1988 All-Area Team (Delco)

John Schierbaum’s 1987-1988 scholastic ice hockey season got off to a slow start. The West Chester East senior had shoulder problems when the season began, and he missed a few of the Vikings’ early-season games. However, once his season got fully underway and once he got into his flow, Schierbaum showed the rest of the ICSHL (Intercounty Scholastic Hockey League) that he was serious about his game. Schierbaum was serious enough about his game that he led the entire league in scoring, despite missing a few games and despite playing as a defenseman. Schierbaum finished the regular season with 69 points, which was six points more than the combined total of the next two highest-scoring defenders. FOR HIS scoring prowess and overall high-quality play on the ice this year, Schierbaum has been named the Daily Local News 1988 Ice Hockey Player of the Year. Schierbaum, who is also one of the area’s top players in AHAUS (Amateur Hockey Association of the United States) youth hockey, concluded the regular season as the ICSHL’s top goal scorer with 42 and top point-producer with 69. He was also tied for fourth in assists with 27. “John is the kind of player that, as long as he was on the ice, there was a good chance our team could win,” said West Chester East coach Jim Turner. “He’s so talented he can turn a game around all by himself.”

Schierbaum was solid as a defensive defenseman and stellar as an attacking defenseman. Frequently over the course of last season, Schierbaum would demoralize opposing teams with his end-to-end skating and scoring plays. “John has tremendous quickness and superb lateral movement,” said Turner. “He’s not a big guy, but he is durable. He never got hurt because no one ever got a good piece of him. He is just too quick and too shifty.” Skating speed is one of Schierbaum’s biggest attributes. His quickness, coupled with a strong shot and a good knowledge of how the game should be played, made Schierbaum a lethal offensive threat for the Vikings. “John is an excellent skater and an excellent shooter,” said Turner. “He has tremendous skills, and he just flat-out loves to play hockey.” Paced by Schierbaum’s leadership and scoring ability, the West Chester East squad turned in a strong season and finished fourth overall, one point behind rival West Chester Henderson. Schierbaum, who was the only defenseman among the ICSHL’s league-leading scorers, accounted for over one-third of the team’s 125 goals for the season. “John really meant a lot to our team this year,” said Turner. “He is an outstanding young man and a great individual.