By: JJ Michalski
Photos/Videos: JJ Michalski, TUICE Network & Gracie Cleveland
PHILADELPHIA SPORTS DIGEST POWER PLAY (APAC & ICSHL UPDATE)
With playoffs less than seven days from starting, regular season play is coming to a close in both the APAC and ICSHL.
Malvern Prep has locked up the first seed and has a week off heading into the APAC playoffs. The battle is close in the ICSHL PCL divisions. Salesianum and Father Judge will play two games this week, with playoff seedings on the line.
On Monday, the ICSHL officially released its playoff bracket for the ICSHL PCL division. A play-in game will take place on 3/29, with semi-finals on March 30, and the finals on March 31. The APAC playoffs will occur the same three days with semi-finals on March 29 and the Founders Cup on March 31.
ICSHL PCL Playoff Bracket
APAC Game of the Week
On St. Patrick’s Day the St. Joseph’s Prep Hawks took a trip to Hatfield Ice to take on La Salle College High School. In the final meeting between the two schools this season, the two points at stake meant a lot to both squads in the final weeks of APAC play.
The Explorers opened up the scoring on the afternoon with a goal midway through the first period. Keenan Schneider picked up a pass from Jake Hannon to bury the puck in the back of the net and give La Salle a lead. Jake Armstrong tacked a second goal five minutes later to double La Salle’s lead to two.
St. Joe’s Prep came out in the second looking for an opportunity to score. Joseph Samango moved the puck to Matthew Moresco to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. This is the closest the Hawks would come to tying the game.
La Salle answered with a goal six minutes into the second period off the stick of Max Monzo, this time Armstrong was the helper picking up an assist on the play. Junior forward Daniel Whittock believes the scoring outburst was a result of following the coaching staffs’ guidance.
“I think we just have to put pucks in the net and bury our opportunities,” Whittock said. “At the beginning of the year we weren’t really doing that and now we are. That’s our biggest goal here.”
La Salle vs. St. Joseph's Prep Highlights by JJ Michalski
The third period brought out the special teams units frequently and both teams struck for one goal on the man advantage. The Explorers final goal of the game came at the four-minute mark as Chase Hannon extended the lead 4-1. It was too little too late for the Hawks, despite a power play goal in the final 30 seconds of the game from Moresco.
La Salle extended its APAC winning streak to four games at the time and would add a fifth in a row on March 19 against Holy Ghost. The two squads will match up again in the final APAC regular season game of 2021 on Friday. Even with a win, La Salle would fall one point short of tying Malvern Prep for the number one seed. Head coach of the Explorers, Wally Muehlbronner, is happy with his team’s success in the final weeks of the season.
“We definitely got off to a bit of a slow start,” Muehlbronner said.” The past four games we’ve been playing pretty well. We started scoring goals which has been big for us, the guys have all bought in.”
Post Game Interview with La Salle junior Daniel Whittock :
Post Game Interview with La Salle head coach Wally Muehlbronner:
ICSHL Game of the Week
On Thursday night at Skatium, Cardinal O’Hara hosted Father Judge for a Philadelphia Catholic League matchup. The two squads met once prior in 2021, resulting in a 4-2 win for Father Judge back on Feb. 22.
Matt Moser got the scoring started for the Crusaders with an unassisted tally ten minutes into the contest. Father Judge dominated the first period physically and on the scoreboard as Moser tallied the lone goal.
In the second period Father Judge extended its lead to 2-0 with a goal off the stick of Mike Fontaine. The assists were credited to Joe Lombardo and Anthony Casper.
The biggest loss for Father Judge came in the second period when Crusader’s captain Sean Ford was assessed a two-minute minor and ten minute game misconduct for contact to the head. The absence of Ford was noticed as O’Hara was finally able to beat goaltender Colin McKee and score twice.
“We know we’re a young team,” Ford said. “We lost a lot last year, so it’s just hard work every game and it’s been getting the job done recently.”
Back-to-back goals for the Lions brought the game to a 2-2 tie. First, Julian Gavin scored a goal with some help from Denny Anastasia and Patrick Roney. The Lions kept things quiet until the final minute when John Shelton connected with Luke Melito on the power play as a result of the penalty on Ford.
Both teams skated hard in the third period, needing the regular season points on their respective ledgers. Moser got some help from freshman Ilya Kudzinau to put the Crusaders up 3-2 midway through the third. Tight defense was a result of Ford’s return as well as the leadership of assistant captain Franklin Black.
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Father Judge Highlights by JJ Michalski:
Post Game Interview with Father Judge Captain Sean Ford:
Finally, O’Hara senior Jesse Monastra brought the game to a 3-3 tie with five minutes to play in regulation, but that would stand to be the final goal of the game. Close opportunities by both teams in the closing minutes were stood up by Lion’s goaltender Ronan Marley and McKee on opposite ends of the ice.
In overtime, both teams had scoring chances but there were limited shots on goal due to close defensive play on both ends. Father Judge had an offensive zone faceoff with seven seconds remaining, but Cardinal O’Hara was able to clear the puck to finish the tie, resulting in a split of the two points at stake. Associate head coach of the Crusaders, Steve Meade, felt the team has battled well this season.
“O’Hara is always a tough team to play against,” Meade said. “We’ve battled with them for the last five or six years. It means going forward when we see them again it’s really anyone’s game at this point.”
Coach Meade was pleased with his teams’ strength in OT battle vs. O’Hara and notes the Crusader’s mentality looking ahead to the Flyers Cup
Meade comments on Father Judge’s inaugural SWAT Cup, played on 3/17 vs. Ryan in honor of fallen Philadelphia Police Officer, Sergeant James R. O'Connor
Head Coach Quote of the Week
“Always remember that we’re all here for the right reason. We all want to be better people and everybody wants to make the people around them better. That’s really what last night was about for our team."
- Steve Meade, Father Judge Associate Head Coach
APAC League Results Week of 3/15
3/15 – Father Judge 2, Holy Ghost Prep 7 (Grundy) - NON-LEAGUE
Holy Ghost Prep Goals: Sean Marshall (Jake Marek), Carlos Rodriguez (Patrick McAneny), Cole Stevens (Carlos Rodriguez, Patrick McAneny), Braedon Baesher (Anthony Sparo), Eric Pohl (Sean Marshall, Braedon Baesher)
3/15 – St. Joe’s Prep 0, Malvern Prep 7 (Ice Line, Reschedule from 2/18)
Malvern Prep Goals: Matt Harris (Jimmy Kirk, Jack Costabile), Quinn Dougherty (Unassisted), Jack Costabile (Jimmy Kirk, Matt Harris), Hayden Campbell (Matthew Donatucci, Chris Blango), Jeremy Jacobs (Jack Sharer, Quinn Dougherty), Chris Blango (Ryan Sambuco, Jack Costabile), Jack Costabile (Chris Blango)
3/12 Holy Ghost Prep vs. Father Judge Game Highlights courtesy of TUICE Network:
3/17 – St. Joe’s Prep 2, La Salle 4 (Hatfield Gray)
St Joe’s Prep Goals: Matthew Moresco (Joseph Samango), Matthew Moresco (Micheal Ahearn, Dom Fantozzi)
La Salle Goals: Keenan Schneider (Jake Hannon, Ryan Desmond), Jake Armstrong (Ryan Desmond), Max Monzo (Jake Armstrong), Chase Hannon (Thomas Doucet)
3/19 – La Salle 5, Holy Ghost Prep 1 (Grundy)
La Salle Goals: Jake Hannon (Keenan Schneider, Max Maddalo), Michael Casey (David Kimmel, Chase Hannon), Michael Casey (Daniel Whittock, David Kimmel), Michael Casey (David Kimmel, Daniel Whittock), Jackson Lindmar (Ryan Desmond, Timothy Whittock)
Holy Ghost Prep Goals: Braedon Baesher (Evan Mudrick, Shaun Moore)
3/19 – Malvern Prep 5, St. Joe’s Prep 1 (Skatium)
Malvern Prep Goals: Chris Blango (Unassisted), Ryan Sambuco (Matt Harris), Pierre Larocque (Unassisted), Gavin Wilson (Riley McCarry), Jack Costabile (Jimmy Kirk, Quinn Dougherty)
St Joe’s Prep Goals: Jeffrey Hammond
3/19 Malvern Prep vs. St. Joseph's Prep Highlights Courtesy of TUICE Network:
Malvern Goaltender Anthony Perti talks about his shutout vs. St. Joe's Prep on 3/15 - by Gracie Cleveland
ICSHL League Results Week of 3/15
3/15 – Salesianum @ Cardinal O’Hara PPD (Skatium)
3/15 – Archbishop Ryan 8, Archbishop Carroll 6 (Ice Line 3)
3/17 – Father Judge 3, Archbishop Ryan 0 1st Annual Jimmy O’Connor SWAT Cup (FSZ-NE)
Father Judge Goals: Sean Ford (Robert Cattalo, Franklin Black), Colin Howell (Mike McDevitt), Matt Devine (Sean Ford, Mike McDevitt)
3/18 – Father Judge 3, Cardinal O’Hara 3 (Skatium)
Father Judge Goals: Matt Moser (Unassisted), Mike Fontaine (Joe Lombardo, Anthony Casper), Matt Moser (Ilya Kudzinau)
Cardinal O’Hara Goals: Julian Gavin (Denny Anastasia, Patrick Roney), Luke Melito (John Shelton), Jesse Monastra
3/19 – Roman Catholic @ Salesianum Cancelled (PNY Westtown)
3/19 – Cardinal O’Hara 10, Bux-Mont Catholic 1 (Hatfield, Reschedule from 3/10)
Cardinal O’Hara Goals: Nick McKay (Unassisted), Luke Melito (Steve Graney), Nathan Fox (Luke Melito), Angelo Filoramo (Nick McKay), Steve Graney (Aidan Weidenmiller, Ronan Marley), Luke Melito (Ronan Marley), Julian Gavin (Patrick Roney), Steve Graney (Julian Gavin), Jesse Monastra (Angelo Filoramo, Kevin Roney), Steve Graney (Aidan Weidenmiller, Luke Melito)
Bux-Mont Catholic Goals: Brandon Mongan (Benjamin Schimony)
3/19 – Archbishop Carroll 3, Archbishop Ryan 8 (Ice Line 3)
Archbishop Carroll Goals: Dan Harvey (Michael Moore), Wesley Sweitzer (Liam Brady), Donte Neve (Liam Brady)
Archbishop Ryan Goals: Ryan Kohler (Brandon Martelak), Brandon Martelak (Unassisted), Patrick McCalin (Connor Smith), Robert Demarco (Ryan Kohler, Patrick McCalin), Patrick McCalin (Unassisted), Ryan Kohler (Unassisted), Ryan Kohler (Robert Demarco), Robert Demarco (Connor Smith)
APAC Schedule Week of 3/22
3/26 LaSalle @ St. Joe’s Prep (Skatium 7:00 PM, Rescheduled from 3/12)
ICSHL Schedule Week of 3/22
3/22 DMA @ Cardinal O’Hara (Skatium 7:00 PM)
3/22 Father Judge @ Salesianum (Ice Works 7:00 PM)
3/24 Salesianum @ Father Judge (FSZ-NE 8:30 PM, Rescheduled from 3/12)
3/25 Roman Catholic @ Bux-Mont Catholic (Skatium 8:20 PM, Rescheduled from 3/11)
3/26 Cardinal O’Hara @ Archbishop Carroll (Ice Line 8:45 PM)
3/26 Archbishop Ryan @ Bux-Mont Catholic (Hatfield 8:50 PM)
*For corrections or stat/schedule updates, please contact jonathanmichalski06@gmail.com*
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