Tennent defeated Souderton in SHSHL action Friday. Photos of the Souderton/Tennent game provided by Keith Clemens Photography. Check back for a gallery of action photos...CLICK HERE.
By Ben Reese
HATFIELD -- Defensemen are supposed to be the final obstacle between a charging forward looking to score and the goalie.
They are not supposed to be counted on for their scoring ability. William Tennent defender Chris Kreider, however, proved to be an exception when the Panthers topped Souderton 6-3 Friday night at Hatfield Ice.
Kreider scored two goals in the first period as Tennent jumped off to a 3-0 lead after the first stanza. His first goal was short-handed and the second came on a tip-in on the power play.
"The first one was just a lucky bounce," Kreider said. "They shot the puck up and I happened to be (at the) right place, right time. I had an opportunity to skate it up and let it rip.
"The second one was right in front on the power play. I'm a big boy and kind of hard to move. That's my area. Tips are always good."
Panther coach Nick D'Aurizio appreciates what he has in Kreider, so much so that Kreider is the team captain.
"He's a defenseman this year," D'Aurizio said. "His goal totals, his point totals are down.
"He's the engine that drives this team. His speed, his size are something unique to him. They're what make him such a great player.
"It's the reason why he's got the C on his jersey. He's a game-changer when he wants to be. Tonight, he took it upon himself to get this team going right off the bat and he did."
Kreider isn't what is usually thought of as a defenseman. In years past, a defenseman was big and often slow.
"I wouldn't say they are supposed to be big and slow, especially in today's game," Kreider said. "Players are bigger and faster now.
"It really stems from me having an offensive background. I just go where I'm needed. I've always been a defenseman. I love it."
Why?
"Our skills," Kreider said, speaking for all defensemen, “everyone watches you more when it's you and a forward coming down. I really think everyone is looking at you, and if you mess up, then it's on you. It's pretty obvious."
It seems that meeting the challenge is what defines a defenseman, at least according to Kreider.
The three first-period goals are what sparked Tennent and killed Souderton. The Panthers rode those three markers to the win and the Indians couldn't rebound enough to prevent it.
"We challenged this team to get better starts," D'Aurizio said. "We had a great start tonight. We didn't necessarily complete it on the same high note.
"We're just looking for 48 minutes of effort. We'll take it as a positive that we started off well because we challenged them to start well and they did. We need to learn how to play a complete game."
On the other side of the ledger, Soouderton coach Matt Montagna didn't like the start of the game.
"We can't start like that," he said. "We tried.
"It was very choppy because there were penalties and this and that. There just wasn't a lot of rhythm to the game and we need rhythm.
"We need to start off well. When we don't start off well, it's really hard to play your game when you're trying to adjust."
There was one bright spot for the Indians and that was the play of goalie Dawson Anders. He replaced starter Josh Smith in the second period after the Panthers had scored their fourth goal.
"Dawson did a really, really good job of settling things down for us," said Montagna. "This kind of thing happens in sports."
Kreider got things going for Tennent in the first period, scoring a short-handed goal with 7:03 gone in the period. Jack McKeever added the second goal and Kreider finished up the period with his second goal with only 53 seconds remaining in the stanza.
Bobby Markus upped the tally to 4-0 with 3:06 gone in the second period, spelling the end of the line for Smith in goal. It was the second straight game for Anders, who had been in goal on Thursday night in a win over Neshaminy.
Thomas Tierney got one goal back for Souderton. He tallied an unassisted goal at 9:24 on the power play.
Things exploded in the third period. Four goals were scored and play got a bit chippy.
Sean Ovington netted both Tennent goals, scoring the first one on the power play and the second into an empty net. Tyler Johnson and Austin Mower scored Souderton's goals.
William Tennent 6, Souderton 3
William Tennent 3 1 2 – 6
Souderton 0 1 2 – 3
First period: 1, Chris Kreider WT (unassisted) 7:03 SH; 2, Jack McKeever WT (Bobby Markus) 9:48; 3, Kreider WT (Liam Ovington, Markus) 10:07 PP.
Second period: 4, Markus WT (unassisted) 3:06; 5, Thomas Tierney S (unassisted) 9:24 PP.
Third period: 6, Sean Ovington WT (Markus) 2:38 PP; 7, Tyler Johnson S (Justin Goshow, Gabe Evans) 5:14; 8, Austin Mower S (Evans, Johnson) 9:00 PP; 9, S. Ovington WT (unassisted) 15:47 EN.
Shots: WT 31, S 24. Saves: Eric Lineman (WT) 21, Josh Smith (S) 7, Dawson Anders (S) 19.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 10, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
Nick Morelli contributed two goals and two assists, and his four-point night led a potent Titan attack. Frank Carter (one goal, two assists) and Reis Braccio (two goals, one assist) both had three-point games on a night that saw 10 players contribute either a goal or an assist.
Joshua Sklar put the Titans on the board just over two minutes into the game, and by the end of the first period, four players had scored goals. Ryan Gingras, Frank Carter and Dominick Liberta each added a single goal.
The second period was more of he same with Braccio contributing a pair while Sklar, Joseph DeLaurentis and Nick Morelli had one each.
Tim White turned away all 20 shots he faced to earn the shutout win in goal. East’s Jake Semrow recorded 30 saves.
Central Bucks East 0-0-0 0
Central Bucks South 4-5-1 10
Shots: CBS 40, CBE 20
Saves: Tim White (CBS) 20, Jake Semrow (CBE) 30.
First Period
CBS: Joshua Sklar (Frank Carter)
CBS: Ryan Gingras
CBS: Frank Carter (Evan King)
CBS: Dominick Liberta (Frank Carter)
Second Period
CBS: Joshua Sklar (DJ LoVerdi)
CBS: Joseph DeLaurentis (Nick Morelli)
CBS: Reis Braccio (Matt Stoll)
CBS: Reis Braccio (Nick Morelli)
CBS: Nick Morelli (Reis Braccio)
Third Period
Nick Morelli (Matt Stoll)
Thursday, Jan. 5
PENNRIDGE 11, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Luke Slater (two goals, one assist), Josh Finlayson (three assists), Nathan Runk (one goal, two assists) and Eric Slater (one goal, two assists) all had three-point nights to lead a balanced Ram attack that saw 14 players finish with at least one point.
Danny Hausman ignited a five-goal barrage in the first period with a goal just over a minute into the contest. Troy Crosson, Luke Gotwals, Eric Slater and Michael Ferello added single goals to put the Rams on top 5-0.
The Rams brought an end to the contest in the second period.
Tyler Gilbert turned away 10 shots in the shutout win in goal for the Rams.
Council Rock North 0-0-0 0
Pennridge 5-6-0 11
Shots: Pennridge 27, CRN 10.
Saves: Madison Ambler (CRN) 16, Tyler Gilbert (P) 10.
First Period
P: Danny Hausman (Zach Snyder)
P: Troy Crosson (Nathan Runk)
P: Luke Gotwals (Josh Finlayson)
P: Eric Slater (Josh Finlayson)
P: Michael Ferello (Hunter Ditty)
Second Period
P: Luke Slater (Nathan Runk)
P: Michael Walker (Patrick McGinley)
P: Mathew Guinette (Evan Kehoe, Michael Ferello)
P: Nathan Runk (Josh Finlayson/Eric Slater)
P: Luke Slater (Eric Slater/Patrick McGinley)
P: Troy Crosson (Luke Slater)
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