Falcons Fall Short In Ice Hockey State Quarterfinals

The Severna Park ice hockey team could be forgiven for having a down season. After losing their already limited ice time due to Bowie rink renovations, the Falcons had to learn on the fly during games this winter.

But the team did not have a down year. They went 9-6 and won a playoff game against River Hill on February 18 before losing 5-0 last night against the top-seeded Walt Whitman squad at The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, Maryland.

For the second straight year, the Falcons reached the second round of the Maryland Student Hockey League (MSHL) state tournament.

“We had three months of no practice, so given that, I thought they worked through that adversity and came together,” said first-year head coach Dave Petrick. “The practices were unfortunately happening in the games, but overall, I am really happy.”

The players were just as happy after their playoff success. Pierce Brenner propelled his team to a win in the first round of the Eastern conference playoffs, recording three goals in a 5-4 overtime win over Dulaney on February 10. A team captain, Pierce also had a hat trick in the playoff win over River Hill. Declan Laughlin added two goals, and Maxwell Grotheer, Matthew Butcher and Griffin Grotheer had one apiece.

“That game, we ran three solid lines, and everyone showed up and played with 100% effort,” coach Petrick said about the game against River Hill. “We went up against two of the best individual players in the state in that game, and we were able to figure out how to hold them to five goals.”

Throughout the season, the Falcons got contributions up and down the lineup. Center Will Petrick led all scorers with 18 goals and 13 assists. Right wing Pierce Brenner had 15 goals and a team-high 14 assists. Beckett Dickson led the defense with 14 goals and five assists.

“Those three combined for 80 points in 15 games,” coach Petrick said. “All three recorded hat tricks, seven total between the three of them.”

Dickson made the MSHL Eastern Conference second team. Will Petrick and Pierce Brenner earned MSHL honorable mentions. The team also got solid goalie play from Liam Bohlayer, Jake Beaver and Maya Brenner.

The Falcons will lose four seniors, with eight or nine freshmen potentially joining next year’s team. Not all of the players compete for club teams, so coach Petrick is asking them to spend time on the ice this offseason for Severna Park to take the next step.

“Half the team is on the ice seven nights a week; the other half, only when they’re with us,” he said. “So, practices will make a difference. The effort is there. The skill is there.”

Read the March edition of the Severna Park Voice for more ice hockey coverage.