Bishop McCort Crimson Crushers - 1994-1995-1996-1997-1999 A

ERIE - The JMC Arena, formerly known as the Glenwood Zoo, in Erie has been the scene of many historic high school hockey games over the years. The first state final in 1975 which saw the comeback kids from Baldwin defeat Churchill in overtime. A return in of the State Final in 1979,for Churchill to captured the crown over Erie McDowell. And the Upper St Clair victory over McDowell in 1980 to capture its first of three state titles. Steve Daniels must have had karma on the same ice in which his uncles Verne and Brian Shaver, once tallied goals more than 20 years ago because the Gator defenseman moved the puck toward the net and watched as if the puck had eyes on it floated past Trojan goaltender Chris Honard at 8:53 to give Gateway a 1-0 lead. That lead stood as Honard and David Himes kept the puck out of the net until 10:46 of the third as Matt Kopaczynski scored to extend the Gateway lead to 2-0. McDowell coach Marlin Coon had to be scrathing his head and he was looking for answers, when all the sudden his captain Travis Blackman found a loose puck and beat Himes to cut the Gator lead at 8:07. Back came the Gators just 25 sceconds later, as Zach Flora took a beautiful cross ice feed from Kopaczynski and roof it past Honard and the Gators had the two goal lead. McDowell struck another 29 seconds later as Chris McDonald poked a loose puck into the Gateway net to make it 3-2. Then McDowell got into penalty trouble and Matt Capalongo made them pay as he jammed home a rebound with 1:14 left to give Gateway a safe or so it seemed safe 4-2 lead. Not so fast as Sean Stutzman grab a Gator miscue and scored with :43 seconds remaining. Gateway hung on for the victory and outshot the Trojans 36-33.

VALENCIA - Early game in Erie...over at seven ....catch the 9:00 PM game at the Ice Connection... Why not!. A rivalry between Hampton and Pine Richland is always fun and with first place on the line in the PIHL North division, it makes it just a little more meaningful. Hampton coach Craig Clontz hope to make a statement as his club sat just a half game behing the Rams and would have to solve the tough Pine Richland defense. Ram defenseman Randy Bauer, who is probably the premier all around defenseman in high school hockey had other ideas as he blasted a long slapshot past Hampton goaltender Troiano at 8:53 to give Pine Richland a 1-0 lead. In the second period, it was Zach Malone taking a great feed from Mike Kearns and beat Troiano with a quick wrister at 6:28. At the other end, Dan Mills made a great save on Mark Persic to preserve the two goal cushion at 3:38. On to the third .... Hampton recieved an opportunity on the 5 on 3 and capitalized when Neal Klueber blasted a slapshot home to give the Hampton faithful new home and cut the lead to 2-1. It was shortlived hope as Kearns spotted Adam Foder in front who poked the puck past Troiano and the lead was now 3-1. The Rams Ryan Tessmer sealed the victory for Pine Richland with 1:56 remaining with a wrist shot through the five hole and a final score of 4-1.

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MONROEVILLE - Plum coach Stu Relnick is busy these days trying to keep his Mustangs focused on the Division race. He doesn't like this position, he loves it ! A year ago the Mustangs were fighting the demons of the basement and rallied in the second half of the season to come up short on a playoff bid. Plum was off and running in the first period as Joe LaGrotteria took a Robbie Tunon pass and beat Eric Laska upstairs on the glove side to give Plum a 1-0 lead with 3:26 left. Butler tied the game less than a minute later on a rebound at 2:28. In the second, Butler took the lead as John Bernot tipped a shot from the point past BJ Schreib. Coach Steve Monteleone's club played a physical period matching the Mustangs hit for hit. Maybe the Tornadoes where to involved and a mental error cost the young squad as a misplayed puck found its way on to Plum's John Kalichuk's stick from right in front and he beat Laska to tie the game at 2-2. Then Plum regained the lead with just 2:51 remaining as Sergio Somma gathered a rebound and made no mistake. The third period was all Plum as Ian Beitler, Phillip Mains and Travis Senchur cashed in early in the third to coast Plum to a 6-2 win. The win helps keep the Mustangs in a tie for first place with Gateway.

NEVILLE ISLAND - North Hills coach Jimmy Black and Mt Lebanon Paul Taibi have a rivalry back to Black's days at Pine Richland and Taibi's at Bethel Park. So familiarity in coaching style on both ends was evident and the battle to keep pace with Bethel Park continues in the PIHL South Division. If you are going to beat Mt Lebanon, you must get the lead and that theory was gone at the 12:27 as Bill Leckenby (son and nephew of star players for the South Hills Catholic 1979 State AA Champions), scored to give the Blue Devils the lead. Mt Lebo's big gun Jason Schulz extended the lead to 2-0 with 5:20 remaining in the first. Mike Colligan had a great chance to make it a three goal lead but was stopped on a great save by Casey Dudt-Mulzet with just :07 left in the opening frame. Mt Lebanon and North Hills then engaged in some end to end action with both teams trying to get that big goal. Colligan, considered by many one of the best two way players in the PIHL, stripped the puck from an Indian defenseman and was in alone and beat Dudt Mulzet upstairs and Mt Lebanon was now on top 3-0. North Hills pressured the Blue Devils toward the end of the second and almost scored as the puck lay on the goal line, but Colin Sebastian scooped it up to preserve the advantage. Shots through two periods were even at 14-14. The third period of this contest was a different story as North Hills kept Mt Lebo penned up in its own end and outshoot them 16-2. Sebastian was terrific with great stickwork and controlling rebounds to earn the shutout and a big 3-0 win.