Looking ahead at a shortened HS season
The high school ice hockey season will feel more like a sprint than a grind this winter.
With COVID-19 preventing area teams from starting competition until mid-January, it left area clubs with minimal ice team leading up to the first puck drop. Clubs managed it well and with thrououghly prepared safety guidelines, have started play.
The SHSHSL is running a 12team regular season. The seven teams in the Class A American division will play each other twice to make up the league schedule while the nine teams in Class AA’s National and Continental conferences will play each other once and four opponents two times with one of those games counting as a nonleague contest.
While some venues used by SHSHL teams are hoping to allow limited spectators, the league is streaming every game with a season pass available at SHSHLTV.com that also included a weekly highlight and interview show.
SHSHL play began on January 13 and the regular season will conclude on March 19. Council Rock South is the defending Class AA champion while Plymouth Whitemarsh is the defending Class A champion.
The four-team APAC, which includes La Salle, will see each team face its conference members three times and the schedule’s 10th game will come in a crossover with an ICSHL Class AAA program.
The Flyers Cup is slated to happen this season, with the field being announced on March 28 and tournament play running from April 5-15. Additionally, the state championships are scheduled for April 24 in Pittsburgh.
Abington
Coach: Ken Brzozowski
Last Year’s Record: 4-13
Returning Key Players: Colin Bruton (SR), Holden Booker (SR), Tommy Rourke (JR), Joe Stelacio (JR), Griffin Carpenter (SO)
Outlook: The Ghosts return a seasoned and experienced team from last year’s squad which consisted of mostly freshmen and sophomores. Senior leadership will be provided by Colin Bruton, Ethan
Weilheimer, Holden Brooker, and Nick Klinewski. The addition of sophomore Matt Kramer will bring an added offensive threat. A refreshed defensive unit will anchor an anticipated solid season from our two netminders, Ben Panella (JR) and Sam Nemec (SO). The team will look to grow from its game experiences last year at the AA level and continue to play competitive hockey with a unified goal to reach postseason play.
CB West
Head Coach: Dave Baun
2019-20 Record: 7-7-2
Graduated Players: Jake Lang, Jake Coddington, Chris Trefz, Danny Poliak, Jack Boland
This Season’s Key players: Sr. Keith Orlando (F); Sr. Ben Morris (F); Jr. Evan Hee (D); Jr. Grant Funseth (D); Jr. Reese Dalzell (D)
Outlook: “We have seven new players. With that many new Bucks we’re as young and as new as we’ve been in many years. So experience is something that we don’t have. What we do have is a team full of hard workers and a great team attitude. We can work with that. It’s easy to sell kids short, especially in times like these, but it’s specifically in times like these that kids have a way of proving that they’re a lot stronger, more dedicated and more resilient than we ever gave them credit for. I like this group of kids and I’m really looking forward to coaching them this year.”
Hatboro-Horsham Coach: Gianni Lafratta (third season)
Last year’s record: 12-5-1
Key players: Sr. Aidan Esack (FD), Sr. Seth Lerner (F-D), Sr. Alex Howieson (F) Sr. Vincent Tarsi (F-D), Hannah Gurt (D).
Outlook: Generally a strong defensive team; the Hatters are looking to maintain a consistent offensive presence in a division that usually features a lot of goals being scored.
La Salle
Coach: Wally Muehlbronner
Last year’s record: 14-10-2
Key players: Sr. Liam Gross (G); Sr. Andrew Budzynski (D); Sr. Nick Astolfi (D); Sr. David Kimmel (F); Sr. Jake Hannon (F); Jr. Keenan Schneider (F).
Outlook: The Explorers are the two-time defending APAC champions and have 12experienced players back in the fold. They are also the most recent Class AAA Flyers Cup and state champions, with those events not contested in 2020.
North Penn
Coach: Kevin Vaitis (12th season)
Last year’s record: 15-4-0-1 Notable Players Lost: Tom Boyle (D), Tyler Greenstein (F), Josh Kaufhold (F), Luke Van Why (D) Key players returning: Sr. Ryan Cunningham (D), Sr. Chase Mueller (D), Jr. Nicholas Ebbinghaus (G), Jr. Tony Tuozzo (F), Sr. Jeromy Porubski (F), Sr. Zach Cline (F), Soph. Ryan Kaufhold (F)
Other Players to Watch: Freshman John Stinson (F), Soph. Tyler Porubski (D), Junior Justin Yothers (F)
Outlook: The Knights lost a number of key players to graduation and hockey elsewhere but have a good core of their team returning that we will look to build on the success of last season. The Knights are looking to contend for a SHSHL Championship and a Flyers Cup Championship. The Knights begin their season on Thursday January 14th against Souderton.
Pennridge
Coach: Jeff Montagna
Last year: 9-6 Players lost: Michael White Key Players: Sr. Blake Stewart (F) Sr. Jeff Manto (F) Sr. Conner Frisch (D) Jr. Jack Lowery (F) Jr. Aiden Boyle (D) Jr. Ryan Schuler (D) Jr. Ryan Pico (G)
Newcomer to watch: Fr. Colin Dachowski (D)
Outlook: “Have experience as we return all but one player from last year’s team. We bring in a good freshman class as well that could help us by season’s end. We should be very solid on the backend and in net. As always, how we play defensively will dictate how successful we are as a team. The expectation is to compete for a league title.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh Coach: Josh Aiello
Last season’s record: 18-1,
14-0 SHSHL
Notable Players Lost: Dean Keller, Ben Lubas, Ben Yuter, Colin Fanzoni, Jake Weikel Returning Players: John Cubbin, Zach Spera, TJ Corcoran, Jack Mishkin, Aiden Keogh, Luke Weikel
Outlook: “The PW Colonials are coming off an undefeated championship season in 2019-20 where we also reached the Flyers Cup but experienced a firstround exit. This team has high expectations for the upcoming season with seven seniors and several other returning players.”
Souderton
Coach: Ryan Uchniat (third season)
Last year’s record: 3-7-1-1
Key players: Jr. Carter Povazan (D); So. Tim Alexander (F); So. Noah Connor (G); Sr. Amanda Kaminsky (G)
Outlook: “The Big Red will be a young team; there are eight freshmen on the roster. Circumstances will require they play major roles. Our goal is to continuously improve and bring a high compete level. We’ll be relying on good defense and goaltending.”
Upper Moreland-New Hope Solebury
Last season’s record: 10-4-1
Notable players lost: Aiden Croce, Kel Macdowell
Returning Players: Noah Goodson, Matt Hartley, PJ Marsteller, Michael Janora, John McKenna, Ben Helsinger, Mike Denardo, AJ Capobianco, Leo Fowler, Nathan Allen, Charles Jones, Chris Allen and Rex Fowler Outlook: “The Upper MorelandNew Hope team will feature a senior heavy roster this year (10 seniors). In addition, the team added three players, senior Zach Gomolinski and two freshmen players this year including goalie PJ Angotti and forward Vance Maddox. This team is expected to be very competitive and play deep into the playoffs”
William Tennent
Coach: Nick D’Aurizio
Last year’s record: 5-11
Notable Players Lost: Stephen Skiba (D), Tom Hartenstein (F), Dave Gray (F)
Key returning players: Captain Sr. Zach Devor (D); Alternate Captain Sr. Justin Carrelli (F); Alternate Captain Sr. John Kreider (D); Jr. Matt Castan (F); Jr. Tom Lomas (G)
Outlook: “We’re just excited to get started playing meaningful games again. This season is all about controlling what is in your power to control, which is how hard you compete in every practice and every game. We have a strong senior leadership core that can be a force on any given night. I’m excited about this team’s chances this season and would like nothing more for our seniors than to go out on a high note.”
Wissahickon
Coach: Ken Harrington (sixth season)
Last year’s record: 10-10
Key players: Jr. Michael Bonanni (G); Sr. Bryan Garry (F); Jr. Nick Hussa (F); Sr. Nolan Ryan (D); Jr. Ty Schiff (D); Sr. Chris Shea (G).
Outlook: Bryan Gary and Nick Hussa lead a potentially highscoring offensive unit. The Trojans will be looking for the seniors on their defense to
Bux-Mont Catholic Girls Coach: Nate DeBoer
Last season record: 26-2
Notable players lost: Lily Cherrin
Returning players: Autumn DeBoer (C), Darian Murphy (A), Clare McManus (A), Gretchen DeBoer (A)
Other players to watch: Samantha Linso, Marielle Mauri, Stephanie Thomas, Ava DeBoer, Georgia Murphy
Outlook: “We moved up to a higher division this season so each game will be very competitive. Our team has an even balance of scoring potential and one of the best goalies in the league.”