Bergey’s Buick/GMC
SOL SHSHL Player of the Week
This recognition is sponsored by Bergey’s Buick/GMC Athletes are chosen based on nomination of coaches, and the recipient must be a positive presence on the ice and a credit to the game. Consideration also is given to the student-athlete’s standing in the school and community.
Jacob Mueller – Senior at Hatboro-Horsham High School
The senior center has been the cornerstone of the Hatboro-Horsham program since signing up as a freshman for a squad that was in just its second year after not fielding a team for the 2012-13 season. Mueller – who leads by example - anchors a Hatter squad that is 6-2 after eight games, leading the team in goals (12), assists (9) and points (21). Mueller’s future plans include college while also playing junior hockey.
Note from the coach:
“We didn’t have a program five years ago, and in the second year, we started drawing new kids,” coach Gus Salfiti said. “Jake was one of the kids that signed up, and it seemed as though the team wouldn’t have had a chance to draw more kids into the program if Jake didn’t sign up. That was the first indication that I thought, ‘This kid is going to stand out.’ After he signed up, kids said, ‘We found out Jake joined, so we joined.’ The kids already knew something I didn’t know, which was great.
“The kids already knew Jake was a good hockey player, and they already looked up to him. That was my first indication that he was special. We didn’t have a team with any real depth because when we started the program most of the kids started playing hockey in 10th grade or 11th grade, and that’s a dangerous thing to have. Here comes a fresh-faced ninth grader who’s a little bit bigger than everybody else. After the first couple of practices, I realized this kid is strong, he’s a good stick handler and aggressive, and he just built on that. As he matured emotionally and physically, he started making a bigger presence with the checks, with the hits, with the good passes and a heck of a slap shot, and the kids jumped on his back and followed his lead.
“The kid is just tremendous. He’s always lighthearted, and more often than not, it’s actually welcomed to break up the tension in the locker room. He works hard, he loves hockey, he loves his team, and he can control the mindset of the team with how he shows up for the game. He’s a big impact player on our team and a leader.”
About Jacob:
Best memory playing high school hockey: Scoring a hat trick in our annual Battle of the Border game with the winning goal in the shootout.
Part of the game I enjoy most: Being able to go out on a night in and night out basis and competing with my teammates.
How did you get involved in hockey? I went to my cousin’s ice skating party when I was younger. I loved it so much I learned how to skate, then I started to play the hockey part, and have been playing ever since.
My role models are: My Parents
Music on iPod: Bruno Mars
Favorite food: Chicken Parmesan
Favorite class: Social Studies
Future plans: Going to college and studying business management while playing junior hockey too
Four people I’d invite to a dinner party: Carson Wentz, Wayne Gretzky, the Rock, Joel Embiid
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