LebCo Varsity Ice Hockey Update: December 12

Insight provided by TJ Fasnacht (LebCoSports Hockey Contributor)

The three county programs compete as club teams in the Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (CPIHL).  Due to the club status of these organization, the teams have the ability to pull from areas that would not otherwise fall within their school district.

  Annville-Cleona Dutchmen Ice Hockey

Viola Division of the CPIHL

Head Coach: Josh Nelson / Brenden Freeman

Current Record: 1-7; 9th place

Last 5 Games: LWLLL

• • 11/11: Warwick 5, Annville-Cleona 4
  • 11/16: Annville-Cleona 8, Pottstown 3
  • 11/28: Penn Manor 8, Annville-Cleona 2
  • 12/7: Twin Valley 6, Annville-Cleona 1
  • 12/9: Central York 9, Annville-Cleona 1

Season Update:  When looking at the final scores of Annville-Cleona’s games, it is safe to say that the season is not going according to plan.  They are currently 1-7 and losers of their last three.  One of the major reasons for this is the shot differential that is weighing heavily against AC.  Though the team sits in 9^th place, only three Violia Division goalies have more saves than Peyton Renninger.  The major focus will have to be on limiting opponent’s opportunities, which should lead to more offensive opportunities each game.  They are not without the scoring talent, being led by Zander Meily, who has six goals on the season.  Dylan Musser has three goals and two assists.  Zachary Frentz has four goals.  In total, seven Dutchmen have lit the lamp.  If they hope to salvage the season, they will need to increase the frequency at which they are scoring.

    Cedar Crest Falcons Ice Hockey

Bears Division of the CPIHL

Head Coach: Kevin Long

Current Record: 3-5; 7th place

Last 5 Games:  WLLLL

• • 11/9: Cedar Crest 6, Dallastown 5
  • 11/21: Hershey 5, Cedar Crest 2
  • 11/28: Schuylkill Valley 5, Cedar Crest 2
  • 12/2: Hempfield/Manheim Township 9, Cedar Crest 5
  • 12/7: Lower Dauphin 6, Cedar Crest 2

Season Update:  After starting the season with a 3-1 record, Cedar Crest has hit a bit of a rough patch.  There is still time to turn the season around, but they will first need to limit the number of goals they are surrendering.  In the last four games, they have given up twenty-five goals and cannot keep pace.  This is not the fault of one individual, especially when you consider that goaltender Thomas Winsett has a .854 save percentage and ranks second in the Bears Division in saves and shots faced.  Offensively, there is also a lot of talent that is on the ice.  Anthony Long leads the Falcons with eight goals (including a hat trick against Hempfield/Township), while also providing three assists.  Speaking of goal creation, Keygan Paquette leads the team with nine assists, while also scoring a goal of his own.  Two players have eight total points: Ben Feeman (three goals, five assists) and Bryant Alspaugh (four goals, four assists).  Overall, eleven Falcons have registered at least one goal.  With ten games remaining, Cedar Crest has time to turn things around, but it will have to start with putting more pressure on the opponent to reduce the pressure their own defense has been facing.

       Palmyra Cougars Ice Hockey

Bears Division of the CPIHL

Head Coach: Andrew Anderson

Current Record: 2-7; 10th place

Last 5 Games: LWLLW

• • 11/14: Lower Dauphin 9, Palmyra 4
  • 11/18: Palmyra 7, Hempfield/Manheim Township 3
  • 11/21: Elizabethtown/Middletown 6, Palmyra 3
  • 11/30: Central Dauphin 8, Palmyra 0
  • 12/2: Palmyra 3, Schuylkill Valley 2

Season Update: Since we last checked in with the Palmyra Cougars, they have gone 1-2 and sit at two wins for the season. The good news is that both of those wins have come in the last four games, after starting the season losing their first five.  The even better news is that they scored an exciting overtime win against Schuylkill Valley, with Benjamin Bell scoring the game winning goal after teammate Lincoln Moyer had scored the equalizer late in the third period.  This should help to provide some momentum as they open the next leg of their schedule this week.  Beyond Moyer (3 goals, 1 assist) and Bell (3 goals, 4 assists), Palmyra has benefitted for offensive threats from several players.  Leading the team are Noah Poleshuk (7 goals, 3 assists), Zachary Blaszynski (4 goals, 4 assists), and Johnny Eldridge (4 goals, 3 assists).  They Cougars still have a chance to claw their ways back into playoff contention, but they will need to ride the wave of momentum to the creation of consistency.

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