April 12, 1993
Germantown Academy made it’s best effort, but the 3-2 lost ended its quest for the Flyers Cup
Germantown Academy saved its very best for last despite a 3-2 loss to Monsignor Bonner last Monday night in the Flyers Cup Class AAA championship finals at the Skatium in Havertown. The defeat ended a glorious season for the Patriots. “There is no doubt in my mind that the last game was the best game we played all season,” Germantown Academy coach John Ioia said. “A bounce here or there and we beat the best team in the area. This was a very young team that improved its skill and gained in confidence all season long.” The Patriots had a roster that consisted of just three seniors, a junior, nine sophomores, two freshmen, and an eighth grader. “Every single game we played in the playoffs, we played better than the one before it,” Ioia said. “Starting with the Council Rock series in our league [Suburban High School Hockey League] semifinals, all the way through to the Flyers Cup finals with Bonner, these kids matured quickly and improved their play on the ice. We weren’t lucky to get to the Flyers Cup finals we beat some good teams to get there. Council Rock, Archbishop Ryan, and William Tennent are all excellent hockey programs.” The Bonner program is also acknowledged to be one of the finest in the Philadelphia area. The defending Flyers Cup-champion Friars were given all they could handle in defense of the Cup against the young Patriots.
Germantown Academy took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by sophomore Ryan Kilstein. The goal, assisted- ed by freshman Mike Holmes, was the only score of the first period. The Friars rallied for two goals in the second period to take a lead they would never relinquish. Mark Anziedo and Ed Smith beat Patriot sen- ior goaltender Mike Marino. The Fri- ars’ Rich Tremonte scored, giving Bonner a 3-1 lead early in the third period. “Marino played an excellent game, and the goals they scored he could do little about,” Ioia said. “Mike peaked for us late in the season, and that was one of the reasons we were able to make a run in the playoffs.” Germantown Academy made a run late in the game to make the Friars earn the victory. With the goaltender pulled and the Patriots already on a power play, senior Mike Sivel scored with 41 seconds left in the game to make the score 3-2. The goal came on an assist from sophomore
Curt Goldman, who had won a face-off in the Bonner zone. “Bonner had called timeout before the faceoff, so we decided to set something different up,” Ioia said. “Mike usually takes the faceoffs, but we let Curt take this one and had Mike on the left side to take a shot. Curt won the faceoff, and Mike let go with a great shot.” Germantown Academy left the goaltender on the bench for the final 41 seconds and put numerous rushes on the Bonner goaltender in an effort to force overtime. Sophomore Rob Shaner just missed a scoring opportunity, and Sivel had a couple of great shots that just went wide in the final frantic moments. “We had a ton of chances in the last minute, but we just didn’t put the puck in the net,” Sivel said. “I think we proved to everyone that we could play with Bonner, and getting to the Flyers Cup finals proved that we had a really good season. “Nobody thought we could beat either William Tennent or Council Rock, and by beating them we proved that we were a pretty good team. I thought we were as good as Bonner, too, but we just didn’t score enough goals to beat them.” Germantown Academy will graduate three outstanding players in Sivel, Marino, and defenseman Dave Perisho. But the Patriots will return experienced varsity players in Goldman, Shaner, Kilstein, Holmes, Josh Lowe, Jeremy Brooks, Rich Podulka, Dave Morgan, Joe Lonergan, Will Robertson, David Dratch, Scott Hinman and Scott Goldman. “We will miss the seniors, but I look for kids to step up and assume the leadership roles next season,” Ioia said. “This could well be a group of kids that you can look for to win championships next year.”
By Scott Huff
The Philadelphia Inquirer
