Moleski helps Bonner end season on winning note
ASTON — Jakob Moleski’s longest rest Monday night came in the penalty box. Bonner & Prendergast, which includes players from Upper Darby High (including Jakob and his younger brother Teegan), dressed just eight skaters, so the Friars relied heavily on Moleski’s legs. That is, until he talked his way into an unsportsmanlike conduct call.
“Dumb penalty,” Moleski said. “Dumb penalty. But I got my break and got back out there.”
Once out of the box, the senior put the finishing touches on a stellar career with the Friars. He scored four goals in the last six minutes, 18 seconds to give the Friars a 10-4 win over Interboro in non-league play. Moleski found the back of the net six times total and dished out two assists.
He closes the campaign with 42 goals, according to ICSHL.org, the most in the Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League.
“It was a hard season,” Moleski said. “We had low numbers. It was hard for everybody. But it was our last game, so we gave it our all. We wanted to go out with a win.”
In defeating a strong Bucs (8-8-0-0, 7-3-0-0 Liberty South) team, the Friars (1-11-0-0 Liberty North) picked up win no. 3 against 15 losses overall in 2018-19.
“We had some real trying games, but they never gave up. To win tonight, on a note like this, is impressive, because it shows they didn’t give up all season,” Bonner & Prendie coach Dave Pomante said. “It was the culmination of everything. They still played hard even though we had nothing to really play for at this point.”
The first period gave no indication of a 14-goal outburst. The two teams were held without a goal for the first 11 minutes, thanks mostly to stellar goaltending from Interboro’s Hunter Chubb and Bonner’s Nicholas Romanoff. Chubb in particular stood out. He stoned Teegan Moleski on a breakaway early in the frame, then turned him away again late in the period with a pad save at the doorstep.
Tyler Ruppert broke through for the Friars, while Dylan Sangmeister answered for the Bucs. The Jakob Moleski show ensued.
He factored in on all four second-period goals for Bonner. Moleski scored on a wrist shot to restore the Friars’ advantage 2:36 into the second. He then set up Ruppert for a breakaway goal, before giving Teegan a tap-in. Jakob Moleski completed the scoring spree by beating Chubb five-hole on a solo rush. The four goals came in just 5:38 of game play.
Frank Jirak, who scored twice, made it 5-2 with 1:29 left in the period, but Interboro couldn’t keep pace with Moleski.
“He’s a real solid player,” Sangmeister, who scored the Bucs’ third goal, said of Jakob Moleski. “You’ve got to play ahead of him and pick up on his things, try to shut him down.”
Interboro struggled with that from the start. If not for Chubb’s play — he finished with 35 saves and stopped several breakaways — the result could have been much worse. The Bucs will have a short time to regroup for a crucial tilt with Sun Valley Wednesday.
“If we win, we’re in the playoffs,” Sangmeister said. “I want everyone to play like that: leave everything out on the line.”
The Friars have no such luxury. They fell out of the race early as a limited roster thinned their margin for error.
“This year was bare minimum. It’s not ideal, but these guys wanted to play,” Pomante said. “And if they want to play, let’s give them the opportunity to play. I’ll be there to coach them as long as they want to play.”
Bonner turned to its leaders to stay on course, not just Jakob Moleski but also Pat Jensen, who scored the Friars’ 10th goal against Interboro, Ruppert and Teegan Moleski.
“Their hockey IQ is top notch,” Pomante said. “And younger players listen to what they have to say. They’re remarkable players.”
Jakob Moleski hopes Bonner hockey goes on. His commitment to the Friars provided as much of a highlight for the program as his prodigious offensive game.
“The love of the game,” Jakob Moleski said of his constant effort. “I’ve been playing since I was four years old. I love to play. I have my little brother out there. I have to set an example.”
