All-Delco Ice Hockey: Riddle in the middle of Springfield attack

In addition to Daily Times Player of the Year Ryan Brawley of Springfield, the rest of the All-Delco team includes:

Kyle Riddle, Springfield: The diminutive forward returns to the All-Delco team after leading Springfield in assists (40) and points (66) during the regular season. He added three goals and four assists in four Flyers Cup games as the Cougars reached the Class A final for the third consecutive year. Riddle, a senior, centered a line that included his younger brother, Tyler. Together they amassed 124 points in 23 regular-season games. A deft passer, the elder Riddle was especially lethal on a Springfield power play that carried a 35-percent success rate. Brawley’s top line routinely drew the opponent’s best checkers, which in turn opened up space for Riddle’s second unit, so much so that Riddle’s contributions drew Player of the Year consideration from some coaches.

Nico Gricco, Garnet Valley: An All-Central League selection, Gricco combined with linemate Joseph Dangelantonio to front a Garnet Valley offense that scored 131 goals. He was the provider on a consistently dangerous top line. Gricco finished with 39 assists in 21 games as the Jaguars took the Central League regular-season title. While his high-scoring linemate stole many of the headlines with his goal scoring, Gricco’s all-around game rarely went unnoticed. He killed penalties and centered the Jaguars top power-play unit. Gricco was also Garnet Valley’s best faceoff man. Gricco scored 62 points in 19 Central League games, tied for most in the league … with Dangelantonio. Gricco saved his best for the tough games. In two early matchups with Springfield, the dynamic forward scored six points. His five-point effort in a 7-3 win in January culminated Garnet Valley’s first regular-season sweep of the Cougars in program history.

Joseph Dangelantonio, Garnet Valley: The Garnet Valley senior makes his first All-Delco team in his first season of high school hockey. Dangelantonio honed his stick-handling skills playing roller hockey growing up before he took to the ice in the fall. The results were immediate and massive. With the gifted Gricco feeding him the puck, Dangelantonio scored a county-leading 41 goals, many of the spectacular variety. The winger had 13 multi-goal games and eight hat tricks. Dangelantonio’s finest moment came in the Central League semifinals when he scored four third-period goals to lead the Jaguars to a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Lower Merion. Fast, shifty, with incredible hands, the sniper was all but unstoppable in one-on-one situations.

Steve Cavaliere, Springfield: Arguably the hardest hitter in the county, Cavaliere relished the opportunity to line up opposing forwards. He single-handedly shifted the balance of Springfield’s Flyers Cup Class A semifinal victory over West Chester East with a series of devastating, but legal, body checks. The junior defenseman provided much needed stability on a young Cougars blue line. Cavaliere wasn’t just an imposing defensive presence, though. He utilized his terrific skating ability to carry the puck out of trouble. Cavaliere, a former forward, also played in front of the net on the Cougars top power-play unit. Seven of his 14 points came with the man advantage. On a team that featured three 50-point producers and three All-Delcos, Cavaliere was often Springfield’s most dominant player. He was selected to the Flyers Cup Class A all-tournament team.

Steve McCrossin, Haverford: The Fords captain struck an imposing figure on the blue line. McCrossin stands well over 6 feet tall, but moved with the ease of a much smaller forward. His combination of reach and mobility provided a dual threat to opposing teams. He could shut down opponents’ top lines while starting rushes for his teammates. McCrossin had five multi-point games and 16 points in 18 regular-season games. McCrossin’s dominance keyed Haverford’s improvement from nine wins a season ago to 14 this year. McCrossin also earned first team All-Central League honors.

Joey Harant, Haverford: Harant played more minutes and made more saves than any goalie on the Central League’s top five teams. The junior carried a sparkling 2.33 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. He also posted two shutouts. Harant’s performance in net influenced Haverford’s success more than any other player. He was the only county goaltender to beat both Springfield and Garnet Valley, the two highest-scoring teams in the league. Harant was particularly dominant down the stretch as Haverford won nine of its final 11 league games. The netminder recovered from a vicious collision that knocked him out of the Central League semifinal against Springfield, an eventual 7-1 loss, to make 28 saves in a Flyers Cup AA win over Central Bucks West.

Haverford goalie Joey Harant, a junior, had a 2.33 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. He was particularly strong in a Flyers Cup Class AA win over Central Bucks West, making 28 saves. (Robert J. Gurecki)

Ridley's Jonathon Kline, left, goes for the puck under pressure from Garnet Valley's Nico Gricco in a game earlier this season. Gricco, who finished the season with 39 assists, formed a dangerous duo with linemate Joseph Dangelantonio. (Robert J. Gurecki)