1981 Carroll captures Flyers Cup again

Gary Vetre and Frank DiGiandomenico were out of the doghouse and back on the bench coaching last night as Archbishop Carroll smoked Haverford High, 9-0, in the final to sweep the Flyers Cup championship at Penn’s Class of ’23 Rink for the second consecutive year. Before the start of Flyers Cup action, which featured four teams in round-robin play with the top two advancing to the final. Vetre and DiGiandomenico were suspended by officials of the Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League. They were thrown into the league’s doghouse because alcoholic beverages were found in Carroll’s locker room after the championship game. So, the co-coaches could do little but cheer and seethe for three games. “To me, the decision to suspend our coaches was questionable,” said defenseman Carmen DiGiandomenico, who happens to be Frank’s son. “But it was up to the league to determine who was at fault [reportedly, parents carried champagne into the locker room while Vetre and Frank DiGiandomenico were still celebrating on the ice] and the decision was made. In life, that’s how things are. “THE WAY WE looked at it, we were playing with a two-man disadvantage for three straight games.” Actually, the Patriots display so much offensive prowess, they could dominate with a mannequin behind the bench. Still, blood is thicker than the water that makes ice, especially when you consider that Carmen coaxed Frank into coaching. “My father has coached me for about eight of the 10 years I’ve been playing, including a long stretch with the Little Flyers, Carmen said. “He even helped out with Carroll one year. Last year, when Dave Callaghan quit, I tried to talk him into coming back.”

“I really didn’t want to come back,” Frank admitted, “but Carmen kept mentioning how he wanted another Flyers Cup championship in his senior year and how I’d be able to help. I went to Gary assistant to Callaghan in ’80] and asked if he’d like some help and he said he’d be glad to have me aboard. “I’m the holler guy and Gary’s kind of quiet. But we work well together.” Sophomore Jeff Arnold paced the blitz with 5 goals and 2 assists, winning the Bobby Clarke Award (MVP). DiGiandomenico was almost as productive in the other direction, supplying one goal and five assists. Phil Chamness (1 goal, 3 assists), Pat Marra (1 goal) and Tom Puhl (1 goal) also aided the cause. Goalies Rob Schnorr (32 minutes) and Tom McCullough (13) minutes) divided the shutout, making 16 saves between them. “THAT’S WHAT was great, keeping them off the board,” Carmen DiGiandomenico enthused. “My job is to keep the puck away from the net and out of the net. Since nothing went in, 1 guess I did my job pretty well. “This championship is much better than last year’s, for the simple reason that I’m a senior and captain.” “For me,” said Vetre, “this championship is better because it’s here and now. Last year’s championship seems distant. “The kids gave us a solid performance. We put it to them right off the bat.” “We admit it. We wanted a shutout,” said Frank DiGiandomenico. “We wanted to shut them down completely.” Now, with one cup in hand, Carroll will try for another on Sunday night, again at Penn (7:30 p.m.). The opposition for the Pennsylvania Cup, also sponsored by the Flyers, will be a team from the western part of the state.