St Joseph's Prep Hawks

Pittsburgh 5 New York 4 2007 Chicago Showcase – Semi-Finals BENSENVILLE, ILLINOIS – The interesting part about the Semi-Finals of the Chicago Showcase is the absence of hoopla that is evident the first four days of the event. Gone is the cookout out front of the Edge in Bensenville, many of the 24 teams in the event are headed back home, many of the scouts are no longer present and the excitement in the building of game after game of action has diminished. Left are four teams, including three of four who realistically could not have figured to be a part of the championship chase. Wisconsin coach Mike Calouri has been here before and knows the drill of what it takes to be champions of a National High School Hockey Tournament, but for Ohio (C Bracket Champions and upset winner over # 1 seed Michigan), New York (B Bracket upset winner over Minnesota) and Team Pittsburgh, it’s uncharted waters. Pittsburgh did make the finals in 1999, with a group of a half dozen or so Division 1 studs, only to lose to Minnesota. As described by one of the long-time followers of the Chicago Showcase, Team Pittsburgh is that pest little brother that just won’t go away to the Interscholastic hockey powers like Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, Massachusetts, Northern New England, and Illinois, all whom are headed home and have no shot at the 2007 Chicago Showcase title. Team New York, which is comprised of players from clubs in the Long Island area knocked off Minnesota in the Quarter-Finals and is looking for their first trip to the finals in recent memory if ever. Team NY defeated Massachusetts 7-3, lost to Connecticut 3-2, iced Washington 5-1 and defeated Minnesota to get to this point. So before an intimate gathering of less than 50 patrons in the AHAI rink in Bensenville the game was under way. With 14:28 to go in the opening period New York got the first opportunity on the power play and was evened up at 13:08 on a call on NY. Another penalty on New York at 10:51, put Pittsburgh on their first unabbreviated power play, which was nullified by a Pittsburgh penalty. At 6:46 of the opening period, Alfred Vitsentzos scored on a tap in rebound as a result of sloppy defensive zone play by Pittsburgh. Moments later at 6:17 New York scored again as Jon Weintraub scored on a long shot from the center point. Pittsburgh came right back at 5:01 as Bethel Park’s David Spadacene scored on his own rebound on the backhand set up by BP’s Kenny Lehmann to make it 2-1. Pittsburgh went back on the power play with 3:24 to go and could not capitalize and disturbingly did not get the play set up in the zone real well. Pittsburgh outshot NY 10-4 in the opening period, but trailed on the scoreboard 2-1. Pittsburgh didn’t take long to tie the contest 2-2 as Logan Bannon scored on a David Spadacene rebound at 16:06. Moments later Bethel Park’s Bryan Brown just missed giving Pittsburgh the lead at 15:41. Mt Lebanon’s Mike Roman gave Pittsburgh its first lead at 13:56 of the period on a long slapshot to the stick side of Keith Kincaid to make the score 3-2. David Spadacene had a great opportunity to extend the lead at 10:21, but Kincaid made a spectacular save. After the teams traded power play chances, New York tied the score on a great individual effort by Stephen Mele, who burst don the left side and beat Mt Lebanon’s Robbie Behling on a backhand with 3:49 remaining in the 2nd period. Pittsburgh came right back as Pine Richland’s Phil Trombetta converted a beautiful cross ice pass from West Allegheny’s Ryan Kumpmiller to give Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead with 1:34 to play in the period. Pittsburgh did not do a very good job backchecking or playing defense and New York’s Michael Bochichio made them pay scoring on a turning backhand with under a minute to play in the 2nd period and the score was tied again 4-4. Pittsburgh outshot New York 19-13 in the middle frame. New York power play with 14:10 to go in regulation and Pittsburgh showed great resilience to kill it. With 11:45 to play in regulation, Pittsburgh went back on the power play and had several good chances but Kincaid made several nice saves. New York went on the power play and it wasn’t long as they took a penalty just ten seconds into the man advantage to nullify the power play at 7:17. With 6:01 to play, Pittsburgh would have a golden chance to take the lead on the power play on a 4 on3 and after some nice puck movement West Allegheny’s Ryan Kumpfmiller moved the puck to the front of the net and Central Catholic’s Chris Urso would not be denied fighting off two defenders to score a power play goal and give Pittsburgh a 5-4 lead with 5:36 to go in regulation. With 3:24 to go. Pittsburgh went back on the power play, with a chance to extend the lead, but could not capitalize. Pittsburgh held on in the final minute scoring a 5-4 victory over New York and advance on to play Wisconsin in the championship. Pittsburgh outshot NY 13-4 in the 3rd period and 32-17 for the game. Team Pittsburgh returns to the final for the first time in 8 years seeking its first ever Chicago Showcase National Invitational Championship in 23 years.