By: JJ Michalski
Photos/Videos: JJ Michalski, TUICE Network & Delaware Hockey Night/412 Communications
PHILADELPHIA SPORTS DIGEST POWER PLAY (APAC & ICSHL UPDATE)
Flyers Cup resumes are building up for the application deadline in early April across both the APAC and ICSHL. This past week resulted in one of the fullest weeks of Philadelphia Catholic League hockey with eight games on the schedule.
Last week’s contests would be the last opportunity for teams to showcase their skills prior to Monday’s release of the first 2021 Flyers Cup Power Rankings. In the AAA Bracket the APAC found its way to the top taking seeds 1-4. Malvern Prep found itself at the top of the power rankings with a 4-1 record. Roman Catholic was the lone ICSHL team in the top five following a strong week for the Cahillites, which propelled them to first place in ICSHL-PCL standings.
APAC Game of the Week
On Friday night, St. Joe’s Prep (1-3) travelled to Grundy arena to take on Holy Ghost Prep (3-1-2). The two APAC squads had met twice prior in 2021 with the Firebirds emerging victorious on both Feb 5. and Feb 26. The Hawks entered the game looking for their first APAC win of 2021.
2021 Flyers Cup Rankings - Courtesy of @TheFlyersCup
Quinn Egan opened the game with a goal three minutes into the first period. Connor Burman and Michael Ahearn assisted the puck to the net, which Egan was able to bury a loose rebound in the back of the net. The Hawks continued their first period offensive dominance with a goal four minutes later from the stick of Christian Short and an assist from Nicholas Storti.
After 16 minutes of play, Holy Ghost Prep mustered few offensive opportunities and any pucks on net were taken care of by Hawk’s goaltender Rocco Brunno. Brunno finished the game with 33 saves on 36 shots. St. Joe’s Prep jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period with a goal from Joseph Samango less than 30 seconds after the puck drop.
Holy Ghost began to find its answer later in the second period. A hard hit against St. Joe’s Prep’s Connor Burman gave the Firebirds a man advantage in the offensive zone. Carlos Rodriguez Jr. scored with an assist from Luke Panepresso following the hit. Burman later returned in the third period following the ice cut.
The Firebirds brought themselves to within a goal courtesy of Eric Pohl who got help from Panepresso and Evan Mudrick on the Holy Ghost powerplay. The second period was filled with chances for the Firebirds, who worked back from a 3-0 deficit. A shot on net appeared to cross the goal line but was ruled no goal right before the end of the second.
In the third period Holy Ghost opened the score sheet twenty seconds in with a goal form the stick of Mudrick. Play continued back and forth for the next ten minutes with equal opportunities coming from both sides. Jack Yerger broke the 3-3 tie with a powerplay goal and St. Joe’s Prep didn’t look back.
The closest opportunity for Holy Ghost to tie the game came with five minutes left to play. A lose rebound out in front was gathered by the Firebirds and thrown across the crease. A pile of bodies in front of Brunno allowed for the puck to be shot on net with no defense. The Firebirds goal was disallowed due to a hand pass inside the goal crease.
St. Joseph's Prep vs. Holy Ghost Prep Highlights Courtesy of TUICE Network
Post Game Interview with St. Joseph's Prep coach David Giacomin
St. Joe’s Prep added an empty net goal in the final minute of play to solidify the Hawk’s first APAC win in 2021. Head coach of St. Joe’s, David Giacomin, was pleased with the strong contest his team played.
“I just think it’s a result of us playing better,” Giacomin said. “We practice hard, and we have a great group of kids. The effort has been there all year long, but we haven’t had the wins. It’s nice to finally get a W.”
ICSHL Game of the Week
In one of the most entertaining games of the season so far, Roman Catholic (3-0-1) travelled to Skatium to pay Cardinal O’Hara (2-1-1) a visit. The two teams came into the game meeting for the first time since Jan 22. when the Lions topped the Cahillites 3-2.
Scoring in the game was limited as both goaltenders combined for 57 saves in the game. Millard Worszylo and Ronan Marley stood on their heads to keep the game scoreless through the first thirteen minutes.
The first goal of the game came from the stick of Julian Gavin to put the Lions up 1-0. Roman Catholic answered in the final minute of the first period as Andrew Hodolitz beat Marley to tie the game 1-1.
Then came the second period, and the penalties.
Roman Catholic vs. Cardinal O'Hara Game Highlights by JJ Michalski
In the second period of play both teams combined for thirteen penalties including eight roughing penalties. Cardinal O’Hara was 0-7 on the man advantage and Roman Catholic was 0-5 throughout the game. Worszylo even got involved in the physical aspect, laying a man out enroute to a loose puck, which O’Hara chased.
“I wanted to come out and make a play,” Worszylo said. “I didn’t know he was going to keep coming. When he tried to hit me I just tried to step to him and get him down.”
The lone goal of the second period came from Cardinal O’Hara’s Steve Graney, scoring short-handed in the last minute of the period. The Lions took a 2-1 lead to the benches between periods.
In the final 16 minutes of regulation the physical play continued. Notably a ten-minute game misconduct was assessed to Roman Catholic’s leading goal scorer Brennan Whittaker. The Cahillites used Whittaker to their benefit as he tied the game at two with 10 minutes to play, prior to spending time in the box.
At the end of regulation, the game was deadlocked at two goals a side. As the game headed to overtime Roman Catholic was without Whittaker for the first minute and a half. Cardinal O’Hara spent much of those first 90 seconds in the offensive zone.
Finally, a missed pass by the Lions was taken the other way and a two on one developed down the ice for Roman Catholic. Whittaker, having served his time, found the puck on his stick with a chance to win the game. Marley bit on a fake pass across the crease and left the net wide open for Whittaker to score the game winner.
“I was just lucky that we held on until overtime,” Whittaker said. “I was going to pass it at first, but I thought that if I gave him a little fake pass he was going to slide. I just tucked it over his shoulder and got first place.”
Post Game Interview with Roman Catholic goaltender Millard Worszylo
Post Game Interview with Roman Catholic coach Greg Watkins
Head coach of Roman Catholic, Greg Watkins, was excited to take sole possession of first place in the league.
“We never really gave up and we worked really hard,” Watkins said. “We just battled through it and got a good bounce at the end of the game.”
APAC League Results Week of 3/1
3/1 – Malvern Prep 3, Holy Ghost Prep 2 SO 2-0 (Grundy)
Malvern Prep Goals: Pierre Larocque (Jack Costabile, Chris Blango), Matt Harris (Jack Costabile), Chris Blango (SO), Matt Harris (SO)
Holy Ghost Prep Goals: Evan Mudrick (Braedon Baesher, Shaun Moore), Anthony Sparo (Shaun Moore, Evan Mudrick)
3/3 – Malvern Prep 2, La Salle College High School 5 (Hatfield)
Malvern Prep Goals: Jack Costabile (Unassisted), Matt Harris (Chris Blango)
La Salle Goals: Michael Casey (Daniel Whittock, David Kimmel), Keenan Schneider (Unassisted), Max Maddalo (Gavin O’Connell, Jake Hannon), Keenan Schneider (Jake Hannon), Timothy Whittock (Chase Hannon)
3/5 – St. Joe’s Prep 5, Holy Ghost Prep 3 (Grundy)
St. Joe’s Prep Goals: Quinn Egan (Connor Burman, Micheal Ahearn), Christian Short (Nicholas Storti), Joseph Samango (Liam Mooney, Christian Short), Jack Yerger (Joseph Samango), Charlie Maratea (EN)
Holy Ghost Prep Goals: Carlos Rodriguez Jr. (Luke Panepresso), Eric Pohl (Luke Panepresso, Evan Mudrick), Evan Mudrick (Unassisted)
ICSHL League Results Week of 3/1
3/1 – Archbishop Carroll 1, Father Judge 9 (FSZ)
3/1 – Roman Catholic, Cardinal O’Hara (Skatium)
Roman Catholic Goals: Andrew Hodolitz (Tyree Petteway), Brennan Whittaker (Andrew Hodolitz, Brandon Finnimore), Brennan Whittaker (Unassisted)
Cardinal O’Hara Goals: Julian Gavin (Angelo Filoramo), Steve Graney (Luke Melito)
3/4 – Salesianum 11, Archbishop Carroll 1 (Patriot Ice)
Salesianum Goals: Vincenzo Varriale, Chris Albert, Christian Kinsler, Matthew Bellopede, Aidan Gregg, Michael Masci, Caelon Driggs.
Archbishop Carroll Goals: Dan Harvey
3/5 – Father Judge 3, DMA-Tatnall 4 (IceWorks)
3/5 – Lower Merion @ Archbishop Ryan PPD (FSZ, Rescheduled 4/1)
Salesianum vs. Arch. Carroll Highlights Courtesy of DE Hockey Night/412 Communications
APAC Schedule Week of 3/8
3/8 La Salle @ Holy Ghost Prep (Grundy 3:30 PM)
3/8 St. Joe’s Prep @ Malvern Prep (Ice Line 7:30 PM)
3/11 Malvern Prep @ Holy Ghost Prep (Grundy 4:15 PM)
3/12 La Salle @ St. Joe’s Prep (Skatium 7:00 PM)
ICSHL Schedule Week of 3/8
3/8 Cardinal O’Hara @ Springfield (Skatium 8:00 PM)
3/8 Salesianum @ Roman Catholic (FSZ 6:30 PM)
3/8 Perk Valley @ Father Judge (FSZ 6:30 PM)
3/10 Cardinal O’Hara @ Bux-Mont Catholic (Hatfield Green)
3/10 DMA-Tatnall @ Archbishop Carroll (Ice Line 8:00 PM)
3/11 Roman Catholic @ Bux-Mont Catholic (Skatium 8:00 PM)
3/11 Archbishop Ryan @ Cardinal O’Hara (Skatium 9:45 PM)
3/12 Salesianum @ Father Judge (FSZ 6:30 PM)
3/12 Roman Catholic @ Archbishop Carroll (Ice Line 9:45 PM)
3/12 Archbishop Ryan @ DMA-Tatnall (FSZ 8:20 PM)
Head Coach Quote of the Week:
“We need to stay focused. I love that team and we have given ourselves chance to win. They work hard but when we chase games it’s tough to put all three periods together. We need to regroup, we don’t have time to dwell on it.”
- Gump Whiteside, Holy Ghost Prep
*For corrections or stat/schedule updates, please contact jonathanmichalski06@gmail.com*
Post Game Interview with Holy Ghost Prep head coach Gump Whiteside after game vs. St. Joseph's Prep:
Tag(s): Home Schools Philadelphia Catholic Inter Academic League Club Ice Hockey Arch. Carroll Ice Hockey Arch. Ryan Ice Hockey Arch. Wood Ice Hockey Bonner & Prendie Ice Hockey Cardinal O'Hara Ice Hockey Father Judge Ice Hockey Lansdale Cath. Ice Hockey Roman Catholic Ice Hockey Saint Joseph's Prep Ice Hockey Inter-Ac Malvern Prep Ice Hockey Philadelphia Catholic League La Salle Ice Hockey