Announcement
Latrobe 4 Canevin 2
MT LEBANON –
Latrobe (5-0-0) has started quickly after being ranked # 1 in the Pa Hockey Pre-Season coaches poll. Wildcat head coach Ron Makoski knows that his team is as individually as any team in Western Pennsylvania at the Class AA level and the Wildcats are coming off an excellent campaign that included a Division title a year ago. Latrobe advanced to round two of the Penguins Cup and is thirsty for more than that in 2007-2008. A veteran team that is very capable of being one of the players come March in the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships. Coach Makoski has a philosophy to allow his players to play at the highest level possible as many of the Wildcats play on two teams and has echoed to his playes his wish for them to concentrate as a group to bring Latrobe an elusive State Title.
Canevin (2-0-1) has a rich history of State Championships dating back to the early 80’s when the Crusaders captured the Class AA crown in 1982 and 1983 and then again in 1989. A program that has not challenged for that title since 2000, when the Crusaders fell one game short of the Pennsylvania Title game losing to 3-time State Champions Thomas Jefferson in Erie in the final seconds. Enter Kevin Zielmanski, who after 8 seasons at Central Catholic and many near misses returns to coaching after a year sabbatical. The nice luxury for coach Z will be a captive audience of 11 Freshman and Sophomores to work with and one of Class AA’s top returning players in Josh Daley. Canevin will be an interesting team to watch come March and for a couple of years to come. A 2-2 tie with Franklin Regional last Friday has opened the eyes of many as the Crusaders a now ranked # 3.
So before an intimate gathering including some ‘Concerned Citizens of Franklin’ at the Mt Lebanon Rec Center, the Wildcats and Crusaders took to the ice in a back and forth opening five minutes with no score. At 9:26 of the opening period, Michael McCurdy slipped past the Canevin defense and beat Dylan Lutz low to the stick side inside the post to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Latrobe had a chance to extend their lead at 6:50 of the period on the power play, which was killed by Canevin. The Crusaders got their opening opportunity on the man advantage and almost tied it as Jacob Betzner’s low shot was redirected by Vince Nicolella, but Latrobe goaltender Nick Loyacona made a better save. With 35 to go in the period Dylan Lutz made a bang bang stop on Wildcat sniper JeffJoe Regula. Canevin outshot Latrobe 9-6.
On to the second went and while coach Makoski’s troops rested during the intermission, Professor Zielmanski was drawing up plans on the white board. At 13:41 of the 2nd period, the Crusaders went back on the power play and could not converted. Then at 10:41 of the period, Latrobe scored on a pretty passing exchange Ryan LaDuke and Michael McCurdy and resulted in a rebound that JeffJoe Regula slapped out of the air for a 2-0 Wildcat lead. Latrobe lost their composure a little after a 3rd goal was waived off and took a 10 minute misconduct and another undisciplined penalty at 9:01. At 8:32 of the period, Canevin batted a puck out of the air with a high stick and no goal. At 8:04 Loyacona stopped Cam Zappi twice with two very nice saves and made another fine save on Josh Daley at 7:35. At 4:03 Loyacona stoned Vince Nicolella on a 2 on 1. Latrobe started to find openings in the Canevin defense and with 1:08 to go Ryan LaDuke nearly scored but Dylan Lutz made the save. Despite outshooting Latrobe 27-13, Canevin headed to the locker room down 2-0.
With 1316 to go after the opening four shots of the period and after a big scramble in front, Cam Zappi deposited a wrist shot over the glove of a defenseless Nick Loyacona for a 2-1 lead for the Wildcats. At 12:23 Canevin went back on the power play PP 11:34 rebound Frankie Vance slid one on the ice and under Loyacona for a power play goal and a tie hockey game 2-2. Latrobe responded at 10:39 as Jeff Joe Regula pounced on a Ryan LaDuke rebound for a 3-2 Wildcat advantage. At 9:51 Canevin went back on the power play, but Latrobe had a great chance as Alex Stahl and Mike McCurdy made some tick tac passes and Dylan Lutz made a sprawling save on the shorthanded attempt. The Wildcats Jeff Rossi nearly extended the lead with 5:35 to go, but Lutz made an alert stop to keep the count 3-2. With 3:30 to go Latrobe captilized a couple of strong minutes of hard work in the Canevin end as Zack LaDuke tipped home an Andrew Onge shot to make it 4-2 and give the Wildcats insurance. An untimely penalty at 1:40 put the Crusaders in a little bigger hole and actually sealed Canevin’s fate as time was on the Wildcats side. Shots on goal for the contest were Canevin 37 and Latrobe 18, but Latrobe escaped with a 4-2 victory and held on to the top spot in Class AA.
