Paul Greg was the winger that played with Lang and Latare. Confirmed by Mike Pietrangelo.

Yeah, Gregg sounds right. Don't know where I got the Jewish last name from. He was a beast, though - I spent many games on my butt on the ice looking up at him.

-Comments from Jim Gannon (Asked me to post this as he is having trouble signing on)

Paul Trump - Pennsbury Defense (played in 84, 85, 86) left for his senior year to play at Tabor Academy. Had 4 Division 1 scholarship offers to choose from following his junior year at Pennsbury. He decided on Boston College because he was going to be reunited with Brian Leetch a boyhood friend from Connecticut who he had played youth hockey with for a number of years growing up. As a matter of fact Brian Leetch showed him around the campus during his visit to BC. The BC coach at the time thought it would be good for Paul to go to Tabor to get ready for college hockey. During the 2nd half of his senior year at Tabor, Paul came down with cancer. Paul won the battle over his illness over the next several months but lost about 30lbs in the process. All the scholarship offers were rescinded and he never had the chance to play again. As a freshman in high school, he was in my opinion, the best defensemen in the LBCSHL. To this day he was the best high school defensemen I’ve ever seen play in 30 plus years.



Antti Autere – (84, 85, 86) Came to Pennsbury from Finland in 1984 as an exchange student. He fell in love with the country and has never left. He can be seen refereeing games in the Phila area primarily in the SHSHL and LBCSHL. As a player he was feared by everyone in the LBCSHL. He became a target because he was European and at the time, most hockey people had a bias against Europeans because they were thought to be soft. Antti was far from soft; in fact he soon became feared by most players because of his physical game. Of course he was then branded “dirty” but he actually only gave back what was coming his way. He was originally a defenseman but was moved to center because of his great offensive skills. After graduating from Pennsbury he went on to play in the USHL with Omaha and became an all star in that league. I think he played 2 seasons there and then played in the ECHL for a season or two. I was told by his Omaha coach that the only thing that would keep him from the NHL was his size. Antti was about 5’10 and 185lbs and at the time the trend was for much bigger defensemen in the league, unless of course your name was Brian Leetch.

Are we forgetting Matt Herniesen / Boyertown AAA 1996/97. Then Toronto Marlies /Bantam , US team development played with Umberger and the like . Also played in the "O" with the Petes and the Greyhounds . He is now playing in the ECHL for Reading .

How about that goalie from Germantown Academy in the early 80's? I think his name was Mike Richter

quote:

Originally posted by plym_20:
Who are the best HS players from this area ever? I can only speak of guys I either played against late 80's or early 90's, or guys I've seen in the past couple years. I'm sure there are guys who have left to play Prep or Juniors, but let's limit it to guys who played HS in this area. From "my era", I'd have to go with Larry Wendler (1989 grad year - either Rock or North Penn, don't remember exactly - it was a navy blue blur on the ice), Eric Tye (deadly slap shot from Wood), or Lang and Latare (1990 grad year)from Tennant. Wendler used to kill 2 minute minors by just skating the puck in circles himself. Best I played with was Donny Quinn of La Salle - he was a freshman when I was a senior in 91. I think he led our team in points as a first line center as a freshman with 3 points per game. By the time he was a senior (1994) I believe he was a 100 points + guy. He really was the beginning of La Salle being a very good team (and also the beginning of the school fully funding the program).

Eric Tye had a great slap shot and was a decent player, but most teams wouldn't hit him because of his half arm. Refs were more likely to call players for penalties for hitting Eric.

Best player I played with was John Schierbaum, East High School '88. He had 55 goals and 42 assists his Junior year in 18 games. He was a defensemen.

What about Jamie Leach son of Reggie played 79 games in the NHL. Forgot Mike Richter stanley cup winner for the NY Rangers. Mark & Stephen Richards of CBE, Mark on USA Jr National team, Hockey East All Star at UMASS Lowell, Steve USA select 16, 17 and 18 played for Ohio State as a defensemen and lead team in scoring for three years. Scott Shaw goaltender from Wm. Tennent played for Kent State, Andy Ross, Doug and Dave Smink of Conestoga, Jack and Tim Craig of GA, Jack played at Princeton and Tim at Middleburry. The Goldman brothers who all played a Middlebury and won several National Titles. Wally M. the now La Salle coach who played for Norwich Univ. So many former great HS players and I'm sure many more to come. I look forward to seeing more names as it brings back great memories.

Scott Shaw played in the ECHL as well (One game) but he retired undefeated, 1-0-0!

I'll be skating with him tonight.

Ray Stasiak? I hear that Roman Bussetti was feared in his HS days.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Sacks:
Ray Stasiak? I hear that Roman Bussetti was feared in his HS days.

Ray Staszak's claim to fame, beside being the first person from Pennsylvania to play in the NHL, was that he signed the largest free agent contract and was never drafted. Ray only played 4 games with the Detroit Red Wings. He was sent down to their AHL team, the Adirondack Red Wings, shortly thereafter during the 1985-86 season. His team went on to beat the Hershey Bears for the Calder Cup that year. I attended a game in Hershey during the final. I had skated with Ray several times and couldn't believe how fast he was, but during the Calder Cup Finals, I saw how many players were faster than him. What made Ray special was his work-ethic and his hard-nosed playing style. He was a true power forward.

quote:

Originally posted by Behind the Bench:
What about Jamie Leach son of Reggie played 79 games in the NHL. Forgot Mike Richter stanley cup winner for the NY Rangers. Mark & Stephen Richards of CBE, Mark on USA Jr National team, Hockey East All Star at UMASS Lowell, Steve USA select 16, 17 and 18 played for Ohio State as a defensemen and lead team in scoring for three years. Scott Shaw goaltender from Wm. Tennent played for Kent State, Andy Ross, Doug and Dave Smink of Conestoga, Jack and Tim Craig of GA, Jack played at Princeton and Tim at Middleburry. The Goldman brothers who all played a Middlebury and won several National Titles. Wally M. the now La Salle coach who played for Norwich Univ. So many former great HS players and I'm sure many more to come. I look forward to seeing more names as it brings back great memories.

I think Jamie even won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1991. I watched him twice during his junior year at Cherry Hill East. He was tremendous and dominated both those games. He could hit and score. The Cherry Hill team won the Flyers Cup in 1985 and they were unstoppable.

quote:

Originally posted by Behind the Bench:
. Andy Ross, Doug and Dave Smink of Conestoga,

Schierbaum played at Oswego State and was all conference, he also had a short stint in the minor leagues. Ross played many, many years in the minors. Doug Smink went on to play at Williams.

Western Pa Nominations

NHLers
R.J. Umberger Plum HS
Did some nice things at both ends of the State and was a terror in two years of HS. Flyers will miss him !

Ryan Malone Upper St Clair
Was not that great of a HS player, but is a lesson to us all about never knowing what can happen. Is pulling down some big bucks with Tampa.

John Zeiler Thomas Jefferson
3 State Championships with TJ in late 90's. Now with Los Angeles Kings organization after 4 years with St Lawrence

Billy Thomas Fox Chapel
had a decent HS career and then headed to USHL and won Clark Cup with Tri-Cities, then was top 10 NCAA D1 scorer with Nebraska Omaha and then Phoenix NHL and just signed with Pittsburgh Penguins

Notables
John Mooney Serra
Scored over 100 goals with Serra and went on to Colorado College until serious injury playing in ECHL. Lead Serra to 3 State Championships as Head Coach

Mike Sargo Gateway
Scored 108 Goals in Class AAA and then set every record at WVU playing D 1 ACHA. Finally got cut by Wilkes Barre Scranton of AHL

Ryan Smart Meadville
4 Time State Champion at Meadville then to Cornell NCAA D1 and then was drafted by New Jersey Devils. Headed to Medical School, which proves he may be the smartest player as well

Christian Hanson, Matt Clackson, Chris Clackson, Matt Schwartz Eric Trax and Christian Minella......there were not enough pucks at Peters Twp for this quintet of players who all played on the same HS team, all played Major Junior A and all played Division 1 Hockey. Peters Twp pounded Carroll 10-3 in 2002 and then Holy Ghost Prep 9-3 in 2003 and these were not bad teams folks they beat. Ghost had Gunderson and Worthington.....and Jeff Nolan owes my a car wash because the highly touted Ghost got waxed at IceLine

Jeff Nolan IS a Ghost....haven't seen the man in three years!