2008 Penguins Cup Playoffs – Quarter-Finals

CRANBERRY –

Bethel Park 2 Seneca Valley 1

      Intimate gathering for a 6:30 PM start for a rematch of two teams who have met twice this season, both times went the way of Seneca Valley, a 4-1 winner during the regular season and a 3-1 winner in the pre-season St Margaret Fall Face-Off. For Seneca Valley Head Coach Mike Schall, this is a stepping-stone of sorts for his program and a barometer of where the Raider program stands in the chase for the Penguins Cup. Considering the Raiders made this game a year ago and lost 7-0 to Bethel Park and have EARNED a home game for round two is some pretty nice progress. Seneca Valley would like to make it three straight over Bethel, bus in the playoffs it is easier said than done and sometimes experience of your program playing in these games is the difference.

     For Bethel Park, it’s a right of spring to participate in the Penguins Cup playoffs and it is more important to reach the ultimate goal of winning the Penguins Cup and competing for a Pennsylvania State Championship. A year ago the Hawks fell short in double overtime to eventual Pa Champions North Allegheny in the Penguins Cup finals 2-1 and although many of that class of players graduated the expectations of the program are that they compete and be a part of the process every year. Bethel was injury riddled for much of the season and is finally healthy and even though they did not finish the season with the momentum Jim McVay would have liked, the Hawks are an interesting underdog choice if they can advance to Mellon Arena.

     Bethel Park came out from the get go in a tight checking mode against Seneca maybe to see if their nerves were up to speed. The Hawks struck first as Tommy Whetsel threaded a very nice pass to Chris Mandia on the short side who buried a snap shot on the short side to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead at 10:17. Seneca’s Michael Rohm got behind the BP defense at 8:28 after a bad clearing attempt, but Ben ‘Jerry’ Garcia made a big save to keep the score 1-0. Bethel continued to hold the slim 1-0 lead as Garcia stopped Matt Jarrett’s bullet with 4:19 to go and the first period ended with BP out shooting SV 9-6. 

       A Bethel Park power play early in the 2^nd period at 12:02 was killed off by the Raiders and they used that to establish some momentum. The Raiders had trouble getting quality scoring opportunities and the game remained 1-0 in favor of the Hawks. With 3:19 to play in the period Bethel Park, on some hard work to win the puck in the Seneca Valley zone, took advantage of their opportunity as Kenny Loeffler won the battle for the puck took a wicked shot to the net, which Ryan Schutte stopped but Ryan Nunez made a terrific play to in one motion gather the puck and jam it past Schutte to make it 2-0 with 3:19 to play in the 2^nd. Seneca went on the power play with 2:19 to play in the 2^nd and really needed to make something happen and after several scrambles the Raiders could not score.

Nation of Meadville routs the Dawgs to a 4-1 win over rival North Allegheny

Meadville 4 North Allegheny 1

CRANBERRY -

         North Allegheny coach Jim Black knew that defending their Pennsylvania State AAA Championship was not going to be a picnic. After the Tigers were throttled by LaSalle at the Meadville Invitational, it became apparent that NA was not just a top team, but had a target on it’s back heading toward the playoffs in March. North Allegheny demolished their first round opponent Penn Trafford and earned a home berth against the 7^th seed Meadville Bulldogs, who the Tigers defeated 2-0 in the 2^nd half of the season, but lost to in November, splitting the season series. NA was able to capture the Division title with their final game victory over Seneca Valley.

          Meadville has had its ups and downs this season and really has been carried by the play of Morgan Nickerson and in some respects Nick Fedorka, who has been red hot over the past five games. The Bulldogs opened up the playoffs dispatching Norwin 7-1 and was the answer to the question of which teams no one really would like to face as the playoffs moved forward. Head Coach Jamie Plunkett has seen plenty of things happen in 21 years of coaching the Dawgs, but this year has been unique with a number of injuries, suspensions and suspense for his squad. The return of forward Billy Espy has really helped solidify some options for Meadville and what would turn out to be a very intruiging match-up with the heading to Mellon Arena for the Penguins Cup Semi-Finals.

You mention the word Penguins Cup in Meadville and it’s like the revelry in the Army as the ‘Meadville Nation’ rises as one and launches their cars down I-79 for the trek to Pittsburgh and this time a little stop in Cranberry for a match-up with rivalry North Allegheny.

          So before a packed house for the second of a twinbill the Tigers and Dawgs began battle in the Class AAA Penguins Cup Quarter-Finals. With 9:05 to go in the opening period Josh Herbert sped down the left wing and his centering feed found Dylan Rohar who just missed. In another good chance for the Tigers, Brady Waldschmidt was robbed by Bryan ‘Duck’ Danczak. The Tigers went on the power play at 1:41 and 5 on 3 trying to get the first score but the period ended in a 0-0 tie.

            On to the 2^nd period we went and Meadville would have its first chance on the power play and made it count as Morgan Nickerson took advantage of a bad clearing attempt by NA and threaded a perfect back door feed to Drew Finton who scored at 9:50 to give the Dawgs a 1-0 lead. Meadville went back on the power play at 8:37 and NA cleared the puck twice but Nick Fedorka semi break resulted in a drop to trailer Morgan Nickerson who fired a shot to the net save by Max Richards, but Nickerson crashed the net and the puck went off his skate and found its way past Richards to make it 2-0 with 7:19 to go. NA Coach Black saw it as did the Bulldog faithful and a lot of others, but the goal stood, which was a huge lift for the Bulldogs and deflated North Allegheny. Max Richards made several very good saves to keep the Tigers in the hockey game in the middle of the 2^nd period, but the Dawgs struck again as Aaron Nyes blistering slapshot from the center point beat Richards at 5:24 to make it 3-0 and it was all Meadville as the teams headed to the ice cut.

        North Allegheny got a power play to start the third period, but could not capitalize as Meadville continued to play smart defense and keep the puck out of their end. Bryan Danczak was turning aside everything that the Tigers threw at him late into regulation. North Allegheny got a power play at 4:24 and then a 5 on 3 at 4:11 and finally scored wit 3:11 to go as Josh Herbert scored on a wrist shot with 3:30 to play to make it 3-1. Plenty of time remained on the power play for NA, but Danczak stood tall making a save on Dylan Rohar at 3:09 and more saves as North Allegheny pulled goaltender Richards with 1:44 to play. Morgan Nickerson got to a loose puck after the faceoff and deposited it into an empty net to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 cushion and a trip to Mellon Arena to face # 1 and undefeated Pine Richland in the Penguins Cup semis next week. A big win for Meadville, the 7^th seed, who will live to play another day for a trip to the Penguins Cup final.

   The 2008 Flyers Cup seedings have been announced and are now available on Pa Hockey.

The quest for the Flyers Cup begins on March 10, 2008 and culminates in the Flyers Cup Champsionships on March 22nd at the Spectrum.

Check out the complete Flyers Cup schedule by clicking on the logo above or the path below

www.eteamz.com/pahockey/files/FlyersCup2008.xls

  2008 Flyers Cup Preview 

Class AAA

Ø     LaSalle (25-1-2) has been the class of the Class AAA in Eastern Pennsylvania for the entire 2007-2008 Season and when the Explorers blew through Meadville and manhandled defending State Champions North Allegheny, along with some other top flite competition from Ohio and Pennsylvania, a lot of people figured LaSalle as a sure pick for the Flyers Cup and the Pennsylvania title. The Explorers had the same tag a year ago and could not get it done, so March will be an interesting time to watch to see if they can do it.

Ø     Malvern Prep (14-7-3) has not had a great year by Malvern standards but holds on to the # 2 seed in the Flyers Cup field. The nice thing for the Friars is that they avoid LaSalle until the finals, that is if they get there.

Ø     Cardinal O’Hara (11-7-0) also avoids LaSalle until the finals after they were manhandled twice by the Explorers twice during the regular season. The Lions will face a very tough defending Flyer Cup Champions Holy Ghost Prep team in the quarter-finals and better be ready or could fall short again.

Ø     Father Judge (13-8-1) and Archbishop Ryan (13-9-0) both fell in the Lower Bucks league playoffs, which Holy Ghost won the championship.

Ø     Holy Ghost Prep (15-7-0) is the defending Flyers Cup Champions and may be hitting their stride at the right time again this season and frankly is the only team in Eastern Pa who may have  chance to stop LaSalle.

Prediction: I like LaSalle to advance pretty easily to the Flyers Cup final and their opponent will be either

Malvern Prep or my darkhorse Holy Ghost Prep. I think this is LaSalle’s year and they will atone for falling short a year ago.

Mt Lebanon 2 Bethel Park 0

SOUTH PARK –

       The history of the venue for many of us who have been involved with hockey dating back to the early 1970’s is memories of the Boards and Screens being brought out by volunteers in the beginnings of the PAHL as many people from this area got their start at the South Park skating facility. Among them Philadelphia Flyers legendary goaltender Ron Hextall and the McDonalds, Lane and Lowell Jr are among the most famous and players like Mt Lebanon’s Pat McDermott and South Hills Catholic’s Rick Vernon were among the early High School Stars to have skated out of South Park. For tonight’s game, one of the finest officials in Western Pa Chet Steen, got his start prior to skating for Baldwin and was reminiscing with Tim Morgeret, who was in attendance and it’s great to see at the rink and hopefully doning the skates and stripes real soon.

        People who have been in hockey a long time appreciate the history and Jamie Cummings, who started skating for the Blue Devils 37 years ago in 1971 looked forward to this night and was so appreciative of the dual meaning of watching his son Chris, who is afflicted with Juvenile Diabetes, play in a historic event he will remember for a long long time and as well and maybe more importantly the efforts of two volunteers Bethel Park Head Coach Jim McVay and Mt Lebanon Head Coach Paul Taibi, who turned a vision of a charitable event into a night of remembrance for the 1000 + people who came through the gate and the hundreds more who lined the hillside on Corrigan Road above the South Park facility. Through the efforts of rival coaches, who worked together to build this event, promote it and then prepare their teams for an always entertaining match up, hats off for a job well done and while there was plenty of buzz about the future outdoor games, this one will be the one these kids remember as the original and first Bethel Park – Mt Lebanon Classic.

         The other memory for me at least and I am sure many others is the friendships re-kindled by Bethel Park and Mt Lebanon folks who are friends and neighbors from amateur developmental teams, who all participated in this game. These were two adjacent schools and two neighboring communities, that wore their jersey’s with pride for their school and there was no talk of travel hockey and no talk of who was missing and no talk of curfew clocks or any of that. In fact, the starting goaltenders parents, the Behling’s and the Garcia’s park next to each other in the lot and while the Garcia’s were looking for warmth prior to game, the always’s prepared Bob Behling was putting the finishing touches on the goalie equipment, while tailgaters enjoyed the moment of this long standing rivalry. When I asked Mt Lebanon Head Coach Paul Taibi to describe the atmosphere, the words that came to mind were “Fun” and “Excitement” and oh yeah “the Memories for Both Teams of this game for a Long Time”.

        So with the fire roaring in the SP Fireplace, BP TV in place high above the Boards with the voice of the Hawks Jeff Nunez on the call, some pretty pristine conditions on the ice and some dignitaries on hand for the pre-game ceremonies, all that was left to do was play the hockey game. Bethel Park (13-4-2) and currently seeded 6^th in the upcoming Penguins Cup playoffs was doned in the Orange jersey’s and Mt Lebanon (16-1-2) currently ranked # 2 in the seedings were ready to square off and make history with fans, friends, neighbors and interested onlookers around the boards and on the hillside in what Jamie Cummings described as a “Unbelievable, Magical and Passionate” event.

        The first period was a typical BP – Lebo game with close checking, clean physical play, and end to end action. The Hawks got the first chance on the power play and the Blue Devils snuffed them. Lebo’s Jon Wilen had a chance on a partial break at 9:40, but was negated on a tremendous diving play by BP defenseman Zach Blake. Another BP power play was killed by Lebo. Then with 30 ticks to play in the opening period, Chris Cummings found a streaking Ben Rascoe, but Ben ‘Jerry’ Garcia came up big for the Hawks as Lebo outshot Bethel 9-5 in the opening period.

        Bethel picked up their play in the second period and had many near misses and the others were swatted away and covered by Lebo keeper Robbie Behling as BP out shot the Blue Devils 9-5. A scoreless tie and as the temperatures dropped, the play and the anticipation of what was to come grew greater. The funny this was that no one in the place moved from their spots and the crowd on the hillside continued to grow.

        After another ice cut [there were two ice cuts, which was a pretty good idea and no curfew, which is an even better idea for ALL games], the ice was absolutely perfect for the third period. Both teams battled well into the 3^rd period and the Hawks and Lebo’s both had good chances, only to be turned aside by goaltenders Garcia and Behling or they were near misses, but instead of intensity in the crowd, in was a festive atmosphere of Fun and Competitive Rivalry, which in sports is rare these days. Mt Lebanon prides itself in the 0-0 tie and the 1-0 game and hey Bethel Park has played a few of those in their day as well, so both teams battled for the games first tally. Mt Lebanon seemed to have a slight edge in the play in 3rd period and after a pretty good power play, the Blue Devils held the zone, got the puck to Brooks Behling, who unleashed a shot from the left circle, which was stopped by Ben Garcia and found it’s way onto the stick of Jon Wilen, who found the net with 2:31 to play in regulation giving the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead and sending the Lebo Lunnies on the hillside into a frenzy. Bethel feveriously worked to gain the Lebo zone in the final minutes, but the Blue Devils have been there before an went into lock down mode to secure their incredible 10^th shutout of the season including Robbie Behling’s 8^th and denied coach McVay’s Hawks and when Ben Rascoe, who had a ski mask on fit for a Holiday in Aspen got the puck alone behind the BP defense, he slid it into an empty cage with :19 to play, Mt Lebanon secured a 2-0 victory.

   With the Pennyslvania High School Hockey Championships set for the War Memorial in Johnstown, Pa. on March 29th. The Penguins Cup playoffs in Class A, AA and AAA will begin and North Allegheny and Freeport will begin the quest to defend their titles and Pine Richland's move to Class AAA will be a quest for 3 consecutive Pennsylvania crowns.

    Pa Hockey will give you wire to wire coverage beginning next week and the long awaited 2008 Penguins Cup Previews will be posted prior to the beginning of the playoffs. So stay tuned and fasten your seat belts as the ride begins for 40 schools in a race for glory in March.   Here is the path to the Previews www.eteamz.com/pahockey/files/PENCUP08.XLS

       The 2008 Penguins Cup Schedule and Complete Penguins Cup History

 www.eteamz.com/pahockey/files/PC08SCHED.xls