What does everyone see happening in the A semis tomorrow at Ice Line. A lot of people (cough cough RK and Matt Sacks) had PV winning the A division. So what does everyone think Saturdays finals will look like? An upset in either game would not surprise me.

Kennett (1) Vs. Springfield (4)

This game worries me for my pools sake I do have these teams playing each other but it was a tough to pick a winner. Both teams won their respective leagues, which are arguably the two best leagues in the area. Last year the Springfield team got “robbed” in the flyers cup final by Penncrest, I don’t mean by officiating or anything, Springfield beat Penncrest each time they faced them all year but Penncrest used their flyers cup experience and rode their goaltender for their 2nd straight flyers cup win. With all of that Springfield will be very eager to try and make it back to the flyers cup finals and with their rich flyers cup history its hard to pick against them, but this Springfield team is very different form last years. Goaltending is a strong point for Kennett and Springfield; they will both need their goalies to have a great game if they want to win this game. I give the goaltending edge to Springfield. I think each teams best player is a defensemen, (Mc Garry for Kennett and Hayden for Springfield) however I think Kennett is stronger defensively with Mc Garry getting support by Conrad, Palmer and Ciallella. So I think this game wit will come down to which teams forwards for and back check the best and I have to give that edge to Kennett with both Hodges and Berlin they have the stronger forward core. I think the team that controls the neutral zone should be able to pull this one out. I am going with Kennett by 2.

Henderson (6) Hershey (10)
With the 2 and 3 seeds not surviving this game is the story of the “Cinderella’s” Last year Hershey had a good flyers cup run with their best player back in the line up (Lewis) they have been looking sharp this flyers cup. Going into the tournament Henderson was my dark horse in the “A” division; I have them making it all the way to the finals. Henderson is pretty weak on defense but I think Latta and Cottele can keep enough offensive pressure for Henderson to win the game. I take Henderson by 2.

Just a shot in the dark....

Springfield vs Kennett will be a defensive battle. Both teams have good goaltending and top shelf defensemen. This may come down to the lucky goal wins. I wouldn't expect to see too many breakaway flashy goals. It will most likely be a grinding match in front of the nets.

Henderson - Hershey

I have not seen Hershey play however they are obviously doing well as they progress to another round in the tournament.
Henderson has lots of speed and a dominant offense but they don't play the physical game. Hershey will have to lay some hits on the Henderson scorers early and keep them from getting good looks at the net. If Hershey cannot contain the Henderson offense and slow them down it may be a long night for Hershey.

I had PV winning before I knew their goalie was hanging out with Mickey Mouse....had I known he wouldnt be playing, I would not have had them beating Hershey and probably not beating Penncrest. I asked Rick if I could change the pick to Hershey before the game was played and he wouldn't do it.

If hershey wants to win, they have to change their game plan to shut down Latta and Cottle. If hershey doesnt have good defensemen they have no chance coming away with the W. You have to understand the plays that Latta runs to shut them down (delay across the blue line, coming out short side when behind the net, ect. ). I take henderson in the win. I also take kennett, as they tied springfield in a tornament earlier this year (missing some of their top players).

Matt,

How disappointing is the PV goalie (leaving name out) situation. I know that the coaches PLEADED with both the boy and the mother about making the right choice (as I'm sure his teammate did as well). I guess you can never again go to Disney World as a senior right? I don't know what criteria you're using to determine positional players of the year, but the fact that he left his team out to dry would eliminate him from my vote. I actually know more on this situation, and it only makes it more outrageous, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate for a public forum. It's sad, but I have seen a growing trend, particularly in HS players, with the level of commitment (or lack thereof), and this example only crystallizes this issue.

Every other sport is scheduled around events such as prom and senior trip. You know why their senior trip was scheduled now? Because other winter sports are over and spring hasn't really gotten started yet. Also, do you know how much money the kid would have lost if he didn't go?? Cancellation fees, etc. Give the kid a break! And no I am not related to the kid in any way, I just think he is getting a raw deal.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hkyfan,

Remember, Disney World IS the happiest place on Earth. It's the best.

yeah, but he pretty much BLEW PV's chance at the state tourney this year... i dont blame him though...disney world is a magical place

I never saw the kid play, but he must be some goalie...sounds like he's the whole team.

Ya really, he really isn't that amazing, he is good. Its just that the goalie they put in isnt good at all.

Two things: 1. It is called the Flyers Cup but it IS the State Playoffs and 2. Although the kid they played in net was not a very good goalie, I give him lots of credit for keeping PV in the game. Middle of the third period and PV was down 4-3. Hershey scored its fifth goal on the power play and sixth in empty net.

Latta is one of the best forwards in the area but he is not good enoug to run ALL over Hershey, its the semi finals of the flyers cup, teams don't get here not being able to shut down one player. Latta wouldn't have the numbers he has without Cottlle and vice versa. They complement each other very well and playing club together doesn't hurt

quote:

Originally posted by hkyfan:
Every other sport is scheduled around events such as prom and senior trip. You know why their senior trip was scheduled now? Because other winter sports are over and spring hasn't really gotten started yet. Also, do you know how much money the kid would have lost if he didn't go?? Cancellation fees, etc. Give the kid a break! And no I am not related to the kid in any way, I just think he is getting a raw deal.

Guess what? PV knew when the Flyers Cup is played. They knew it last year and they knew with the team they had coming back that they'd probably be in it. If the kid was committed to his team and teammates, he never would have signed on to go on the trip in the first place. Every kid who plays in the Flyers Cup and then the State Championship has to sacrifice "fun" things, like trips, etc. Some of it almost always falls over sping break. We ran into it two years ago and kids and parents made big sacrifices (including losing money) to play in those games. It's part of the committment.

Also, don't compare hockey to other school sports and activities -- it's not the same. And, spring sports HAVE started -- two weeks ago. Are the PV baseball players away right now? I don't know, but I'd guess not.

All that being said, no kid should be publicly villified for doing it. The simple fact is PV lost with the team they put on the ice. Why kids were there or not there isn't anyone's business but the team's. No excuses, no reason other than the other team scored more goals in the game.

I'm not sure if we are giving this Hershey team enough credit, its not as if they went out at beat PV’s JV team. Perk Valley is a good team top to bottom, their goalie was only so important to them because they lack a back up varsity goal tender. They have a very capable team in front of the goalie and earned a well-deserved #2.
I mean the situation is over with; he went on his senior trip and didn’t play in the two games. He made a decision that may or may not have cost his team a Flyers Cup title. I know tons of kids who didn’t play club hockey their senior year of high school because they wanted to spend time with their friends this is the same sort of thing. I am assuming the kid figures, hockey isn’t is whole life and why miss an opportunity to hang out with your friends in Disney world, some people just don’t take their high school sports teams very seriously which is fine and is totally up to them.
Now I find it hard to believe that Johnson doesn’t take hockey seriously since he plays for the Minutemen Jr. B so it shows he is fairly dedicated to hockey if he is playing on 2 teams. He made a choice, its just sad that it may have effected the outcome of the tournament for the rest of his team,

Congratulations to Perk Valley though, the hyped themselves on this board a bit last year but this year backed up that hype by tying Malvern and winning the ICSHL North division and earning a #2 seed in the flyers cup. Great season guys you should all be proud you put your team on the high school hockey map.

the only thing i would disagree about here is that it seems like ur making it out to look like the reason we lost was because charlie wasnt there...im not sure if your guys know but we also had two of our top offensive players out (Weston and Christie) one to suspension and one to a concusion, and we also had one of our better defensemen not able to make the game (ziegler)...im not trying to make an excuse here because i think we still could have won the game...but im just trying to say that charlie wasnt the only factor that lead to the loss