News and Announcements
hideYou must login to access that area.
3/11/04~Bethel Park dominates Penn Trafford in shots & wins
Posted by Jeff Mauro at Mar 11, 2004 4:00PM PST
( 0 Comments
)
DELMONT –
Penn Trafford has had a dream season winning the South Division by edging out rival Franklin Regional by one point for its first ever division title. Coach Todd Purvis was not around for the near playoff upset of Bethel Park in the 1st round of last years playoffs, but is very familiar with the Hawks from his battles as the coach of North Allegheny over the years. The Warrior were hosting their first ever home playoff game before a standing room only crowd at Center Ice Arena and would need to concentrate on playing defensively and eliminate over 450+ penalty minutes which have been the Achilles heel for PT. On the flip side, if Penn Trafford could generate its offensive prowess against BP, it could spell an upset [even though the Warriors were the higher seed] and revenge for the overtime loss from a year ago.
Bethel Park coach Jim ‘Mort’ McVay is always looking for an edge and his team’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to put Bethel Park in position to win a championship. Take Bryce Merriam, the Bethel Park goaltender, who joined the team in late January and played in the last seven regular season games and could be seen running out of Varsity games to play in Junior Varsity games just to meet the 10 game minimum for the State Playoffs. This is the kind of commitment expected from a hockey program, which prides itself in being on top of anything that can put itself in a position to win and takes nothing for granted. The Hawks are a dangerous playoff team, who no one wants to play because they are a great defensive team and have found a goaltender, who has a .931ish save percentage, a healthy Dan Zabkar and is finding some scoring touch from 2nd and 3rd line players….. a recipe for playoff success and a legitimate darkhorse.
Bethel Park worked its opening period plan to perfection putting Penn Trafford on its heels and outshooting the Warriors 15-7. After a scoreless opening 8 ½ minutes, Jason Hedglen opened the scoring at 6:31. Penn Trafford tied the game at one apiece as Glenn Bowersox beat Merriam at 3:50. Jacobus Bliek scored on an assist from Dan Zabkar to put the Hawks back on top with 2:01 remaining in the opening period.
Penn Trafford continued to shoot themselves in the foot in the second period with penalties and Bethel Park kept up the pressure with an 11-6 shot advantage. Bethel Park had a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the second with a 5 on 3 advantage but could not beat Joel Sterniak, who made several keys saves in the period to keep Penn Trafford in the hockey game. Devon McCusker delivered for Penn Trafford as he took the puck through the neutral zone on his off wing shot the puck, which Merriam saved but could not control the rebound and McCusker buried with a wrist shot high over the shoulder of the BP goaltender to tie the game with 5:20 remaining in the middle frame.
With 1:42 remaining in the second, BP sharpshooter Conner McLean walked off the near boards and beat Sterniak on the short side over the glove side to give Bethel Park a 3-2 lead.
On to the third period and the Blackhawks wasted no time taking control as Michael Diethorn scored on the power play to make Penn Trafford pay for its undiscipline at 14:13 and extend the BP lead to 4-2. Bethel Park continued to frustrate the Warriors by clamping down defensively and yielding only 4 shots on Bryce Merriam and forcing PT into undisciplined penalties and Bethel Park poured 16 more shots for a 42-17 advantage on the evening nullifying a strong goaltending performance by Joel Sterniak, who finished with 38 saves. The Hawks will now move on to face archrival and # 1 seed Mt Lebanon next Monday night at the Mt Lebanon Recreation Center.
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/20bb6837-8841-4827-8e7d-f20d55d47113.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/4a32347a-186a-4536-8fe3-1b8b2df009db.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/20bb6837-8841-4827-8e7d-f20d55d47113.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/4a32347a-186a-4536-8fe3-1b8b2df009db.gif)
3/10/04 ~ South Park comes to life & defeats Trinity 5-3
Posted by Jeff Mauro at Mar 10, 2004 4:00PM PST
( 0 Comments
)
CASTLE SHANNON –
The Trinity hockey program has not been exactly a Class AA power over the years, but under the guidance of Larry Marks the team is a far cry from the 1-18-1 record in 2001-2002. The Hillers entered the 2004 Penguins Cup playoffs for the second straight year and while making the playoffs was a big deal last year, Trinity was looking for its first ever playoff victory. The Hillers have a short bench and have relied heavily on players like Jeff Hildebrand, Chris Graff, Greg Bandzuch, Josh Kelly and Matt Warco, who have provided over 80 % of Trinity’s scoring throughout the season.
South Park has been to the Penguins Cup playoffs for 16 years and has yet to capture a Penguins Cup in 31 years, which is amazing given the talent that has been developed in the program over the years. The closest call believe it or not was way back in 1976, when the Eagles lost 3-2 to Gateway, who went on the next day to lose to Abington in the Class AA State Championship. The best South Park team may have been in 1997, when the Eagles were SHIHL AA Champions and could not overcome a early deficit against eventual Pa State AA Champions Erie Cathedral Prep and lost 5-3 at Rostraver. Head coach Bob Juha’s team down the stretch looked more like a team heading out of the playoffs as the Eagles have struggled to score goals when they need them and a prime candidate for a first round exit if they didn’t change things in a hurry.
Trinity slowed the pace of the game down in the first period to perfection with smart play and good puck control, which kept the short Hiller bench fresh. South Park’s Matt Nichol appeared to score the opening goal at 9:57, but was waived off for the net was dislodged. The Hillers struck first late in the period as Chris Graff poked home a rebound and Trinity was on top 1-0 with 48 seconds left in the period.
The Hillers extended their lead to 2-0 at 13:49 of the second as Chris Graff’s wrist shot through a screen handcuffed Ian Artim and the Eagles looked to be in trouble. Artim made a huge save on Jeff Hidebrand at 9:56 to keep South Park within reach. The momentum swung South Park’s way after a power play at 4:48, but Mick Alexander made two diving stops on Matt Lutrell and Michael Englert with 4 ½ minutes remaining. On the unsuing face-off this playoff game would take on a complete momentum switch. Dennis Fleming’s wrist shot from the right point found its way through traffic and bounced past Mick Alexander and South Park was finally on the board with a power play goal at 4:15. The Eagles were flying now and Tim Ryan took a great cross ice pass from Matt Slogan and tied the game deking Alexander at 2:55. Both teams had great chances late in the period to take the lead but Jared Miley’s shot rang off the post ay 2:02 and Josh Kelly just missed on a wide open chance at 1:53.
Trinity had the first opportunity of the third period as Josh Kelly had a partial break, which was stopped by Ian Artim at 14:40. Alexander robbed Don Remlinger with a glove save at 12:57 after the Trinity defenseman lost his edge and fell. South Park just kept coming and Tommy Vaughn found Larry Locante alone in front, who beat Alexander between the legs to give the Eagles their first lead 3-2 at 10:40. South Park took a very undisciplined penalty at 8:01 and Trinity went to work on the power play in an attempt to tie the game. The Hillers were all over the South Park goal but could not score but the Eagles somehow kept them out after a big scramble in front of Ian Artim at 6:39. This would be all South Park would need as Tim Ryan took a nice chip pass from Slogan and beat Alexander on a breakaway to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead with 5:06 remaining. Matt Slogan would put the nail in Trinity’s coffin as the lanky forward scored on a wrist shot with 3:20 left. Greg Badzuch’s goal with 2:16 remaining brought the Hillers within two, but it was too little too late and the Eagles earned a 5-3 victory and a date with arch-rival Peters Township next week in the Elite 8 Class AA Penguins Cup.
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/24e4f715-ea03-4797-bb84-f9c55943b01d.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/e0d6c532-f28d-4722-ac23-5983d6f2ea06.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/24e4f715-ea03-4797-bb84-f9c55943b01d.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/e0d6c532-f28d-4722-ac23-5983d6f2ea06.gif)
3/10/04 ~ South Park comes to life & defeats Trinity 5-3
Posted by Jeff Mauro at Mar 10, 2004 4:00PM PST
( 0 Comments
)
CASTLE SHANNON –
The Trinity hockey program has not been exactly a Class AA power over the years, but under the guidance of Larry Marks the team is a far cry from the 1-18-1 record in 2001-2002. The Hillers entered the 2004 Penguins Cup playoffs for the second straight year and while making the playoffs was a big deal last year, Trinity was looking for its first ever playoff victory. The Hillers have a short bench and have relied heavily on players like Jeff Hildebrand, Chris Graff, Greg Bandzuch, Josh Kelly and Matt Warco, who have provided over 80 % of Trinity’s scoring throughout the season.
South Park has been to the Penguins Cup playoffs for 16 years and has yet to capture a Penguins Cup in 31 years, which is amazing given the talent that has been developed in the program over the years. The closest call believe it or not was way back in 1976, when the Eagles lost 3-2 to Gateway, who went on the next day to lose to Abington in the Class AA State Championship. The best South Park team may have been in 1997, when the Eagles were SHIHL AA Champions and could not overcome a early deficit against eventual Pa State AA Champions Erie Cathedral Prep and lost 5-3 at Rostraver. Head coach Bob Juha’s team down the stretch looked more like a team heading out of the playoffs as the Eagles have struggled to score goals when they need them and a prime candidate for a first round exit if they didn’t change things in a hurry.
Trinity slowed the pace of the game down in the first period to perfection with smart play and good puck control, which kept the short Hiller bench fresh. South Park’s Matt Nichol appeared to score the opening goal at 9:57, but was waived off for the net was dislodged. The Hillers struck first late in the period as Chris Graff poked home a rebound and Trinity was on top 1-0 with 48 seconds left in the period.
The Hillers extended their lead to 2-0 at 13:49 of the second as Chris Graff’s wrist shot through a screen handcuffed Ian Artim and the Eagles looked to be in trouble. Artim made a huge save on Jeff Hidebrand at 9:56 to keep South Park within reach. The momentum swung South Park’s way after a power play at 4:48, but Mick Alexander made two diving stops on Matt Lutrell and Michael Englert with 4 ½ minutes remaining. On the unsuing face-off this playoff game would take on a complete momentum switch. Dennis Fleming’s wrist shot from the right point found its way through traffic and bounced past Mick Alexander and South Park was finally on the board with a power play goal at 4:15. The Eagles were flying now and Tim Ryan took a great cross ice pass from Matt Slogan and tied the game deking Alexander at 2:55. Both teams had great chances late in the period to take the lead but Jared Miley’s shot rang off the post ay 2:02 and Josh Kelly just missed on a wide open chance at 1:53.
Trinity had the first opportunity of the third period as Josh Kelly had a partial break, which was stopped by Ian Artim at 14:40. Alexander robbed Don Remlinger with a glove save at 12:57 after the Trinity defenseman lost his edge and fell. South Park just kept coming and Tommy Vaughn found Larry Locante alone in front, who beat Alexander between the legs to give the Eagles their first lead 3-2 at 10:40. South Park took a very undisciplined penalty at 8:01 and Trinity went to work on the power play in an attempt to tie the game. The Hillers were all over the South Park goal but could not score but the Eagles somehow kept them out after a big scramble in front of Ian Artim at 6:39. This would be all South Park would need as Tim Ryan took a nice chip pass from Slogan and beat Alexander on a breakaway to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead with 5:06 remaining. Matt Slogan would put the nail in Trinity’s coffin as the lanky forward scored on a wrist shot with 3:20 left. Greg Badzuch’s goal with 2:16 remaining brought the Hillers within two, but it was too little too late and the Eagles earned a 5-3 victory and a date with arch-rival Peters Township next week in the Elite 8 Class AA Penguins Cup.
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/24e4f715-ea03-4797-bb84-f9c55943b01d.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/e0d6c532-f28d-4722-ac23-5983d6f2ea06.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/24e4f715-ea03-4797-bb84-f9c55943b01d.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/e0d6c532-f28d-4722-ac23-5983d6f2ea06.gif)
3/09/04 ~ USC has the puck last & moves on in OT over Plum !
Posted by Jeff Mauro at Mar 9, 2004 4:00PM PST
( 0 Comments
)
CASTLE SHANNON –
The movie ‘Groundhog Day’ plays on most cable stations this time of year and if someone is looking for a sequel, they could hire the Plum Hockey Club as the actors. The Mustangs have been here before and opened the season with a 4 overtime thriller against North Allegheny only to lose the championship game of the St Margarets Fall Face-Off. So head coach Stu Relnick must have looked forward to any overtime possibilities because sooner or later Plum would win one. Yes there was the overtime loss to Holy Ghost Prep in the Pa Hockey Scholastic Showcase, which left the Mustangs out of the Medal Round and of course the Central Catholic loss 3-2 in overtime, when Plum looked like a sure winner only to see it slip away and the tail end of all of this was the season finale against Gateway, when the Mustangs out shot the Gators 39-14 and still lost 4-3, putting the Gators in the playoffs. So this factor motivated some of the Plum players off the sidelines and back into action to reverse the disturbing trend as Travis Senchur and David Dincau returned to the lineup for round 1 of the playoffs.
The opponent this evening was a road game against Upper St Clair, the talented ones who have gone home the past three seasons, after some pretty good regular seasons, but nothing to show for their efforts. The last playoff victory for the Panthers was in 2000, when they went on the road and defeated Gateway in a wild affair at the Golden Mile 7-6, which was the same time frame when Kip Guenther was helping Jim ‘Mort’ McVay begin orchestrating three straight Pennsylvania Class AAA championships for Bethel Park. Upper St Clair is a team which can score a lot of ways with players like Jeff Greenberg, John Markwell, Kris McDonough, Ian Joyce and a few other players and those few other players are the ones who would have to step forward to enhance the Panthers chances of moving forward in the Penguins Cup for the first time in four years.
Upper St Clair struck first as nice looking freshman Andrew Blazek walked off the far boards and buried a wrist shot upstairs on the glove side of J.P. Balson for a 1-0 lead just 1:12 into the contest. Plum would answer as Aaron Arnold made a terrific play along the boards and found a streaking Mike Renna at 12:05, who made no mistake to tie the game at one apiece. The game really opened up as the teams played wide-open hockey and both Balson and USC’s Kevin Gorder were called upon to make some tough saves. The Mustangs went on the 5 on 3 power play at 8:35, but were thwarted on a great penalty killing effort by the Panthers, in particular Kris McDonough, who was brilliant blocking 3 Plum shots and clearing the zone. The Mustangs would overcome the inability to score on the power play as Travis Senchur picked off an errant clearing attempt and blasted a slapshot high over the glove side of Gorder to give Plum a 2-1 lead at 5:35. USC was awarded a penalty shot at 2:11, when a Mustang covered the puck in the crease and Matt McGinnis made a great move, but J.P. Balson made a better save just getting his leg on the puck. At 1:59, Travis Senchur gathered a loose puck in the USC zone and went high to the stick side on Gorder and all the sudden Plum had a 3-1 lead. Gorder robbed Mike Dunlap from point blank range with just 33 seconds left in an entertaining opening period.
The Panthers refueled in the second period as the caught a break when J.P. Balson lost sight of a loose puck and relentless Mike Penkrot banged it home for a big goal at 14:38. USC was flying now and poured 12 shots on Balson and Jono Lohman tied the game 3-3 after the Panthers were buzzing the Plum zone courtesy of Jeff Greenberg and John Markwell, who worked the to the front of the net. USC recaptured the lead at 6:57 as David Crockett showed great patience on a breakaway sliding the puck just past the outstretched Balson and the Panthers were now on top 4-3.
On to the third period and Travis Senchur completed the hat trick as he buried a wrist shot on a great pass from Jonathon Smith just 35 seconds into the period. The defenses tightened up a little in the middle of the period, but David Crockett delivered a huge goal with 6:37 left in regulation as skated in between the circles and fired a laser high over the stick side of Balson to give St Clair a 5-4 lead. Plum was desperate now and David Dincau made a great play on the forecheck to pry the puck loose in the USC zone and get it to John Kalichuk who found Jonathon Smith in the slot who delivered a blistering wrist shot upstairs on the stick side to tie the game at 5-5 with just :56 seconds on the clock.
On to the overtime period and Plum had a golden opportunity to win it but Kevin Gorder stopped Kalichuk from just in front less than a minute into the extra session. The next trip up the ice would prove fatal for the Mustangs as Mike Penkrot picked up a loose puck in the high slot and made a great move shooting the puck down on the ice past Balson and giving Upper St Clair a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory before a festive crowd at the Ice Castle and a date with either Central Catholic or Fox Chapel in the second round next week.
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/ac8d0dbe-39be-4b3e-b90c-abe1c8bea527.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/e882b01d-5f50-4bf1-9919-38c19ec4d05b.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/ac8d0dbe-39be-4b3e-b90c-abe1c8bea527.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/e882b01d-5f50-4bf1-9919-38c19ec4d05b.gif)
3/09/04 ~ USC has the puck last & moves on in OT over Plum !
Posted by Jeff Mauro at Mar 9, 2004 4:00PM PST
( 0 Comments
)
CASTLE SHANNON –
The movie ‘Groundhog Day’ plays on most cable stations this time of year and if someone is looking for a sequel, they could hire the Plum Hockey Club as the actors. The Mustangs have been here before and opened the season with a 4 overtime thriller against North Allegheny only to lose the championship game of the St Margarets Fall Face-Off. So head coach Stu Relnick must have looked forward to any overtime possibilities because sooner or later Plum would win one. Yes there was the overtime loss to Holy Ghost Prep in the Pa Hockey Scholastic Showcase, which left the Mustangs out of the Medal Round and of course the Central Catholic loss 3-2 in overtime, when Plum looked like a sure winner only to see it slip away and the tail end of all of this was the season finale against Gateway, when the Mustangs out shot the Gators 39-14 and still lost 4-3, putting the Gators in the playoffs. So this factor motivated some of the Plum players off the sidelines and back into action to reverse the disturbing trend as Travis Senchur and David Dincau returned to the lineup for round 1 of the playoffs.
The opponent this evening was a road game against Upper St Clair, the talented ones who have gone home the past three seasons, after some pretty good regular seasons, but nothing to show for their efforts. The last playoff victory for the Panthers was in 2000, when they went on the road and defeated Gateway in a wild affair at the Golden Mile 7-6, which was the same time frame when Kip Guenther was helping Jim ‘Mort’ McVay begin orchestrating three straight Pennsylvania Class AAA championships for Bethel Park. Upper St Clair is a team which can score a lot of ways with players like Jeff Greenberg, John Markwell, Kris McDonough, Ian Joyce and a few other players and those few other players are the ones who would have to step forward to enhance the Panthers chances of moving forward in the Penguins Cup for the first time in four years.
Upper St Clair struck first as nice looking freshman Andrew Blazek walked off the far boards and buried a wrist shot upstairs on the glove side of J.P. Balson for a 1-0 lead just 1:12 into the contest. Plum would answer as Aaron Arnold made a terrific play along the boards and found a streaking Mike Renna at 12:05, who made no mistake to tie the game at one apiece. The game really opened up as the teams played wide-open hockey and both Balson and USC’s Kevin Gorder were called upon to make some tough saves. The Mustangs went on the 5 on 3 power play at 8:35, but were thwarted on a great penalty killing effort by the Panthers, in particular Kris McDonough, who was brilliant blocking 3 Plum shots and clearing the zone. The Mustangs would overcome the inability to score on the power play as Travis Senchur picked off an errant clearing attempt and blasted a slapshot high over the glove side of Gorder to give Plum a 2-1 lead at 5:35. USC was awarded a penalty shot at 2:11, when a Mustang covered the puck in the crease and Matt McGinnis made a great move, but J.P. Balson made a better save just getting his leg on the puck. At 1:59, Travis Senchur gathered a loose puck in the USC zone and went high to the stick side on Gorder and all the sudden Plum had a 3-1 lead. Gorder robbed Mike Dunlap from point blank range with just 33 seconds left in an entertaining opening period.
The Panthers refueled in the second period as the caught a break when J.P. Balson lost sight of a loose puck and relentless Mike Penkrot banged it home for a big goal at 14:38. USC was flying now and poured 12 shots on Balson and Jono Lohman tied the game 3-3 after the Panthers were buzzing the Plum zone courtesy of Jeff Greenberg and John Markwell, who worked the to the front of the net. USC recaptured the lead at 6:57 as David Crockett showed great patience on a breakaway sliding the puck just past the outstretched Balson and the Panthers were now on top 4-3.
On to the third period and Travis Senchur completed the hat trick as he buried a wrist shot on a great pass from Jonathon Smith just 35 seconds into the period. The defenses tightened up a little in the middle of the period, but David Crockett delivered a huge goal with 6:37 left in regulation as skated in between the circles and fired a laser high over the stick side of Balson to give St Clair a 5-4 lead. Plum was desperate now and David Dincau made a great play on the forecheck to pry the puck loose in the USC zone and get it to John Kalichuk who found Jonathon Smith in the slot who delivered a blistering wrist shot upstairs on the stick side to tie the game at 5-5 with just :56 seconds on the clock.
On to the overtime period and Plum had a golden opportunity to win it but Kevin Gorder stopped Kalichuk from just in front less than a minute into the extra session. The next trip up the ice would prove fatal for the Mustangs as Mike Penkrot picked up a loose puck in the high slot and made a great move shooting the puck down on the ice past Balson and giving Upper St Clair a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory before a festive crowd at the Ice Castle and a date with either Central Catholic or Fox Chapel in the second round next week.
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/ac8d0dbe-39be-4b3e-b90c-abe1c8bea527.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/e882b01d-5f50-4bf1-9919-38c19ec4d05b.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/ac8d0dbe-39be-4b3e-b90c-abe1c8bea527.gif)
![image](https://photos-images.active.com/file/1/60/604905/original/e882b01d-5f50-4bf1-9919-38c19ec4d05b.gif)