1997 Malvern Prep captures Flyers Cup

Malvern Prep hockey coach John Graves, just back from a weekend vacation in Puerto Rico, was sporting a deep tan. After his Friars disposed of Council Rock, 5- 2, last night at the Skatium in Havertown, he was also brandishing a big-time smile. Malvern Prep won the best-of-three Class AAA Flyers Cup championship series, 2-1. It was the Friars’ first title since 1990 and their third overall. “It is really rewarding to win the Flyers Cup,” said Graves, the team’s second-year coach. “Council Rock has a solid team, with an outstanding line of forwards, and it took our best effort to beat them.” The Friars (32-3-2) will meet Bethel Park (24-0-1), the Western champion, for the Class AAA state title April 12 at Ice Line in West Chester. “They’ve got a very good goalie,” said Graves. “We’re going to have to get a lot of good scoring opportunities.”
Seniors Jared Ingersoll (two assists) and Matt Matlack each recorded two goals to pace the Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League champions.
After a scoreless first period, Malvern grabbed a 2-0 lead on second-period goals by Matlack and Ingersoll. Matlack followed home a slapshot with 9 minutes, 33 seconds remaining in the period. Less than two minutes later, Ingersoll, selected as the game’s most valuable player, converted a blue-line turnover into a goal, backhanding a shot over goalie Ryan Young’s shoulder. The Indians, two-time champions of the Suburban High School Hockey League, made it a 2-1 game midway through the second period on senior Matt Skinner’s shorthanded tally. Ingersoll broke the game open early in the third period. Hovering near the goal, he stuffed a shot past Young and gave

the Friars a 3-1 lead. Matlack’s second goal and a tally by senior teammate Oliver Bedwell ended Malvern’s scoring. Rock head coach Paul Gilligan was not behind the team’s bench. He was suspended for two games for a postgame altercation he had with Graves after Rock’s 6-4 victory in Game 1. Assistant coach Steve Karl assumed Gilligan’s duties. “We had some power-play chances,” he said, “but we didn’t cash in on them.” At the buzzer, the Malvern players mobbed goaltender Jeff Furchak, a junior who came. up big numerous times in the second quarter. Said Graves: “He stopped the shots he had to and kept us in the game until we were able to score a few goals.” Malvern won Game 2 of the series Friday, 4- 2, at the CoreStates Spectrum. Freshman Chris Lawrence paced that effort with two goals and an assist. Graves said the team had adjusted after its loss in Game 1. “We went into a much more conservative forechecking system,” he said, “and that helped stop a lot of their offensive. breakouts.” Skinner totaled eight goals and four assists for Rock during the tournament. He sparked the Indians in Game 1 of the championship series with three goals and two assists.

MALVERN PREP……………0-2-3–5
COUNCIL ROCK……………0-1-1–2