By GORDON GLANTZ
When it comes to March Madness, it doesn’t get any crazier than the quest for the holy grail that is otherwise known as the Flyers Cup.
The SHSHL had a total of nine teams earn invites.
The puck drops on the first round Monday and Tuesday night.
Here is a closer look.
CLASS AA
Who: North Penn (1) vs. Shawnee, N.J. (16)
When: March 3, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Hatfield Blue
The Winner Gets: Owen J. Roberts (8) or Avon Grove (9)
The Knights, who won the Flyers Cup and state title a year ago, are checking all the boxes so far this season.
Despite a target on their back, and the built-in pressure to repeat, they went undefeated in league play to finished first in the National Division and then won the championship in the playoffs.
As expected, they earned the top seed in the AA bracket.
“The team was very excited to see us get the No. 1 seed in the Flyers Cup,” said coach Kevin Vaitis. “We thought we had a chance to get it last year, but we got the No. 2 seed behind Council Rock South. The boys were very motivated this season to get that goal.”
As for Shawnee, the 16th seed, Vaitis is taking the approach of fearing no one but respecting everyone.
“I am actually watching tape on them right now,” he said Saturday afternoon. “I definitely don’t want to look past anyone. Last year, Spring-Ford was the 12-seed and knocked off the No. 4 and 5 seeds, so you can’t look past anyone.”
The Knights feature Sam Norton (19 goals, 27 assists), Chris Silvotti (20 goals, 19 assists), Nolan Shingle (22 goals, 16 assists) and Izzy Cabrales (11 goals, 25 assist).
The Renegades were 6-9 in the South Jersey High School Hockey League and placed in the Tier 1 Division.
They are led by William Ginzberg (11 goals, 8 assists) and Brendan Rogers (5 goals, 12 assists) upfront. Defensemen Thomas Bowman and Bryce McCullough each have eight tallies.
Who: Conestoga (4) vs. Central Bucks East (13)
When: March 2, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Ice Line 1
The Winner Gets: Downingtown West (5) or Pennridge (12)
The Patriots feature a balanced attack, with six players registering double digit points.
Defenseman Ben Dempsey led the way with 20 points (11 goals, 9 assists). The supporting cast included Alex Wilson (6 goals, 11 assists), Ethan Cenci (8 goals, 5 assists) and Cole Kleindiest (3 goals, 10 assists).
The Pioneers are led by standout Henry Spottiswoode, who had 64 points (38 goals, 26 assists) in just 20 games.
The goalie is Max Hamison, who allowed 3.18 goals per game and posted an .896 save percentage.
Who: Downingtown West (5) vs. Pennridge (12)
When: March 2, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Ice Line 1
The Winner Gets: Conestoga (4) or Central Bucks East (13)
The Rams are led by Landon Bishop (22 goals, 11 assists) and James Rush (17 goals, 14 assists) while Andrew Slutsky (3.86, .876 stands all in goal.
The Whippets are led by Brady Cusa (17 goals, 18 assists), Braiden Maya (13 goals, 26 assists), Peter Budaj (11 goals, 21 assists) and Nicholas Tode (11 goals, 10 assists).
The goalie, Justin Adams, is allowing just 2.84 goals per game with an .883 save percentage.
Who: Boyertown (2) vs. Souderton (15)
When: March 3, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Ice Line 1
The Winner Gets: Haverford High (7) or Pennsbury (10)
Souderton is led by Matthew Ryon, who 46 points (26 goals, 18 assists) in just 11 games.
The supporting cast is led by female standout Jules Kaminsky (13 goals, 14 assists).
“She’s not the first (female to play in a Flyers Cup game), but one of the most influential,” said Souderton coach Ryan Uchniat.
Others players in the upset bid for Souderton, which is making its first Flyers Cup appearance since 2023-24, are Jackson Kelly (11 goals, 13 assists) and Cameron Fairweather (7 goals, 14 assists).
Despite not making the league playoffs, Souderton earned a shot at the second season.
“We have a lot of respect for the tournament,” said Uchniat. “We are grateful for the opportunity, and now it’s about taking advantage of the moment.
“We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.”
Boyertown, which rode a 14-5 record to first place in the Pioneer Division of the Interscholastic Hockey League, had two 20-goal scorers – Logan Brown (10 assists) and Zach Rosen (9 assists) – while Brandon Kotzen added 11 goals and 19 helpers.
Who: Haverford High (7) vs. Pennsbury (10)
When: March 3, 6:30
Where: Skatium
The Winner Gets: Boyertown (2) or Souderton (15)
While he was hoping to be seeded a bit higher, maybe in the 7-8 range, Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley is relishing the underdog role.
“At the end of the day, we’re happy to be in the bracket and look forward to playing Haverford,” he said. “Even when we won the Cup in 2023 at the No. 5 seed, three of four of our games were against teams ranked ahead of us. All that matters is finding a way to win, no matter the rankings.”
The Falcons are led by sniper Shane Gleisner, who led the National Division in scoring with 57 points (39 goals, 18 assists).
The supporting cast includes Shane Hicks (17 goals, 21 assists) and Jacob Sarver (16 goals, 16 assists).
Haverford, meanwhile, relies heavily on standout goalkeeper Dylan Vieira, who had a 1.65 goals against average and an astounding .954 save percentage.
Who: Council Rock South (3) vs. Spring-Ford (14)
When: March 3, 8:15 p.m.
Where: Hatfield Gray
While the Hawks have dropped three straight games, they come in with some firepower.
Senior Jake Weiner (30 goals, 13 assists) is the program’s all-time scoring leader.
Others capable of getting onto the scoresheet are Allen Pronin (12 goals, 15 assists), Jordan Sarne (13 goals, 14 assists) and Keegan Spence (11 goals, 6 assists).
The goalie is Trey Prozzillo (2.71, .894).
The Rams will counter with the combination of Dylan Cyr, who had 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) on the season and Michael Gravinese (20 goals, 19 assists).
If the seeds are any indication, the Hawks will be facing Central Bucks South for the fourth time come the second round.
They have played three times this season, splitting two in the regular season. The Titans came out on top in the playoffs.
“I figured we’d fall in the top four,” said veteran Rock South coach Joe Houk. “It’s hard to beat the same team three times in the same season.”
Who: Central Bucks South (6) vs. Downingtown East (11)
When: March 3, 8:15 p.m.
Where: Hatfield Blue, 6:15 p.m.
The Winner Gets: Council Rock South (3) or Spring-Ford (14)
The Titans’ deep and balanced attack is led by Ryan Frey, who had 42 points (26 goals, 16 assists) in the regular season and has added 3 goals and an assist in two playoff games.
Others capable of turning a game around are Ryan Montagna (18 goals, 15 assists), Joe Slobodrian (14 goals, 17 assists) and Dominic Gibson (15 goals, 9 assists).
John Lord (3 goals, 14 assists) anchors the defense in front of goalie Nathan Napolitano (2.78, .902).
The Cougars will counter will a balanced attack, led by Chase McKeown (13 goals, 17 assists) and Aydan Nichols (9 goals, 17 goals).
Class A
Who: Plymouth Whitemarsh (8) vs. West Chester Henderson (9)
When: March 2, 6 p.m.
Where: Hatfield Gray
The Winner Gets: Top-Seeded Hershey, which had a bye
The Colonials will be looking to bounce back from their heartbreaking overtime loss to Hatboro Horsham in the American Division final, but they have the players to do it.
Danny Guller (18 goals, 34 assists), Cooper Kanze (17 goals, 18 assists) and Blake Ambler (12 goals, 19 assists) pace the offense.
The defense – in front of either Max Yoder or Lucas Bennett in net – is anchored by Ryan Jagher (4 goals, 12 assists).
“I still have confidence in our group,” said PW coach Vince Forti. “Unfortunately, the championship didn’t go our way, but I think our guys will come out with some extra motivation for the Flyers Cup.”
Henderson is led by Anthony Barthol (13 goals, 12 assists) and Declan Dowd (11 goals, 13 assists).
Who: Hatboro Horsham (6) vs. Radnor (11)
When: March 2, 8:15 p.m.
Where: Hatfield Gray
The Winner Gets: Third-seeded Kennett, which had a bye.
HH coach Shane Smith, whose team is fresh off a dramatic overtime win over rival PW in the American Division final, is trying not to look past this one.
“They are 3 and something,” he said of Radnor. “We beat them in the first round last year, so I feel comfortable about that game.”
That would mean a meeting with Kennett, a team the Hatters edged in a late season nonleague game.
“That was a tough game,” he said. “They have a really good goalie. We won, 2-1, but they were without the best player in their league. We were missing two quality players.
“That should be another good game.”
The Hatters will be looking to dance with the player who brought them this far. Vince Graziani, who scored the overtime goal against PW, led the American in scoring in the regular season with 28 goals and 26 assists and has another 6 goals and one assist in the postseason.
Senior captain Nate Nemchinov, who assisted on Graziani’s tally, had 23 goals and 20 assists in the regular season and has two goals and four helpers in the postseason.
The defense is anchored by Luca Staffieri (16 goals, 15 assists), Reid Rochestie (7 goals, 15 assists) and Aiden North (5 goals, 16 assists).
In goal, La Salle transfer Patrick Murphy has emerged with two wins in two starts with a 2.00 goals against average and .935 save percentage, but Smith plans to go with Eric Miller in the first round.
- Log in to post comments
