The Spring-Ford area has long had a tradition of successful high school sports. This year has been no exception: the Rams wrestling program qualified for the state team tournament for the first time in school history and the Lady Rams basketball team is a win away from a state playoff berth. Outside the school walls, the Spring City Red Sox American Legion team won their first ever state championship last summer.
As the winter winds down, there is another squad looking to make its mark on the Spring-Ford sports scene.
Spring-Ford ice hockey Rams got a goal from senior Sean McCabe with six minutes remaining and two tallies from sophomore Daniel Lampmann to defeat Kennett 5-4 on Friday night at the Center Ice complex in Oaks.
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The Rams not only have clinched a playoff berth in the ICHSL Ches-Mont League playoffs, but Friday, when they face off against Perkiomen Valley, they will have a chance to finish first overall in the American division as they are currently tied with Avon Grove with 17 points.
“This is great for our kids,” said head coach Bill Booth. “Two years ago when we came in, it was a zoo. My coaches and I made it clear from the start that if you were going to take stupid penalties or get called for mouthing at the officials or other team, we were going pull you, no matter who it was.”
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The Rams players got the message loud and clear. No Spring-Ford player has been suspended at any point in the season; they are the only team in their division able to make that claim. The Rams have developed into one of the most disciplined teams in the league, which has translated to wins on the ice.
Spring-Ford (7-6-4, 18 points) has only dropped one game in its last eight and has battled its way through the league standings along the way in a journey that started back in October with a 4-0 win over the Vikings.
Junior Peter Esslinger has carried the load in net as he has played all but one minute of the season. His 3.18 GAA and .880 save percentage have him ranked among the league leaders.
“Pete is a tough nut to figure out,” said Booth. “The biggest improvement he has made this season is in his mental preparation for each game. It takes a commitment on the goaltender’s part to know your opponent coming into the game and Pete has done a great job with that this season.”
“We have been in a lot of tight games,” added Booth. “He has kept us in those games when we weren’t scoring a lot in the beginning of the year.”
Junior Ryan Booth and senior Tyler Hoffman have led the Rams scoring attack by each contributing six goals and nine assists.
The senior duo of Jake Murphy and Drew Hunsberger, with seven and six goals respectively, have made big-time plays down the stretch to put Spring-Ford in the position they are in.
“We really started to score after we moved the lines around,” said Booth. “Our guys are playing well as a club right now. For most of our kids this is a year round activity as many play club hockey as well. That has really raised the bar on the skill level on the ice. I am very proud of what we have accomplished, but we have a lot of work to do when it comes to the playoffs.”
If the standings were to remain as they are, the Rams would face West Chester Henderson in the first round of the playoffs. Spring-Ford , as Esslinger made 41 saves on 43 Warriors shots. It was a landmark victory over a traditionally strong opponent.
On Friday night, Spring Ford will take on Perkiomen Valley (7-8-2, 16 points), who will probably be with out the services of starting goaltender Dustin Jagiela. Jagiela is currently serving a suspension resulting from an altercation during the Vikings 2-1 win over Boyertown.
“I don’t know if he will be available,” said Booth. “It’s too hard in this league to be able to get by with your backup goalie playing on a full time basis, no matter who it is. We will be ready to go no matter who is in net for them. They need to win.”
The Rams success has not gone unnoticed. The throng of Spring-Ford supporters has gotten bigger as the playoffs get closer. More and more Rams fans have made the trek to Ice Line in West Chester, Ice Works in Aston, or Center Ice in Oaks.
“Our fans have been great all season,” said Sean McCabe. “Every game, there are more and more of them coming out to cheer. We really feel it and love the energy they give us on the ice.”
It will no doubt be a packed house on Friday at 9:00pm at the Center Ice Complex in Oaks. In addition to Spring-Ford's supporters, hundreds of fans typically attend each Perkiomen Valley game.
Playoff hopes: Methacton (7-8-2, 16 points), who at one point in the season was the division leader, is currently tied for fourth in the standings with the Vikings and will face Unionville on Friday. The third place Boyertown Bears (6-5-4, 18 points) hope to claim a playoff berth, as they will square off against Great Valley (5-10-1) on Friday night.
