Archbishop Carroll Patriots - 1981 AAA 2004 AA

SEMI-FINALS Fox Chapel 3 Franklin Regional 2 [OT] Sure Fox Chapel defeated Franklin Regional 6-2 last week in the St Margaret’s Fall Face-Off and it shouldn’t be a problem to assume the Foxes would handle the Panthers pretty easily in the Greensburg CC Invitational Semi-Finals since FR would again be without Jimmie Daugherty, who appears to be out for an extended period and Lou Levine and Mark Gigliotti, who are still on the gridiron. FC raced to a 2-0 lead in the 1st period on goals by Dan Thiessen [4:46] and Justin Kreps [0:27] and a commanding shot advantage of 9-3. Franklin Regional showed resolve in the 2nd period by pressuring netminder Todd Hendry with 10 shots to the Foxes 6. The third period was all Franklin as Luke Baughman and Jeremy Truxal rallied the Panthers to tie the game with 2:53 remaining to force overtime. Chris Fonzi turned away all 13 FC shots. Fox Chapel’s Adam Petrovich put the game on ice with a high shot from in between the circles past Fonzi to send the Foxes to the finals. Greensburg CC 3 Plum 2 Centarian coach Joe Dykta had to go to his backup goalie for the semi-final matchup with Plum as Jake Genes was helping the GCC Soccer team win in WPIAL playoff action, not to mention resting for the big football matchup with rival Jeannette Friday night. So the Mustang big guns were probably salivating over the prospects of facing Kent Weaver, but the GCC netminder was the games star through the first 20 minutes as he was keeping his team close at only 2-0, after goals by Plum’s Travis Senchur at 1:16 of the 1st and Phil Mains on a backhander at 4:22 of the 2nd. Weaver stoned the Mustangs barrage late in the middle period including a brilliant save on Jonathon Smith with under 3 minutes left. Then GCC got a break as Mains fell down allowing Marc Perez a breakaway, who buried a wrist shot past JP Balson to cut the lead to 2-1 with just 25 seconds remaining in the period. On to the 3rd period and GCC tied the game as John Kennedy poked a rebound home at 11:37 and we had a new hockey game at two apiece. Plum went on the power play with a little under four minutes left in regulation but could not beat Weaver, who stopped 28 of 30 Mustang shots. The Centarians got an odd man break after killing the penalty and Zach Cutrell made Plum pay as he waltzed down the right side and buried a wrist shot high over the shoulder of Balson giving GCC a 3-2 victory and a date with Fox Chapel in the finals.

     Western Pennsylvania's navigation to NCAA Division 1 Hockey has come full circle over the past dozen years or so as we have roughly 100 Pennsylvania Born players now playing in Division 1 and Junior A Hockey. Pa Hockey will produce a compilation know as Onward and Upward, which is our annual account of those players, who have climbed to an elite level, either collegiately or in Junior Hockey. Quaker Valley's Furman South, the leader of the 2006 Pennsylvania State Champion Quakers has been playing with the Bay State Breakers of the Eastern Junior Hockey League over the past few seasons and plans to attend college locally at Robert Morris University. Joining the Colonials and fellow Western Pa Hockey's Peters Twp's Eric Trax, Kiski's Sean Berketresser and Shadyside Academy product and Penn Hills native Karac Davis, South graduated in 2006 from Quaker Valley and moves on to Collegiate Hockey to play in the same arena where his Quakers captured the State Championship a little over a year ago. Congratulations to Furman South and good luck !

 PRESS RELEASE - Bay State Breakers

HEADING SOUTH TO ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSTIY (CHA-Div. I)

                              Rockland, MA – Furman South, of Sewickley, PA, commits to Robert Morris University for the fall of 2008. Furman is a right shot forward who stands 6’2 and weighs in at 200lbs, this is Furman’s second year with the Breakers. Last season Furman scored 40 points and was named to the EJHL All-Star team. Prior to the Breakers Furman played for the Pittsburgh Hornets Midget AAA program, which participated in the USA Hockey National Championships two years in a row. Furman was also selected to represent the Mid-American District at the USA Hockey Select Festival on two occasions. “After weighing my college options I decided that Robert Morris has a perfect mix of   hockey and academics. Robert Morris is a growing program and I am excited to be apart of it as it continues to grow.” 

“When Coach McCauley recruited me to come to Bay State I had several other options of       where I could play. Choosing Bay State was the best decision I could have ever made. I feel that the coaching and exposure at Bay State are unmatched throughout the country. Anyone looking to move to the next level should consider playing for the Bay State Breakers and Coach McCauley.” stated South.

“Furman is a great student-athlete. Furman had several college options this year already, with his hockey ability and academic profile, 1280 SAT 4.2 GPA, he made the choice to head closer to home. Robert Morris has a great non-league schedule this year which helped with Furman’s decision. He should be a great addition to the Robert Morris program, as he will join former Breaker Chris Margott. Our staff is proud to have Furman as an alumni” stated Head Coach David McCauley.

 

 “This year Furman was named as a Captain of the team by his peers as he is a quality kid on and off the ice.” added McCauley. “As a staff here at Robert Morris University we are very excited about Furman’s decision.” stated Robert Morris Head Coach Derek Schooley.  Furman is the son of Beth and Furman South Sr. of Sewickley, PA.          

 

 

 

 

Greensburg CC Invitational Championship

  

Franklin Regional 2 State College 1

 

GREENSBURG –

 

          State College is coached by Tim Holdcroft, who played his hid High School Hockey at North Allegheny and will lead his school into Class AAA after a successful stint in the PIHL Open Division, winning the championship a year ago. The Little Lions will put a lot of miles on their car or buses this season, but most importantly will be eligible for the Pennsylvania State High School Hockey Championships in March. Moving to Class AAA will legitimize that this team will be playing for something this season. So after all of the arguing and debate about one of the worst ever ideas in High School Hockey [Open Division] is over, for State College at least, they can move on with life. After defeating an improved Penn Trafford squad 3-0 in the semi-finals on Monday night, the Little Lions can honestly say they intend to make a run for a Division title and unseat Plum and Penn Trafford in a division which I consider the weakest in Class AAA, but nonetheless State College has done themselves a huge favor in moving up to play with the big boys and even received a few votes in the Pa Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll and deservedly so. 

 

          Franklin Regional is ranked # 2 in the Pa Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll for Class AA and after a very nice showing in the St Margaret Fall Face-Off which included a close loss to defending State AAA Champions North Allegheny 4-3 in the final seconds and wins over Plum and North Hills. The Panthers are back in Greensburg where they are 4-0 after the Semi-Final win over Hempfield 4-1 to face State College in the Greensburg CC Invitational Championship. The Panthers have been to the finals of this tournament several times in recent years and won the GCC Invitational crown in 2001. While many consider Franklin a premier team in Class AA, this team will have to prove they can score in big games and pay more attention in the defensive end when the playoff bell rings in March to ultimately challenge for the Penguins Cup. 

 

          State College came out with a flurry of shots in the opening minutes of this championship contest. The best opportunity came at 6:37 of the opening period, when the Little Lions Nick Petrick took the puck from his own end and raced around the Franklin defense only to be stopped on a backhand attempt by James ‘Bobby’ Orr. Moments later, after some State College pressure, the Little Lions were awarded the games first power play at 6:21, but could not capitalize. State College dominated territorial play in the opening period and despite outshooting FR 16-2, the game remained scoreless after one. 

 

        With 11:30 remaining in the 2^nd period, State College’s Brian James got behind the the Panther defense and appeared to score, but his backhand scooted just wide of the net behind Orr. Franklin Regional went on the power play with 10:01 remaining in the second period, but State College killed it. State College had another chance and it was James again as on a 2 on 1, his shot could not get by Orr. The Little Lions were whistled at 8:59 putting the Panthers on a 5 on 3 for nearly a minute and a big chance to take the lead. The Panthers did not register a quality scoring chance on the 5 on 3 nor the remainder of the man advantage and the game remained scoreless. With 5:37 to go in the middle frame, State College went back on the power play. Franklin had a chance as Steve Shirk weaved his way through the State College defense shorthanded, but Lion keeper Calvin Michael was equal to the task at 5:11. Franklin had several chances on a scramble around the net, but Michael was able to control the puck and make the save. State College turned up the heat late in the period and FR could not clear the zone, but the game remained scoreless. The Panthers held the shot advantage in the 2^nd period 9-7.

 

        With 9:13 remaining in the third period, Patrick Coyne found a loose puck and beat Calvin Michael on a low wrist shot to the stick side for a 1-0 Panther lead. With 6:15 to go in regulation James Orr made a real nice stick save on Christian Conlin to keep FR in the lead 1-0. With 4:32 to play, Patrick Coyne unleashed a big wrist shot that Calvin Michael snagged. Moments later Christian Conlin got behind the Panther defense and did not score but drew a penalty putting the Little Lions back on the power play and another chance to tie the game, but Orr and the Panthers killed it. With 2:03 remaining, Conlin was stopped again from point blank range. With 1:20 to go Orr made another stick save on Jacques Guilleroy and another shot glanced off the crossbar just seconds later. State College pulled the goalie and after a scramble in front finally beat Orr as Brian James found the loose puck and scored with :29 to go and the game was tied 1-1. Shots in the third period were 12-3 in favor of State College and the game headed to overtime.

 

     With 3:56 to go in OT FR’s Eugene Mack had a great chance, but Calvin Michael stopped him from in tight. With 2:11 to State’s Cam Beuray had a great chance but could not beat Orr. The game headed to a shootout with the final shots 37-19 in favor of State College.

       In the Shootout, Patrick Coyne and Eugene Mack scored on the first two chances for the Panthers and James Orr did not allow a goal in four State College shooters, giving the Franklin Regional Panthers a 2-1 shootout win and the 2007 Greensburg CC Invitational Title.

Greensburg CC Invitational Championship

  

Franklin Regional 2 State College 1

 

GREENSBURG –

 

          State College is coached by Tim Holdcroft, who played his hid High School Hockey at North Allegheny and will lead his school into Class AAA after a successful stint in the PIHL Open Division, winning the championship a year ago. The Little Lions will put a lot of miles on their car or buses this season, but most importantly will be eligible for the Pennsylvania State High School Hockey Championships in March. Moving to Class AAA will legitimize that this team will be playing for something this season. So after all of the arguing and debate about one of the worst ever ideas in High School Hockey [Open Division] is over, for State College at least, they can move on with life. After defeating an improved Penn Trafford squad 3-0 in the semi-finals on Monday night, the Little Lions can honestly say they intend to make a run for a Division title and unseat Plum and Penn Trafford in a division which I consider the weakest in Class AAA, but nonetheless State College has done themselves a huge favor in moving up to play with the big boys and even received a few votes in the Pa Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll and deservedly so. 

 

          Franklin Regional is ranked # 2 in the Pa Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll for Class AA and after a very nice showing in the St Margaret Fall Face-Off which included a close loss to defending State AAA Champions North Allegheny 4-3 in the final seconds and wins over Plum and North Hills. The Panthers are back in Greensburg where they are 4-0 after the Semi-Final win over Hempfield 4-1 to face State College in the Greensburg CC Invitational Championship. The Panthers have been to the finals of this tournament several times in recent years and won the GCC Invitational crown in 2001. While many consider Franklin a premier team in Class AA, this team will have to prove they can score in big games and pay more attention in the defensive end when the playoff bell rings in March to ultimately challenge for the Penguins Cup. 

 

          State College came out with a flurry of shots in the opening minutes of this championship contest. The best opportunity came at 6:37 of the opening period, when the Little Lions Nick Petrick took the puck from his own end and raced around the Franklin defense only to be stopped on a backhand attempt by James ‘Bobby’ Orr. Moments later, after some State College pressure, the Little Lions were awarded the games first power play at 6:21, but could not capitalize. State College dominated territorial play in the opening period and despite outshooting FR 16-2, the game remained scoreless after one. 

 

        With 11:30 remaining in the 2^nd period, State College’s Brian James got behind the the Panther defense and appeared to score, but his backhand scooted just wide of the net behind Orr. Franklin Regional went on the power play with 10:01 remaining in the second period, but State College killed it. State College had another chance and it was James again as on a 2 on 1, his shot could not get by Orr. The Little Lions were whistled at 8:59 putting the Panthers on a 5 on 3 for nearly a minute and a big chance to take the lead. The Panthers did not register a quality scoring chance on the 5 on 3 nor the remainder of the man advantage and the game remained scoreless. With 5:37 to go in the middle frame, State College went back on the power play. Franklin had a chance as Steve Shirk weaved his way through the State College defense shorthanded, but Lion keeper Calvin Michael was equal to the task at 5:11. Franklin had several chances on a scramble around the net, but Michael was able to control the puck and make the save. State College turned up the heat late in the period and FR could not clear the zone, but the game remained scoreless. The Panthers held the shot advantage in the 2^nd period 9-7.

 

        With 9:13 remaining in the third period, Patrick Coyne found a loose puck and beat Calvin Michael on a low wrist shot to the stick side for a 1-0 Panther lead. With 6:15 to go in regulation James Orr made a real nice stick save on Christian Conlin to keep FR in the lead 1-0. With 4:32 to play, Patrick Coyne unleashed a big wrist shot that Calvin Michael snagged. Moments later Christian Conlin got behind the Panther defense and did not score but drew a penalty putting the Little Lions back on the power play and another chance to tie the game, but Orr and the Panthers killed it. With 2:03 remaining, Conlin was stopped again from point blank range. With 1:20 to go Orr made another stick save on Jacques Guilleroy and another shot glanced off the crossbar just seconds later. State College pulled the goalie and after a scramble in front finally beat Orr as Brian James found the loose puck and scored with :29 to go and the game was tied 1-1. Shots in the third period were 12-3 in favor of State College and the game headed to overtime.

 

     With 3:56 to go in OT FR’s Eugene Mack had a great chance, but Calvin Michael stopped him from in tight. With 2:11 to State’s Cam Beuray had a great chance but could not beat Orr. The game headed to a shootout with the final shots 37-19 in favor of State College.

       In the Shootout, Patrick Coyne and Eugene Mack scored on the first two chances for the Panthers and James Orr did not allow a goal in four State College shooters, giving the Franklin Regional Panthers a 2-1 shootout win and the 2007 Greensburg CC Invitational Title.

The Western Pennsylvania Hockey Coaches Association and Pa Hockey conducted the 12th Annual Pre-Season Coaches Poll. The votes are streaming in and the results will be tabulated and posted here soon for Class A, AA and AAA. Who will be the favorites for the 2008 Penguins Cup ? We have the previews of our Elite 8 in each classification for Pa Hockey !

 

		PENGUIN CUP ELITE "8" COACHES POLL
		2007-2008  "AAA" DIVISION
CLASS		TEAM	RANK
			HERE
AAA		PINE-RICHLAND	1
AAA		NORTH ALLEGHENY	2
AAA		MT LEBANON	3
AAA		MEADVILLE	4
AAA		BETHEL PARK	5
AAA		CENTRAL CATHOLIC	6
AAA		MCDOWELL	7
AAA		UPPER ST. CLAIR	8

		PENGUIN CUP ELITE "8" COACHES POLL
		2007-2008  "AA" DIVISION
CLASS		TEAM	RANK
			HERE
AA		LATROBE	1
AA		FRANKLIN REGIONAL	2
AA		THOMAS JEFFERSON	3
AA		WEST ALLEGHENY	4
AA		MONTOUR	5
AA		GREENSBURG CC	6
AA		MOON	7
AA		PETERS TOWNSHIP	8

		PENGUIN CUP ELITE "8" COACHES POLL
		2007-2008  "A" DIVISION
			RANK
CLASS		TEAM	HERE
A		BISHOP MCCORT	1
A		SERRA CATHOLIC	2
A		MARS	3
A		QUAKER VALLEY	4
A		SOMERSET	5
A		HAMPTON	6
A		WESTMONT-HILLTOP	7
A		FREEPORT	8