LebCo Varsity Ice Hockey Update: January 2, 2023

The two 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.

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Annville-Cleona Dutchmen Ice Hockey

Viola Division of the CPIHL

Current Record: 9-3-0-1, 4th place

Season Goals by Period: 1st – 15 / 2nd – 14 / 3rd – 23 / OT – 2 / Total – 54

Last 5 Games: WLWLW

• • 12/6: Annville-Cleona 10, Pottstown 0
  • 12/13: Keystone Kraken 2, Annville-Cleona 1 (OT)
  • 12/15: Annville-Cleona 7, Central Dauphin 0
  • 12/18: Elizabethtown 7, Annville-Cleona 2
  • 12/20: Annville-Cleona 3, Warwick 0

Season Update: Due to being able to provide developmental opportunities at both the middle school and junior varsity levels, Cedar Crest made the decision to merge with Annville-Cleona for the 2023-2024 season. Cedar Crest made the playoffs last year, and the new relationship is paying off for the two recently united programs.

With only three games remaining, Annville is in a prime position to make this year’s playoffs. Six of their nine wins came during a long winning streak that spanned from November 17th through December 6th. The streak included two dramatic overtime wins, with Dawson Martin netting a game-winner against Central York on November 27th and Dylan Musser doing the same against the Susquehanna Stampede on December 4th. In AC’s most recent game on December 20th, Liam Jean took an assist from Mason Brandt in the 3rd period to notch a key win over Warwick.

The offensive effort has been spread around, as four players have scored 6 goals or more. Leading the way has been Musser with 10 goals and 4 assists. Ethan Ritchie is second on the team in points, as he has scored 7 goals and assisted on 5 more. Blake Boyer, also with 7 goals, has assisted on 3 goals. With 11 points, Cian Soliday has registered 6 goals and 5 assists.

Overall, Annville has outscored its opponents 54-40, ranking 5th in goals allowed per game. Much of this outstanding defensive effort has resulted from the play of goalies Gabe Deller and Peyton Renninger. The two have split time in net and have a save percentage of 87%, stopping 262 of the 302 shots they’ve faced.

With what is left in the regular season, Annville-Cleona will look to finish up strong and enter the playoffs with a healthy, fine-tuned unit.

       Palmyra Cougars Ice Hockey

Bears Division of the CPIHL

Current Record: 6-3-1, 4th place

Season Goals by Period: 1st – 7 / 2nd – 18 / 3rd – 11 / OT – 1 / Total – 37

Last 5 Games: WTLLW

• • 12/1: Palmyra 2, Hershey 1
  • 12/11: Palmyra 4, Dallastown 4 (OT)
  • 12/15: Central Dauphin 3, Palmyra 2
  • 12/18: Lower Dauphin 5, Palmyra 3
  • 12/20: Palmyra 4, Northern Berks 3 (OT)

Season Update: Ten games into the season, the Cougars are sitting in 4th place in the CPIHL Bears Division. With seven games remaining, they will aim to finish strong to make it back into the playoffs after finishing just one spot out of qualifying last year.

This year’s playoff push got off to an exciting start in Palmyra’s most recent game on December 20th. On the road against Northern Berks, Ajay Horowitz took a pass from Carson Edwards to give the orange and black the 4-3 overtime victory. It was Horowitz’s second goal of the game after he had scored a go-ahead goal in the 2nd period as well.

Offensively, Palmyra has netted 36 goals in its first ten contests. Noah Poleshuk has led the charge with 7 goals and 6 assists. Tying Poleshuk for the team-high with 13 points is Zachary Blaszynski, who has 6 goals and 7 assists. Lincoln Moyer is also in the double-digit point club, as he has scored 6 goals and assisted on 4 others.

While there has been a notable offensive effort, the defense has been the big story for Palmyra. They are currently second in the league behind only Hershey in goals allowed. While the defensive unit has kept things on lockdown, the play of netminder Colton Pavlesich has been the big story for the Cougars. While facing the third-most shots of any goaltender in the league, Pavlesich has put forth a save percentage of .896, which is second in the league. The fact that Palmyra has given up only 30 goals is notable as they battle through the 2nd half of the season.

Palmyra has eight regular season games remaining. The most brutal stretch will begin tomorrow night, as they will host Lower Dauphin in what will be the first of four games in eight nights. This stretch will have a considerable impact on where Palmyra will fall in the playoff order. What will make it easier is that three of those games will be played on home ice at Klick Lewis.