Churchill Chargers - 1977 & 1979 AAA

HARMARVILLE – Central Catholic coach Kevin Zielmanski has been preaching to his defensemen to play a little more conservatively over the past month of the regular season. The ability of the Vikings to play simple hockey and let their talented group of forwards decide their fate is a pretty good strategy, but those talented forwards would have to move the puck to their teammates to be effective and score goals. In the opening round victory over McDowell, CC did just that scoring 6 goals on route to a 6-2 win. North Allegheny, on the other hand, is still working on moving to the next level with their program. If you ask Tom Pandolfo what that means, he will probably cite the environment which is now acceptable to be a North Allegheny hockey player, which he has done a marvelous job with across the board and secondly, and more importantly, understanding the process of the five game grind necessary to win the ultimate goal, a Class AAA Pennsylvania State Championship. The intangible in all of this is that close games are won and lost sometimes by a good or bad bounce, a show of discipline or undiscipline or the balance of momentum in a game. NA and Central split their two meetings, with the Tigers defeating the Vikings in the Central Catholic Invitational 4-2 and Central returning the favor a week or so later in the regular season 4-1. North Allegheny was the aggressor in the opening minutes, but was whistled for an undisciplined retaliation penalty at 12:41. With the Vikings on the power play, Chris Urso had a golden opportunity to give CC the lead, but Jeff Kristan made a diving save at 12:27. Joe Smarto had a shorthanded opportunity at 11:28, as Russ Hefner wandered out of his crease, leaving a wide open net for Smarto, but the usually sure handed NA forward watched as his shot fluttered wide and the game remained scoreless. As it always seem to happen, the Vikings stuck shortly thereafter, as Matt Grabowski found a streaking Eddie Martin behind the Tiger defense And Martin buried a wrist shot low to the glove side at 11:08 for a 1-0 Central lead. The game remained a slim one goal advantage for the Vikings and stay that way as Jeff Kristan made a nice glove save on Martin at 10:27 of the 2nd period. Then it was NA’s chance as Billy Weiler walked the puck through the slot and chipped over Russ Hefner and looked like a tie game, but it had a little too much English on it and made a wild right bounce just wide of the open net… welcome to the school of playoff bad bounces 101. Weiler would get a second chance at 5:56 as he gathered a rebound of a Matt Zrebiec shot and beat Russ Hefner and tie the game at one apiece. Central tried to regained the lead as Chris Urso made a nifty move after a great pas by Bill Freyvogal, but the shot sailed just wide at 4:43. The playoffs are sometimes about players seizing the opportunity to change the momentum of the game. Matt Urso found a loose puck along the far boards courtesy of Billy Connelly and walked it to the net and beat Kristan on the forehand with just 6 seconds left in the second period to give Central a big goal and the lead 2-1 at the end of two. North Allegheny had several chances in the third period but Russ Hefner came up big with a glove save on Bryan Maloney at 6:30 and a stop on Joe Smarto in traffic with 4:52 left in regulation. Central would hold on and for the 6th time in seven years the Vikings will face Meadville, where their season started in November and hopes to continue next Wednesday at the Mellon Arena.

This special report to Pa Hockey was provided by the Abington Website ! Warminster, PA Two time defending SHSHL champion Abington Ghosts Varsity Ice Hockey team continued its quest for the Flyers Cup Tuesday, March 18, 2004 with a 4-0 victory over West Chester Henderson Tuesday night at the Face-Off Circle rink. "A true team effort’ said coach Earl Saurman, "every player contributed to this win". Goaltender Dominic Serratore made 22 saves earning the Ghosts their second consecutive Flyers Cup shutout. The defense, lead by junior assistant captain Ian Cooley (who had 2 assists), senior Rob Gisondi, the sophomore trio of Justin Galante, Joseph Muscara and Keith Gaines and recent call-up junior Len Nicholas played a solid, consistent game with few mistakes. Coach Saurman noted that it was one of the best defensive performances of the year. The "team" game continued with the offense. The scoresheet showed more than the usual suspects. The first goal was a brilliant two-on-one led by freshman Jeffery Boyd. Using his speed to create the opportunity, Boyd drew the defenseman over, backhanded a pass to senior Michael Morales who finished the play by backhanding the puck into the net. Inspired play by senior Eric Haage created room all night for Boyd, Morales and recent call up sophomore David Gaines. The line of junior Anthony D’Angelo, senior assistant captain Nick D’Amico, and senior Dean Richardson kept Henderson back on their heels with a relentless forecheck. The line of senior Eric Tufman (1G, 1A), senior captain Justin Schorr (1G, 1A) and senior assistant captain Ben Berg (who played perhaps his best game of the year) each scored a goal to seal the victory. The Ghosts continue their quest for the Flyers Cup Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at 6:45 p.m. at the Face-Off Circle rink in Warminster, PA

Class A First Round Results Radnor 11 Cheltenham 1 Highlights: Nick Ryder with 4 goals & Chris Brennan with the hat trick as Raiders open defense of Class A crown Springfield 10 Central York 0 Highlights: Mike Kelly with the hat trick & Kevin Brawley with a pair as Cougars outshoot Central York 31-8 Lower Dauphin 7 Cedar Cliff 1 Highlights: Stu Foultz picks up 4 pts [2G-2A]& Dave Garrabrant nets a pair as Lower Dauphin outshoots Cedar Cliff 50-31 Hatsboro Horsham 8 Harry S. Truman 4 Highlights: Alex Cohen & Brian Williams each with hat tricks for the Hatters Methacton 5 Rancocas Valley 2 Highlights: Rancocas Valley races to 2-0 lead, bur Methacton scores 5 unanswered goals as Matt Rist leads the charge with a pair for the Warriors Marple Newtown 4 Kennett 2 Highlights: Mike Stacey with a Goal & 2 Assists for MN as Phil Duca makes 24 saves for the victory Central Dauphin 6 Freedom 0 Highlights: Nick Chiavetta & Nick Evanoff score two goals each as Central Dauphin shuts out Freedom Lower Merion 3 Clearview [NJ] 2 Highlights: Clearview watches 2-0 lead evaporate as Mike Lundy s scores two goals including game winner & picks up an assist in the 2nd period as the Aces move on Class AA First Round Results Abington 5 Bishop Shanahan 0 Highlights: Erik Tufman with 5 points [2G-3A] & Justin Schorr with a pair as Ghosts shut down Shanahan. Kyle Santee stops 16 shots for the shutout Archbishop Carroll 12 Upper Darby 1 Highlights: Shane Aldinger opens the scoring in a 5 point night as Greg Manz & Josh Friedland score two goals for the Patriots Haverford High 3 Pennsbury 0 Highlights: Chris Tasopoulos with two goals for Haverford & Nick Wood with 19 saves for the shutout Archbishop Wood 9 St Joseph's Prep 0 Highlights: Anthony Fittipaldi & Tim D'Orazio with a pair each as Wood outshoots Hawks 42-13. Joe Schuck with the shutout for the Vikings Neshaminy 4 Council Rock North 3 Highlights: The winning goal was scored by Andrew Ducko on his first game back out with a broken leg in overtime at 7:22 Central Bucks West 3 Washington Twp [NJ] 2 Highlights: Buck's Nick Saviano's 2nd period goal with 6:01 to play turns out to be game winner as CB West has 31-16 shot advantage Bishop McDevitt 7 Parkland 1 Highlights: Jon Reidinger with 21 saves for the Crusaders & Erik Hjelm scores two goals as McDevitt advances West Chester Henderson 5 Cherokee [NJ] 2 Highlights: John Travers with 2 goals as Warriors score five unanswered in the 2nd period to advance Class AAA First Round Results Holy Ghost Prep 6 Monsignor Bonner 2 Highlights: Josh Steacker with 2 goals & Kristian Villante with 3 assists as Firebirds open up with victory in Class AAA West Chester East 4 Father Judge 0 Highlights: Paul Marshall stops 18 shots for the shutout & Brian Gaffney sets up two goals as East moves on to face Germantown Downingtown 3 Hershey 2 Highlights: Whippets get 32 save performance from Chris Dalvano as Downingtown scores 3 power play goals in the 2nd period, two by Ian Windle to hold off Hershey rally. Trojans storm in the 3rd period with 19 shots on Dalvano. Eastern Regional 7 Archbishop Ryan 3 Highlights: Eastern Regional overcomes an early 2-0 Ryan lead to score 5 goals in the 2nd period and set up game with Malvern

INDIANA - Game Summary Courtesy of Indiana Hockey Club # 6 Wednesday, 3/17/04 PIHL AA Conference Quarter-Finals Record: 16-4-1 The Indiana High School Varsity Ice Hockey team defeated Pine-Richland Wednesday in the Quarter-Final playoffs 2-1. The Indians scored in the first with 4:06 on the clock off the puck of Zach Diamond, assisted by Mike Nesper and Mike Hart with a power play goal. Pine-Richland came back in the second period with 3:45 remaining on a goal by Ryan Tessmer, assisted by Tom DiDonato. Indiana came back in the third with 7:02 left to play on a goal by Cory Mills, assisted by Zach Diamond, and Mike Appolonia. The Indians outshot the Rams 26-25, with Goalie Mike Mentch recording the win. Indiana advances to the semi-finals at Mellon Arena next Tuesday, March 23 against Thomas Jefferson in their quest for the Penguin Cup Championship.

ROSTARVER – Dave Stepanian finally has his full team together and when Serra defeated Blackhawk 5-0 in February, the Cougars were without Jake Polas and Erik Stedman, who were out with injuries. Blackhawk plays a very patient puck control game and it is very important to have two of your top guns in the lineup for a little BANG ! BANG ! While Blackhawk has had an outstanding season and opening playoff game against Deer Lakes, the Cougars are a work in progress as far as playoff experience goes, which could be a huge factor in facing the perennial playoff studs from Serra, who have pulled out their share of games in which they were outplayed but still came out on top. And if Blackhawk doesn’t believe me just ask Bishop McCort or Radnor or Springfield, who lost to Serra or Westmont who defeated them in last years Penguins Cup. Serra Catholic has been on an unfamiliar roll as off late, which led to two final game season losses to Sewickley Academy 4-3 and Wheeling Park 4-2. With John Mooney not coaching and Eddie Figas on the sidelines, the coaching reins where left to Tom Mooney. The Eagles could have very well packed it in against Blackhawk, but people who have been around Interscholastic Hockey know that the 3-time Pennsylvania Class A champions ‘never say die’ and have only a playoff loss to Westmont in last years Penguin Cup final over the past five years. Timmy Johnson has been the best goaltender in the state in the playoffs over the past four years and dreams of another matchup with his friends from Bishop McCort, which is exactly what will happen if the favorites advance in round two of the 2004 Penguins Cup playoffs. The opening minutes of this playoff game at the Rostraver Ice Garden was fast paced with good flow and featured two of the best goaltenders in Western Pennsylvania. Both teams had an opportunity on the power play in the opening 10 minutes, but it was Serra who capitalized as Joey Manning blasted a slapshot from the right point high over the glove hand of John Fitzgerald at 6:05 for a 1-0 Eagle lead. A poor show of discipline put the Cougars in the box at 4:08 of the opening period and Serra made Blackhawk pay as Josh Jones took a nice cross-ice pass from Justin Lubasch and buried it high upstairs past Fitzgerald at 3:30 and Serra was having it all their way 2-0 and 12-8 in shots. On to the second and Blackhawk went on the power play at 10:18 on a very controversial interference call at 10:08. The Cougars picked up their game to an unreal level pounding Timmy Johnson and the Serra defense with 22 shots in the 2nd period. Johnson made at least a half dozen incredible saves including on Travis Stoll, who was in all alone at 10:05, Jake Polas, three times, on a great glove save at 9:56 and again on a rebound ticketed for the upper corner at 9:56 and finally on another rebound at 9:49. It looked like Blackhawk was never gonna score at this point and Johnson was on fire. At 8:47 Sam Kristan held the puck for seemed like eternity at the left point and patiently waited for his players to get open in front, the Cougar defensemen unleashed a wicked snapshot which Johnson saved but could not control the rebound and Matt Stepanian pounced on the rebound and beat Johnson to put Blackhawk on the board with 8:47 remaining in the period. The Cougars were on a roll and pressing to tie the game, but Johnson came out of nowhere to make a brilliant sliding save on Stepanian, who took a great feed from Eric Stedman at 5:03 and another great save just getting his leg on the snake bitten Jake Polas’ shot at 2:09. Eric Stedman would not be denied as the quick Cougar forward scored on a wraparound at 1:44 to tie the game at two apiece. Blackhawk had finally tied the game and had expended so much energy trying to beat Johnson, you just knew Serra would have their chances and it almost happened with just 50 seconds remaining, but John Fitzgerald made a terrific leg save on Ray Gillis and the teams went to the locker room tied at 2-2. Rather than attacking both teams went into a lull early in the third period and played very conservatively. This would bode well for Serra Catholic, who had a short bench and not very much momentum, but has the playoff experience to know it only takes one break or one shot or a bad penalty to win a close hockey game, putting them in the drivers seat against a Blackhawk team, who last played a game of significance in the Penguins Cup playoffs back in 1996 against West Allegheny in the Penguins Cup playoffs. Serra Catholic would deliver the big blow from Philip Ivkovich, who found himself alone in front with John Fitzgerald on his wallet and all day to shoot it. The Serra forward watched as the Blackhawk goaltender squirmed to try to recover and buried a wrist shot just inside the post for a huge goal at 8:21 of the final period and a 3-2 lead. Blackhawk had to be demoralized at this point, but was given an opportunity on the power plat at 8:04, but never got established in the Serra zone due to some great penalty killing from Ray Gillis, Joey Manning and Ryan Noone. All Serra had to do was show some discipline and get the puck deep into the Cougar zone and this is a trademark of what John Mooney [along Tom Mooney and Eddie Figas] have tried to establish in a very disciplined program when the cads are on the table in playoff games and unfortunately John Mooney was unable to relay and the reason he left the program. Well, its funny that with 2:15 remaining Serra would take a very undisciplined penalty with a slash from a veteran player and put the game in the balance and Blackhawk on the power play with 2:15 remaining. The Cougars had new life and were able to get set up in the Eagle zone and it would all come down to Jake Polas, who had been robbed on several occasions in the 2nd period and Timmy Johnson, the goaltender who is ‘Al Davis on skates’ and says ‘just win baby’…. With 52 ticks left on the clock, Polas was alone in front and Johnson just absolutely robbed him and that’s how close it is in the playoffs because if Polas scores, I think Blackhawk may have won it in overtime. But those Eagles, they just keep finding the way and when Justin Lubasch scored into the empty net with 3 seconds left making it 4-2, it was a little reminder to the teams in Class A that the Penguins Cup still goes through Serra Catholic.