Photos provided courtesy of Michael Rice & Tracy Valko. To view photo galleries, click on the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f1064915949
For a recap of last week’s games, please click on the following link: https://www.suburbanonesports.com/article/content/shshl-ice-hockey-wrap-1-9-23-00104573
Souderton coming together
As beginnings go, it wasn’t an especially good one for the Indians, who were 1-5-0-1 after seven games, but their season has been on a definite upswing. Since then, they have won three of five games.
“I think the team’s jelling,” Souderton head coach Ryan Uchniat said. “They’re bonding, and the more they play, the stronger they’re getting.
“We’ve had a few injuries, but the team’s pretty much healthy for the most part.”
If the Indians needed a signature win, they got it last week, rallying from two goals down in the third period to defeat perennial SHSHL power Council Rock South 6-5 in overtime. It was a dramatic turnaround from their 9-1 loss to the Golden Hawks in their season opener. Last year the Indians dropped both games to Rock South by scores of 8-0 and 9-0.
“It was just a matter of tweaking a few things, making some adjustments to the lineup, and a few changes had to come on my side too,” Uchniat said. “It wasn’t just the team – it was the structure we had in place.
“Rock South has such a great team. Their program has been strong for years. They’re top of the league every year. We knew how good they were from our first game.
“I was so proud of the team and the effort they put forth. They were down two goals in the third period, and they didn’t stop. I think a lot of it also had to do with the discipline they showed and the focus on playing hockey. We didn’t get a single penalty that game, and that’s a team that will bury you on the power play if you give them opportunities.”
The Indians trailed Rock South 5-3 after a goal by Jake Weiner early in the third period. Nick Smith scored to make it a 5-4 game 5:50 into the period, and the Indians tied it in dramatic fashion when Jacob Chow scored an empty net goal with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
Souderton won it in dramatic fashion 1:44 into OT on a goal by Matt Malanga (2g, 10a).
“We had an overtime game earlier in the year against North Penn, and we lost that one,” Uchniat said. “This time it worked out. It was back and forth in overtime.
“Our goalie (Nolan Connor) made some huge saves - a couple of kick saves where he really had to stretch out. He gave us that opportunity. Momentum is a real thing, and goalies can help you obtain control.”
Connor has been a fixture in the net for the Indians.
“If you look at his save percentage from freshman year on – he’s improved every year,” Uchniat said. “Each year, his save percentage has shot up. He’s a big part of why we’ve been successful recently. He’s a senior, so it’s bittersweet but we’re enjoying it while we have him.”
Connor is one of five seniors on a young Souderton squad that also includes veterans Tim Alexander and Liam O’Neill as well as relative newcomers Dylan Drissel and Luke Kolumber.
Junior Seth Grossman has been the Indians’ undisputed leader on attack. In 11 games, he has a team high 16 goals and 11 assists (27 points).
“He’s phenomenal,” Uchniat said. “He has great character and is someone the team can get behind quite easily. That whole line has been super strong.”
Joining Grossman on the Indians’ top line are sophomore Nick Smith (10g,4a) and freshman Max Ryan (6g,9a).
“Max Ryan has been centering them, and they’ve been phenomenal,” Uchniat said.
Also playing a key role is Alexander, the senior captain, who has eight goals and one assist.
“He’s helped us from a defensive standpoint - he plays up and down the lineup, and he’s been great,” Uchniat said. “He’s also helped in terms of making sure we have a strong culture and just building it even stronger.”
The Indians came up short in Wednesday’s game against Neshaminy (5-3), but their goals remain the same – SHSHL playoffs and Flyers Cup.
“But really, it’s one game at a time,” Uchniat said. “Especially with the younger group. We’re junior heavy right now. We’re starting to get older, but it’s still one game at a time.”
Abington still team to beat in SHSHL American Conference
The Ghosts graduated five players from last year’s SHSHL Class A championship squad that rolled to a 15-1 regular season record, but so far this season, they haven’t missed a beat. After 10 games, they are 9-0-1 with Quakertown, Wissahickon and PW all playing catchup behind them. Their only tie was against Quakertown on Dec. 22 - it snapped their eight-game winning streak to open the season.
Last week, in their first game since the holiday break, the Ghosts notched an important 5-1 win over PW. Making that win especially noteworthy was the fact that the Ghosts had 40-plus points (Matt Kramer and Pat Stelacio) sitting on the bench unable to play due to injuries. It was the third straight game the Ghosts were without two of their top scorers.
“Needless to say, we were a little nervous going into the game,” Abington coach Ken Brzozowski said.
Heading into the game, the Ghosts’ coach had a message for his goalie – Sam Nemec.
“I specifically turned to Sam and said, ‘We need one, we need one here.’” Brzozowski said. “In my mind, I had the target of three or four goals – if we can get three or four goals on that night, Sam would stop everything else.
“It obviously worked out that way. He played outstanding.”
The Colonials held a 19-shot advantage, but that was negated by Nemec, who turned away 37 of 38 shots he faced.
In the absence of two of their top offensive weapons, other players have picked up the slack.
“If I go back to last year, our depth was that we can score from any of our top three lines, and the same thing has transitioned into this year,” Brzozowski said. “We’ve jumbled our lines a little bit, reorganized a little bit, but we have gotten scoring depth from all three lines.”
The veteran coach pointed to the leadership of seniors Jordan and Ian Heydt as key. Jordan’s two-goal effort led the Ghosts in the PW win.
“Although they show up on the scoresheet, it’s their leadership, their gritty play and their positive support of the rest of the team on and off the ice that has really propelled us to where we are this year,” Brzozowski said.
In the first of three games without Kramer and Stelacio, the Ghosts notched a 6-3 win over Wissahickon.
“I thought we had an outstanding game, and I went around and shook every defensive player’s hand,” Brzozowski said. “When we played PW, I said, ‘Look, we need to channel all that energy we had against Wissahickon and bring it against PW.’
“I thought our defense really stepped up, really tried to move the puck from strongside to weakside, defensive partner passes, supporting each other. They just really communicated and played well.”
Brzowowski tipped his hat to all four of his defensive players – senior Steven Dorn, Sean Doyle and Brian Murdoch as well as freshman Moses Garcia.
“Moses Garcia is gaining confidence,” he said. “He played very well against PW. As a matter of fact, we called him out after the game about how he stepped up and really played an instrumental part in playing to the game plan.”
The Ghosts, according to their coach, have not changed their approach despite the absence of several key players.
“We don’t take anybody lightly,” he said. “There are certainly the Quakertowns, the Wissahickons and the PWs that we want to rise to another level.
“Even when we’re fully rostered and I’ve got everybody on the bench available, we approach every game like it’s going to be a competitive game.”
So far, it’s been a winning formula for the Ghosts.
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