By GORDON GLANTZ
It’s unofficially official.
When Plymouth Whitemarsh scored a 7-4 decision over Hatboro Horsham on Feb. 11, it pretty much sealed up the top spot in the American Division – and an all-important first-round bye for the Colonials.
PW is now 13-2 with a game pending against Wissahickon Thursday (7:10 Hatfield Gray) while HH fell to 12-2 with a game Wednesday against Abington (9 p.m., Grundy B).
“PW would need to lose and we would need to win,” said HH coach Shane Smith. “Otherwise, it’s locked in – PW first seed and HH second. Unless PW loses to Wissahickon, first and second are set.”
But Smith sees it as a minor setback, as the Hatters were not at full strength lately. Center Billy Moffa (11 goals, 13 assists) sustained a minor ankle fracture blocking a shot in club hockey while Joe Mangin (10 goals, 3 assists) and defenseman Reid Rochestie (7 goals, 15 assists) were sitting out with suspensions while defenseman Kyle Roesing (4 goals, 7 assists) was also unavailable
“We are starting to get our best players back at the right time,” said Smith, adding that Moffa will be seeing the doctor for an evaluation. “Kyle (Roesing) and Joey (Mangin) will be back for the next game.”
For his part, PW coach Vince Forti will use the likely bye to his advantage, although he is counting on nothing.
Wisshickon is 2-1-1 in its last four games.
“We haven’t secured the bye yet and Wissahickon has been playing really well, so we are focused on them right now,” he said. “If we do secure the bye, we will have a good practice and prepare for whoever we see next.
“We will most likely only have a few days between practice and our next game, so the boys will get some rest and be ready for the next matchup.”
And that next matchup will be either Wissahickon or Springfield, who will decide the third and final playoff spot the way it should be -- on the ice Wednesday (9 p.m., BCI).
Even though the Spartans (6-9) have won the prior three meetings – 10-0 on Nov. 20, 8-5 on Jan. 22 and 9-7 on Feb. 6 – the Trojans (5-8-1) could still pull into third with a win.
“Any time we play Springfield, we know it’s going to be competitive,” said Wissahickon coach James Rumsey. “There’s a lot of respect between the programs. Over the years, we’ve gone back and forth, and that speaks to how evenly matched the teams are.”
As for the late-season surge, which included an overtime win over HH that shook up the standings, Rumsey said there was no magic button being pushed.
“We really haven’t changed our focus, though,” he continued. “We talked to our players all the time about playing the right way, managing the puck, being responsible in our zone and staying composed so we can give ourselves an opportunity.”
The Trojans have been lifted by freshman Chase McClintic, who joined the team halfway through the season and has 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists) in 7 games.
He is now fourth on team in scoring behind Mack Risnychok (18 goals, 11 assists), Logan Dicus (12 goals, 13 assists) and Joseph Gambino (10 goals, 10 assists).
The Spartans counter with senior sniper Grayson Quinn (22 goals, 14 assists), Gavin McManus (13 goals, 10 assists), Kellen Warman (7 goals, 14 assists), John Barr (4 goals, 12 assists), Lincoln Coleman (7 goals, 7 assists) and Owen Campbell (7 goals, 1 assist).
With each team featuring plenty of firepower, it may come down to the goaltenders – Springfield’s Emmett Kline (5.30 goals against, .815 save percentage) and Wissahickon’s Fletcher Lynch (6.36, .822) – literally saving the season.
“I am sure both Wissahickon and us are ready for the challenge,” said Springfield coach Don Quinn. “It should be a fun game and we’re happy to have the opportunity to be battling for a playoff spot again this season.”
The Home Stretch
The only sure things in the National Division are that unbeaten North Penn will finish first and rebuilding programs like Neshaminy and Central Bucks West will not make the postseason, although they will faceoff Tuesday (7:20, Grundy B) with a chance to end their seasons on a high note.
As for second place, and a first-round bye, Central Bucks South gained the inside track with a recent 5-2 win over Council Rock South.
The Titans (11-3) control their own destiny. Wins over Pennsbury (9-5-1) Wednesday (8:30, Hatfield Gray) and Souderton Thursday (8:30, Hatfield Blue) would lock down second place and a first-round bye, even if Council Rock South (12-3) were to knock the Knights (15-0) from the ranks of the unbeaten on Tuesday (7:20, Hatfield Blue).
While it can get it in with a C.B. East win over Pennridge on Friday, Souderton can punch its ticket outright with an upset win over C.B. South Thursday (8:30, Hatfield Gray).
Back on Dec. 3, the Titans topped Souderton, 11-5, but that feels a bit like ancient history now.
Souderton will be riding the wave a three-game winning streak and is at full strength.
“We have to win this game, pretty much, to get into the playoffs,” said Souderton senior forward Jules Kaminsky, who is second on the team with 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) while playing in all 15 games. “I think that we can do it. I’ve seen them, and they are better than us. We are the underdogs, but I’m thinking about how much effort we have put into the season, I think that we can do it.
“It’s always so up in the air. High school games change by the second, by the game.”
Whatever the landscape looks like when the dust settles, Souderton coach Ryan Uchniat couldn’t be more proud of his team’s spirit, especially after top player and team leader Max Ryon was lost to a broken wrist in mid-December that kept him out until the first week of February.
Buoyed by leaders like Ryon, along with Cam Fairweather and Matt Cross, Souderton has remained in the mix.
“I’m very happy about it,” said Uchniat, who took a hiatus last season. “They’re rallying. They have seen about as much adversity as any team has seen – injuries, playing with less than 10 skaters, multiple 10-goal losses. They have never dwelled on it or threw in the towel. They looked forward and stayed positive.”
Scoring Races
As the regular season winds down, it is worth taking a closer look at the scoring races.
In the National Division, Pennsbury’s Shane Gleisner is leading the way with 55 points (37 goals, 18 assists).
He is followed by North Penn’s Sam Norton, who has 43 points (19 goals, 24 assists) and Council Rock’s South’s all-time scoring leader Jake Weiner, who has 42 points (30 goals, 12 assists).
Back from injury, Souderton’s Ryon now sits at fourth with 41 points (27 goals, 14 assists) in just 10 games.
Next on the docket are North Penn’s Chris Silvotti (20 goals, 17 assists for 37 points) C.B. South’s Ryan Frey with 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) and North Penn’s Nolan Shingle (17 goals, 16 assists for 33 points).
Izzy Cabrales (10 goals, 24 assists), also of North Penn, and Pennsbury’s Shane Hicks (15 goals, 19 assists) are next with 34 points apiece.
Over in the American Division’s scoring race, HH’s Vince Graziani leads the way with 52 points (28 goals, 24 assists).
He is followed by PW’s Daniel Guller, who has 48 points (17 goals and a division-high 31 assists) and HH’s Nathan Nemchinov (42 points on 23 goals and 19 assists).
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