By: Gracie Cleveland and JJ Michalski
Photos/Videos: Gracie Cleveland, JJ Michalski, Donna Eckert and The Sports Fan Base Network/The Flyers Cup
2021 Flyers Cup AAA Semifinal Recap:
On Monday evening at Iceline, the 2021 Flyers Cup AAA Championship will take place between No. 1 seeded Malvern Prep and No. 2 La Salle College High School.
La Salle will meet Malvern Prep for a fourth time this season, with the Friars leading the 2021 series 2-1. The two teams were slated to play in the APAC Founders Cup on March 31, which will be rescheduled to a later date following a Covid-19 postponement.
While the Friars enter the game as favorites due to their head-to-head record, the Explorers are no stranger to the Flyers Cup championship stage. La Salle was the last team to win the AAA Flyers Cup in 2019, defeating St. Joseph’s Prep 5-2, as the tournament was cancelled last year as a result of the onset of the pandemic. The Explorer’s have no doubt that this upcoming match-up against the Friars will definitely be a barn burner.
“We’ve played Malvern three times already this year and each game has been kind of different,” said La Salle senior David Kimmel. “I think it’s going to be a really tight game and I think this was the game that everyone wanted to see. And, personally, I think this will be a great test for us. Obviously I expect us to come out with the win, but it’s not going to be easy at all. We’re going to really be tested and we’re going to have to play our best hockey of the season.”
Malvern Prep vs. St. Joe’s Prep
Going into the Flyers Cup AAA Division, the Malvern Prep Friars were ranked as the first seed and St. Joseph’s Prep was ranked fourth. The Friars defeated the Hawks three times over the last two weeks of regular season play.
The first period was driven by the offense of both teams. St. Joe’s Prep played tight defense on the Friars, but they were able to break through with seven minutes to play in the opening period. Malvern Prep senior Jimmy Kirk ripped a shot from the right corner of the offensive zone to beat Hawk’s goaltender Rocco Bruno. St. Joe’s Prep came back minutes later with a goal by Michael Ahearn in the face of goaltender Anthony Perti of the Friars.
“Props to St Joe’s, they came out fast, and the tempo was fast,” said Bill Kennan, head coach of Malvern Prep. “It was a great back and forth game. Lucky we were able to get a late goal and get the win.”
Malvern Prep vs. St. Joseph's Prep Flyers Cup Semifinal Highlights by Gracie Cleveland
The 64 total shots on net are a testament of the competitive game that was played. Jack Costabile managed a breakaway from center ice to create a shoot-out-like attack against Bruno. With slower push on the puck, Costabile knocked one down in top corner net to put the Friars up 2-1.
To begin the third, Jeffrey Hammond played to the advantage of a power play with two of the Friars in the penalty box. Hammond moved the puck towards the net and was rewarded in his efforts in the goal crease, as Joseph Samango buried the puck tying the game at 2-2.
The teams took as many shots as they could with the sparing 10 minutes remaining to break the tie. Matt Harris, broke the tie with a right corner slapshot to Bruno’s weak side coming off a face off giving the Friars a 4-2 lead. St. Joe’s Prep pulled Bruno from goal when Harris propped up another puck in net after a face off from the left side to put Malvern up 4-2.
“It feels great, we got a quick goal in the third period to tie it up, that was the first adversity we’ve seen,” Harris said. “We knew what we wanted and that was to win the APAC, but now that we got the Flyers Cup, we know what our job is.”
St. Joe’s Prep head coach, David Giacomin, commented on the Hawks season after the game.
“From the very beginning we were determined to get something in for these kids,” Giacomin said. “Either practices or games, I’m super excited for those boys, they wanted something to do. The result of this game really doesn’t matter in the big picture, so I’m super happy for those kids who were able to play for the entire year.”
Post Game interview with Nicholas Storti from St. Joseph's Prep:
Post Game interview with Malvern Prep's Matt Harris:
Post Game Interview with Malvern Prep's Jack Costabile:
La Salle vs. Holy Ghost Prep
In the other semifinal game on Thursday night, the La Salle College High School Explorers met the Holy Ghost Prep Firebirds at Hatfield Ice.
The Firebirds drew first blood in the game with a goal from Sean Marshall seven minutes into play. The lead would hold for only three minutes before the Explorers came storming back.
First it was Max Maddalo with some help from Keenan Schneider on the powerplay to tie the game at 1-1. Dan Whittock followed up the powerplay goal with one of his own three minutes later, giving the Explorers a 2-1 lead to close out the first period.
The Firebirds, who withdrew from the APAC playoffs due to Covid, were the only team to score in the second. Anthony Sparo got some help from Landon Stout and was able to tie the game at 2-2 prior to an ice cut.
In both the Flyers Cup semifinals and final games, the periods are 17 minutes to prepare for the Pennsylvania State Championship. The Penguins Cup in Western PA plays 17 minute periods for the whole season and set the rules for the 2021 state championship.
La Salle vs. Holy Ghost Prep - Flyers Cup AAA Semifinal Gallery by Donna Eckert
The final 17 minutes of play saw the Explorers dominate scoring three times. First it was Michael Casey 10 minutes into the period to give La Salle the 3-2 lead which they would not relinquish. David Kimmel added another goal with the help of Casey two minutes later. Casey then drained the empty net goal with a great backhand shot to put the game out of reach.
Holy Ghost Prep answered with a Jake Marek goal in the final minute of play, but it was too little too late for the Firebirds who saw their season come to an end in the 5-3 loss.
La Salle seniors Andrew Budzynski and David Kimmel talk about their win vs. Holy Ghost and expectations for the Flyers Cup Championship - by JJ Michalski
La Salle vs. Holy Ghost Prep - AAA Flyers Cup Semifinal Highlights Courtesy of The Sports Fan Base Network's Broadcast of Flyers Cup (@The_SFBN)
4/15 – St. Joseph’s Prep 2, Malvern Prep 4 (Ice Line)
St. Joe’s Goals: Michael Ahearn (Quinn Egan, Dominci Fantozzi), Joseph Samango (Jeffrey Hammond)
Malvern Prep Goals: Jimmy Kirk (Chris Blango), Jack Costabile (Matt Harris), Matt Harris (Matthew Donatucci), Matt Harris (Unassisted)
4/15 – Holy Ghost Prep 3, La Salle 5 (Hatfield)
Holy Ghost Prep Goals: Sean Marshall (Brian Butler), Anthony Sparo (Landon Stout), Jake Marek (Eric Pohl)
La Salle Goals: Max Maddalo (Keenan Schneider), Dan Whittock (Michael Casey), Michael Casey (Keenan Schneider), David Kimmel (Michael Casey), Michael Casey (Unassisted, Empty Net)
4/19 2021 Flyers Cup AAA Championship – 8:15 p.m. – Ice Line