By GORDON GLANTZ
Souderton coach Ryan Uchniat is back in the saddle this season, and he couldn’t be more pleased with a team that makes up what it lacks in depth (12 skaters and one goalie) with a lot of heart.
“I took the year off to spend time with the family a little bit more,” said Uchniat. “I found some solid ground, and I was able to make the comeback.
“It’s been going good. It’s always a challenge. Every week is a challenge, but I like that. We also have a great group of kids. It just feels good to be back, to see the competition and to be a part of it.”
The Indians were 3-2-1 through six games.
“I like to think we are right there in that second tier, but we certainly have the tools to make things competitive,” said Uchniat, who felt a recent 11-5 setback against Council Rock South on Dec. 3, one of the top teams in the National, shed some light on where his squad is in its ongoing progression. “I feel like there are some things we have to work on. We have the parts. We have the tools. It’s just about putting it all together.
“I think we’re within striking distance.”
What has impressed the veteran coach the most is that everyone has played a role.
“Everyone is putting in contributions. With such a small roster, there is a lot of ice to go around,” said Uchniat. “It can be a good thing or a bad thing in certain scenarios, but the team has thrived off it. We have a couple of freshmen who are really adding to the mix here.”
Key Ingredients
In terms of being poised to make noise, Souderton always has a chance with center and captain Max Ryon, who has an astounding 11 goals and 8 assists in 5 outings.
“He’s going to hit the 200-plus point total at Souderton, which I believe will be the first in history for us,” said Uchniat.
However, the coach was quick to add that Ryon adds so much more than just what is on the stat sheet.
“He’s not only a great player, but he’s a great leader and teammate,” said Uchniat. “He is always focused on what we need to do to give ourselves the best chance.
“He’s good to every teammate. I can’t say enough about his character and his work ethic. He speaks up, but he doesn’t speak down.”
While Ryon plays at the Tier 1 club level, it doesn’t affect his approach as Souderton’s key ingredient.
Said Uchniat: “He comes to Souderton with the same mindset of, ‘If I’m on the ice, I’m working hard and making things happen.’ He is such a crucial piece to this team and he has been, really, since his freshman year.”
Uchniat would not be surprised to see Ryon take a gap year and play junior hockey before trying to give it a go as a college student-athlete.
“He’s one of the few players that I have seen come through who can play at that level,” said the coach. “It certainly would take a lot of work, but he is an individual that loves putting in work. He comes from a family where all they know is to work hard.
“He’s coachable. Whoever is trying to help him get better, he’s listening. At Souderton, I pretty much say, ‘Hey, go out there and play your game and just be the leader that you are,’ and that’s what he does.”
First Line of Offense
On the top line, Ryon is flanked by Julia “Jules” Kaminsky (9 goals, 4 assists) and Jackson Kelly (6 goals, 7 assists), a natural center who also works in the pivot with the third line and is money on faceoffs.
“He sees the ice very well,” said Uchniat of Kelly. “He is a strong body out there, and he wins a lot of puck battles. He does a good job of controlling the puck, and he just has a natural eye for putting the puck in the net.”
They have carried the scoring load in the absence of Matthew Cross, who had 3 goals and an assist in one game before being lost indefinitely with a broken elbow sustained in a club game, and Drew Saverese (2 games, 1 goal).
With production upfront, including smooth skating freshman Evan Siegler (1 goal, 5 assists) and fellow frosh Pierce Miller (3 goals, assist), Uchniat has had the luxury of moving Cameron Fairweather (3 goals, 9 assists) to the blue line, where he leads a trio that includes Caden O’Neill (8 assists) and Pierceson Egan.
The move of Fairweather to defense, which echoed of when Herb Brooks did the same with Bob Christian on the legendary 1980 U.S.A. Gold Medal Olympic team, came after the first game and has paid dividends.
“He’s a forward, but he’s such a great skater,” said Uchniat. “He has a high engine, and he is a puck-moving defenseman. We like to see him have the puck.
“He is still racking up some points, especially a lot of assists, from the back end.”
Although Egan has no points yet, Uchniat praised his play as defensive defenseman who hits and blocks shots and wins puck battles.
“He plays a fearless game,” said the coach. “He puts his body on the line. He’s a good teammate, and is very coachable. He is player that any coach likes to have on his team.”
Last Line of Defense
The goalie, the only one on the roster, is Alex Archer. A year ago, Archer was new to the position. This year, he is playing like a seasoned veteran, according to Uchniat, with a 5.45 goals against average and a .732 save percentage.
Those numbers were a bit inflated after giving up 11 tallies in the Council Rock South loss.
“We are fortunate to even have one goalie,” said Uchniat. “Last year, when I certainly still kept tabs on the team, we were fortunate to have Alex come over. It was his first year of playing hockey last year. He is just an athlete, and he picked up the position really quickly.”
At present, Uchniat has complete confidence in his junior goalie.
“This year, he is a legitimate varsity goaltender,” said the coach. “He has all the skills, and he’s got the work ethic.
“He’s our workhorse this year, and he’s certainly built for it.”
Girl Power
While there are some other females in the league, none has had the impact of Kaminsky, who is in her second year with the Indians and is lighting the lamp at a torrid pace alongside Ryon and Kelly.
While she has the skill set, she also plays with the right mindset.
“It’s a whole different beast, and she doesn’t shy away from the contact,” said Uchniat. “She gets to the gritty areas, and that’s where a lot of her goals are coming from. She has this patience. She sees the ice really well.
“Where a lot of us would dump pucks off really quick, she holds onto it and make a quick shuffle move and things open up for her. She’s got that hockey IQ. She has the skills, and she’s fearless.”
Souderton also has another young lady on its roster in Daylin Egan, and Uchniat is pleased with the freshman’s progress.
He said: “This was a big jump for her, but she a similar type of attitude that Jules has. It’s this, ‘I can do it, too, attitude.’ She’s fearless. It’s, like, ‘Give me a challenge and I’m going to do the best I can with it.’”
Uchniat added that he is familiar with Egan, a former figure skater who wanted to give hockey a try and who was recently named captain of her club team, the 14U Lady Patriots.
“I’ve coached her every year since middle school, and she has gotten better every year,” said Uchniat. “She comes from a hockey family. What she has accomplished this year is incredible.”
Growing Trend
The two young ladies with Souderton are not as much of an anomaly as one would think.
A few seasons ago, Isabella Carter became the first female to play for Central Bucks West.
This year, her younger sister, Sophia Carter (as well as goaltending brother, Joseph) are with the Bucks, whose roster also includes Emily Kremser and Jillian Thornburg.
While Pennridge has a girls’ team, there are other young ladies playing in the SHSHL.
Neshaminy has a female netminder, Gianna Raggio (5.57 goals against, .594 save percentage) who has posted a pair of wins in two starts.
Samantha Mazzo has skated in five games so far for Central Bucks South.
While all deserve credit for playing with and against males in a contact sport, none have had the statistical impact of Kaminsky.
“Points aside, she plays a competitive game,” said Uchniat. “Regardless of gender, she has excelled at the varsity level.
“I just happy she is playing with us here.”
American Girls
In the American Division, there are also several female players.
Abington’s Katherine Wenhold has a goal and an assist so far and teammate Kayley Lang has a tally to her name.
Springfield’s roster includes Mathilde Boccella while Brielle Rumsey -- the daughter of coach, James Rumsey – is back for her fourth varsity season with the Trojans.
Caitlin Campbell, who was a backup goalie for Wissahickon last year, is listed as a forward on the roster.
Meanwhile, Autumn Li is rostered with Hatboro Horsham.
While the majority of the aforementioned female players in the SHSHL also play for the Lady Patriots, HH’s Li suits up for the Little Flyers.
Express Train to Splitsville
The two big meetings last week between Hatboro Horsham and Plymouth Whitemarsh turned out to leave the division’s two powerhouses where they were before.
While PW earned a 5-3 triumph on Dec. 3, HH bounced back two nights later to hang a 7-3 decision on their rival.
The Colonials will have their best chance to close the gap when the Hatters have no league games between Jan. 7 and Jan. 29.
Games to Watch
Springfield, which is 2-4 and led by Grayson Quinn (11 goals, 2 assists) and Gavin McManus (5 goals, 5 assists) will take on PW Thursday (7:10, Hatfield Gray).
Wissahickon also 2-4, will be looking for a third straight win over Abington (0-5-1). The Trojans have a pair of narrow wins (2-1 in overtime to open the season and 6-4) over the Ghosts, who are led by defenseman Luke Cunningham (2 goals, 2 assists) and backstopped by Matthew Evangelist (.845 save percentage).
Wissahickon is led by Mack Risnychok (6 goals, 4 assists) and Logan Dicus (6 goals, 3 assists), who have accounted for all but two of their team’s 14 goals thus far.
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