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Latrobe wins 3rd straight Pennsylvania Class AA title over Downingtown East
At last fully dressed and all their equipment packed into their burgeoning hockey bags, Jayson Angus and Zach LaDuke were the final two Latrobe players to walk out of what usually serves as the visiting NHL team's locker room at Mellon Arena late Thursday afternoon.
"Lets go home, Jayson," LaDuke said to his longtime friend and linemate.
"Let's go home," Angus concurred, and with that, the two together squeezed their way through the cramped, dingy bowels of the old arena.
It was the third time those two got to go home together as state champions.
Angus scored twice and LaDuke once, and LaDuke set up Angus for the winning goal with 6:28 left in the third period as Latrobe won its third consecutive Pennsylvania Cup with a 3-2 victory against Downingtown East (24-1-1).
"A three-peat? This is unbelievable," said LaDuke, a junior. "It's been great, the whole way through. It's been incredible. You can't ask for more."
It was fitting that in their final game as Wildcats teammates (the two also play amateur hockey together) Angus, a senior, and LaDuke played pivotal roles.
Two of four players to play on all three title-winning teams -- senior defensemen Tyler Ridder and Josh Harris are the others -- Angus and LaDuke have developed remarkable chemistry along with linemate Josh Singley, who had two assists Thursday.
LaDuke skated with speed down the left wing, beating three Downingtown East defenders and sending a pass to Angus in the slot. Angus slid it between goalie Ryan Lord's pads for what would be the winner.
"I know Jay goes hard to the net all the time," LaDuke said. "You kind of have that sense you know that he's going to be there and you can just throw it. But I saw him out of the corner of my eyes, too."
LaDuke and Angus finished 1-2 in Class AA playoff scoring with 14 and 12 points in four postseason games. They also finished in the top six in the classification's regular-season scoring race.
"He's obviously a great player, and he made a great play," Angus said.
"It started with Singley in the neutral zone getting a chip-in, and Zach made a great play going around two guys. I just went hard to the net, put my stick down, and he did all the work for me."
Freshman Shane Brudnok made 32 saves for Latrobe (21-3-1), which has won 10 consecutive games overall and 12 playoff games in a row, dating to 2008.
"To win a championship, you have to have great defense, and it starts with great goaltending," Wildcats coach Dan Ridder said. "And Shane was just outstanding, especially with us giving up all those penalties."
Latrobe killed off five of Downingtown East's seven power plays.
It was the second consecutive year the Wildcats scored the winner to break a tie in the state title game in the final seven minutes.
"It hit me how special this team is as soon as the buzzer went off," Brudnok said. "When we were all jumping up and down and I was attacked by my teammates, I realized how special this team is."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10092/1047402-364.stm#ixzz0jwTBlXAj
Mars defeats Bayard Rustin to win 1st Pennsylvania Class A Crown
Tyler Stepke still recalls the predictably hostile Philadelphia-area hockey crowd a year ago at the Pennsylvania Cup Class A state championship game.
They chanted his name and generally got underneath the skin -- and inside the heads -- of Mars players in a 5-0 loss to West Chester Rustin at its home rink.
Home in a more familiar place this season, Stepke got his revenge.
Stepke made 35 saves and Robbie Sigurdsson scored twice and added an assist as Mars won its first state title hockey title with a 4-1 win against Rustin Thursday at Mellon Arena.
"We worked so hard for this all year long," Stepke said while shaking his head slowly in disbelief standing in the runway leading to what is usually the visiting NHL team's locker room at Mellon Arena moments after hoisting the Pennsylvania Cup.
"Redemption. That's the word, redemption."
Stepke stopped 15 shots within the game's first 10 minutes and was the biggest reason Mars (24-2) killed off seven Knights power plays. He didn't allow a goal until the final shot he faced, from Brian Christie with less than a minute to play.
"He's like a brick wall back there," Sigurdsson said. "I don't know if we would have won without him. He was making just amazing saves."
Mars withstood an early flurry by Rustin (13-9-2) and seized the momentum by scoring twice in a span of 31 seconds, starting with Sigurdsson's slap shot from high in the right circle off a pass from Mike Mazzotta while on the power play 10:37 into the first.
Nick Blaney was tripped up heading into the left-wing corner moments later and, while laid out on his belly, got a pass through to a streaking Rusty Miller in the slot. Miller made it 2-0 with his third goal of the playoffs.
"Every game there's a five-minute period where the other team has the momentum," said Planets captain Tyler Whiteford, who also assisted on the first goal. "You just need to work through that. It was just that that was the beginning of the game for us. And we got through it."
Sigurdsson scored again 52 seconds into the second period -- slamming home a feed from Miller while standing just to the left of the net -- and Mazzotta when made it 4-0 with 7:33 to play, the Planets knew they were bringing home only the second recognized state championship for a team sport at the school. The 1976 cross-country girls' team won a PIAA title.
"It feels real good for the guys to be able to win the first Mars state title in the last year of Mellon Arena," coach Steve Meyers said. "Winning your school's first state championship in a sport is a feeling not a lot of people get to experience."
The Planets, who have won 11 in a row, are 69-6-1 over the past three seasons, including two PIHL Penguins Cups. They outscored opponents, 22-7, in this postseason.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10092/1047403-364.stm#ixzz0jwSb4LSZ
Cardinal O'Hara rallies to end Canon Mac run and capture 1st State Title
Canon-McMillan's overtime magic finally ran out.
The Big Macs beat two higher-seeded teams in overtime during the Penguins Cup Class AAA semifinals and final to win that title, but the law of averages caught up to them in what was a 4-3, double-overtime loss to Cardinal O'Hara in a Pennsylvania Cup high school hockey state championship games at Mellon Arena.
"It was almost magical again out on that ice," Canon-McMillan captain Mario Dalesandro said.
"We were the Cinderella the whole time, you know? We weren't even supposed to be here. And then the clock decided to strike 12."
The clock struck 12 when the Mellon Arena game clock showed 8:47 remained in the second overtime. That is when the Lions' Stephen Falcone scored his second goal of the game, cruising down the slot, turning the puck over to his backhand and lifting a shot underneath the crossbar on Big Macs goalie Brandon Smolarek's glove side just inside the left post.
This overtime was not supposed to end that way for Canon-McMillan (18-8-1), the No. 8 seed in the Penguins Cup playoffs that beat both No. 1 Shaler and No. 4 Seneca Valley in overtime on the same Mellon Arena ice to reach the state title game.
"Twice, yes," Big Macs coach Yuri Kuvokuha said. "A third time?
"It won't happen every time. That's hockey. But what I told the kids is we had a great season, an unbelievable season. Nobody expected a No. 8 seed to be playing in the state final.
"It was close, too. Oh, so close."
Canon-McMillan did not trail until the game ended. The Big Macs got goals from Ryan Thomas and Dalesandro 33 seconds apart starting 5:12 into the second period.
But goals by Cardinal O'Hara's David Smith and Falcone later in the period tied it. Still, when Joe Mottiqua -- the overtime hero in the semifinals against Shaler -- scored with 10:32 left, it appeared as if the Big Macs had some of that Mellon Arena magic left in the final high school hockey game played at the 49-year-old facility.
"I really thought at that point we were going to keep going and put the foot on the gas pedal and just stomp all over them," Dalesandro said. "But they came back strong, give them credit."
Michael Marconi tied it with 4:07 left on what was the third goal off a rebound for the Lions (16-3-3). It set up overtime, which had been so kind to Canon-McMillan in recent weeks.
"I thought all along our guys would pull it out," Dalesandro said.
"Even when they started coming back, I thought we were going to come through again; I really did. I still really can't believe we lost that game. But someone has to lose, and unfortunately it was us."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10092/1047400-364.stm#ixzz0jwTmC7pX
2010 Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships
The Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships have been competed for since 1975 in Erie, Pennsylvania. This year's Pennsylvania State Finals will be held on Thursday April 1st and for the last time at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Class A, AA and AAA Pennsylvania State Crowns will be decided for 2010. Please see the previews below
www.eteamz.com/pahockey/files/PACUP10PREVIEW.xls
| PENNSYLVANIA CUP FINALS | ||||||||||
| A | W | Mars | 4 | E | Bayard Rustin | 1 | Mellon Arena | Thursday | 1-Apr | 11:00 AM |
| PENNSYLVANIA CUP FINALS | ||||||||||
| AA | W | Latrobe | 3 | E | Downingtown East | 2 | Mellon Arena | Thursday | 1-Apr | 1:30 PM |
| PENNSYLVANIA CUP FINALS | 2 OT | |||||||||
| AAA | E | Cardinal O'Hara | 4 | W | Canon McMillan | 3 | Mellon Arena | Thursday | 1-Apr | 4:00 PM |
Check out the 2010 Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championship Stories provided by Chris Adamski for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
http://www.eteamz.com/pahockey/news/index.cfm?cat=140824
2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class A
Mars keeps rolling toward redemption for a State Title lost a year ago !
Mars 7 Bishop McCort 3PITTSBURGH –
Mars has waited almost a year for another crack at the Penguins Cup and with Kittanning out of the picture, things may have gotten a little easier to face Serra Catholic, but don’t tell the Eagles, who have already secured their spot and await the winner of the Planets and Crimson Crushers of Bishop McCort. McCort has a long history of winning Penguins Cups as they have 6 to their credit and 5 Pennsylvania Class A titles, but the road for this storied program is nearing the possible word of extinction with no development in sight and a ton of seniors in this years lineup.
Mars came out of the gate taking control of this contest in the opening period as Michael Mazzotta scored in the opening minute and then after McCort’s Dane Domonkos tied the game on a Zach Barto rebound at 9:50, Elliott Tisdale and Rusty Miller gave the Planets the lead for good 3-1 as Mars outshot Bishop McCort 12-4 in the opening period.
After Domonkos pulled the Crushers within a goal in the opening minute of the 2nd period, C.J. Thibault, Tyler Whiteford and Elliott Tisdale helped the Planets open up a 5-2 lead prior to Domonkos competing the hat trick for McCort. Tisdale scored his third goal of the game and the 3rd period was scoreless as Mars moved on to the Penguins Cup final with a 7-3 victory over Bishop McCort.
2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AA
West Allegheny tops Canevin in over time to move on to first ever Penguins Cup final. West Allegheny 2 Canevin 1 [OT]PITTSBURGH –
West Allegheny has suffered some tough loses in the Penguins Cup playoffs over the years including to Latrobe in the Semi-Finals two years ago, but not much matches the two losses Canevin suffered to Franklin Regional in 2008 and then to Montour in 2009 in the Semi Finals. The Crusaders are looking to get over the hump and are the Indians, so Canevin got some good news as goaltender Julian DeFillippo was cleared to play hockey on Tuesday and that the accommodating PIHL was willing to change the proposed game on Monday to Tuesday and blame it on a bus scheduling error by Latrobe, who had nothing to do with the change. Another back room deal for the PIHL and another asterisk for those keeping score outside the games. .
After a scoreless first period, West Allegheny’s Patrick Coburn turned a Canevin turnover in their own end as he scored on a wraparound inside the post at 7:27 of tne 2nd period. Jason Kumpfmiller stood tall in net for West A as he stopped Vince Niccolella from point blank range at 2:07 to keep his team in front. West Allegheny looked like one goal would be enough until at 11:03 of the 3rd period, Frankie Vance made a nice cross ice pass to Jacob Betzner, who launched a shot toward to WA net which Vince Niccollella found and deposited past Kumpfmiller to tie the score at 1-1. West Allegheny went on the power play in the 3rd period and it was Frankie Vance who nearly scored to give his team the lead but Jason Kumpfmiller came up big to preserve the tie and the game headed to overtime tied at 1-1.
The overtime period didn’t last long as Patrick Coburn gathered a loose puck in the corner and fed Jon Levitt who scored just 13 seconds into over time to send West Allegheny to their first ever Penguins Cup final with a thrilling 2-1 win over Canevin.
2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AAA
Canon Mac survives onslaught and wins in OT dethroning Shaler 6-5 Canon McMillan 6 Shaler 5 [OT]PITTSBURGH –
Shaler has rolled the entire season and looked to be headed to its second straight Penguins Cup and looking for its first ever Pennsylvania State Title. Canon McMillan is courting Cinderella at this point while knocking out North Allegheny and then travelling to State College to unseed # 3 Seed Little Lions, the Big Macs are looking to become the first 8th seed since 1985 Mt Lebanon to go all the way to the Pennsylvania State Finals.
In addition, with Holy Ghost Prep and LaSalle out of the Flyers Cup picture and Cardinal O’Hara awaiting the Penguins Cup champions the path is now clear for Western Pa and Shaler. The Big Macs would be a sturn test for the Titans.
Canon McMillan and Shaler traded the lead three times in the opening period as Zack McKown gave the Big Macs the lead at 9:19 of the opening period. Shaler then took the lead as Sean McCue scored on a great pass from Jake Hetz at 5:54 and then Josh Carnprobst converted a Conner Burke feed to give the Titans the lead at 4:39. The Big Macs tied the game as Joey Mottiqua took advantage of a Shaler turnover just 29 seconds later. Sean McCure gave Shaler the lead again tipping a Shane Shiring shot past Smolarek with 3:46 to go in the first period.
Canon Mac took the lead with two goals in the 2nd period as Brett Oldaker tipped in an Alexander Baskarov shot at 2:28 to tie the score and the Baskarov blistered a shot tipped by Mario D’Allesandreo past Oscar Prom to make it 4-3 Big Macs, who held the lead despite being outshot 27-14.
Shaler came back in the 3rd period as Billy Dobson scored on a great individual effort at 11:16 to tie the score at four apiece and then Sean McCue completed the hat trick at 10:51 on a great touch pass by Patrick Schafer to regain the lead 5-4. Shaler dominated the 3rd period with a 12-4 shot advantage, but could not put the Big Macs away. Mario D’Allesandro became opportunist as he unleashed a wicked wrist shot that handcuffed Prom and tied the score with 6:53 to play.
Canon Mac would have two golden opportunities at the end of regulation and in overtime on the power play, but could not muster any offense. Three minutes into overtime, while killing the penalty, Shaler had at least six opportunities shorthanded to end this game and two where Zac Lynch and Shane Shiring had two golden cracks at near empty nets, which did not find paydirt. Canon Mac survived this flurry and then put the dagger in Shaler’s title hopes as with 2:52 remaining, Joey Mottiqua beat the Shaler defenseman and then Oscar Prom on a short side wrist shot giving Canon Mac a near improbable overtime upset of number one seed Shaler 6-5 and move on to their first ever Penguins Cup. .
