John Schierbaum began his high school playing career with the West Chester Henderson Warriors, which was a combined program of players from both Henderson and East, but ended with the West Chester East Vikings. Schierbaum was a high-scoring converted defenseman in high school, from his normal position at forward, to extend his playing time. John excelled from his freshman year through his senior year, a gifted player with great hands and vision of the ice that seemed second to none. During his freshman year, John played sparingly at the varsity level, as the coach’s philosophy didn’t align with first-year players seeing any or much ice time playing varsity. As a sophomore, Schierbaum collected a very respectable 36 goals and 18 assists for a total of 54 points. He was second to the team’s leading scorer, Leland Newell, who had 74 points. While his overall points were lower than the team […]

Sam Lipkin went to and played for the La Salle College High School Explorers from 2017 through 2019. He was an impact player on offense with exceptional speed, intelligence, and play-making ability. Lipkin played on and anchored one of the best offensive lines in the league with teammates Daniel Sambuco, and Michael Casey. Sam tallied 24G | 36A for 60 points in only 25 games as the leading scorer for the Explorers. In the 2018-2019 season, the Explorers raced through the APAC (Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference) winning the Class AAA Flyers Cup, and Pennsylvania Cup Championships. After the 2019 school year, Lipkin chose to leave La Salle, heading up the turnpike to play for the North Jersey Avalanche where he billeted with a family while he played for the club. I am uncertain where and how he completed his final two years of high school, unfortunately, I cannot elaborate. Sam […]

Jim Britt went to and played for the Holy Ghost Prep Firebirds of the Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League, “LBCSHL.” Britt was a standout goaltender for the Firebirds, playing his entire high school career for prep. Britt’s story is a bit different than most. As a student at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, his main interest in studying was to work in the sports industry in some capacity, which specifically didn’t really matter to him, so long as he did what he wanted to do for a career, in hockey. He began his career while still in college as an intern with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, otherwise known as “The Baby Pens.” His first job was in ticket sales, though not the ideal situation, it was his foot in the door so-to-speak. Throughout his tenure with the minor league affiliate, Britt eventually went on to work in various roles for the […]

Joe Houk went to and played for the Council Rock Golden Hawks, otherwise known as “South”. He was an impact player on defense with impressive skills both on the blueline and with the puck offensively. Joe’s nickname was “Chippy” for his chipped tooth, in his freshman year he won the “Freshman Award”. Houk began his hockey career as a forward, playing for both South and the Philadelphia Junior Flyers of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. But one day his high school coach, Marc Rago, approached him about filling in on defense. “The coach came up to me and said: ‘We need a defenseman for the next game.’ I was a youngster, the only freshman on the team, just happy to be there,” Houk recalled. “I said: ‘I’ll try’. I went out there against the other team’s best forward and completely shut him down. “The coach said I might as well […]

Mike Pietrangelo went to and played for the William Tennent Panthers of the Suburban High School Hockey League. He was a high-scoring forward who led his team and the league in points in the 1992, (39 goals and 41 assists for 81 points) season. Pietrangelo led the Panthers to an SHSHL title after beating Council Rock two games to one in the best-of-three championship series. Tennent went on to the Class AAA Flyers Cup final against Monsignor Bonner where they lost 3-1. In his senior year, 1993, Mike led his team again en route to another SHSHL championship winning the league title in back-to-back seasons. The Panthers went on to lose their Flyers Cup bid in the semi-finals against the Germantown Academy Patriots, 5-3. William Tennent Panthers highlights Mike moved on to Penn State University to complete his education. He played ACHA Division ll club hockey for the Icers. In […]

Barry Goers went to and played for the Council Rock Indians, (North) in both the SHSHL and ICSHL and was a standout defenseman. As a junior and senior, he was a two-time All-Star team member in high school. He was named Breakaway Magazine’s Defenseman of the Year as a senior when he graduated from Council Rock in 2004. After high school Barry played two seasons for the Green Mountain Glades of the EJHL in Burlington, Vermont. he appeared in 91 games for the Glades, recording 10 goals and 54 assists for 64 points, he was EJHL Defensive Player of the Year in 2005-06 and captained the Glades as well. Goers was a two-time EJHL All-Star in both seasons. He also played in the EJHL All-Star game against the USA U18 team. Barry played college hockey for the UMass-Lowell River Hawks from 2006 to 2010. During his freshman season, on January […]

Ryan Gunderson went to and played for Holy Ghost Prep of the Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League, “LBCSHL.” The gifted Firebird forward played all four years of high school eligibility piling up milestones and achievements. In Ryan’s freshman year 1999-00, he posted almost 50 points with 14 goals, and 29 assists for 43 points. Additionally, his tier-one Valley Forge Minutemen won the coveted Silver Stick Tournament in Ontario, Canada. In 2000-01 Ryan suffered a shoulder injury which limited his playing time, but he still managed to compile 11 goals, and 24 assists for 35 points. In 2001-02 he went on a tear scoring 29 goals, and 47 assists for 76 points leading both the Firebirds and the LBCSHL as Leading scorer. At season’s end, Ryan was awarded the Breakaway Magazine Mike Condon Award (sportsmanship), Courier Times Ice Hockey Player of the Year, and Courier Times All-Area Ice Hockey first […]

Brian O’Neill went to and played for Germantown Academy High School of the Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League, “ICSHL.” Brian played three years for the Patriots, in which they won the ICSHL title in 2005. In his first season, Brian was named Breakaway Magazine Freshman of the Year. In his sophomore, and junior years he was named Breakaway Magazine “Player of the Year”, and while the Patriots went to the Flyers Cup Finals in those years, they were runner-up both times. However, Brian was named the 2005 Flyers Cup MVP, and leading scorer. In 2006 Brian was again the Flyers Cup leading scorer award winner. He was the ICSHL Class AAA leading scorer in both 2005 and 2006. O’Neill was also a Varsity golfer as well with the lowest score in all three years. Leading up to his senior year, O’Neill never seriously considered playing collegiately because it wasn’t a popular […]

Jeff Corey went to and played for the Cardinal O’Hara Lions of the Eastern High School Hockey League, “EHSHL.” A gifted 5’11”, 155 lb. (at the time) winger, Corey led the Lions in his junior year with 25 goals and 16 assists for 41 points. Jeff was the Inquirer first pick, All-Area First Team, Philadelphia Inquirer Player of the Year for the Main Line/Delaware County area, and Eastern High School Hockey League’s AAA division MVP after the 1999 season. Corey, unlike many of the players who made it to the professional ranks, chose a different path to get there. Instead of heading off to prep school, he headed out to Plymouth, MI to try out for the OHL Junior A, Compu-Ware Ambassadors. While things didn’t work out as planned, he found his way to the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede. After three seasons with the Stampede, Corey transitioned to […]

Scott Adams went to and played for the Neshaminy Redskins of the LBCSHL, “Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League. The lanky 6’4 Adams played defense, mainly because the physical side of the game appealed to him, offense, not so much. Adams’ journey into officiating began in college, due to his physical presence and understanding of the game he learned quickly. “I started to referee to make a little money during my college years and USA hockey saw me and moved me up the ladder relatively quickly,” Adams said. At the time a person of Scott’s stature, size, and physical strength was appealing in professional hockey officiating mainly because fighting was still a large part of the game, and big men in stripes were very much a welcomed commodity. USA hockey shipped Adams off to Lake Placid, and Colorado Springs where he honed his officiating skills. Shortly thereafter Scott was refereeing […]

Scott Perdue went to and played for Haverford High School where he played goalie. In the 1981-82 season, the Fords won the EHSHL Championship against Malvern Prep. Perdue was awarded the league’s best goals-against average. They played in the Flyers Cup that year but didn’t do well, Scott’s best memory was playing against Mike Richter. During his school career, Scott missed his sophomore year due to a knee injury but In his senior year, his 5th season playing organized hockey, it was his best. In the 1982-83 season, Perdue planned to try out for the Hershey Jr. Bears but the season never happened because the head coach had a heart attack and their season was canceled. Hockey was essentially over as Scott went off to trade school where he graduated in 1984. In the summer of 1985, while playing men’s league at the Skatium in Havertown, Scott got to know […]

Luke Murray went to and played for the Archbishop Wood Vikings of the SHSHL, “Suburban High School Hockey League.” Luke played between the pipes for the Vikings during his high school career. The Hatboro, Pennsylvania, native graduated from Temple University in 2005, and has also been a member of the Camden County (New Jersey) Police Department and Horsham (Pennsylvania) Township Police Department. Prior to becoming a professional referee, Luke worked roller hockey games in Kensington before ice hockey and debuted officiating youth games in 1998.  He worked National Championship youth games, Pennsylvania high school title games, and Flyers Cup finals. After graduating high school, he worked varsity games and, at age 19, began working college club hockey. Luke attended USA Hockey Officiating Development camps in Vermont and New York and became active in USA Hockey’s junior development program, traveling throughout the Midwest and even to Texas. “Long car rides, long […]