Archbishop Ryan Raiders

CORAOPOLIS – For the patrons attending the late game at the Airport arena last night, it was very noticeable how spacious the room was on both the South Fayette and the Quigley benches. For the Lions, it is very understandable since South Fayette is a first varsity program and according to club officials, its just a battle to keep players due to money concerns and the ‘kool aid’ effect of amateur programs, who are looking to steal any players they can and might I add at a much lower cost. So SF had the league minimum twelve players on the bench at the start of the game and added two more when the freshman game next door was over midway through the second, which is a testimony to Head Coach Tim Darnely and the SF people. Welcome to life in the PIHL South Fayette ! Quigley, well they know all about this life as the Spartans have been battling for years to keep their program afloat. When returning goaltender Craig Mohr decided just to play for the Junior B team, Quigley was stuck and almost wasn’t able to field a team. Fortunately, Kyle Milbert, having never played goalie before volunteered and with the help of former standout goaltender Luke Belsky and the Quigley coaching staff, the Spartans now have a goaltender and a team. The first period was back and forth with both teams having some decent chances and as we all know games are built on breaks and momentum. At 8:49 of the first, Quigley received the ultimate ‘gift’ as a South Fayette defenseman trying to clear the puck to safety accidentally scored on his own net. The play happened so fast that neither the crowd nor Lions goaltender Sean Kennedy could react and it was 1-0 Quigley. The Spartans scored the conventional way at 7:40 as Sean Wormald scored on a rebound to make it 2-0. South Fayette pulled within one at 7:13 as Jason Pastorious tipped in a shot from the point past Kyle Milbert to cut the lead to 2-1. On to the second period and while SF goalie Sean Kennedy was frantically trying to get back his stick, Quigley freshman Josh Marshall took advantage with a slick shot to the stick side at 10:22. On the very next shift, it was Marshall again after a nice feed by Tim Powell, beating Kennedy to the stick side and the Spartans now had a 4-1 lead with 8:32 left in the period. Marshall had two good chances for the hat trick, but was robbed by Kennedy at 7:12 and shot one off the crossbar with a backhander at 3:49. Late in the 2nd period, Michael Darnely scored to pull South Fayette within two at 4-2. The third period was all Quigley as Michael Conti, Sean Wormald and Jake Belsky scored to make the final 7-2 in favor of the Spartans.

ERIE - Pa Hockey Special Report courtesy of the McDowell Hockey Club Bethel Park Blackhawks - 7 McDowell Trojans - 1 The Bethel Park Blackhawks used a balanced scoring attack to defeat the McDowell Trojans 7 - 1 Thursday night in a PIHL contest played at the Erie Civic Center. Bethel Park displayed a wealth of team depth as they rode the strength of 6 different goal scorers in the easy win. The visitors jumped ahead early and as a power play expired when Ed Bendik one-timed a loose puck past Trojan goalie John Cleary just 4:09 into the game. Bethel Park would double their lead before the period expired as Timothy O’Brien scored the first of his two goals with 4:38 left in the 1st. Two goals in the first 3:11 of the 2nd period would give the Blackhawks a 4 – 0 lead and more than enough breathing room. A power play goal by BP’s Matt Slogan with 4:09 left in the period was followed by McDowell’s lone goal as Kaylan Rhoades would tip home an Andy Kohler shot with 1:09 left to cut the Blackhawk lead to 5 -1 heading into the 3rd. But Bethel Park would continue applying the pressure into the final period and tack on two goals for the final count. Bethel Park controlled the action for most of the game out- shooting the Trojans 40 – 8 on the night. The #2 ranked Blackhawks improve their PIHL record to 4 – 0 while McDowell falls to 2 – 2 in the league (7 – 3 – 1 overall). Goals By Period: Bethel Park / 2 – 3 – 4 = 7 McDowell / 0 – 1 – 0 = 1 Goal Scorers: Bethel Park / Timothy O’Brien (2), Edward Bendik, Jacobu Bilek, Matthew Slogan, Michael Diethorn, Logan Bannon McDowell / Kaylan Rhoades Shots On Goal By Period: Bethel Park / 12 - 15 - 13 = 40 McDowell / 3 - 3 - 2 = 8

CORAOPOLIS - Special report to Pa Hockey provided by Indiana and Moon Hockey Clubs The Indiana High School Varsity Ice Hockey team awoke in the third period to defeat Moon at the Airport Ice Arena Tuesday night. Indiana, short-handed by the loss of senior Joey Lenz and junior Adam Rusiewicz managed to outshoot their opponent 27-17 for the win. Cory Mills led the scoring 1:20 into the third period, assisted by Ryan Rivosecchi and Zach Damico. Damico came back with the winning goal with 4:37 on the clock on an assist from Joe Appolonia and Mills. Goaltender Mike Kennedy recorded the win with 16 of 17 saves. Indiana now 2-0 travels to Ice Connection in Butler Sunday night to face Pine-Richland at 7pm. Ian Brown scored the lone Moon to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

CORAOPOLIS - CORAOPOLIS – A that Pa Hockey provides every year is to compile a yearbook for the Western Pennsylvania schools and the media, which includes history, contact information, Pa Hockey Website information and other somewhat useless statistics including changes in the coaching position. Now I am not going to say that coaches should stay somewhere forever, but sometimes a change of venue is good for a coach or coaching staff. When West Allegheny hired Norm Cook and his assistant Kevin Moore, who coached at Ambridge, I could tell you that this was a very good move on the part of the Indians. With the returning and upcoming talent, West Allegheny’s program can think about returning to the playoffs, which the Indians have accomplished 8 out of the last 10 years and possibly challenge for a Penguins Cup, which occurred four consecutive years from 1996 through 1999. West Allegheny is off to a quick 2-0 start and looks to be heading back over the .500 mark, which it has done for 9 out of the last 11 years. Elizabeth Forward also has a new coaching staff led by John Mooney, who knows all about State Championships and Penguins Cup leading the Eagles to three straight Pennsylvania Cup A titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Along with assistants Larry ‘Briggs & Stratton’ Briggs and Pat McShane, Mooney is looking to take EF’s program to a new level with the same discipline and team effort his teams are accustomed to. The Warriors celebrated their move from Class A to Class AA with an opening night victory over a less than stellar Johnstown team and coach ‘Moon’ knew his team would be in for a stern test against WA, especially without Jeremy DelMaster, Brian Doak and Casey Burns, who had to fulfill EF soccer and other commitments. West Allegheny came out flying in the first period and took control of this contest rights away as Marek Polidor celebrated his return to the lineup with a goal at 12:51. Kevin Walsh extended the lead with 9:18 remaining in the first and Ian Skacan [6:47] and Ryan Kumpfmiller [:46] converted as the Indians launched an 18 shot assault on Warrior netminder Mike Cole for a 4-0 1st period lead. The Indians picked up where they left off in the 2nd period as Rob Hoetzlein scores on a rebound to make it 5-0 at 12:40. Elizabeth Forward finally broke through when Billy Repass scored at 10:20 from just in front of WA netminder Dan Kuzio. West Allegheny just put the game in overdrive courtesy of Ryne Savisky, who scored at 10:07 and again at 9:38 to turn this one into a waltz 7-1. Savisky then set up Steve Sarachene at 6:40 and Marek Polidor at 2:45, with very nice passes on odd man breaks and the Indians led 9-1 after two. West Allegheny had the game in hand and Elizabeth Forward played to win the third period since the outcome was decided and Chase Lizik scored at 6:34 to make the final 9-2 in favor of the Indians, who pushed their record to 3-0-0 in this early season. WA outshot the Warriors 37-13 before a very nice crowd at the Airport Arena of festive West Allegheny students and patrons.

HARMARVILLE – Deer Lakes status for the 2004-2005 season was up in the air as of the middle of October 2004 and rumors were surfacing that there would not be a hockey season for the Lancers. The club was able to get enough kids and a head coach in Terry Marynchak and by the looks of it has about 15 players on the bench according to the roster. After 6 winning seasons and 6 Penguins Cup playoff appearances in eight seasons under Al Palowski, the Lancers program will be challenged to keep the tradition going, especially with low numbers and lack of developmental programs. Mars enters the 2004 – 2005 season with a chip on its shoulders after missing the playoffs for the first time in five years under Eric Glover. Anyone who knew the situation could tell you that last season was a rebuilding year for the Planets and that this years team would be better as Mars is dominated with a strong Junior class. Anytime rivals Mars and Deer Lakes faceoff you will be in for a spirited game and both teams entered this contest with opening night victories. Mars dominated the opening period as they out shot Deer Lakes 7-2. The Planets would capitalize on their shot advantage as Evan Reel cashed in twice at 12:00 and 5:56 to give his team a 2-0 lead. Tyler Brooks would extend the lead early in the second period as Mars took a comfortable 3-0 lead. Back came the Lancers as Moritz Weissenhorn banged home a rebound to get Deer Lakes on the board at 9:33 on the 2nd. Just a minute and a half later, it was Weissenhorn again taking a nice cross ice feed from Rich Bigley on the 2 on 1 and depositing high over the glove side of Bryan Ross at 8:04 to make it a hockey game at 3-2. Mars was determined to win this game and got a huge goal late in the period as Steven Matusak poked home a loose puck from in close as Adam Finney made the play t o get the puck to the front of the net and the Planets regained a 4-2 lead with just 1:02 remaining in the period. On to the third period and Mars iced this game with three goals including Finney at 12:50, Carroll Smith at 9:03 and a beautiful redirection by Jim Kelly of a John Becker shot at 4:44 to close out the scoring and lead the Planets to a 7-2 victory at Blade Runners in Harmarville.