(Photo provided courtesy of Mark Allen. To view photo galleries, click on the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f807679856)
By GORDON GLANTZ
With no league games since a 4-2 win over Abington back on Jan. 7, Hatboro-Horsham – the defending SHSHL American Conference champions - had a long time to contemplate how they are positioned for the stretch run.
“We had a big break, but we filled it in with a couple of scrimmages,” said HH coach Shane Smith. “We played Pennridge and C.B. West. We filled it in with a couple of games, just to keep us active and to keep it moving along.”
The Hatters are currently 11-1 and are in first place, but with the caveat that Plymouth has two games in hand.
Smith’s troops will be back in action on Jan. 29 against Wissahickon (3-7) with a puck drop at 8:30 at Hatfield Gray.
“We have been saying all along to just try and treat every game as if it’s the Flyers Cup,” said Smith. “We are trying to focus out for when we see some harder competition.”
The Hatters, currently No. 4 in the Flyers Cup power rankings in the Single-A field, advanced to the second round a year ago, beating Radnor before falling to Hershey.
The games circled on the immediate schedule are the remaining meetings with natural rival PW, who the Hatters topped for the crown last year. The two teams will meet Feb. 5 (8:50, Hatfield Gray) and Feb. 11 (9 p.m., Hatfield Blue).
Barring no major upsets, it will come down to those clashes of the American Division titans to decide who gets the coveted bye in the first round of th SHSHL playoffs.
“PW will be a challenge,” said Smith. “We have already split the series with them, and there is a good chance we will split the series with them again. We are going to do our best to get that first-round bye.”
On the Offensive
The Hatters are paced by the dynamic duo of super sophomore Vincent Graziani (21 goals, 21 assists) and senior captain Nathan Nemchinov (19 goals, 18 assists).
“Both of those guys were there last year,” Smith said. “We put together a line. I moved Nemchinov and put him on a line with Graziani, and there was just an instant click and it continued through to this year. It became magical to watch.”
They flank physical center Billy Moffa (11 goals, 13 assists), an assistant captain, on the first line.
“I picked him mostly for his size,” said Smith. “Nemchinov and Graziani are both smaller in stature. Moffa is over six feet and he is a pretty solid guy. We thought that would go well, giving that line a little bit of grit. It has worked out well.”
Joey Mangin (9 goals, 3 assists) centers a second line that includes Cole Meyer (3 goals, 7 assists), Evan Snow (3 goals, 5 assists) and Gio Bucci (4 goals, 3 assists) on the wings.
Whichever one of the wingers isn’t on the second line in alternating periods will center the third line.
Meanwhile, Smith knows he has a first-line talent in Mangin.
“I explained to him that he gets the chance to be the showpiece of that line, and he really is,” said Smith. “He’s a really solid player, and he deserves to be on the first line. One of them just had to drop down.”
The Back End
Luca Steffieri (13 goals, 12 assists), assistant captain Reid Rochestie (6 goals, 14 assists) and Aiden North(6 goals, 14 assists) are joined on the blue line by pleasant surprise Kyle Roesing (4 goals, 4 assists).
“We have four solid defensemen," said Smith. “Kyle Roesing is a freshman, but he brings a lot to the table. He is a very solid defenseman.”
Smith had the luxury of two solid goalies – junior and returning starter Eric Miller (6-1 in seven starts with a 2.71 goals against average and an .868 save percentage) and freshman sensation Domenic Sestito (unbeaten in five starts, 1.73 goals against average).
Now, a junior transfer from La Salle, Patrick Murphy, creates an embarrassment of riches.
Murphy has started some non-league games and also seen time as a skater in two games, adding a goal.
It’s easier to manage two goalies than it is three goalies, but it works out,” said Smith. “Patrick also plays for Genesis, so he gets playing time there. Our other two are high school goaltenders only. They don’t play club.”
Making a Mark
What is at stake for this group of Hatters is a chance to rewrite the history books.
An American Conference title would mean back-to-back for the first time in school history
“Also, to get another call for the Flyers Cup, would be the first time in school history that we had two Flyers Cup invitation,” said Smith. “We would like to make as deep of a push as possible. First, you have to get the invite. Then, you have to do your job once you get there.”
With that goal in mind, Smith feels his team is in a good place mentally to forge forward.
“A lot of the guys, they don’t feel like we have won the league yet,” said Smith. “They know we have work left to do. They also feel like we can make a strong push in the Flyers Cup. There is a lot of hope within the team, and I like that they have that hope and that they are willing to work for it.”
Team to Watch
In the National Division, Central Bucks South is firmly entrenched in third place, behind North Penn and Council Rock South.
Three of the Titans’ four remaining games are against teams below them in the standings, positioning them for a strong finish to ride into the postseason.
The one team above them in the standings remaining on the schedule is C.R. South (Feb. 11, 7:30, Grundy B), but the Titans gave the Hawks a good battle in a 3-0 loss on Nov. 12.
All signs point in the right direction for making a statement to end the regular season for a team that improved to 8-3 Wednesday with a narrow 3-2 win over Central Bucks East.
“Yes, a hundred percent,” said coach Josh Sklar, who moved up through the ranks as an assistant coach to take over the top spot this season. “We are looking to finish the season strong. I think every game is winnable the rest of the year, so we’re looking to compete and build momentum for a playoff run.”
Strong Foundation
The Titans are the type of a team you don’t want to see in the postseason, as they are one of the most deep and balanced teams in the circuit, with eight players with at least nine points.
Ryan Frey (8 goals, 15 assists), Ryan Montagna (10 goals, 10 assists), Joey Slobodrian (8 goals, 5 assists), Dominic Gibson (8 goals, 9 assists in only eight games played), Nolan Selingo (8 goals, 3 assists) and Owen Frey (4 goals, 7 asssts) lead the offense.
Sklar, who singled out J.D. Crouch (6 goals, 4 assists) and Braxton Lord (2 goals, 7 assists) as defensive anchors, also has an ace in the hole with goalie Nathan Napalitano (2.79 goals against average, .902 save percentage).
“I think our goalie is top three in the league, if not the best in our league,” said Sklar. “He gives us a chance to win every game and gives us the confidence to play the way we want to play.”
Surging
If C.B. South is a sleeper team to watch, the same could be said of Pennridge.
The Rams, who started the year 1-5, overcame a 2-0 deficit Wednesday to stun powerful Council Rock South, 7-5, in a penalty-riddled game.
The Rams, who has lost two games in overtime, are now 4-1 in their last five games.
Bittersweet in the loss for the Hawks (9-2 and two game behind unbeaten North Penn) was the fact that Jake Weiner dishing out three assists to become C.R. South’s all-scoring leader with 217 points.
Ironically, if the season ended today, the Titans and Rams would face each other in the first round of the postseason as the third and sixth seeds, with North Penn and Council Rock getting byes.
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