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2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class A

Mars keeps rolling toward redemption for a State Title lost a year ago !

PITTSBURGH –

       Mars has waited almost a year for another crack at the Penguins Cup and with Kittanning out of the picture, things may have gotten a little easier to face Serra Catholic, but don’t tell the Eagles, who have already secured their spot and await the winner of the Planets and Crimson Crushers of Bishop McCort. McCort has a long history of winning Penguins Cups as they have 6 to their credit and 5 Pennsylvania Class A titles, but the road for this storied program is nearing the possible word of extinction with no development in sight and a ton of seniors in this years lineup.

       Mars came out of the gate taking control of this contest in the opening period as Michael Mazzotta scored in the opening minute and then after McCort’s Dane Domonkos tied the game on a Zach Barto rebound at 9:50, Elliott Tisdale and Rusty Miller gave the Planets the lead for good 3-1 as Mars outshot Bishop McCort 12-4 in the opening period.

      After Domonkos pulled the Crushers within a goal in the opening minute of the 2^nd period, C.J. Thibault, Tyler Whiteford and Elliott Tisdale helped the Planets open up a 5-2 lead prior to Domonkos competing the hat trick for McCort. Tisdale scored his third goal of the game and the 3^rd period was scoreless as Mars moved on to the Penguins Cup final with a 7-3 victory over Bishop McCort.

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AA

PITTSBURGH –

      West Allegheny has suffered some tough loses in the Penguins Cup playoffs over the years including to Latrobe in the Semi-Finals two years ago, but not much matches the two losses Canevin suffered to Franklin Regional in 2008 and then to Montour in 2009 in the Semi Finals. The Crusaders are looking to get over the hump and are the Indians, so Canevin got some good news as goaltender Julian DeFillippo was cleared to play hockey on Tuesday and that the accommodating PIHL was willing to change the proposed game on Monday to Tuesday and blame it on a bus scheduling error by Latrobe, who had nothing to do with the change. Another back room deal for the PIHL and another asterisk for those keeping score outside the games. .

       After a scoreless first period, West Allegheny’s Patrick Coburn turned a Canevin turnover in their own end as he scored on a wraparound inside the post at 7:27 of tne 2^nd period. Jason Kumpfmiller stood tall in net for West A as he stopped Vince Niccolella from point blank range at 2:07 to keep his team in front. West Allegheny looked like one goal would be enough until at 11:03 of the 3^rd period, Frankie Vance made a nice cross ice pass to Jacob Betzner, who launched a shot toward to WA net which Vince Niccollella found and deposited past Kumpfmiller to tie the score at 1-1. West Allegheny went on the power play in the 3^rd period and it was Frankie Vance who nearly scored to give his team the lead but Jason Kumpfmiller came up big to preserve the tie and the game headed to overtime tied at 1-1.

         The overtime period didn’t last long as Patrick Coburn gathered a loose puck in the corner and fed Jon Levitt who scored just 13 seconds into over time to send West Allegheny to their first ever Penguins Cup final with a thrilling 2-1 win over Canevin.  

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AAA

PITTSBURGH –

     Shaler has rolled the entire season and looked to be headed to its second straight Penguins Cup and looking for its first ever Pennsylvania State Title. Canon McMillan is courting Cinderella at this point while knocking out North Allegheny and then travelling to State College to unseed # 3 Seed Little Lions, the Big Macs are looking to become the first 8^th seed since 1985 Mt Lebanon to go all the way to the Pennsylvania State Finals.

In addition, with Holy Ghost Prep and LaSalle out of the Flyers Cup picture and Cardinal O’Hara awaiting the Penguins Cup champions the path is now clear for Western Pa and Shaler. The Big Macs would be a sturn test for the Titans.

         Canon McMillan and Shaler traded the lead three times in the opening period as Zack McKown gave the Big Macs the lead at 9:19 of the opening period. Shaler then took the lead as Sean McCue scored on a great pass from Jake Hetz at 5:54 and then Josh Carnprobst converted a Conner Burke feed to give the Titans the lead at 4:39. The Big Macs tied the game as Joey Mottiqua took advantage of a Shaler turnover just 29 seconds later. Sean McCure gave Shaler the lead again tipping a Shane Shiring shot past Smolarek with 3:46 to go in the first period.

         Canon Mac took the lead with two goals in the 2^nd period as Brett Oldaker tipped in an Alexander Baskarov shot at 2:28 to tie the score and the Baskarov blistered a shot tipped by Mario D’Allesandreo past Oscar Prom to make it 4-3 Big Macs, who held the lead despite being outshot 27-14.

         Shaler came back in the 3^rd period as Billy Dobson scored on a great individual effort at 11:16 to tie the score at four apiece and then Sean McCue completed the hat trick at 10:51 on a great touch pass by Patrick Schafer to regain the lead 5-4. Shaler dominated the 3^rd period with a 12-4 shot advantage, but could not put the Big Macs away. Mario D’Allesandro became opportunist as he unleashed a wicked wrist shot that handcuffed Prom and tied the score with 6:53 to play.

          Canon Mac would have two golden opportunities at the end of regulation and in overtime on the power play, but could not muster any offense. Three minutes into overtime, while killing the penalty, Shaler had at least six opportunities shorthanded to end this game and two where Zac Lynch and Shane Shiring had two golden cracks at near empty nets, which did not find paydirt. Canon Mac survived this flurry and then put the dagger in Shaler’s title hopes as with 2:52 remaining, Joey Mottiqua beat the Shaler defenseman and then Oscar Prom on a short side wrist shot giving Canon Mac a near improbable overtime upset of number one seed Shaler 6-5 and move on to their first ever Penguins Cup.     . 

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class A

Mars keeps rolling toward redemption for a State Title lost a year ago !

PITTSBURGH –

       Mars has waited almost a year for another crack at the Penguins Cup and with Kittanning out of the picture, things may have gotten a little easier to face Serra Catholic, but don’t tell the Eagles, who have already secured their spot and await the winner of the Planets and Crimson Crushers of Bishop McCort. McCort has a long history of winning Penguins Cups as they have 6 to their credit and 5 Pennsylvania Class A titles, but the road for this storied program is nearing the possible word of extinction with no development in sight and a ton of seniors in this years lineup.

       Mars came out of the gate taking control of this contest in the opening period as Michael Mazzotta scored in the opening minute and then after McCort’s Dane Domonkos tied the game on a Zach Barto rebound at 9:50, Elliott Tisdale and Rusty Miller gave the Planets the lead for good 3-1 as Mars outshot Bishop McCort 12-4 in the opening period.

      After Domonkos pulled the Crushers within a goal in the opening minute of the 2^nd period, C.J. Thibault, Tyler Whiteford and Elliott Tisdale helped the Planets open up a 5-2 lead prior to Domonkos competing the hat trick for McCort. Tisdale scored his third goal of the game and the 3^rd period was scoreless as Mars moved on to the Penguins Cup final with a 7-3 victory over Bishop McCort.

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AA

PITTSBURGH –

      West Allegheny has suffered some tough loses in the Penguins Cup playoffs over the years including to Latrobe in the Semi-Finals two years ago, but not much matches the two losses Canevin suffered to Franklin Regional in 2008 and then to Montour in 2009 in the Semi Finals. The Crusaders are looking to get over the hump and are the Indians, so Canevin got some good news as goaltender Julian DeFillippo was cleared to play hockey on Tuesday and that the accommodating PIHL was willing to change the proposed game on Monday to Tuesday and blame it on a bus scheduling error by Latrobe, who had nothing to do with the change. Another back room deal for the PIHL and another asterisk for those keeping score outside the games. .

       After a scoreless first period, West Allegheny’s Patrick Coburn turned a Canevin turnover in their own end as he scored on a wraparound inside the post at 7:27 of tne 2^nd period. Jason Kumpfmiller stood tall in net for West A as he stopped Vince Niccolella from point blank range at 2:07 to keep his team in front. West Allegheny looked like one goal would be enough until at 11:03 of the 3^rd period, Frankie Vance made a nice cross ice pass to Jacob Betzner, who launched a shot toward to WA net which Vince Niccollella found and deposited past Kumpfmiller to tie the score at 1-1. West Allegheny went on the power play in the 3^rd period and it was Frankie Vance who nearly scored to give his team the lead but Jason Kumpfmiller came up big to preserve the tie and the game headed to overtime tied at 1-1.

         The overtime period didn’t last long as Patrick Coburn gathered a loose puck in the corner and fed Jon Levitt who scored just 13 seconds into over time to send West Allegheny to their first ever Penguins Cup final with a thrilling 2-1 win over Canevin.  

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AAA

PITTSBURGH –

     Shaler has rolled the entire season and looked to be headed to its second straight Penguins Cup and looking for its first ever Pennsylvania State Title. Canon McMillan is courting Cinderella at this point while knocking out North Allegheny and then travelling to State College to unseed # 3 Seed Little Lions, the Big Macs are looking to become the first 8^th seed since 1985 Mt Lebanon to go all the way to the Pennsylvania State Finals.

In addition, with Holy Ghost Prep and LaSalle out of the Flyers Cup picture and Cardinal O’Hara awaiting the Penguins Cup champions the path is now clear for Western Pa and Shaler. The Big Macs would be a sturn test for the Titans.

         Canon McMillan and Shaler traded the lead three times in the opening period as Zack McKown gave the Big Macs the lead at 9:19 of the opening period. Shaler then took the lead as Sean McCue scored on a great pass from Jake Hetz at 5:54 and then Josh Carnprobst converted a Conner Burke feed to give the Titans the lead at 4:39. The Big Macs tied the game as Joey Mottiqua took advantage of a Shaler turnover just 29 seconds later. Sean McCure gave Shaler the lead again tipping a Shane Shiring shot past Smolarek with 3:46 to go in the first period.

         Canon Mac took the lead with two goals in the 2^nd period as Brett Oldaker tipped in an Alexander Baskarov shot at 2:28 to tie the score and the Baskarov blistered a shot tipped by Mario D’Allesandreo past Oscar Prom to make it 4-3 Big Macs, who held the lead despite being outshot 27-14.

         Shaler came back in the 3^rd period as Billy Dobson scored on a great individual effort at 11:16 to tie the score at four apiece and then Sean McCue completed the hat trick at 10:51 on a great touch pass by Patrick Schafer to regain the lead 5-4. Shaler dominated the 3^rd period with a 12-4 shot advantage, but could not put the Big Macs away. Mario D’Allesandro became opportunist as he unleashed a wicked wrist shot that handcuffed Prom and tied the score with 6:53 to play.

          Canon Mac would have two golden opportunities at the end of regulation and in overtime on the power play, but could not muster any offense. Three minutes into overtime, while killing the penalty, Shaler had at least six opportunities shorthanded to end this game and two where Zac Lynch and Shane Shiring had two golden cracks at near empty nets, which did not find paydirt. Canon Mac survived this flurry and then put the dagger in Shaler’s title hopes as with 2:52 remaining, Joey Mottiqua beat the Shaler defenseman and then Oscar Prom on a short side wrist shot giving Canon Mac a near improbable overtime upset of number one seed Shaler 6-5 and move on to their first ever Penguins Cup.     . 

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class A

PITTSBURGH –

     Serra Catholic has been the hottest team in Class A the second half of the season defeating all three Semi-Finalists Mars, Bishop McCort and tonight’s opponent Kittanning in the season’s second half. Kittanning’s explosive offense would need to outscore Serra as the Eagles held a slight advantage on the defensive and goaltending side in the regular season.

      That slight advantage that Serra had became a game breaker in the opening period as Kittanning poured 19 shots on Garrett Hudson and he almost stopped them all to keep his team in the game. Serra took a 1-0 lead as Jarrett Rutchka snuck a shot inside the post on the power play at 11:46. Kittanning stuck back quickly as Jergen Koster blazed behind the Eagle defense just 31 seconds later and beat Hudson through the 5-hole. Serra regained the lead as Garner Kramer unloaded a bomb past Norton at 5:50 to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

      The second period would be the tale of this hockey game as the Wildcats tied the score on a real nice play by Jake Enders who walked out of the corner and buried a wrist shot high over the glove side of Hudson to tie the scored at two apiece at 14:41. Kittanning took its only lead as Enders found Jergen Koster on a long lead pass behind the Eagle defense and buried it to make it 3-2 at 12:46. The game turned on a very smart play by Erik Manetta, who caught the Kittanning defense napping and he scored just 32 seconds after the Wildcats got the lead on a breakaway. Kittanning got into penalty trouble and it cost them the hockey game as Robert Kendi scored on a 5 on 3 power play at 8:02 and then Kendi found the opportunistic Mannetta on the back post for another power play goal at 6:25 and Serra turned the game completely round with a 5-3 advantage. Kittanning mounted a charge late in the 2^nd but Serra survived and then just effectively killed the clock in the 3^rd period for another trip to the Penguins Cup final, despite being outshot 33-18.

         Hudson was outstanding stopping the Kittanning attack for the second half of the hockey game and shut down an offense averaging over seven goals a game. 

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AA

PITTSBURGH –

      Peters Township won two consecutive State Titles in convincing fashion 2002 and 2003 and in 2004, it was the decision of then coach Mark Cooper to sit current University of Vermont goaltender Rob Madore in the State Finals and they lost to Archbishop Carroll led by current Penguin prospect Eric Tangradi at Neville Island. The next year Cooper did not make the same mistake as he brought a supposedly ineligible Madore out from under the stands of the Penguins Cup Semi-Finals to beat Canon McMillan and went on to win the State Title over Haverford. Well, déjà vu strikes in funny ways as Rob Madores brother Matt Madore was declared in eligible and this years hot freshman goaltender is property of Latrobe named Shane Brudnock and he is looking to lead Latrobe to their 3^rd Straight Pennsylvania Class AA title following in the footsteps of Nick Loyacona, who had a huge hand in the first two for the Wildcats.

       Some of the Latrobe players who have been a part of the Wildcat success started the process of dismantling Peters as Cody Ray struck first at 13:30 of the opening period. Peters tied the score as Matt Lison scored a power play goal at 12:10 to make it 1-1. Latrobe would not be denied  as Dillon Hunter scored on a wrister at 6:56, freshman Noah Batis on a wrist shot from against the grain at 6:41 and another freshman Josh Singley converted a great cross ice feed from Jayson Angus at 5:08 to give the Cats a 4-1 lead.

       Peters Cole Snyder cut the lead to 4-2 in the opening minute of the second, but it would be Josh Singley coverting another Angus pass at 6:47 and Jayson Angus at 3:51 on a nice play by Zach Laduke to keep the puck alive at 3:51 of the 2^nd. Josh Singley returned the favor to Angus, who picked up his 2^nd goal and fired a rocket upstairs to give Latrobe a relatively easy looking 7-2 pasting of the Indians.  

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AAA

Seneca Valley makes it look a lot easier this time over USC thanks to Platt and Schutte

PITTSBURGH –

      Seneca Valley and Upper St Clair met in a rematch of last year’s semi-finals and a game that the Raiders prevailed to earn a trip to the Penguins Cup. The Panthers defeated Seneca in the regular season and would have their work cut out for them to earn a spot in the Penguins Cup. Also working for USC would be the last time that Seneca was in Mellon Arena, that they came within inches of going to the State Final. But maybe that would work in the Raiders favor as they may be motivated for another shot at Penguins Cup champs Shaler, who beat them in last year’s final and earlier this year in the regular season.

           This game was all Seneca Valley from the start as Brandon Platt had the game of his life with five goals including a slapshot at 5:03 of the first period, a wicked backhander from in between the circles with just 40 seconds left in the first. A beautiful individual effort beating three USC defenders and Matt Wreggett at 3:48 of the middle period, a wicked snapshot just inside the post on the ice at 13:57 of the 3^rd and to cap it of conversion of a picture perfect 2 on 1 with Tyler Messisca to put an exclamation point on the 5-0 shutout.

           Then there was Ryan Schutte, the forgotten goaltender, who patiently split time in the regular season and then has taken the Raiders leadership role between the pipes and won 6 of his last 7 starts and then helped the Raiders edge Bethel 2-1 in the opening round. Schutte stopped all 22 shots tonight and was just solid between the pipes, controlling rebounds and earning he shutout and another trip to the Penguins Cup finals.

Kudos to Denny Kierstein, who got the right matchups against the USC line of Kline-Murray and Selep and effectively shut them down. 

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class A

PITTSBURGH –

     Serra Catholic has been the hottest team in Class A the second half of the season defeating all three Semi-Finalists Mars, Bishop McCort and tonight’s opponent Kittanning in the season’s second half. Kittanning’s explosive offense would need to outscore Serra as the Eagles held a slight advantage on the defensive and goaltending side in the regular season.

      That slight advantage that Serra had became a game breaker in the opening period as Kittanning poured 19 shots on Garrett Hudson and he almost stopped them all to keep his team in the game. Serra took a 1-0 lead as Jarrett Rutchka snuck a shot inside the post on the power play at 11:46. Kittanning stuck back quickly as Jergen Koster blazed behind the Eagle defense just 31 seconds later and beat Hudson through the 5-hole. Serra regained the lead as Garner Kramer unloaded a bomb past Norton at 5:50 to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

      The second period would be the tale of this hockey game as the Wildcats tied the score on a real nice play by Jake Enders who walked out of the corner and buried a wrist shot high over the glove side of Hudson to tie the scored at two apiece at 14:41. Kittanning took its only lead as Enders found Jergen Koster on a long lead pass behind the Eagle defense and buried it to make it 3-2 at 12:46. The game turned on a very smart play by Erik Manetta, who caught the Kittanning defense napping and he scored just 32 seconds after the Wildcats got the lead on a breakaway. Kittanning got into penalty trouble and it cost them the hockey game as Robert Kendi scored on a 5 on 3 power play at 8:02 and then Kendi found the opportunistic Mannetta on the back post for another power play goal at 6:25 and Serra turned the game completely round with a 5-3 advantage. Kittanning mounted a charge late in the 2^nd but Serra survived and then just effectively killed the clock in the 3^rd period for another trip to the Penguins Cup final, despite being outshot 33-18.

         Hudson was outstanding stopping the Kittanning attack for the second half of the hockey game and shut down an offense averaging over seven goals a game. 

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AA

PITTSBURGH –

      Peters Township won two consecutive State Titles in convincing fashion 2002 and 2003 and in 2004, it was the decision of then coach Mark Cooper to sit current University of Vermont goaltender Rob Madore in the State Finals and they lost to Archbishop Carroll led by current Penguin prospect Eric Tangradi at Neville Island. The next year Cooper did not make the same mistake as he brought a supposedly ineligible Madore out from under the stands of the Penguins Cup Semi-Finals to beat Canon McMillan and went on to win the State Title over Haverford. Well, déjà vu strikes in funny ways as Rob Madores brother Matt Madore was declared in eligible and this years hot freshman goaltender is property of Latrobe named Shane Brudnock and he is looking to lead Latrobe to their 3^rd Straight Pennsylvania Class AA title following in the footsteps of Nick Loyacona, who had a huge hand in the first two for the Wildcats.

       Some of the Latrobe players who have been a part of the Wildcat success started the process of dismantling Peters as Cody Ray struck first at 13:30 of the opening period. Peters tied the score as Matt Lison scored a power play goal at 12:10 to make it 1-1. Latrobe would not be denied  as Dillon Hunter scored on a wrister at 6:56, freshman Noah Batis on a wrist shot from against the grain at 6:41 and another freshman Josh Singley converted a great cross ice feed from Jayson Angus at 5:08 to give the Cats a 4-1 lead.

       Peters Cole Snyder cut the lead to 4-2 in the opening minute of the second, but it would be Josh Singley coverting another Angus pass at 6:47 and Jayson Angus at 3:51 on a nice play by Zach Laduke to keep the puck alive at 3:51 of the 2^nd. Josh Singley returned the favor to Angus, who picked up his 2^nd goal and fired a rocket upstairs to give Latrobe a relatively easy looking 7-2 pasting of the Indians.  

2010 Penguins Cup Semi Finals – Class AAA

Seneca Valley makes it look a lot easier this time over USC thanks to Platt and Schutte

PITTSBURGH –

      Seneca Valley and Upper St Clair met in a rematch of last year’s semi-finals and a game that the Raiders prevailed to earn a trip to the Penguins Cup. The Panthers defeated Seneca in the regular season and would have their work cut out for them to earn a spot in the Penguins Cup. Also working for USC would be the last time that Seneca was in Mellon Arena, that they came within inches of going to the State Final. But maybe that would work in the Raiders favor as they may be motivated for another shot at Penguins Cup champs Shaler, who beat them in last year’s final and earlier this year in the regular season.

           This game was all Seneca Valley from the start as Brandon Platt had the game of his life with five goals including a slapshot at 5:03 of the first period, a wicked backhander from in between the circles with just 40 seconds left in the first. A beautiful individual effort beating three USC defenders and Matt Wreggett at 3:48 of the middle period, a wicked snapshot just inside the post on the ice at 13:57 of the 3^rd and to cap it of conversion of a picture perfect 2 on 1 with Tyler Messisca to put an exclamation point on the 5-0 shutout.

           Then there was Ryan Schutte, the forgotten goaltender, who patiently split time in the regular season and then has taken the Raiders leadership role between the pipes and won 6 of his last 7 starts and then helped the Raiders edge Bethel 2-1 in the opening round. Schutte stopped all 22 shots tonight and was just solid between the pipes, controlling rebounds and earning he shutout and another trip to the Penguins Cup finals.

Kudos to Denny Kierstein, who got the right matchups against the USC line of Kline-Murray and Selep and effectively shut them down. 

Class A

Class AA

Class AAA 

PLEASE READ GAME SUMMARIES FOR SEMI-FINAL GAMES

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