May 26, 2011
ICE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ken McCormick
The senior scored a league-best 95 points in 36 games and led Pennsbury to the SHSHL finals.
Among his hockey-playing peers, Ken McCormick is something of an anomaly. The Pennsbury senior doesn’t play club hockey anymore, choosing to confine his efforts to the high school season. His primary sport is baseball; he was the Falcons’ starting center fielder and will be in the outfield for Philadelphia University next year. But when he’s on skates, his passion for hockey is readily apparent. Arguably the most explosive offensive player in the area this season, McCormick led the Suburban High School Hockey League in scoring, collecting 54 goals and 41 assists for 95 points in 36 games. McCormick’s efforts earned him the Golden Teams Player of the Year award and propelled Pennsbury into the SHSHL championship series. The Falcons upset defending champion Council Rock South in the semifinals before dropping two straight games to Central Bucks East in the best-of-three finals. Pennsbury moved on to the Flyers Cup tournament from there, but fell to Cherokee, N.J., in the round of 16. A satisfying season to be sure, but McCormick said and he and his teammates could have gone farther. “We accomplished a lot,” he said. “I don’t think our expectations were too high. I think we were just overmatched. The Jersey teams just kill us.” McCormick particularly enjoyed teaming up with linemate Mike Hlatky, who produced 60 points this season. The tandem also formed the centerpiece of a dangerous power-play unit, scoring 18 power-play goals between them. “We had perfect chemistry,” McCormick said. “We always knew where each other was going to be.” McCormick played club hockey growing up, but gave it up to focus on baseball and his academic responsibilities. He played just 36 games this season; some high school players who also play club hockey see double that amount of ice time or more. McCormick didn’t think he was at a disadvantage, however. “Being on the ice every day doesn’t help you all that much,” he said. “Over the course of the season, I think I had the jump on those guys.” While the close of the 2011 season brings down the curtain on McCormick’s hockey career, he’s taking an abundance of warm memories with him as he leaves the ice. “Hockey really taught me discipline,” he said, “to work toward the goals you have for yourself.McCormick will also miss playing for Pennsbury coach John Bria, who coached him at the club level as well. “He was like a father figure to me,” McCormick said. “He showed me how to work through tough times.”
All-Area Team (Bucks County)
FIRST TEAM
Forward: Ken McCormick, Pennsbury, Senior, Led the entire SHSL in scoring with 54 goals and 41 assists for 95 points in 36 games, including 13 power-play goals + An explosive offensive player who led the Falcons to the SHSHL title game and the Flyers Cup tournament
Forward: Patrick Grilli, Council Rock South, Senior, Second in the SHSHL in scoring with 46 goals and 32 assists, while leading his team to the Flyers Cup title + Outstanding puck handler and passer as well as a prolific goal scorer
Forward: Brendan Bradley, Holy Ghost Prep, Senior, Leading scorer for a team that reached the Flyers Cup Class AAA semifinals + Finished with 23 goals and 29 assists … Expected to play Tier One junior hockey next season
Defense: David Bowman, Holy Ghost Prep, Senior, Played a key role on the blue line as the Firebirds reached the Flyers Cup Class AA semifinals … Also produced five goals and 11 assists … Played four years of varsity hockey despite knee issues
Defense: Zack Goodman, Council Rock South, Senior, Stellar defenseman missed part of the season with a hand injury, but made a big impact before and afterward … Was an offensive force with seven goals and 21 assists
Goaltender: Eric Horrox, William Tennent, Senior, Saw an abundance of shots night after night but kept his team in games with his play between the pipes … Led Panthers to the second round of the Flyers Cup
SECOND TEAM
Forward: Mike Hlatky, Pennsbury, Senior
Forward: D.J. Bell, Neshaminy, Senior
Forward: Cameron Goodell, William Tennent, Senior
Defense: Dan Ufberg, Council Rock South, Junior
Defense: Phillip Herring, Pennsbury, Senior
Goaltender: Steve Jastrow, Council Rock South, Senior
By Rick Woelfel
The Bucks County Courier Times
