Hatboro-Horsham earned a dramatic overtime win in Thursday night’s SHSHL American title game. Gordon Glantz recaps the action. Photos provided courtesy of Laura Rowe. Check back for a gallery of photos. CLICK HERE to go directly to Suburban One Sports' ICE HOCKEY GALLERIES.
By GORDON GLANTZ
Rocky.
Miracle.
Hoosiers.
Karate Kid
Chariots of Fire.
Bad News Bears.
The Natural.
All the above are among the classic sports dramas featuring unforgettable rivalries.
But who needs Hollywood when you have Hatfield Ice and Hatboro Horsham and Plymouth Whitemarsh battling it out in a winner-take-all clash for supremacy in the SHSHL’s American Division?
While the Colonials barely snagged first place, and a first-round bye in the playoffs, the Hatters responded with a 4-3 overtime win Thursday for their second straight championship.
“It was an amazing game,” said HH coach Shane Smith. “It was everything you want in a championship game, in terms of being back and forth.”
The two rivals split their regular season meetings, 2-2.
The Hatters led three times by a goal, only to have the Colonials come back and tie it up.
Almost as if it were scripted, the game was knotted at 3-3 at the end of regulation.
Something had to give.
And something did.
A mere 28 ticks into the extra frame, the Hatters won when Vince Graziani, who led the American in scoring the regular season, tallied on an assist from Nate Nemchinov.
“We played each other four times in the regular season, so both teams really know what the other will do,” said Smith. “It really came down to who got the last opportunity.
“Fortunately, for us, the ‘good guys’ got the opportunity and with no one better to have it on his stick than Vinny Graziani.”
It was Graziani’s second tally of the game, to go along with an assist, and Nemchinov’s second helper.
“Winning the championship title this year means the world,” said Nemchinov, the Hatters’ captain. “I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my senior year.
“All the boys stepped up when it mattered most, and that is what makes us a great team. We never had a doubt in our minds.”
Joey Mangin also scored, while Aiden North and Luca Staffieri added assists.
The winning goalie was Patrick Murphy, who made 23 saves. In the other crease, PW goalie Max Yoder was outstanding, turning away 39 shots.
Cooper Kanze had two goals and assist for PW, which also received a goal from Brandon Woolridge and two assists from Danny Guller. Ryan Jagher added an assist.
Hatboro-Horsham 2-0-1-1 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-1-1-0 3
Shots: HH 43, PW 36; Saves: Patrick Murphy (HH) 33, Max Yoder (PW) 39.
First period: 1. William Moffa Jr HH (Nathan Nemchinov/Aiden North) 13:59; 2. Brandon Wooldridge PW (Cooper Kanze/Daniel Guller) 12:42; 3. Vincent Graziani HH (Luca Staffieri) 5:27.
Second period: 4. Cooper Kanze PW, 3:00.
Third period: 5. Joseph Magnin Jr (Nathan Nemchinov/Vincent Graziani) 13:29; 6. Cooper Kanze PW (Daniel Guller/Ryan Jagher) 7:57.
Overtime: 7. Vincent Graziani HH (Nathan Nemchinov) 16:32
- Log in to post comments
