St Joseph's Prep Hawks

Pittsburgh 4 Illinois 1 2007 Chicago Showcase BENSENVILLE, ILLINOIS - Team Pittsburgh opened the 23rd Annual Chicago Showcase with 4-1 loss to a very strong and talented Michigan team and rebounded to defeat nemesis North Dakota 3-2, holding off a 3rd period rally by the Sioux and killing he clock. The opponent for a crucial play-in game for the Elite 8 of the 2007 Chicago Showcase is the host of the annual tournament Team Illinois. The winner of this hockey game will claim the # 3 seed in tomorrow’s playoff round and the loser MAY be playing for pride. This year’s Illinois squad is comprised of some familiar teams for those who follow Interscholastic Hockey Nationwide in New Trier Green, Fenwick, Glenbrook North and Loyola Gold and the Illinois squad is headed by Bob Melton of New Trier. Pittsburgh Head Coach Jim McVay knows the names as his Bethel Park squad has faced New Trier and Fenwick over the past few years and is very familiar with the caliber of hockey needed to be successful against them. Illinois opened the Showcase with a 6-4 win over North Dakota and then succumbed to Michigan 4-2 after holding an early 2-0 advantage. Donned in their Virginia Tech attire, coaches McVay and Fryer went to work to help Pittsburgh advance. With 14:59 remaining in the opening period, Illinois had the first opportunity on the power play and Pittsburgh killed it. Meadville’s Morgan Nickerson had a partial break at 9:35 only to be turned aside by Bartlett’s Steven Tomczyck. Central Catholic’s Chris Urso almost gave Pittsburgh the lead but was turned aside by Tomczyck. Pittsburgh’s first opportunity came on the power play at 7:45, which Illinois methodically killed off. Pittsburgh got another opportunity at 2:19, which was killed by Illinois, but West Allegheny’s Ryan Kumpfmiller nearly scored in the closing seconds on a strong move to the net. Pittsburgh held a 6-3 shot advantage after the opening period. At 14:28 of the second frame, Bethel Park’s David Spadacene just missed on a play set up by teammate Kenny Lehmann and Franklin Regional’s Tim McDonough with a couple of nice lead passes. End to end action ensued in the 2nd as Pittsburgh had the better of the play. At 5:02 remaining, Bethel’s David Spadacene thought he scored, but the puck hit the far post and the game remained scoreless. Moments later at 4:48, Pittsburgh went back on the power play. Freeport’s Zach Hepler’s drive from the left point rung off the crossbar at 4:10. Pittsburgh struck first as Meadville’s Morgan Nickerson fired a laser pass to Bethel’s Logan Bannon, who chipped it past the Illinois goaltender for a 1-0 Pittsburgh lead. Then with 27 ticks remaining in the period Pittsburgh scored again as West Allegheny’s Ryan Kumpfmiller crashed to the net and took a beautiful feed from Pine Richland’s Phil Trombetta for a huge goal and a 2-0 lead. Pittsburgh outshot Illinois 18-5 in the middle period heading to the ice cut. With 15:04 to go in regulation, Fenwick’s Nick Powers had a great chance, but Mt Lebanon’s goaltender Robbie Behling made a super stop to keep the score 2-0. Illinois kept up the pressure and almost scored moments later. With 10:17 to go Pittsburgh was whistled for a penalty putting Illinois on the power play and a chance to get back in the game and it would be Pittsburgh who would ring the bell as Central’s Chris Urso led Meadville’s Morgan Nickerson, who was in on the breakaway and slipped a backhand through the 5-hole of Illinois goaltender Tomczyk with 8:36 to go to make it 3-0. Pittsburgh didn’t waste any time scoring again as Pine Richland’s Phil Trombetta pounced on a Bethel’s Bryan Brown rebound at 7:58 and Pittsburgh was now up 4-0. Fenwick’s K.C. Madock found a loose puck and beat Robbie Behling to make it 4-1 with 4:48 to go and break the shutout. Bethel’s David Spadacene had great chance to score on a breakaway on a great lead pass by Freeport’s Zach Hepler and was stopped on a great save by Tomczyk at 3:09. Pittsburgh would finish it off with a very good defensive effort exemplified by the 36-17 shot advantage including 12-9 in the 3rd period for an impressive 4-1 pasting of Illinois to capture the 3rd seed and advance to the round of 8 for the 4th time in five years.