Videos: Gracie Cleveland, JJ Michalski, Zach Reagan & Anthony Salvato
By: JJ Michalski
APAC SEMIFINAL REVIEW & FOUNDER’S CUP PREVIEW
Just one game remains in the 2022 APAC hockey schedule, with No. 2 seeded La Salle College High School set to travel to No. 1 seed Malvern Prep on Wednesday night to decide the Founder’s Cup champion.
La Salle won the cup in 2019 and 2020. The 2021 championship game was never played, as COVID postponements got in the way. The 2022 championship will serve as the game that was never played last year, with both teams returning to the final. The Explorers remain the only school in the APAC to ever win the Founder’s Cup. Malvern Prep comes in as the favorite and defending champions after winning the AAA Flyers Cup and Pennsylvania State Championship in 2021.
APAC Championship Bracket - JJ Michalski
Before we look at what’s to come, let’s look at how both teams got here…
APAC Semifinal Game 1: Malvern Prep 4, Holy Ghost Prep 1
In last Wednesday’s APAC semi-final, Malvern Prep pulled out a victory scoring three goals in the final two minutes to clinch a 4-1 victory over Holy Ghost Prep. The Firebirds were coming off a 9-4 Monday night win against the Hun School in the APAC play-in game.
The game started off fast and physical with both teams exchanging hits and shots on both ends of the ice. Holy Ghost Prep looked to Jason Soule in the game to win his second contest of the week. Soule started the game well saving 14 of the 15 shots that he faced in the first period.
The Friars opened the scoresheet with a goal midway through the first. Malvern dug a puck out of the corner moving it to the point. A shot was thrown towards the net, but was too high. Pierre Larocque batted the puck down with his hand, settled in front of Soule and beat the keeper to give Malvern a 1-0 lead.
The second period was scoreless as the teams combined to take 25 shots, all of which were denied. Anthony Perti made the start in goal for Malvern Prep and saved 32 of the 33 shots that he faced in the contest.
A little over three minutes into the third period, Holy Ghost came to life. Perti allowed a rebound to bounce around in front of his crease, allowing for the Firebirds to swarm. Kieran Mulholland was ultimately the man who buried the game tying goal, with Dominic Lombardo and Brandon Barger credited with assists on the play. The Holy Ghost Prep student section erupted upon the goal horn, leading to a celebration.
Malvern Prep vs. Holy Ghost Prep - Highlights by JJ Michalski
Malvern Prep senior goaltender Anthony Perti said the Friars fed off their fans energy and kept the tempo high - Video by Gracie Cleveland:
Both teams reverted to defense for the next 10 minutes, playing physical and waiting for the opportunity to break free in the offensive end.
The Friars took advantage of an offensive zone face-off with a little more than 90 seconds to play. After winning the draw, Malvern quickly put a shot on goal. Unable to corral the puck, Soule allowed a rebound out in front of him. Jeremy Jacobs picked up the puck and took it around the net scoring what would be the game winning goal for the Friars. Matt Harris added a power play goal 20 seconds later, and an empty netter with five seconds left in the game to give Malvern Prep the 4-1 victory.
HGP head coach Gump Whiteside was proud of his team and looks forward to competing in the Flyers Cup - Video JJ Michalski:
Holy Ghost's Landon Stout said that their goaltender Jason Soule played outstanding despite the loss - Video by JJ Michalski:
With the win, the top-seeded Friars ensured the Founder’s Cup Championship would be played on their home ice.
APAC SEMIFINAL Game 2: La Salle College High School 4, St. Joseph's Prep 1
In the second semi-final game on Wednesday, La Salle took on St. Joseph’s Prep for the third time in three weeks. Entering the contest, La Salle was 2-0 against the Hawks this season.
The Hawks turned to netminder Ajay White to make his first start against the Explorers this season. White held the Explorers scoreless through one period, but ultimately took the loss after allowing three goals in a 90 second span to begin the second frame.
St. Joe’s played tight defense, crashing towards its own net allowing the Explorers to carry the puck deep and around the net. A centered pass out in front of White resulted in a snapshot from the point. White was able to block the initial shot but Evan Golato collected a rebound and buried the puck to give La Salle a 1-0 lead.
La Salle vs. St. Joseph's Prep - APAC Semifinal Highlights by JJ Michalski:
On the ensuing face-off, La Salle got the puck deep into St. Joe’s territory again. Another rebound off of White’s pad bounced away after a shot from Jackson Lindmar. Ryan Desmond took a quick one time shot to give La Salle a 2-0 lead.
Chaos in front of the net continued for the Explorers less than a minute later. Golato found himself in a position to score after a backhanded pass was batted around inside the crease. Golato scored his second of the night to give the Explorers a comfortable 3-0 lead.
La Salle head coach Wally Muelhbronner said his team plays at their best when they "keep it simple" - Video by JJ michalski:
La Salle's Evan Golato said if they play as a team they can win the Apac championship and the Flyers Cup - Video by JJ Michalski:
Following the goal, Rocco Bruno replaced White in net for the Hawks. Bruno had a perfect game saving every shot that he faced from that point forward.
St. Joe’s efforts were too little too late, with its first goal of the game coming with under a minute to play in the game. Willum Braun was in line for the shutout and trying to keep the Hawks away from his crease. Hard work and traffic in front of Braun allowed Liam Mooney to score the Hawks lone goal of the evening.
The Explorers added an empty net goal in the closing seconds as St. Joe’s made a final push to comeback.
SJP head coach David Giacomin said the Hawks tried to change momentum in the 3rd period - Video by Anthony Salvato & Zach Reagan:
SJP's Michael Ahearn was positive in defeat saying their chances would eventually fall into place - Video by Zach Reagan & Anthony Salvato:
APAC Founder’s Cup Championship Preview:
The 2022 APAC Founder’s Cup Championship is set for 8:30 PM on Wednesday at Malvern Prep’s home ice, Ice Line. Malvern won both contests between the two teams this season with games on November 5 at Hatfield Ice and January 24 at Ice Line. The Friars won by a final score of 2-0 in the season opener for both teams. In January, the game required extra time with Malvern Prep’s Matt Harris scoring the game winning goal. Malvern outscored La Salle 7-4 in the contests this year.
The Friars are favored to win the final matchup, with plenty of accolades and victories behind them this season. On top of being the top AAA team in Pennsylvania last year, Malvern Prep returns a core of seniors who paced the APAC with five regulation and two overtime wins this season. The Friars 33 goals scored and 13 goal differential also sits atop the APAC. Malvern won all but one game in APAC play this season, and enter the Founder’s Cup championship on a three game winning streak. Their last loss came against St. Joe’s Prep on January 27. Nine of their last 11 games have been played on home ice at Ice Line. Senior goaltender Anthony Perti allowed just 22 goals this season and recorded a shutout against La Salle in the season opener on November 5.
In a season of up and downs for the Explorers, they were able to clinch the number two spot in the Founder’s Cup playoffs with the 3-1 win against St. Joe’s in the final week of regular season play. La Salle has consistently been one of the best teams in the APAC since the league’s founding in 2019. The Explorers remain the only team to ever hoist the Founder’s Cup. La Salle’s 4-3-1 regular season mark this season shows just how difficult and unpredictable the APAC can be.
Malvern Prep enters the APAC Founder's Cup as 2021 AAA Flyers Cup and Pennsylvania State Champions - PSD Photo by Colleen Claggett
La Salle won the APAC Founder's Cup in 2019 & 2020 - PSD Photo by Krystal Williams:
Don’t look for the Explorers to explode on offense, as their 19 goals for rank third in the APAC this year. Defense is key to winning the championship this year as La Salle has a league best 16 goals allowed. They remain the only APAC team this season to give up fewer than 20 goals. Goaltenders Aries Carangi and Willum Braun split playing time this season, with the two alternating contests throughout the year.
The teams represent the top two in the region with the APAC taking four of the top five seeds in the latest AAA Flyers Cup rankings. Final rankings are set to be released on Sunday February 27, 2022. The winner of the APAC championship will likely clinch the top seed for the Flyers Cup.