Archbishop Ryan Raiders

INDIANA – Indiana entered tonight’s opening playoff game as the # 2 Seed in the Penguins Cup Class with a bye in round one. Coach Dom Glavech had a couple of players from last year’s Penguins Cup finalist as Zack Diamond and Michael Hart skated with the team as a reminder of last season and what is at stake and that this Indiana team much play a full 45 minutes. The Indians pounded EF 10-0 at Rostraver on December 20th but EF had no Repass or Delmaster, who were at Mr. Haney’s Flea Market, which is a big difference. A switch of rinks at the House of King Samuel, as the teams took the ice where neither Indiana or EF skated this season in the rink, which hasn’t been used in a couple of years . The Hockey Holligans were out in full force Indiana Student section and jammed packed Indiana section of Indian Faithful and a sprinkling of Warrior fans, who made the 1 ½ trip from Elizabeth Forward. With a 2002 dream trip for the Warriors to the Penguins Cup Semi-Finals in Class A before losing to Bishop McCort at Rostraver and the brilliant goaltending of Adam Reichl, who resurrected the Varsity program of Elizabeth Forward after three years of no varsity. A move up to Class AA in 2004-2005 and a brand new coaching staff featuring Former Serra coach and winner of three State Championships John Mooney and his new sidekicks Larry ‘Briggs & Stratton’ Briggs and Pat ‘No Shame’ McShane, fresh off a 4-3 upset of West Allegheny, in which featured play of Michael Cole in the nets and a huge win after the Warriors had a respectable 10-12-1 record in AA including a 2-2 season ending tie with # 1 seed Canon McMillan. And the connection with Indiana is that John Mooney coached Great Lakes/Nittany right here in Indiana, so maybe King Samuel pulled the switcharoo on the pads thinking John would be familiar with the rink Indiana normally skates in. A dream matchup for Arnold ‘Slick’ Ziffel as the Indians of Indiana faced off against the Warriors of Elizabeth Forward and since there was no Cowboys versus Indians, ole Arnold would have to settle for this and Fred and Doris were real happy too to get out of Hooterville for a night in Indiana. Goaltending was on display in the opening period at 12:34 as Mike Kennedy stopped Billy Repass on a clear break and at 11:32 Kennedy made a leg save on Jeremy Delmaster. The opening period was mucked up with a series of penalties at 11:14 Indiana power play, at 9:27 with an EF power play forced by speed of Jeremy Delmaster, at 6:46 with another chance for EF on the power play and finally at 2:53, yet another Indiana power play as the Indians did not have a lot of chances in the games opening period. Indiana didn’t score but started to establish play in the Warrior zone. On to the 2nd and at 13:17 another chance for EF on the power play and the game’s first great save as a sprawling Mike Kennedy just got his toe on a Jeremy Delmaster shot at 12:18 to keep the game scoreless. And again at 11:52 he stopped Delmaster again from point blank. At 11:35 Billy Repass had a wide open chance on the back door and hit the crossbar. Indiana got another penalty and the Warriors would get two more minutes to work with at 11:08 and Indiana would get their chance as freshman Lance Lewandowski had a clear shot and Michael Cole stopped him shorthanded at the eleven minute mark. Then the replacement referees showed up thinking the game was at 9:00 PM which was not on the Pa Hockey site, which had it correct at 8:00 PM [Where’s Hank Kimball, our faithful scheduler when you need him ?] and immediately blew an icing call on a power play and maybe they should have all six of the guys who showed up on the ice at $ 60 a pop. Then at 6:09, Michael Jack cut one loose from the right point that trickled past Cole for a 1-0 Indiana lead. At 4:18, Cole made a big save on Joe Appolonia from the right circle. Elizabeth Forward continued to get chances and kept missing or was stopped by Kennedy. 44 seconds left saw a mental mistake putting EF on the power play with a too many men on the ice call and another penalty with just 6 ticks left in the middle period would give the Warriors 1:16 to work with on a 5 on 3 to start the final period of regulation. At 14:33, the lift that Elizabeth Forward was looking forward to as Jeremy Delmaster whistled a wrist shot past Kennedy to tie the game at one apiece, to make Indiana pay for their undiscipline play late in the 2nd period. Indiana went back on the power play at 12:51 and Cole stopped Appolonia and Mills on the rebound and the Warriors killed it. Then with 10:27 left Kennedy misplayed the puck and EF made him pay as Billy Repass stripped the puck and found a wide open Jeremy Delmaster in front with an open net and a 2-1 Warrior lead. With 6:31 left Brian Doak had a great chance to give EF insurance, but Kennedy stopped him. With 5:30 left and EF with a potential 3 on 1, Indiana received a gift of the year with a slashing call and a power play. In a game reminiscent of a Chartiers Valley upset of Indiana in the Pa Hockey Scholastic Showcase, coach Mooney called a timeout with 2:53 remaining to give his guys a rest and also gave Mills and company a rest as well. Then like a miracle with 2:11 left the magic man for Indiana Cory Mills as he has done all season took a shot which Michael Cole had the angle on and trickled past Cole and in the far corner to tie the game. New life as the Indiana faithful rose to their feet and cheered for what seemed like the first time of the evening. With 1:47 left. Mike Kennedy stopped Delmaster’s bid to give EF the lead back with a great save and another brilliant stop moments later on Delmaster again. And we went to overtime ! Overtime and a relentless Michael Jack would not be denied as he fought off Warrior defenders to get his own rebound and backhand it by Cole [Apparantly Nick Onuschek got the final stick on it] to send Indiana on to the Penguins Cup semi-finals and for Elizabeth Forward a valiant effort and a very near upset for coach John Mooney, whose team executed the upset plan which fell 2:11 short, which Indiana knows all too well from 04 – 05.