March 17, 2003
ICE HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
Class AA. Archbishop Carroll will have a chance to win its fourth straight Flyers Cup Class AA championship thanks to a dramatic four-game winning streak in the Inter-County League Class AA playoffs. The Patriots were near post-season elimination for the second straight season before they responded with two straight victories over Council Rock in the double-elimination series. Carroll, the three-time defending Flyers Cup Class AA champion and Inter-County League champion, will open the 16-team Flyers Cup Class AA playoffs at 8 o’clock tonight against Lower Dauphin at the Hershey Twin Ponds East Arena. “Lower Dauphin will represent a challenge to us,” coach Bill Hammond said. “They’re basically a Class AAA team playing down a level this year. We’re primed, and I think, after the playoffs, we’re primed to play well.” Carroll (13-10-1) is 6-1 in its last seven games. The Patriots en- joyed a similar hot streak last year in becoming the first team to win three straight Flyers Cup titles. “The kids are just working hard and they’re determined to win,” Hammond said. “The poise my team has in the playoffs has been unbelievable.” Carroll is getting scoring from senior Dom DiSanto, junior Matt Lisowski, and freshmen John Piotrowicz and Greg Manz. Freshman Mike Silver has been strong in the net after transferring from Coatesville. There is a potential blockbuster matchup in the Class AA championship if Carroll and Holy Ghost Prep, an offensive power, advance. The only place the two area teams could meet is in the finals.
Class AAA. The title in this division is expected to go through Malvern Prep, which is attempting to become the first team to win three straight crowns in Class AAA. On Wednesday night, the Friars, who have a first-round bye, will play the winner of the Washington Township-Monsignor Bon- ner game. The Friars will enter the Flyers Cup playoffs with a 15-1 record in the Class AAA Elite League, and a 26-3-1 mark overall. If the Friars are challenged, La Salle could be the team to do it. The Explorers handed Malvern Prep its only league loss this season, by 1-0, two weeks ago. A dark horse could be Archbishop Ryan, who tested Malvern during the regular season before losing. “We have to continue playing as a team, with all five guys supporting each other,” said Father Ed Casey, Malvern’s assistant coach. “Even in our loss against La Salle, we outshot them 31-19,” he said. “We’ve had scoring chances, and we just have to focus on our defensive assignments. We can’t make mistakes against teams like La Salle. We’re a veteran team with big-game experience. We’re confident.” The Friars had the lowest goals-against average in the Elite Class AAA Division, 1.25. Junior Mark Cetola posted five shutouts in 16 league games.
Class A. Radnor is shooting for its second straight Flyers Cup Class A crown, and the Red Raiders appear capable of repeating. The core of the team consists of senior Lee Sinkow; juniors Chris Brennan, Nick Ryder, and Ed Devine; and junior goaltend- er Joni Ek. Radnor (20-1) will open the Flyers Cup playoffs against Chichester at 8:45 tonight at Ice Line in West Chester. “I think we have the most skilled team in the Class A division, but we’re a young team,” coach Ed Ritti said. “There are teams that could challenge us physically, but I don’t know if there is a team that could challenge us skill-wise.” Ek is one of the best goaltenders in the area. He has the potential to shut teams down. “We’re not blowing teams out, but we’re only giving up 11 or 12 shots a game,” Ritti said. “It’s OK if any team gets shots on us because we have Joni back there. We’ll have two of our toughest games all year in the Flyers Cup.” Threats could come from Boyertown and Malvern Prep II.
By Joe Santoliquito
The Philadelphia Inquirer
