Coach's Corner

Archbishop Ryan Ice Hockey

 The Archbishop Ryan Ice Hockey Club has been fortunate to have a rich winning tradition in the greater Philadelphia area for over 35 years and has helped produce some of Philadelphia’s top players.  NHL and AHL standouts Ray Stayzak (’79) and Tony Voce (’97) are among Archbishop Ryan Ice Hockey Alumni who have played at the professional level.

Playing under the LBCSHL flag as a member of the Greater Philadelphia Private/Prep AAA League, the Ryan Raiders varsity ice hockey team finished the 2008-2009 campaign with an overall record of 17-10-2 including winning the 2009 Commissioners Cup Championship over local rival Holy Ghost Prep.

The 2009-2010 season looks to be an exciting season as the team prepares to play in a smaller but tougher AAA bracket.  The team has a talented group of returning players as well as a mix of excited new faces. The coaching staff feels they can move forward with the progress the team made in the 2009 Flyers Cup Tournament. Although the team is rebounding from a large graduating class, Head Coach Roman Bussetti feels that the mix of skill and consistency will carry the Raiders to another successful season.  Seniors Brandon Paluba, John Connolly, and Jayson Marbach should provide a steady influence on the ice as well as the leadership needed in the locker room as they look to end their high school careers with a championship effort.  The solid core of young talented players accompanying the senior class will need to come together quick as the Raiders will be challenged early with a tough slate of pre-season games before kicking off the 09-10 season against defending champions LaSalle College High School.       

            This season is sure to be packed full of exciting ice hockey, with the upper classmen leading the influx of young energy the Ryan Raiders are still on the path for continued future success!

Coaching

 Archbishop Ryan’s head coach, Roman Bussetti is a native of Churchville, Pa and will be entering his second season behind the bench for the Raider’s.  Before Archbishop Ryan, coach Bussetti coached several local area high school ice hockey teams including Council Rock South, West Chester East, and Upper Darby High School.  Coach Bussetti has also had coaching stints with teams such as the Philadelphia JR Flyers, The Blazers Hockey Club, and “Team Philadelphia” for both the Chicago H.S. Showcase Tournament and the Keystone State Games.  Moreover, coach Bussetti has worked with the development of local players such as Matt Campanale, University of New Hampshire ’11 Jeff Buvinow, Brown University ’12, and Bill Latta, University of Connecicut ’13, to name a few.   

Coach Bussetti is a graduate of West Chester University, 1995, by way of the University of Southern New Hampshire which he entered as a college freshman in 1991.  Playing as a member of the WCU Golden Rams 93-95, Bussetti was named to the All-Star team both seasons as well as setting several school scoring records.  As a NHC Penman 91-93, Roman was named “Most Improved Player” his freshman year.  And as a member of the Council Rock Indians H.S. Ice Hockey team in 90-91, Bussetti aided the Indians with their AAA Flyers Cup and AAA State Championship victories.  Roman was named The Most Valuable Player for both Championships and was part of the 1991 Flyers Cup All Tournament Team as well he was named the 1991 Bucks County Courier Times “Player of the Year”. Bussetti’s playing career ended with a tryout agreement made with the Abiline Aviators of the WPHL which he then declined to pursue coaching. 

 Please take the time to visit the Archbishop Ryan campus to see the tradition we boast so proudly about.  For more information about our program, please contact Director of Hockey Bob Kalbacker at MrRaider51@aol.com or contact the head coach Roman Bussetti directly at RomBuss673@verizon.net