Pennsbury opens 2A Flyers Cup with win over Abington

BRISTOL >> Pennsbury opened Flyers Cup play like a team that plans to stick around for a while.

“It was a thriller,” senior captain Brendan Macainsh said after Tuesday night’s victory over rival Abington. “We knew if we could get this win under our belts, it would be big for us.”

Macainsh, the Suburban High School Hockey League’s leading scorer, scored four goals to lead the way to an impressive 8-3 win over the Ghosts in the opening round of Flyers Cup 2A action.

Pennsbury advances to face Conestoga in the quarterfinals while a tremendous season came to a close for the Ghosts.

Pennsbury put away three pucks in the first period, including one by Macainsh a little over eight minutes into the contest at Grundy. Pennsbury took a 3-0 lead into the second.

“Getting started like that is huge because then we can play traps and set things up back there,” said Macainsh.

Justin Marlin and Andrew Falkenstein also scored first-period goals for the Falcons. All three would play a major hand in the win.

Marlin scored unassisted in the second and also fed the speedy Macainsh for another goal, as Pennsbury built its lead to 5-2 after two.

Two more goals by Macainsh were followed up by another tally by Falkenstein in the third.

“It gives us a lot of confidence. I think a lot of kids from tonight gained a lot of confidence from this,” said Macainsh. “We got to roll all three lines and whoever we play next week, I know it’s gonna be tough but I think we can handle it.”

Abington came into the contest without some of its major firepower but battled hard, especially in the second and third periods. Sam Abramson, Sean Doyle and Pat Stelacio all scored for Abington.

“It’s an unfortunate end to the season because our guys played well,” Ghosts coach Ken Brzozowski said. “We had high hopes for tonight. And everybody gutted it out tonight. It was a long season and some of the injuries that we had throughout the season kind of cropped up tonight.

“Pennsbury played great. They have an awesome team and I think they’re gonna do well.”

Flyers Cup 2A

Pennsbury 8, Abington 3

Abington 0 2 1 – 3

Pennsbury 3 2 3 – 8

First Period

P-Brendan Macainsh, 8:26; P-Justin Marlin, 6:43; P-Andrew Falkenstein (Marlin), :48.

Second Period

A-Sam Abramson (Ian Heydt), 13:18 (power play); P-Marlin, 8:58; A-Sean Doyle (Matt Kramer), 7:22; P-Macainsh (Marlin), 4:23 (power play).

Third Period

P-Macainsh (Marlin), 12:08 (shorthanded); A-Pat Stelacio, 11:41; P-Macainsh (Falkenstein), 5:43 (shorthanded); P-Falkenstein, 4:18.

Shots

Abington 4 15 12 – 31

Pennsbury 15 13 16 – 44

Saves: Sam Nemec (A) and Devin Brown (A) 36; Aaron McDaniel (P) 28.