The Spartan Ice Hockey team will be making their second appearance in the Flyers Cup Scholastic Championships Monday night at the Patriot Center in Newark. If you are wondering what the Flyers Cup is about, the answer would depend on what state the team(s) competing in it hails from. The invitational tournament, held by the Philadelphia Flyers was started in 1980, to determine the eastern Pennsylvania scholastic champions. With the winners from three tiers (AAA - private schools,
AA - public schools, and A - small public schools) meeting the winners of the Penguins Cup (western Pennsylvania champions) to determine the Pennsylvania State High School Ice Hockey Champions. A division for Pennsylvania girls scholastic teams was created in 2009. And a tournament for Delaware and Southern New Jersey teams added in 2014.
For Delaware and New Jersey teams it is essentially a postseason invitational tournament with little more than pride and bragging rights at stake. New Jersey has their own state tournament , while Delaware has no system in place, with teams competing in both local and neighboring state leagues. Salesianum became the first team from Delaware to win the tournament in it's four year existence, with their
7 - 0 defeat of Moorestown (NJ) last season. The Sals are back to defend their title as the #2 seed. Joining them from Delaware are the Spartans (#3 seed), Delaware Military Academy (#5 seed), and Appoquinimink (#9 seed). Games will be played in both states with the championship slated for March 15th at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.
AA - public schools, and A - small public schools) meeting the winners of the Penguins Cup (western Pennsylvania champions) to determine the Pennsylvania State High School Ice Hockey Champions. A division for Pennsylvania girls scholastic teams was created in 2009. And a tournament for Delaware and Southern New Jersey teams added in 2014.
For Delaware and New Jersey teams it is essentially a postseason invitational tournament with little more than pride and bragging rights at stake. New Jersey has their own state tournament , while Delaware has no system in place, with teams competing in both local and neighboring state leagues. Salesianum became the first team from Delaware to win the tournament in it's four year existence, with their
7 - 0 defeat of Moorestown (NJ) last season. The Sals are back to defend their title as the #2 seed. Joining them from Delaware are the Spartans (#3 seed), Delaware Military Academy (#5 seed), and Appoquinimink (#9 seed). Games will be played in both states with the championship slated for March 15th at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.
St. Mark's made their first appearance in 2016 falling 8 - 1 to eventual champion Cherokee High School (NJ). As the 8th seed the Spartans traveled to New Jersey for their initiation into the annual affair. This time around, as a higher seed, they will have the benefit of opening the tournament on home ice. However, the competition they face should prove equally as tough. Three of the past four cup champions make up this years field, including Salesianum, who St. Mark's could possibly meet in the second round. For the Spartans, the road to the championship starts with Eastern Regional High School. Located in Voorhees New Jersey, Eastern Regional is a large public school, that is nationally known for it's field hockey. The Vikings own the record for the nation's longest unbeaten streak and have won 21 state titles. Their ice hockey team has not come close to reaching that level of success, however they have made their mark in the region as well.
A onetime South Jersey power, Eastern Regional had won four league titles in seven years between 1998 and 2004. The program had dropped off but was rebuilt in 2015, and quickly returned to it's winning ways. Playing in Tier 1 of the South Jersey High School Hockey League, the Vikings won back to back titles, just missing the three-peat with an overtime loss to the Cherokee Chiefs in the final this year. Eastern Regional finished 3rd in one of the leagues toughest divisions with a
13 - 5 record. They have a potent offense, averaging 6.44 goals a game, that is led by #88 Conor Riley (33 goals, 60 pts), and #85 Max Kouznetsov (38 goals, 53 pts). Defensively they are a solid group, allowing 2.61 goals a game, with two capable goalies in #23 Isaac Bleicher (2.86 gaa, .916 sv%) and #32 Trevor Shannon (1.78 gaa, .878 sv%). #3 Constantine Roustas leads the team in penalty minutes (45). The Vikings will present a difficult challenge for St. Mark's. Keeping Riley and Kouznetsov off the score sheet is key if they want to advance.
The game is 7:30 at the Patriot Center in Newark. If you can not attend you can listen to the live play by play of James Witherite at DeHockeyNight.Com
(Editors note: Eastern Regional's record, standing, and player stats are based on regular season results.)
A onetime South Jersey power, Eastern Regional had won four league titles in seven years between 1998 and 2004. The program had dropped off but was rebuilt in 2015, and quickly returned to it's winning ways. Playing in Tier 1 of the South Jersey High School Hockey League, the Vikings won back to back titles, just missing the three-peat with an overtime loss to the Cherokee Chiefs in the final this year. Eastern Regional finished 3rd in one of the leagues toughest divisions with a
13 - 5 record. They have a potent offense, averaging 6.44 goals a game, that is led by #88 Conor Riley (33 goals, 60 pts), and #85 Max Kouznetsov (38 goals, 53 pts). Defensively they are a solid group, allowing 2.61 goals a game, with two capable goalies in #23 Isaac Bleicher (2.86 gaa, .916 sv%) and #32 Trevor Shannon (1.78 gaa, .878 sv%). #3 Constantine Roustas leads the team in penalty minutes (45). The Vikings will present a difficult challenge for St. Mark's. Keeping Riley and Kouznetsov off the score sheet is key if they want to advance.
The game is 7:30 at the Patriot Center in Newark. If you can not attend you can listen to the live play by play of James Witherite at DeHockeyNight.Com
(Editors note: Eastern Regional's record, standing, and player stats are based on regular season results.)