10/25 Recap: Great American Center (Semi)

The PIHA Semi-Pro season expanded its 25th-anniversary campaign into new territory as the Mid-Atlantic Division took over the Great American Center in Aberdeen, New Jersey.
Four Mid-Atlantic division teams hit the floor for a full day of competitive action that included the inaugural appearance of the Chesapeake Baymen Semi-Pro team.
The festival featured eight high-tempo games filled with offensive fireworks, highlight-reel goals, and the emergence of new storylines across the region.

Recap Overview

The Marple SK Labeda Gladiators showcased their depth and discipline, finishing 3-1-0 to sharing top honors at the Aberdeen festival. The New Jersey Assault matched their energy early with three convincing wins before falling to Marple in a tightly contested finale, also finishing 3-1-0.
The Chesapeake Baymen, making their Semi-Pro debut, closed their first weekend of league play with a franchise-first victory to end the day 1-3-0, while ISCA Mach 1 opened with a win but couldn’t sustain momentum, also ending 1-3-0.

Individual Game Recaps

12:00 PM – ISCA Mach 1 3, Chesapeake Baymen 1
The festival opened with a historic first for the Chesapeake Baymen Semi-Pro franchise. Despite the loss, Justin Ferencz scored the first goal in team history, while ISCA’s Vinny Comito, Anthony Comito, and Justin Tiso found the net for the win.

12:40 PM – New Jersey Assault 7, Marple SK Labeda Gladiators 3
The Assault came out firing in their season debut, powered by a balanced attack led by Tom Russo and Brian Waitt. Marple’s Dan Dolan and Corey Kosick scored to keep it close, but New Jersey’s puck control and precision passing carried them to a confident win.

1:20 PM – New Jersey Assault 11, Chesapeake Baymen 0
New Jersey’s offense exploded for double digits, led by Tom Russo (3 G, 3 A) and Matt Morelli (2 G, 2 A). The Baymen battled to the end, with goaltender Julio Baña Fernandez facing 27 shots in his busiest start of the day.

2:00 PM – Marple SK Labeda Gladiators 5, ISCA Mach 1 1
The Gladiators rebounded in style. Nate Nunley scored twice and Corey Kosick added three points as Marple took control early and never looked back. Jimmy Burkitt was solid in net, stopping 11 of 12 shots for his first win of the season.

2:40 PM – Marple SK Labeda Gladiators 5, Chesapeake Baymen 2
Chesapeake opened strong with goals from Charlie Niber and Justin Ferencz, but Marple’s structure and speed proved too much. Dan Dolan (2 G, 2 A) and Ryan Ferrell (1 G, 2 A) led the Gladiators to their second straight win.

3:20 PM – New Jersey Assault 11, ISCA Mach 1 4
The Assault’s offensive machine rolled on with another 11-goal performance. Dan Kane and Matt Morelli each recorded hat tricks, while Scott Huber added three points. ISCA’s Sean Haggerty scored twice to keep things competitive, but New Jersey improved to 3-0-0.

4:00 PM – Chesapeake Baymen 7, ISCA Mach 1 1
A milestone moment for Chesapeake as the Baymen earned their first-ever Semi-Pro win. Frank Gregorini (2 G, 2 A), Charlie Niber (2 G), and Ayden Staats (1 G, 2 A) powered the offense, while Paul Gray stood tall in net with 12 saves. The victory capped a major step forward for the new franchise.

4:40 PM – Marple SK Labeda Gladiators 4, New Jersey Assault 3
The day ended with a showcase matchup between two of the division’s powerhouses. Marple trailed 2–1 before rallying behind goals from Dave Cutler, Dan Dolan, and Ryan Ferrell, sealing the comeback win. Jimmy Burkitt made several key stops in the final minutes as the Gladiators closed the day with their third straight victory.

Team Recaps

Marple SK Labeda Gladiators (3-1-0)
A strong all-around showing defined the Gladiators’ day. After dropping their opener, they rattled off three straight wins behind the leadership of Dan Dolan and Ryan Ferrell. Jimmy Burkitt provided stability in goal, and Marple’s team defense stood out against high-powered opponents.

New Jersey Assault (3-1-0)
The Assault’s offense was electric through three games, averaging over seven goals per contest before falling just short in the finale. Tom Russo, Matt Morelli, and Scott Huber led a potent forward group that gave every defense trouble. Their blend of speed and chemistry makes them an early contender for the top seed in the Mid-Atlantic.

Chesapeake Baymen (1-3-0)
A weekend of growth and firsts for the Baymen. After facing elite opponents early, they found their stride in the afternoon, notching the franchise’s first win in decisive fashion. Frank Gregorini, Justin Ferencz, and Charlie Niber stood out offensively, while Paul Gray delivered the team’s first victory in goal.

ISCA Mach 1 (1-3-0)
ISCA’s opening win was a highlight, but fatigue and tough matchups caught up as the day wore on. The team showed resilience behind veterans Anthony Comito and Sean Haggerty, while Justin Teats handled heavy goaltending duties. Their physical play and pace remain assets entering November.

Individual Event Stars

1st Star – Tom Russo (New Jersey Assault)
Dynamic and creative, Russo recorded four goals and nine assists across four games, quarterbacking the Assault’s top line.

2nd Star – Dan Dolan (Marple SK Labeda Gladiators)
A two-way force all day, Dolan finished with five goals and four assists, including the late-game heroics in the finale over New Jersey.

3rd Star – Frank Gregorini (Chesapeake Baymen)
Sparked the Baymen’s first franchise win with two goals and two assists in their 7-1 victory, establishing himself as an early team leader.

Honorable Mentions:

• Ryan Ferrell (Marple SK) – 3 G, 5 A

• Matt Morelli (New Jersey) – 5 G, 4 A

• Scott Huber (New Jersey) – 4 G, 3 A

• Paul Gray (Chesapeake) – 1-0-0, .923 SV%