By the time the game was barely three minutes old the Firebirds had a 2-0 lead. They added a third goal before the first period ended and went on to a 4-1 win over Malvern Prep in an APAC semifinal game at Grundy Arena.
Top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep (17-4-1) which is unbeaten in its last seven games, will face La Salle in the Founders Cup title game next Wednesday at the same venue (5 p.m. start). Fourth-seeded Malvern Prep will find out Sunday night where and when it will start play in the Class AAA Flyers Cup.
The loudest note of the night was sounded on the first shot of the game. William Hamar found the back of the net with forehander from between the circles just 15 seconds into the first period. Brady Logue made it a 2-0 game not quite three minutes later.
The Friars and the Firebirds split two regular-season meetings; Malvern Prep prevailed at Grundy Arena 4-2 on November 20. With that result in mind, Logue spoke to the importance of a fast start.
“Losing on home ice always leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Logue said, “so we tried to get them back. (The Firebirds later won on Malvern Prep’s home ice.) Brian Kinniry added a goal with 1:50 left in the opening session. From that point on Malvern Prep was skating uphill.
“I think we came out flat in the beginning of the fame,” said Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan. “Ghost popped two goals in early.
“I think the second and third periods our boys’ energy was there. I thought we battled hard in the corners. The effort was there.”
Indeed. The team battle on essentially even terms for most of the rest of the way.
Teague Murray was able to solve Holy Ghost Prep netminder Jack Unger with a shorthanded effort with 1:33 remaining.
Logue scored his second goal of the game.
Unger finished his evening with 22 saves.
“Obviously we came out strong,” he said. “A goal in the first 15 seconds of the game really, really helped. When that happens, it gets the confidence level up for the whole team.”
Holy Ghost Prep coach John Ritchie says Wednesday night marked a fresh start not just for his team but for everyone in the APAC.
“Everybody is going to kind of amp up their play a little bit,” he said. “Everything is going to be tougher, we’ve got to fight for everything.
“Obviously it was nice to get the first shot on goal going in, but we’ve got to clean some stuff up and get better.”
Malvern Prep 0 0 1—1
Holy Ghost Prep 3 0 1—4
First-period goals: William Harmar (HGP) from Brady Logue and Joe Spadaccino, :15; Brady Logue (HGP) from Ryan Lippy and Harvard, 3:10; Brian Kinniry (HGP) from Lucas Gonzalez and Jack Unger, 15:10
Third-period goals: Teague Murray (MP) from Paxton Hoishik 15:27 (sh); Logue (HGP) from Spadaccino and Harmar, 16:20
Shots: Malvern Prep 23, Holy Ghost Prep 28; Saves: Matt Crawford (MP) 23, Jack Unger (HGP) 22
– Rick Woelfel, www.hockeyhappenings.com
