have a team – to have a pure goalie,” coach Mike McVey said. “These kids wanted to play.”
Morlando turned away 27 shots in Friday’s 9-2 loss to undefeated Wissahickon, and he was particularly impressive during a stretch late in the second period when he withstood a Trojan barrage of shots, keeping the Tigers within two goals (4-2).
“For how long he’s been playing, he’s doing an exceptional job,” McVey said. “He’s playing varsity against kids that have been playing hockey all their lives.”
The Tigers hung tough for one period against the high-powered Trojans, twice knotting the score in the first period and trailing by just one at the end of the period.
“It’s fun, but when a goal goes in and it’s a weak one, I get pretty mad,” Morlando said. “I just have to let it go, pick up my head and look forward in the game.”
According to Morlando, the toughest part of playing in goal is getting up and down.
“It’s hard because this is the first time I’ve ever played goalie,” he said. “I’ve never played it before.”
And what has been his worst moment?
“When a lot of goals go in,” Morlando said. “It doesn’t feel good.”
It also doesn’t feel good to take one on the finger. In Friday night’s 9-2 loss to conference-leading Wissahickon, one of Morlando’s was bloodied and bruised, but he was still having fun.
“I like it,” he said. “I have fun out there.”
In Friday’s loss, Truman received goals from Josh Robinson (Jack Zoina/Vickery Justin assists) and Zach Bennett.
“We have some solid players,” McVey said. “We’re not very deep. Our roster is 12 and a goalie.
“We have mostly sophomores and juniors. Three quarters of the team plays travel, so this is a chance to play for the school.”
In Friday’s win for the Trojans, Rabinowitz contributed four goals and two assists while Lever had a pair of goals. Kyle Wolf had a goal and four assists, and Tyler Freas had three assists.
The Tigers (1-4) have a 9-3 win over Hatboro under their belts, and three of their losses have come at the hands of the conference’s top teams. They have lost twice to Wissahickon and fallen once to Archbishop Wood.
“There are teams we can’t compete with, but we played Neshaminy tough, and some of the other teams in the league are more on par with where we are,” McVey said.
Next week, the Tigers will take on Lansdale Catholic squad and then will face Plymouth Whitemarsh and Lower Moreland.
HARRY S TRUMAN 2 0 0-2
WISSAHICKON 3 2 4-9
Period 1
W-Dustin Rabinowitz (powerplay) (Kyle Wolf, David Pataki) 0:15
W-Dustin Rabinowitz (Kyle Wolf) 7:59
T-Josh Robinson (Jake Zolna, Vickery Justin) 7:59
T-Zach Bennett (Tyler Bucci, Aaron Liebel) 9:12
W-Dustin Rabinowitz (Tyler Thompson, Tyler Freas) 14:08
Period 2
W-Kyle Wolf (Jacob Segelbaum, Tyler Freas) 2:56
W-David Pataki (Matt Vervlied, Dustin Rabinowitz) 9:37
Period 3
W-Jules Lever (Dustin Rabinowitz, David Pataki) 1:06
W-Brandon Rosoff (Tyler Freas, Matt Vervlied) 1:50
W-Jules Lever (Tyler Thompson, Kyle Wolf) 7:32
W-Dustin Rabinowitz (Jacob Dalsemer, Kyle Wolf) 12:06
- Log in to post comments
