Quaker Valley hockey rides hot start to division lead

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, November 16, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Quaker Valley’s hockey team jumped out to a flying start in the PIHL season.

QV was 5-1 with four shutouts in the season’s first month, then kicked off November with a 12-2 win over Richland’s varsity team.

“Given our injuries and fall sports commitments, we are very pleased that we were able to get through that (first month) with a 6-1 record,” QV coach Kevin Quinn said. “We want to compete hard every night, to be relentless. One shift at a time, period at a time and game at a time. Our expectations are limited to that.”

Senior forward Ben McHenry racked up three goals and three assists to lead the Quakers to the Class A win against Richland.

Junior forward Kieran Cain had two goals and an assist, freshman forward Stefan Mauer also scored twice and senior defender Luke Koehler had a goal and three assists.

QV improved to 7-1 with a 6-3 win Nov. 10 against Hampton at the Baierl Ice Complex. The high-flying Quakers held a two-point lead over Moon at the top of the Varsity A Blue Division.

Sophomore forward Matthias Lezama collected two goals and an assist against Hampton and Koehler also scored twice to lead QV. Mauer and senior forward Jace Vasbinder tacked on one goal apiece.

Through eight games, 5-foot-10, 170-pound Vasbinder led the Quakers in goals with 11 to go along with five assists.

“I think we are performing well, right where we need to be to be successful,” Vasbinder, 17, said. “We have been battling a lot of injuries, but our team is almost back to full strength. We have a heavy senior class with lots of experience and are ready to show we are a veteran-led team.

“I expect us to win from here on out, only focusing on each regular-season game and one game at a time.”

Vasbinder has been a varsity starter three years. He was QV’s second-leading scorer in 2024-25 and a PIHL all-star.

“Jace is a captain and leader with our group,” Quinn said. “He’s experienced and ultra-competitive each night. He does it all for us. We need him and others like Max Modrovich, Ben McHenry and Matthias Lezama to be top scorers again for us.

“Kieran Cain, Colin York and Stefan Mauer are off to good starts as well. We are hopeful Charlie Pyle and Hunter Kronk, who have not played much yet, will give us even more depth up front. When we are three lines strong, we are a tough opponent.”

Lezama took over the scoring lead on the team with his three-point performance against Hampton. The QV underclassman boosted his season totals to seven goals and 10 assists, good for 17 points.

Three players were tied with 13 points: McHenry, with seven goals and six assists; and Koehler and Modrovich, both with five goals and eight assists. Cain and Mauer also had five goals.

Modrovich, a senior forward, was QV’s leading scorer a year ago.

The Quakers had allowed just 12 goals through eight games this season with six coming in an early loss to Canon-McMillan.

Senior Ian Lorang and freshman Kian McKenna were splitting goaltending duties with Lorang posting a 4-1 record, 1.80 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. Three of his wins were shutouts.

McKenna was 3-0 with a 1.00 GAA, .923 save percentage and had accounted for one shutout.

“We have three goalies — Kian McKenna, Ian Lorang and (sophomore) Neil Dwyer,” Quinn said. “Game rotation is based on their individual availability.”

QV’s goals-against average as a team was a near-unbeatable 1.50 thanks not only to stellar goaltending play but to a strong and deep defensive corps led by junior Jack Watson and Koehler, the Quakers’ top pairing.

“Jack missed the first three games and since he has been back, we are much better on the back end,” Quinn said. “Luke has been fantastic for us. He played most of the game in those first three games.

“Tristan Bemis and Charlie D’Antonio have been outstanding (on defense) with their puck moving and shutting down the opponent. Charlie Johnson and Michael Minnock have also contributed to our D minutes.”

QV’s veteran coach believes his club’s defensive effort will continue to improve and grow even stronger as the season progresses.

“At full strength, our team should be tough to score on,” Quinn said.

Tags: Quaker Valley