St Joseph's Prep Hawks

The St. Margaret Fall Face-Off has done more than offer teams from different athletic divisions a chance to face each other on the ice. At least 18 lives have been saved with emergency equipment bought using money raised during previous tournaments, tournament director Dave Bianco said. Sixteen schools from southwestern Pennsylvania will take part in the St. Margaret's Fall Face-Off, an annual preseason hockey tournament. Last year's winner, the Fox Chapel Foxes, will have tough competition from the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils, the AAA state champs, and the Pine-Richland Rams, AA state champs. Bethel Park, Franklin Regional, Hampton, Indiana Area, Mars Area, Montour, North Allegheny, North Hills, Plum, Seneca Valley, Shaler Area, West Jefferson Hills and Upper St. Clair also will take part. The tournament starts Monday and runs through next Thursday at Harmarville Blade Runners. What began as a competition for high school teams from the northern and eastern suburbs will draw athletes this year from throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Sixteen teams, twice the number that took part last year, will participate. This year's goal was $150,000, with the money primarily from corporate sponsorships and donations. That goal has been exceeded, with about $160,000 pledged. Proceeds will be used to buy automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, portable electronic devices that can shock a heart back into a normal rhythm. The first tournament was held 14 years ago and organized by Arthur Scully, former executive director of the St. Margaret Foundation and a hockey fan. Proceeds initially financed the foundation's community health programs, but, for the past eight years, funds have been used exclusively to buy AEDs. Read the FULL ARTICLE in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette North and East regarding the St Margaret's Fall Face-Off. e Monday evening the St Margaret's Foundation and the Pa Hockey Network will be broadcasting live from Harmarville, a unique pre-tournament show featuring many of the supporters of the event and coaches and players from the schools participating. The Dynamic Trio of Dave 'the Boy Wonder' Fryer, Ron 'Alfred' Steedle and Jeff 'Batman' Mauro will be on hand to provide the color, candor and catch up with some very special guests........... the On-Demand Webcast is now available !